A Practical Arthroscopic Approach to Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
A well-reported case series >5 years after surgery suggests this approach is worth a look
What’s the Claim?
An arthroscopic technique to elevate, drill, graft, and internally fix the surface of primary osteochondral lesions after elevating them on a hinged osteochondral flap was effective in 18 of 20 patients a minimum of five years after surgery. The authors reported improvements in pain scores at rest but especially with walking and running, as well as improvements in scores for activities of daily living, sport, and quality of life. Survivorship at 5 years free from reoperation was 87% in the ankles studied (20 of 23).
