[Diagnosis and arthroscopic treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize and analyze the diagnosis and arthroscopic treatment of osteochondral lesion of talus (OLT).


METHODS
From 2000 to 2005 the data of 34 patients of OLT of the talus were retrospectively studied, including the symptom, physical examination, image, arthroscopic treatment All patients took X-ray and MRI examination before the arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic debridement was performed for all patients, in addition to drilling in 5 cases, and microfracture in 18 cases. Before operation, ankle-hindfoot score of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) was 71 +/- 8, and the score of pain (visual analogue scale, VAS) was 7.5 +/- 1.3.


RESULTS
Weight-bearing pain of the ankle joint aggravated after exercise was the predominant complaint of OLT. X-ray examination was negative in 13 cases, and all lesions were detected by MRI, which was significantly better than X-ray (chi2 = 16.07, P < 0. 001). Thirty-one patients were followed up for an average of 28 months. The average post-operative AOFAS was 91 +/- 9 (t = 9.147, P < 0.001); And VAS was 2.4 +/- 2. 3, which was significantly lower than that in pre-operation (t = 10.853, P < 0.001). Of the 31 patients, 27 (87.1%) had good or excellent results.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI could improve the accuracy of diagnosis. The results of arthroscopic treatment for OLT are satisfactory.
Guo
Qin-Wei
QW
Institute of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China. guoqinwei@sina
Hu
Yue-Lin
YL
Jiao
Chen
C
Ao
Ying-Fang
YF
Yu
Chang-Long
CL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013628:Talus / Q000293:injuries*; D016896:Treatment Outcome