Skip to main content

Minimally Invasive Management of Osteochondral Defects to the Talus

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Intraarticular Fractures

Abstract

An osteochondral defect (OCD) to the talus represents a pathologic combined articular cartilage and subchondral bone lesion that can severely affect the quality of life of the active patient. Although bone marrow stimulation, autologous chondrocyte implantation and autologous osteochondral transplantation are the most commonly practiced surgical procedures, worldwide consensus amongst orthopaedic surgeons on the optimal treatment strategy of symptomatic defects after adequate non-surgical treatment and failed prior surgical treatment has yet to be achieved despite substantial clinical research. In this chapter we present a historical perspective and an updated and evidence-based insight into the current concepts of different minimally invasive treatment strategies for primary talar OCDs and those that failed prior surgical treatment. Additionally, we describe the technique, the results and the corresponding postoperative management of a promising minimally invasive arthroscopic internal fixation procedure, known as the “Lift, Drill, Fill and Fix” (LDFF) technique.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander AH, Lichtman DM (1980) Surgical treatment of transchondral talar-dome fractures (osteochondritis dissecans). Long-term follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Am 62:646–652

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aurich M, Bedi HS, Smith PJ et al (2011) Arthroscopic treatment of osteochondral lesions of the ankle with matrix-associated chondrocyte implantation: early clinical and magnetic resonance imaging results. Am J Sports Med 39:311–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer M, Jonsson K, Linden B (1987) Osteochondritis dissecans of the ankle. A 20-year follow-up study. J Bone Joint Surg Br 69:93–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Bergen CJ, de Leeuw PA, van Dijk CN (2008) Treatment of osteochondral defects of the talus. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot 94:398–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Bergen CJA, Kox LS, Maas M et al (2013) Arthroscopic treatment of osteochondral defects of the talus: outcomes at eight to twenty years of follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Am 95:519–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berndt AL, Harty M (1959) Transchondral fractures (osteochondritis dissecans) of the talus. J Bone Joint Surg Am 41:988–1020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi WJ, Park KK, Kim BS et al (2009) Osteochondral lesion of the talus: is there a critical defect size for poor outcome? Am J Sports Med 37:1974–1980

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chuckpaiwong B, Berkson EM, Theodore GH (2008) Microfracture for osteochondral lesions of the ankle: outcome analysis and outcome predictors of 105 cases. Arthroscopy 24:106–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahmen J, Lambers KT, Reilingh ML et al (2018) No superior treatment for primary osteochondral defects of the talus. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 26:2142–2157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DePalma AF, McKeever CD, Subin DK (1966) Process of repair of articular cartilage demonstrated by histology and autoradiography with tritiated thymidine. Clin Orthop Relat Res 48:229–242

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Dijk CN, van Bergen CJ (2008) Advancements in ankle arthroscopy. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 16:635–646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dijk CN, Verhagen RA, Tol JL (1997) Arthroscopy for problems after ankle fracture. J Bone Joint Surg Br 79:280–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donnenwerth MP, Roukis TS (2012) Outcome of arthroscopic debridement and microfracture as the primary treatment for osteochondral lesions of the talar dome. Arthroscopy 28:1902–1907

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Draper SD, Fallat LM (2000) Autogenous bone grafting for the treatment of talar dome lesions. J Foot Ankle Surg 39:15–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferkel RD, Zanotti RM, Komenda GA et al (2008) Arthroscopic treatment of chronic osteochondral lesions of the talus: long-term results. Am J Sports Med 36:1750–1762

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giannini S, Buda R, Ruffilli A et al (2014) Arthroscopic autologous chondrocyte implantation in the ankle joint. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22:1311–1319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giannini S, Buda R, Vannini F et al (2008) Arthroscopic autologous chondrocyte implantation in osteochondral lesions of the talus: surgical technique and results. Am J Sports Med 36:873–880

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giannini S, Vannini F (2004) Operative treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talar dome: current concepts review. Foot Ankle Int 25:168–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hannon CP, Smyth NA, Murawski CD et al (2014) Osteochondral lesions of the talus: aspects of current management. Bone Joint J 96:164–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hintermann B, Regazzoni P, Lampert C et al (2000) Arthroscopic findings in acute fractures of the ankle. J Bone Joint Surg Br 82:345–351

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter W (1743) On the structure and diseases of articular cartilage. Philos Trans R Soc London Biol 42:514–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kappis M (1922) Weitere beiträge zur traumatisch-mechanischen entstenhung der “spontanen” knorpelabiösungen. Dtsch Z Chir 171:13–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerkhoffs GM, Reilingh ML, Gerards RM et al (2016) Lift, drill, fill and fix (LDFF): a new arthroscopic treatment for talar osteochondral defects. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24:1265–1271

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim HK, Moran ME, Salter RB (1991) The potential for regeneration of articular cartilage in defects created by chondral shaving and subchondral abrasion. An experimental investigation in rabbits. J Bone Joint Surg Am 73:1301–1315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kitaoka HB, Alexander IJ, Adelaar RS et al (1994) Clinical rating systems for the ankle-hindfoot, midfoot, hallux, and lesser toes. Foot Ankle Int 15:349–353

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klammer G, Maquieira GJ, Spahn S et al (2015) Natural history of nonoperatively treated osteochondral lesions of the talus. Foot Ankle Int 36:24–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • König F (1887) Über freie Körper in den Gelenken. Dtsch Z Chir 27:90–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kono M, Takao M, Naito K et al (2006) Retrograde drilling for osteochondral lesions of the talar dome. Am J Sports Med 34:1450–1456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumai T, Takakura Y, Kitada C et al (2002) Fixation of osteochondral lesions of the talus using cortical bone pegs. J Bone Joint Surg Br 84:369–374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lambers KT, Dahmen J, Reilingh ML et al (2018) No superior surgical treatment for secondary osteochondral defects of the talus. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 26(7):2158–2170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Largey A, Faure P, Hebrard W et al (2009) Osteochondral transfer using a transmalleolar approach for arthroscopic management of talus posteromedial lesions. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 95:537–542

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee KB, Bai LB, Yoon TR et al (2009) Second-look arthroscopic findings and clinical outcomes after microfracture for osteochondral lesions of the talus. Am J Sports Med 37(Suppl 1):63–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loveday D, Clifton R, Robinson A (2010) Interventions for treating osteochondral defects of the talus in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 4:CD008104

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynn AK, Brooks RA, Bonfield W et al (2004) Repair of defects in articular joints. Prospects for material-based solutions in tissue engineering. J Bone Joint Surg Br 86:1093–1099

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh JL, Buckwalter J, Gelberman R et al (2002) Articular fractures: does an anatomic reduction really change the result? J Bone Joint Surg Am 84:1259–1271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCullough CJ, Venugopal V (1979) Osteochondritis dissecans of the talus: the natural history. Clin Orthop Relat Res 144:264–268

    Google Scholar 

  • McGahan PJ, Pinney SJ (2010) Current concept review: osteochondral lesions of the talus. Foot Ankle Int 31:90–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monro A (1856) Microgeologie. Th Billroth, Berlin, p 236

    Google Scholar 

  • Murawski CD, Kennedy JG (2013) Operative treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus. J Bone Joint Surg Am 95:1045–1054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Driscoll SW (1998) The healing and regeneration of articular cartilage. J Bone Joint Surg Am 80:1795–1812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Loughlin PF, Heyworth BE, Kennedy JG (2010) Current concepts in the diagnosis and treatment of osteochondral lesions of the ankle. Am J Sports Med 38:392–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paget J (1870) On the production of the loose bodies in joints. St Bartholomew’s Hospital Rep 6:1

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiu YS, Shahgaldi BF, Revell WJ et al (2003) Observations of subchondral plate advancement during osteochondral repair: a histomorphometric and mechanical study in the rabbit femoral condyle. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 11:810–820

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramponi L, Yasui Y, Murawski CD et al (2016) Lesion size is a predictor of clinical outcomes after bone marrow stimulation for osteochondral lesions of the talus: a systematic review. Am J Sports Med 45:1698–1705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reilingh ML, van Bergen CJ, Blankevoort L et al (2016) Computed tomography analysis of osteochondral defects of the talus after arthroscopic debridement and microfracture. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24:1286–1292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reilingh ML, Kerkhoffs GM (2015) Lift, drill, fill and fix (LDFF): a cartilage preservation technique in osteochondral talar defects. In: Canata GL, van Dijk CN (eds) Cartilage lesions of the ankle. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 77–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilingh ML, Kerkhoffs GM, Telkamp CJ et al (2014) Treatment of osteochondral defects of the talus in children. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22:2243–2249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rendu A (1932) Fracture intra-articulaire parcellaire de la poulie astraglienne. Lyon Med 150:220–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Rödén S, Tillegard P, Unanderscharin L (1953) Osteochondritis dissecans and similar lesions of the talus: report of fifty-five cases with special reference to etiology and treatment. Acta Orthop Scand 23:51–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salaffi F, Stancati A, Silvestri CA et al (2007) Minimal clinically important changes in chronic musculoskeletal pain intensity measured on a numerical rating scale. Eur J Radiol 8:283–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Sasaki K, Ishibashi Y, Sato H et al (2003) Arthroscopically assisted osteochondral autogenous transplantation for osteochondral lesion of the talus using a transmalleolar approach. Arthroscopy 19:922–927

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savage-Elliott I, Ross KA, Smyth NA et al (2014) Osteochondral lesions of the talus: a current concepts review and evidence-based treatment paradigm. Foot Ankle Spec 7:414–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saxena A, Eakin C (2007) Articular talar injuries in athletes: results of microfracture and autogenous bone graft. Am J Sports Med 35:1680–1687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuh A, Salminen S, Zeiler G et al (2004) Results of fixation of osteochondral lesions of the talus using K-wires. Zentralbl Chir 129:470–475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith GD, Taylor J, Almqvist KF et al (2005) Arthroscopic assessment of cartilage repair: a validation study of 2 scoring systems. Arthroscopy 21:1462–1467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stufkens SA, Knupp M, Horisberger M et al (2010) Cartilage lesions and the development of osteoarthritis after internal fixation of ankle fractures: a prospective study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 92:279–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vannini F, Cavallo M, Baldassarri M et al (2014) Treatment of juvenile osteochondritis dissecans of the talus: current concepts review. Joints 2:188–191

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vasara AI, Hyttinen MM, Pulliainen O et al (2006) Immature porcine knee cartilage lesions show good healing with or without autologous chondrocyte transplantation. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 14:1066–1074

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei X, Gao J, Messner K (1997) Maturation-dependent repair of untreated osteochondral defects in the rabbit knee joint. J Biomed Mater Res 34:63–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei X, Messner K (1999) Maturation-dependent durability of spontaneous cartilage repair in rabbit knee joint. J Biomed Mater Res 46:539–548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wodicka R, Ferkel E, Ferkel R (2016) Osteochondral lesions of the ankle. Foot Ankle Int 37:1023–1034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zengerink M, van Dijk CN (2012) Complications in ankle arthroscopy. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 20:1420–1431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zengerink M, Struijs PA, Tol JL et al (2010) Treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus: a systematic review. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18:238–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zengerink M, Szerb I, Hangody L et al (2006) Current concepts: treatment of osteochondral ankle defects. Foot Ankle Clin 11:331–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jari Dahmen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Dahmen, J., Lambers, K.T.A., Reilingh, M.L., Kerkhoffs, G.M.M.J. (2019). Minimally Invasive Management of Osteochondral Defects to the Talus. In: Doral, M., Karlsson, J., Nyland, J., Benedetto, K. (eds) Intraarticular Fractures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97602-0_41

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97602-0_41

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97600-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97602-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics