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Mechanical debridement versus radiofrequency in knee chondroplasty with concomitant medial meniscectomy: 10-year results from a randomized controlled study

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

We compared the effectiveness of mechanical debridement (MD) and bipolar radiofrequency chondroplasty (RF) with regard to clinical outcome, rate of revision, and progression of knee osteoarthritis.

Methods

Sixty patients with MRI-detected grade III cartilage lesions on the medial femoral condyle were considered for the study. For MD (group 1; n = 30), each lesion was debrided using a mechanical shaver. For RF (group 2; n = 30), each lesion was smoothed using a temperature-controlled RF probe set at 50 °C.

Results

The 10-year follow-up was available for 47 patients (78.3 %). Sixty per cent of group 1 (n = 18) underwent revision during the follow-up period. In contrast, the revision rate in group 2 was 23.3 % (n = 7; p = 0.061). The mean survival was 94.1 months (95 % CI 77.1–111.3) and 62.5 months (95 % CI 45.9–79.2) for group 2 and group 1, respectively. Patients who did not require revision (group 1, n = 9; group 2, n = 13) were assessed before surgery and 1, 4, and 10 years after surgery using the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS). At follow-up, the KOOS was higher for group 2 than group 1. At the time of surgery, no patient showed any radiological signs of osteoarthritis. The width of the medial joint was 5.4 mm (95 % CI 4.3–6.5) and 5.6 mm (95 % CI 4.9–6.3) in the MD and RF groups, respectively (n.s.). During the follow-up period, the joint space width narrowed continuously in both groups (p < 0.001), but more rapidly in the group 1 (n.s).

Conclusion

Compared to conventional MD, 50° RF treatment appears to be a superior method based on short- and medium-term clinical outcomes and the progression of knee osteoarthritis. Clear predictors for the indications of different cartilage treatments and more randomized clinical trials are needed.

Level of evidence

I.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery and Jena University Hospital, Sophienstr. 16, 99817, Eisenach, Germany

    Gunter Spahn

  2. Trauma Department and Trauma Center Bergmannstrost Halle/S., Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740, Jena, Germany

    Gunther O. Hofmann

  3. Department of Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke and Johanna-Etienne-Hospital, Am Hasenberg 46, 41462, Neuss, Germany

    Lars Victor von Engelhardt

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Correspondence to Gunter Spahn.

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Spahn, G., Hofmann, G.O. & von Engelhardt, L.V. Mechanical debridement versus radiofrequency in knee chondroplasty with concomitant medial meniscectomy: 10-year results from a randomized controlled study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24, 1560–1568 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3810-6

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