Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes After Fixation of Chondral Fragments of the Knee in 6 Adolescents Using Autologous Bone Pegs. Issue 11 (17th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ogura, Takahiro; Sakai, Hiroki; Asai, Shigehiro; Fukuda, Hideaki; Takahashi, Tatsuya; Kanisawa, Izumi; Yamaura, Ichiro; Tsuchiya, Akihiro; Forney, Michael; Winalski, Carl S.; Takahashi, Kenji
• Is Part Of: Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine. Volume 8:Issue 11(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-17
• Subjects: cartilage -- chondral fragment -- chondral fracture -- fixation -- bone peg; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Orthopedics -- Periodicals; Arthroscopy -- Periodicals; Arthroplasty -- Periodicals; Knee -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 616.7
• DOI: 10.1177/2325967120963050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2325-9671

Abstract

Background: Little is known regarding the optimal treatment for displaced, purely chondral fragments in the knee. Purpose: To report the clinical and radiographic outcomes of chondral fragment fixation in adolescents through use of autologous bone pegs. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study evaluated 6 patients (mean age, 12.9 years) who underwent fixation of chondral fragments (no visualized bone attached) using autologous bone pegs (mean postoperative follow-up, 5.2 years; range, 1.4-10.9 years). The causes were trauma (n = 5) and osteochondritis dissecans (n = 1). Lesions were located in the trochlear groove (lateral, n = 3; medial, n = 2) or posterior part of the lateral femoral condyle (n = 1). The mean lesion size was 3.8 cm 2 (range, 0.8-9.0 cm 2 ). Patients were evaluated via physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue scores. Results: In total, 5 patients successfully returned to sports without restrictions at a mean of 7 months (range, 6-8 months) postoperatively. At the latest follow-up, these 5 patients had full range of motion and no joint effusion. The mean magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue score was 85 (range, 70-95) at a mean duration of 3 years (range, 1-5 years). One patient experienced failure at 1.3 years postoperatively after a traumatic injury and subsequently underwent removal of the fixed fragment and a drilling procedure. Conclusion: In most adolescents, fixation of chondral fragments with no visualized bony portion using autologous bone pegs provided a satisfactory success rate and good healing of cartilage tissue confirmed on MRI scans.