title: Cartilage Repair in Football (Soccer) Athletes: What Evidence Leads to Which Treatment? A Critical Review of the Literature.
abstract: The prevalence of focal articular cartilage lesions among athletes is higher than in the general population. Treatment goals differ considerably between the professional and recreational athlete. High financial stakes and the short duration of a professional career influence the treatment selection for the professional athlete, while such parameters weigh differently in recreational sports. This article describes our investigation of the relation between sports and a high prevalence of focal cartilage lesions. In addition, we provide a critical review of the best available evidence for cartilage surgery and treatment selection, evaluate specific patient profiles for professional and recreational athletes, and propose a treatment algorithm for the treatment of focal cartilage lesions in football (soccer) players.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: J E J
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bekkers
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Th S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: de Windt
authors.affiliation: Cartilage Research Unit, Department of Orthopaedics, Göteborg University, Kungsbacka Hospital, Kungsbacka, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brittberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands ; Reconstructive Medicine, MIRA Institute for Technical Medicine & Biomedical Engineering, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: D B F
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Saris
keywords: articular cartilage tissue; athlete; patient profiling; treatment selection