What causes an osteochondral defect?
Deep craters involving both the cartilage and the bone may be a result of impact or a condition such as osteochondritis dissecans where blood supply fails to an area of bone, and the bone and cartilage die.
Quick linksWhat happens to an OCD without surgical intervention?
The defect is likely to cause pain and altered mobility, but the real issue is that without closing the defect it is likely to extend and lead eventually to arthritis.
Peer-reviewed papersQuote from peer-reviewed paper:
"....Osteochondral defects of the knee significantly alter the biomechanics of the joint. This can cause symptomatic and functional impairment as well as considerable risk of progressive joint degeneration...."
Citation: Howell M, Liao Q, Gee CW. Surgical Management of Osteochondral Defects of the Knee: An Educational Review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2021 Feb;14(1):60-66. doi: 10.1007/s12178-020-09685-1. Epub 2021 Feb 15. PMID: 33587261; PMCID: PMC7930143.
Options for cartilage repair of an osteochondral defect
There are a number of possible cartilage repair procedures for attempting to fill the defect back to a congruent cartilage surface.
The big number suggests that none are in fact perfect! Possible interventions include:
Peer-reviewed papersQuote from peer-reviewed paper:
"....the re-operation, re-intervention and adverse event rates were similar for all procedures. However, microfracture demonstrated the worst patient-reported outcomes, with particular emphasis placed on the poor long-term results of this operation...."
Citation: Howell M, Liao Q, Gee CW. Surgical Management of Osteochondral Defects of the Knee: An Educational Review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2021 Feb;14(1):60-66. doi: 10.1007/s12178-020-09685-1. Epub 2021 Feb 15. PMID: 33587261; PMCID: PMC7930143.
Forum discussions
- Osteochondral defect
Options for articular cartilage repair
- o.a.t.s--recovery/rehab
Discussion about rehabilitation after OATS procedure.