Prevalence of chondral defects in athletes' knees: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of full-thickness focal chondral defects in the athlete's knee.


METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of multiple databases, evaluating studies of the prevalence of articular cartilage defects in athletes. Because of the heterogeneity of data, a meta-analysis could not be performed.


RESULTS
Eleven studies were identified for inclusion (931 subjects). All studies were level 4 evidence. Defects were diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging, arthroscopy, or both. Forty percent of athletes were professionals (NBA and NFL). The overall prevalence of full-thickness focal chondral defects in athletes was 36% (range = 2.4%-75% between all studies). Fourteen percent of athletes were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Patellofemoral defects (37%) were more common than femoral condyle (35%) and tibial plateau defects (25%). Medial condyle defects were more common than lateral (68% vs 32%), and patella defects were more common than trochlea (64% vs 36%). Meniscal tear (47%) was the most common concomitant knee pathological finding, followed by anterior cruciate ligament tear (30%) and then medial collateral ligament or lateral collateral ligament tear (14%).


CONCLUSIONS
Full-thickness focal chondral defects in the knee are more common in athletes than among the general population. More than one-half of asymptomatic athletes have a full-thickness defect. Further study is needed to define more precisely the prevalence of these lesions in this population.
Flanigan
David C
DC
Department of Orthopaedics, Division of Sports Medicine Cartilage Repair Center, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43221-3502, USA. david.flanigan@osumc.edu
Harris
Joshua D
JD
Trinh
Thai Q
TQ
Siston
Robert A
RA
Brophy
Robert H
RH
D001182:Arthroscopy; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence