Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of a nano-composite multi-layered three-dimensional biomaterial scaffold for treatment of osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the knee. It was a particular radiological interest to analyse the osseointegration, filling of the defects and the bone tracer uptake (BTU), and it was hypothesised that this scaffold, which was created to mimic the entire osteo-cartilaginous unit, is integrated within the bone 12 months postoperatively and comes along with improved patients symptoms and function.
Methods
Fourteen patients (male:female = 11:3, mean age ± SD 33.1 ± 10.7 years) treated for OCL (size 1.0–3.5 cm2) were clinically and radiologically evaluated at 1 year postoperatively. The data were prospectively collected including SPECT/CT, Tegner and Lysholm scores. BTU was anatomically localised and volumetrically quantified in SPECT/CT. Defect filling was analysed in CT. Spearman’s rho and Wilcoxon test were used for correlation of BTU in SPECT/CT and clinical scores (p < 0.05).
Results
A significant improvement in Lysholm knee score (p < 0.001) and slight deterioration in Tegner score were found (p < 0.01). A complete filling of the defect was shown in 14%, a partial filling in 14% and only minor filling was seen in 72%. A significant correlation (p < 0.001) was found between location of osteochondral lesions and increased BTU. At the lesion sites pre- and postoperative BTU was markedly increased and did not show any decrease at 12-month follow-up. Median Tegner and mean Lysholm scores did not correlate with BTU at any time.
Conclusions
Treatment of OCL in the knee joint with a nano-composite multi-layered three-dimensional biomaterial scaffold resulted in a significant clinical improvement at 1-year follow-up. However, osseointegration was still ongoing at 12-month follow-up.
Level of evidence
Case series, Level IV.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aglietti P, Buzzi R, Bassi PB, Fioriti M (1994) Arthroscopic drilling in juvenile osteochondritis dissecans of the medial femoral condyle. Arthroscopy 10:286–291
Aichroth P (1971) Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. A clinical survey. J Bone Joint Surg Br 53:440–447
Al-Nabhani K, Michopoulou S, Allie R, Alkalbani J, Saad Z, Sajjan R, Syed R, Bomanji J (2014) Painful knee prosthesis: can we help with bone SPECT/CT? Nucl Med Commun 35:182–188
Anderson AF, Pagnani MJ (1997) Osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral condyles. Long-term results of excision of the fragment. Am J Sports Med 25:830–834
Bentley G, Bhamra JS, Gikas PD, Skinner JA, Carrington R, Briggs TW (2013) Repair of osteochondral defects in joints—how to achieve success. Injury 44(Suppl 1):S3–S10
Boegard T, Rudling O, Dahlstrom J, Dirksen H, Petersson IF, Jonsson K (1999) Bone scintigraphy in chronic knee pain: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging. Ann Rheum Dis 58(1):20–26
Brittberg M, Lindahl A, Nilsson A, Ohlsson C, Isaksson O, Peterson L (1994) Treatment of deep cartilage defects in the knee with autologous chondrocyte transplantation. N Engl J Med 331:889–895
Brix M, Kaipel M, Kellner R, Schreiner M, Apprich S, Boszotta H, Windhager R, Domayer S, Trattnig S (2016) Successful osteoconduction but limited cartilage tissue quality following osteochondral repair by a cell-free multilayered nano-composite scaffold at the knee. Int Orthop 40:625–632
Buck FM, Hoffmann A, Hofer B, Pfirrmann CW, Allgayer B (2009) Chronic medial knee pain without history of prior trauma: correlation of pain at rest and during exercise using bone scintigraphy and MR imaging. Skelet Radiol 38:339–347
Cahill B (1985) Treatment of juvenile osteochondritis dissecans and osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. Clin Sports Med 4(2):367–384
Cain EL, Clancy WG (2001) Treatment algorithm for osteochondral injuries of the knee. Clin Sports Med 20:321–342
Chopra A (2007) 99mTc-methyl diphosphonate. In: Molecular imaging and contrast agent database (MICAD). National Center for Biotechnology Information (US) 2004–2013, Bethesda, MD
Christensen BB, Foldager CB, Jensen J, Jensen NC, Lind M (2016) Poor osteochondral repair by a biomimetic collagen scaffold: 1- to 3-year clinical and radiological follow-up. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24:2380–2387
Cook GJ, Ryan PJ, Clarke SE, Fogelman I (1996) SPECT bone scintigraphy of anterior cruciate ligament injury. J Nucl Med 37:1353–1356
de Windt TS, Welsch GH, Brittberg M, Vonk LA, Marlovits S, Trattnig S, Saris DB (2013) Is magnetic resonance imaging reliable in predicting clinical outcome after articular cartilage repair of the knee? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med 41:1695–1702
Delcogliano M, de Caro F, Scaravella E, Ziveri G, De Biase CF, Marotta D, Marenghi P, Delcogliano A (2014) Use of innovative biomimetic scaffold in the treatment for large osteochondral lesions of the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22:1260–1269
Donaldson LD, Wojtys EM (2008) Extraarticular drilling for stable osteochondritis dissecans in the skeletally immature knee. J Pediatr Orthop 28:831–835
Dordevic M, Hirschmann MT, Rechsteiner J, Falkowski A, Testa E, Hirschmann A (2016) Do chondral lesions of the knee correlate with bone tracer uptake by using SPECT/CT? Radiology 278:223–231
Dye SF, Chew MH (1994) The use of scintigraphy to detect increased osseous metabolic activity about the knee. Instr Course Lect 43:453–469
Emmerson BC, Gortz S, Jamali AA, Chung C, Amiel D, Bugbee WD (2007) Fresh osteochondral allografting in the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral condyle. Am J Sports Med 35:907–914
Filardo G, Kon E, Di Martino A, Busacca M, Altadonna G, Marcacci M (2013) Treatment of knee osteochondritis dissecans with a cell-free biomimetic osteochondral scaffold: clinical and imaging evaluation at 2-year follow-up. Am J Sports Med 41:1786–1793
Gomoll AH, Madry H, Knutsen G, van Dijk N, Seil R, Brittberg M, Kon E (2010) The subchondral bone in articular cartilage repair: current problems in the surgical management. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18:434–447
Henckel JRR, Lozhkin K, Harris S, Baena FM, Barrett AR, Cobb JP (2006) Very low-dose computed tomography for planning and outcome measurement in knee replacement. The imperial knee protocol. J Bone Joint Surg Br 88:1513–1518
Hirschmann A, Hirschmann MT (2016) Chronic knee pain: clinical value of MRI versus SPECT/CT. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 20:3–11
Hirschmann MT, Adler T, Rasch H, Hugli RW, Friederich NF, Arnold MP (2010) Painful knee joint after ACL reconstruction using biodegradable interference screws—SPECT/CT a valuable diagnostic tool? A case report. Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Ther Technol 2:24
Hirschmann MT, Davda K, Iranpour F, Rasch H, Friederich NF (2011) Combined single photon emission computerised tomography and conventional computerised tomography (SPECT/CT) in patellofemoral disorders: a clinical review. Int Orthop 35:675–680
Hirschmann MT, Davda K, Rasch H, Arnold MP, Friederich NF (2011) Clinical value of combined single photon emission computerized tomography and conventional computer tomography (SPECT/CT) in sports medicine. Sports Med Arthrosc 19:174–181
Hirschmann MT, Henckel J, Rasch H (2013) SPECT/CT in patients with painful knee arthroplasty—what is the evidence? Skelet Radiol 42:1201–1207
Hirschmann MT, Iranpour F, Davda K, Rasch H, Hugli R, Friederich NF (2010) Combined single-photon emission computerized tomography and conventional computerized tomography (SPECT/CT): clinical value for the knee surgeons? Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18:341–345
Hirschmann MT, Konala P, Iranpour F, Kerner A, Rasch H, Friederich NF (2011) Clinical value of SPECT/CT for evaluation of patients with painful knees after total knee arthroplasty—a new dimension of diagnostics? BMC Musculoskelet Disord 12:36
Hirschmann MT, Mathis D, Afifi FK, Rasch H, Henckel J, Amsler F, Wagner CR, Friederich NF, Arnold MP (2013) Single photon emission computerized tomography and conventional computerized tomography (SPECT/CT) for evaluation of patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a novel standardized algorithm combining mechanical and metabolic information. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 21:965–974
Hirschmann MT, Mathis D, Rasch H, Amsler F, Friederich NF, Arnold MP (2013) SPECT/CT tracer uptake is influenced by tunnel orientation and position of the femoral and tibial ACL graft insertion site. Int Orthop 37:301–309
Hirschmann MT, Schon S, Afifi FK, Amsler F, Rasch H, Friederich NF, Arnold MP (2013) Assessment of loading history of compartments in the knee using bone SPECT/CT: a study combining alignment and 99mTc-HDP tracer uptake/distribution patterns. J Orthop Res 31:268–274
Hirschmann MT, Wagner CR, Rasch H, Henckel J (2012) Standardized volumetric 3D-analysis of SPECT/CT imaging in orthopaedics: overcoming the limitations of qualitative 2D analysis. BMC Med Imaging 12:5
Hughston JC, Hergenroeder PT, Courtenay BG (1984) Osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral condyles. J Bone Joint Surg Am 66:1340–1348
Kivisto R, Pasanen L, Leppilahti J, Jalovaara P (2002) Arthroscopic repair of osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral condyles with metal staple fixation: a report of 28 cases. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 10:305–309
Kon E, Delcogliano M, Filardo G, Altadonna G, Marcacci M (2009) Novel nano-composite multi-layered biomaterial for the treatment of multifocal degenerative cartilage lesions. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 17:1312–1315
Kon E, Delcogliano M, Filardo G, Fini M, Giavaresi G, Francioli S, Martin I, Pressato D, Arcangeli E, Quarto R, Sandri M, Marcacci M (2010) Orderly osteochondral regeneration in a sheep model using a novel nano-composite multilayered biomaterial. J Orthop Res 28:116–124
Kon E, Delcogliano M, Filardo G, Pressato D, Busacca M, Grigolo B, Desando G, Marcacci M (2010) A novel nano-composite multi-layered biomaterial for treatment of osteochondral lesions: technique note and an early stability pilot clinical trial. Injury 41:693–701
Kon E, Filardo G, Di Martino A, Busacca M, Moio A, Perdisa F, Marcacci M (2014) Clinical results and MRI evolution of a nano-composite multilayered biomaterial for osteochondral regeneration at 5 years. Am J Sports Med 42:158–165
Kon E, Vannini F, Buda R, Filardo G, Cavallo M, Ruffilli A, Nanni M, Di Martino A, Marcacci M, Giannini S (2012) How to treat osteochondritis dissecans of the knee: surgical techniques and new trends: AAOS exhibit selection. J Bone Joint Surg Am 94:e1–e8
Konala P, Iranpour F, Kerner A, Rasch H, Friederich NF, Hirschmann MT (2010) Clinical benefit of SPECT/CT for follow-up of surgical treatment of osteochondritis dissecans. Ann Nucl Med 24:621–624
Maas O, Joseph GB, Sommer G, Wild D, Kretzschmar M (2015) Association between cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone remodeling in patients with knee osteoarthritis comparing MRI and (99 m)Tc-DPD-SPECT/CT. Osteoarthr Cartil 23(10):1713–1720
Magnussen RA, Dunn WR, Carey JL, Spindler KP (2008) Treatment of focal articular cartilage defects in the knee: a systematic review. Clin Orthop Relat Res 466:952–962
Marlovits S, Striessnig G, Resinger CT, Aldrian SM, Vecsei V, Imhof H, Trattnig S (2004) Definition of pertinent parameters for the evaluation of articular cartilage repair tissue with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Eur J Radiol 52:310–319
Mathis DT, Hirschmann A, Falkowski AL, Kiekara T, Amsler F, Rasch H, Hirschmann MT (2017) Increased bone tracer uptake in symptomatic patients with ACL graft insufficiency: a correlation of MRI and SPECT/CT findings. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. doi:10.1007/s00167-017-4588-5
Mathis DT, Rasch H, Hirschmann MT (2015) In vivo bone tunnel remodeling in symptomatic patients after ACL reconstruction: a retrospective comparison of articular and extra-articular fixation. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J 5:316–324
McCoy B, Miniaci A (2012) Osteochondral autograft transplantation/mosaicplasty. J Knee Surg 25:99–108
Mucha A, Dordevic M, Hirschmann A, Rasch H, Amsler F, Arnold MP, Hirschmann MT (2015) Effect of high tibial osteotomy on joint loading in symptomatic patients with varus aligned knees: a study using SPECT/CT. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23:2315–2323
Mucha A, Dordevic M, Testa EA, Rasch H, Hirschmann MT (2013) Assessment of the loading history of patients after high tibial osteotomy using SPECT/CT—a new diagnostic tool and algorithm. J Orthop Surg Res 8:46
Pallante AL, Bae WC, Chen AC, Gortz S, Bugbee WD, Sah RL (2009) Chondrocyte viability is higher after prolonged storage at 37 °C than at 4 °C for osteochondral grafts. Am J Sports Med 37(Suppl 1):24S–32S
Pascual-Garrido C, Friel NA, Kirk SS, McNickle AG, Bach BR Jr, Bush-Joseph CA, Verma NN, Cole BJ (2009) Midterm results of surgical treatment for adult osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. Am J Sports Med 37(Suppl 1):125S–130S
Peterson L, Minas T, Brittberg M, Lindahl A (2003) Treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the knee with autologous chondrocyte transplantation: results at two to ten years. J Bone Joint Surg Am 85-A(Suppl 2):17–24
Ramirez A, Abril JC, Chaparro M (2010) Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans of the knee: perifocal sclerotic rim as a prognostic factor of healing. J Pediatr Orthop 30:180–185
Rasch H, Falkowski AL, Forrer F, Henckel J, Hirschmann MT (2013) 4D-SPECT/CT in orthopaedics: a new method of combined quantitative volumetric 3D analysis of SPECT/CT tracer uptake and component position measurements in patients after total knee arthroplasty. Skelet Radiol 42:1215–1223
Schon SN, Afifi FK, Rasch H, Amsler F, Friederich NF, Arnold MP, Hirschmann MT (2014) Assessment of in vivo loading history of the patellofemoral joint: a study combining patellar position, tilt, alignment and bone SPECT/CT. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22:3039–3046
Shimomura K, Moriguchi Y, Ando W, Nansai R, Fujie H, Hart DA, Gobbi A, Kita K, Horibe S, Shino K, Yoshikawa H, Nakamura N (2014) Osteochondral repair using a scaffold-free tissue-engineered construct derived from synovial mesenchymal stem cells and a hydroxyapatite-based artificial bone. Tissue Eng Part A 20:2291–2304
Tampieri A, Sandri M, Landi E, Pressato D, Francioli S, Quarto R, Martin I (2008) Design of graded biomimetic osteochondral composite scaffolds. Biomaterials 29:3539–3546
Wasiak J, Clar C, Villanueva E (2006) Autologous cartilage implantation for full thickness articular cartilage defects of the knee. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 3:CD003323
Wright RW, McLean M, Matava MJ, Shively RA (2004) Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee: long-term results of excision of the fragment. Clin Orthop Relat Res 424:239–243
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Mr. Patrick Jaeger for the graphical formatting.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors have no conflict of interest.
Funding
A financial grant from Fin-ceramica faenza spa, Faenza RA, Italia was recieved for statistical analysis.
Ethical approval
Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethikkommission Nordwest- und Zentralschweiz (EKNZ, Basel EK 2015-396). All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Informed consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mathis, D.T., Kaelin, R., Rasch, H. et al. Good clinical results but moderate osseointegration and defect filling of a cell-free multi-layered nano-composite scaffold for treatment of osteochondral lesions of the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 26, 1273–1280 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-017-4638-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-017-4638-z