Open AccessThe subchondral bone healing after fixation of an osteochondral talar defect is superior in comparison with microfracture
Author(s) -
Reilingh Mikel L.,
Lambers Kaj T. A.,
Dahmen Jari,
Opdam Kim T. M.,
Kerkhoffs Gino M. M. J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.806
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1433-7347
pISSN - 0942-2056
DOI - 10.1007/s00167-017-4654-z
Subject(s) - medicine , ankle , surgery , subchondral bone , fixation (population genetics) , osteoarthritis , arthroscopy , articular cartilage , population , alternative medicine , environmental health , pathology
Purpose Arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS) has been considered the primary surgical treatment for osteochondral defects (OCDs) of the talus. However, fixation has been considered as a good alternative. Recently, a new arthroscopic fixation technique was described: the lift, drill, fill and fix procedure (LDFF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results between arthroscopic LDFF and arthroscopic BMS in primary fixable talar OCDs at 1‐year follow‐up. Methods In a prospective comparative study, 14 patients were treated with arthroscopic BMS and 14 patients with arthroscopic LDFF. Pre‐ and postoperative clinical assessment included the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and the numeric rating scales (NRSs) of pain at rest and running. Additionally, the level of the subchondral plate (flush or depressed) was analysed on the 1 year postoperative computed tomography scans. Results No significant differences in the AOFAS and NRS pain at rest and running were found between both groups at 1‐year follow‐up. After LDFF the level of the subchondral bone plate was flush in 10 patients and after BMS in three patients ( p = 0.02). Conclusion No clinical differences were found between arthroscopic LDFF and arthroscopic BMS in the treatment of talar OCDs at 1‐year follow‐up. However, the subchondral bone plate restores significantly superior after arthroscopic LDFF compared to arthroscopic BMS. It may therefore give less progression of ankle osteoarthritis in the future with a thus potential better long‐term outcome. Level of evidence III.