title: Return to sports after arthroscopic debridement and bone marrow stimulation of osteochondral talar defects: a 5- to 24-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteochondral defects (OCD) often have a severe impact on the quality of life due to deep ankle pain during and after weight bearing, which prevents young patients from leading an active life. Arthroscopic debridement and bone marrow stimulation are currently the gold standard treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the number of patients that resume and maintain sports to their pre-injury activity level after arthroscopic debridement and bone marrow stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study evaluated patients treated with arthroscopic debridement and bone marrow stimulation between 1989 and 2008. All patients who were participating in sports before injury were included. The Ankle Activity Scale (AAS) was used to determine activity levels during specific time points (before injury, before operation, after operation and at the time of final follow-up).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-three patients were included. Fifty-seven (76%) patients continued participating in sports at final follow-up. The median AAS before injury of 8 (range 3-10) significantly decreased to 4 (range 2-10) at final follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is shown that 76% of the patients were able to return to sports at long-term follow-up after arthroscopic debridement and bone marrow stimulation of talar OCDs. The activity level decreased at long-term follow-up and never reached the level of that before injury. The data of our study can be of importance to inform future patients on expectations after debridement and bone marrow stimulation of a talar OCD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series, Level IV.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. i.c.vaneekeren@amc.uva.nl.
authors: I C M
authors: IC
authors: van Eekeren
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: C J A
authors: CJ
authors: van Bergen
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Slotervaart Ziekenhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: I N
authors: IN
authors: Sierevelt
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Reilingh
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: C N
authors: CN
authors: van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery; D018771:Arthralgia; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000601:surgery*; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068958:Return to Sport; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013628:Talus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arthroscopic debridement and bone marrow stimulation; Long-term follow-up; Osteochondral defect; Sports resumption