Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Femoral Condyles Treated with Operation in Adults

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Up to now, there are several controversies in many aspects of osteochondritis dissecans. In this paper, we have intended to evaluate the frequent location and the etiology of the osteochondritis dis-secans of the femoral condyles, and to assess the adequate modality of operative treatment and its results according to the modality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively forty-four knees in forty patients. We analysed their clinical and radiological finding to take the incidence at both condyles and its etiology and to estab-lish the modality of applied operative methods according to the status of the lesion. The performed operative methods were multiple drilling(1 case), fragment fixation(2 cases), curettage & multiple drilling(36 cases), osteochondral autotransplantation(5 cases). The majority of these operation was proceeded under arthroscopy. Its clinical results were assessed by Aichroth's result grading system after an average follow-up of two-years and eleven months(range, one year and two months to six years and one month). RESULTS: Twenty one cases were medial femoral condylar lesions, and 23 cases were lateral. 91% patients had had the history of the definitive trauma(20 cases) or the minor repetitive trauma in their envi-ronments(20 cases). After operative treatment, seven knees had an excellent result; twenty-nine, a good result; six, a moderate result; and two, a poor result. Satisfactory result was 82%. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of this review, we suggest that there is no difference in incidence between both femoral condyles, and that the trauma is seemed to play a major role as an etiologic factor. Majority of operated patients showed satisfactory results after application of our treatment modality.