title: OSTEOCHONDRAL AUTOLOGOUS TRANSPLANTATION FOR TREATING CHONDRAL LESIONS IN THE PATELLA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this study was to assess the clinical and functional evolution of patients with total-thickness symptomatic cartilaginous injury of the patellar joint surface, treated by means of osteochondral autologous transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted from June 2008 to March 2011 and involved 17 patients. The specific questionnaires of Lysholm, Kujala and Fulkerson were completed preoperatively and one year postoperatively in order to assess the affected knee, and SF-36 was used to assess these patients' general quality of life. The nonparametric paired Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis on the pre and postoperative questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the SPSS for Windows software, version 16.0, and a significance level of 5% was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Lysholm preoperative and postoperative average scores were 54.59 and 75.76 points (p < 0.05). The Fulkerson pre and postoperative average scores were 52.53 and 78.41 points (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that autologous osteochondral transplantation is a good treatment method for total-thickness symptomatic chondral lesions of the joint surface of the patella.
authors.affiliation: Adjunct Professor and Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Moises
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Cohen Institute of Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joicemar Tarouco
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Amaro
authors.affiliation: Trainee at the Cohen Institute of Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo de Souza Campos
authors.initials: Rde S
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Member of the Sports Traumatology Center (CETE), Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Gonçalves
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Arliani
authors.affiliation: Member of the Sports Traumatology Center (CETE), Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego da Costa
authors.initials: Dda C
authors.lastname: Astur
authors.affiliation: Physician in the Knee Group, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Cohen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kaleka
authors.affiliation: Radiologist in the Imaging Diagnostics Clinic, Hospital do Coração, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Abdalla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skaf
keywords: Cartilage Articular; Orthopedics; Patella