Indications and limitations of osteochondral autologous transplantation in osteochondritis dissecans of the talus.

PURPOSE: Osteochondral autologous transplantation (OAT) from the ipsilateral femoral lateral condyle in osteochondritis dissecans (OD) of the talus has shown good clinical results in the past. To further define, indications and limitations of OAT various factors have been discussed which might influence the clinical outcome.

METHODS: In this study, the clinical outcome of OAT of 32 patients (mean follow-up 29 months) was evaluated by means of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, ankle pain on the visual analogue scale (VAS), and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Patella score. We then analysed the statistical correlation between clinical outcome and various variables such as age, pre-existing osteoarthritis, or size of the lesion.

RESULTS: Median AOFAS score was 86 (range 68-100), median ankle pain on VAS was 2.0 (range 0-5.5), and median HSS Patella score was 95 (range 35-100). Advanced age (above 40 years of age) was associated with a significantly lower HSS Patella score (80 vs. 97.5, p = 0.035). None of the other variables (obesity, pre-existing osteoarthritis, size of the lesion, necessity of malleolar osteotomy, localization of the lesion, and number of previous surgeries) influenced the clinical outcome adversely.

CONCLUSIONS: Osteochondral autologous transplantation in OD of the talus is a safe procedure with good clinical results. As advanced age is associated with higher donor-site morbidity, indication for OAT in older patients should be carefully considered. As none of the other variables affected the clinical outcome of OAT adversely, there is no contraindication for OAT, for example, in osteochondral lesions requiring more than one osteochondral grafts, lateral lesions, patients with BMI >25, pre-existing osteoarthritis, or failed previous surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.