title: Osteochondral Autograft and Mosaicplasty in the Football (Soccer) Athlete.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical outcomes of mosaicplasty in the treatment of focal chondral and osteochondral defects of joints among elite football players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series; Level of evidence, 4. The results of mosaicplasty were prospectively evaluated with 1-year intervals with patient-reported outcome measures, radiographs, and sports participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-one patients who received mosaicplasty in the knee joint were followed from 2 to 17 years (average, 9.6 years). The International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) score showed 89% good and excellent results. Sixty-seven percent of all players returned to the same level of sport, with 89% of the elite players and 62% of the competitive players. The average time to return to competitions was 4.5 months (range, 3.5-6.1 months). Players who had better clinical outcomes were significantly younger and had smaller lesions. The results of the medial and lateral condyles were significantly better than those in the patella or trochlea. Concomitant adjuvant procedures improved clinical outcomes. Despite a higher rate of preoperative osteoarthritic changes, clinical outcomes demonstrated a success rate similar to that of less athletic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty in competitive football players is a good alternative procedure to repair cartilage damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Uzsoki Hospital, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gergely
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pánics
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Uzsoki Hospital, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: László Rudolf
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Hangody
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Uzsoki Hospital, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baló
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Uzsoki Hospital, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vásárhelyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Uzsoki Hospital, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gál
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Uzsoki Hospital, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hangody
keywords: autogenous osteochondral graft; football; full-thickness chondral defect; mosaicplasty; osteochondral transfer