title: Histological evaluation of calcaneal tuberosity cartilage--A proposed donor site for osteochondral autologous transplant for talar dome osteochondral lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteochondral Autologous Transplant (OATs) as a treatment option for Osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the talar dome frequently uses the distal femur as the donor site which is associated with donor site morbidity in up to 50%. Some studies have described the presence of hyaline cartilage in the posterior superior calcaneal tuberosity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the posterior superior calcaneal tuberosity to determine if it can be a suitable donor site for OATs of the talus
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cadaveric study, we histologically evaluated 12 osteochondral plugs taken from the posterior superior calcaneal tuberosity and compared them to 12 osteochondral plugs taken from the talar dome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the talar dome group, all samples had evidence of hyaline cartilage with varying degrees of GAG staining. The average hyaline cartilage thickness in the samples was 1.33 mm. There was no evidence of fibrocartilage, fibrous tissue or fatty tissue in this group. In contrast, the Calcaneal tuberosity samples had no evidence of hyaline cartilage. Fibrocartilage was noted in 3 samples only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that the structural differences between the talus and calcanium grafts render the posterior superior clancaneal tuberosity an unsuitable donor site for OATs in the treatment of OCL of the talus.
authors.affiliation: Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK; Fortius Clinics, 17 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H6WQ, UK.
authors.forename: James D F
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.affiliation: Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK; Fortius Clinics, 17 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H6WQ, UK. Electronic address: dr_moez@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Moez S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ballal
authors.affiliation: Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK; Fortius Clinics, 17 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H6WQ, UK.
authors.forename: Rupinderbir S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Deol
authors.affiliation: Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK; Fortius Clinics, 17 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H6WQ, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.affiliation: Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK; Fortius Clinics, 17 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H6WQ, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK; Fortius Clinics, 17 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H6WQ, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lutz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055034:Osteochondrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013628:Talus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
keywords: Calcanium; Histology; OATs; Osteochondral; Talus