[Treatment strategy of osteochondral defects of knee joint].
OBJECTIVE
To review the current treatment status of osteochondral defects (OCD) of the knee joint.


METHODS
Recent literature concerning treatment of OCD of the knee joint was extensively reviewed and summarized.


RESULTS
OCD affect both the articular cartilage and the underlying subchondral bone, whereas OCD caused by different etiologies require various treatments. OCD repair is available by conventional clinical methods or the advanced tissue engineering strategies. Current clinical treatment outcomes remain uncertain; tissue engineering has emerged as a potential option as it can be efficiently applied to regenerate bone, cartilage, and the bone-cartilage interface, as well as effectively restore normal function and mechanical properties of the cartilage and subchondral bone.


CONCLUSIONS
OCD management and repair remain a great challenge in orthopedic surgery, thus cartilage and subchondral bone should be promoted as an interdependent functional unit considering treatment strategies to provide the best solution for the treatment of osteochondral defects.
Yongcheng
Y
Wang
Xueling
X
Yuan
Aiyuan
A
Wang
Jiang
J
Peng
Shibi
S
Lu
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016207:Cytokines