Arthroscopy and microfracture technique in the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum: report of three adolescent gymnasts

The aim of this paper is to report on three cases of symptomatic osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum in adolescent gymnasts, two females and one male. In all the cases arthroscopic surgery was performed. During arthroscopy, loose osteochondral fragments were removed, the defect was debrided and microfractures were performed. All the three patients regained the full range of motion of the affected elbow, and returned to the high-level gymnastics within a period of 5 months. At 12 months follow-up, all the three patients remained symptomless and were participating in high-level gymnastics. A combination of arthroscopy and the microfracture technique is a reliable method with excellent short-term results in the treatment of the osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow.     

Acetabular ossicles: normal variant or disease entity?

Ossicles located in the acetabular fossa may confuse diagnostic and therapeutic work-up. An accessory ossification centre may persist unfused as an os acetabuli centrale which is surrounded by intact hyaline cartilage representing an anatomic variant. Bone islands located in the pillars of the acetabulum can project into the acetabular fossa simulating acetabular ossicles. Osteochondrosis dissecans, posttraumatic articular bodies, degenerative disease and other rare lesions may be responsible for clinical symptoms and are of similar appearance than anatomic variants. Plain film radiography, X-ray tomography, CT and MRI are used to categorize these lesions. MRI is very valuable to assess cartilage integrity in a noninvasive way, but arthro-CT or arthro-MRI have to be used in unclear cases. Therefore the purpose of this presentation is to discuss the appearance, the possible etiology and the differential diagnosis of acetabular ossicles and how they can be evaluated to avoid an unnecessary arthrotomy. Received: 22 December 1998; Revised: 28 May 1999; Accepted: 8 July 1999     

Treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the patella in adolescents with nanofractured autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (NAMIC): A report of five cases

PurposeOsteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the patella is a very rare affliction. The aim of this case series is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Nanofractured Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (NAMIC) technique for the treatment of OCD in young adults.MethodsFive consecutive patients with patellar osteochondral lesions treated with NAMIC were prospectively studied. There were 4 males and 1 female with a mean age of 15.2 years, ranging from 12 to 18 years. Clinically, they presented pain when going up and down stairs or squatting, effusion, swelling and functional limitation. The International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade was III in 4 patients and IV in 1 patient. Patients were functionally evaluated with the Lysholm knee score, the Tegner Activity Score (TAS) and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and radiologically using the Magnetic resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score.ResultsAll the scores significantly improved two years after surgery with respect to pre-operative values (Lysholm score from 63.8 ± 3.9 before surgery to 91 ± 3.2 at 2 years; Tegner activity score from 3.6 ± 0.5 to 8.2 ± 0.8 and the KOOS score from 45.2 ± 2.6 to 91.2 ± 2.4). Both the X-rays and the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed good joint regularity with an average MOCART of 80 ± 7.1/100.ConclusionsTreatment of juvenile patellar osteochondritis dissecans with the NAMIC technique seems to be a reliable technique in the short term to restore the patella joint surface and obtain good functional results.     

Long-term clinical results and MRI changes after autologous chondrocyte implantation in the knee of young and active middle aged patients

Background

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) represents a valid surgical option for symptomatic full-thickness chondral lesions of the knee. Here we report long-term clinical and MRI results of first-generation ACI.

Materials and methods

Fifteen patients (mean age 21.3 years) underwent first-generation ACI for symptomatic chondral defects of the knee between 1997 and 2001. The mean size of the lesions was 5.08 cm² (range 2–9 cm²). Patients were evaluated using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Knee Examination Form, the Tegner Activity Scale, and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). High-resolution MRI was used to analyze the repair tissue with nine variables (the MOCART scoring system).

Results

The mean follow-up period was 148 months (range 125–177 months). ACI resulted in substantial improvements in all clinical outcome parameters, even as much as 12 years after implantation. A significant decrease in the MOCART score was recorded at final measurement. Reoperation was required in 2 patients; failure was caused by partial detachment of the graft in both cases.

Conclusion

Autologous chondrocyte implantation is an effective and durable solution for the treatment of large, full-thickness cartilage and osteochondral lesions, even in young and active middle-aged patients. High-resolution MRI is a useful and noninvasive method for evaluating the repaired tissue.

Level of evidence

IV.

     

自体软骨细胞联合Ⅰ型胶原治疗剥脱性膝骨软骨炎

目的探讨自体软骨细胞联合Ⅰ型胶原蛋白三维支架治疗膝关节剥脱性骨软骨炎的疗效。 方法选取近5年来在青岛市黄岛区中心医院采用自体软骨细胞联合Ⅰ型胶原蛋白三维支架治疗膝关节剥脱性骨软骨炎的患者12例,用单因素方差分析评估术前与术后6个月、12个月国际膝关节文献委员会(IKDC)膝关节评估表、Lysholm膝关节功能评分。术后12个月磁共振成像(MRI)评估软骨修复情况。 结果12例患者术后6个月、12个月的IKDC评分分别为(83.7±5.6)、(91.7±3.7),Lysholm评分分别为(87.5±5.2)、(93.6±2.1),均较术前IKDC评分(53.9±6.7)(F＝158.877)、Lysholm评分(59.1±7.2)(F＝104.258)明显改善(均为P<0.05);每2个时间点之间的IKDC评分、Lysholm评分,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。术后12个月MRI检查显示,所有患者的移植软骨恢复良好,均未出现移植物脱落或局部水肿。术后随访期内,所有患者均未出现膝关节感染。 结论自体软骨细胞联合Ⅰ型胶原蛋白三维支架能有效治疗膝关节剥脱性骨软骨炎。     

磁共振SPIR-3D-FFE-T1WI序列对膝关节早期剥脱性骨软骨炎软骨损伤的实验研究

目的:研究SPIR-3D-FFE-T1WI扫描序列对膝关节早期剥脱性骨软骨炎软骨损伤的诊断能力,为剥脱性骨软骨炎的临床诊断和治疗提供可靠的影像学依据.方法:牛膝关节25只,分别制作关节软骨损伤模型,扫描序列采用SPIR-3D-FFE-T1WI扫描序列.评价牛膝关节剥脱性骨软骨炎软骨损伤模型的MRI特点.结果:牛膝关节剥脱性骨软骨炎软骨损伤模型MR检查结果:SPIR-3D-FFE-T1WI序列敏感度为93.4%,特异度为98%.结论:SPIR-3D-FFE-T1WI序列有利于膝关节剥脱性骨软骨炎软骨损伤的早期诊断.     

成年人股骨髁剥脱性骨软骨炎的外科治疗

目的 探讨成年人不同类型股骨髁剥脱性骨软骨炎（OCD）治疗方法.方法 采用回顾性研究方法.纳入标准：18岁以上成年人,股骨髁OCD,采用外科治疗,术后随访24个月以上.排除标准：青少年OCD,非手术治疗患者,术后失随访患者.回顾2007年1月～2011年7月治疗股骨髁OCD 32例,男23例,女9例,男∶女为2.6：1,平均年龄23.6岁（18～52岁）.关节镜下病灶清理、微骨折10例,关节镜下用可吸收软骨钉（SmartNail; ConMed Linvatec,Largo,FL）固定骨软骨片12例,切开复位、AO钛合金空心钉固定骨软骨片8例,外侧单髁置换2例.术前、术后用Lysholm评分和主观IKDC评分评定膝关节功能.结果 本组32例患者平均随访时间35.8个月（24～52个月）.术前Lysholm评分平均（53.77±4.48）分,术后平均（90.89±4.42）分（t=-266.01,P〈0.01）;主观IKDC评分术前平均（58.50±5.99）分,术后平均（92.15±4.16）分（t=-87.62,P〈0.01）.结论 不同类型、不同时期股骨髁OCD有不同治疗选择,选择适当的治疗方法可获得良好的临床疗效,晚期治疗医疗成本增加.     

Treatment principles for osteochondral lesions in foot and ankle

Osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) is a broad term used to describe an injury or abnormality of the talar articular cartilage and adjacent bone. A variety of terms have been used to refer to this clinical entity, including osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), osteochondral fracture and osteochondral defect. Whether OLT is a precursor to more generalised arthrosis of the ankle remains unclear, but the condition is often symptomatic enough to warrant treatment. In more than one third of cases, conservative treatment is unsuccessful, and surgery is indicated. There is a wide variety of treatment strategies for osteochondral defects of the ankle, with new techniques that have substantially increased over the last decade. The common treatment strategies of symptomatic osteochondral lesions include nonsurgical treatment, with rest, cast immobilisation and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Surgical options are lesion excision, excision and curettage, excision combined with curettage and microfracturing, filling the defect with autogenous cancellous bone graft, antegrade (transmalleolar) drilling, retrograde drilling, fixation and techniques such as osteochondral transplantation [osteochondral autograft transfer system (OATS)] and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). Furthermore, smaller lesions are symptomatic and when left untreated, OCDs can progress; current treatment strategies have not solved this problem. The target of these treatment strategies is to relieve symptoms and improve function. Publications on the efficacy of these treatment strategies vary. In most cases, several treatment options are viable, and the choice of treatment is based on defect type and size and preferences of the treating clinician.     

Pseudointercondylar notch sign: manifestation of osteochondritis dissecans of the trochlea

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is an idiopathic condition affecting the articular epiphysis. Initially described in the knee, this entity affects several other parts of the body such as the talar dome, tarsal navicular, and femoral capital epiphysis. OCD of the elbow primarily involves the capitellum. OCD involving the trochlea has rarely been reported. We describe an unusual and interesting case of OCD affecting the trochlea, mimicking a pseudointercondylar notch.