Arthroscopically assisted autologous osteochondral transplantation for osteochondral lesions of the talar dome: an MRI and clinical follow-up study.

Osteochondral Lesions of the Talar Dome (OLT) are common problems encountered in orthopedics. Although the etiology remains uncertain, a myriad of treatment options exists. The authors describe arthroscopically assisted autologous osteochondral graft (OCG) transplantation procedures in the treatment of unstable OLTs in nine patients. The patients underwent standard preoperative MRI examination to assess fragment stability (using De Smet criteria for stability). Intraoperative arthroscopy was used to correlate the preoperative MRI assessment (using Cheng/Ferkel grading). After transplantation procedures, MRI (using De Smet criteria for stability) assessed graft incorporation for stability at an average of 9.3 months after the procedure. Preoperative MRI correlated highly with arthroscopic findings of OLT instability (sensitivity = 1.0). This has been demonstrated in the current orthopedic literature. The post transplantation MRI demonstrated stable graft osteointegration by De Smet criteria in all patients. Postoperative visual analogue pain scales showed significant improvement from preoperative assessment. Postoperative AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot scores averaged 80.2 (S.D. +/- 18.9). Our favorable early results and those of other authors using similar techniques may validate OCG transplantation as a viable alternative for treating unstable osteochondral defects in the talus that are refractive to more commonly used surgical techniques.

Single-stage surgical correction of congenital vertical talus.

Forty-one patients (55 feet) with congenital vertical talus (CVT) were reviewed. Thirty of the feet were associated with neural tube defects, 10 with neuromuscular disorders, five with congenital malformation syndromes, and none with chromosomal aberrations. Ten of the feet were idiopathic. All were treated with a single-stage surgical correction as described, by using the Cincinnati incision, and performed by the same surgeon. Thirty-two patients (42 feet) were available for clinical and radiographic follow-up averaging 7 years (range, 2-12) from the time of surgery. There were no wound complications or avascular necrosis of the talus. In 10 feet, subsequent reoperation was necessary. At final follow-up, results were based on the clinical and radiographic outcomes and included 31 good and 11 fair. All patients and families were satisfied with the results and appearance of the feet. There were no bony prominences or skin problems. The presence of mild pain was noted in only three feet. Radiographically, there was a significant improvement in the anteroposterior (AP) and lateral talocalcaneal and talo-first metatarsal angles, and at follow-up, the group averages for each of these angles were within the normal range. In treating CVT, good clinical and radiographic results can be obtained with a low incidence of complications using this single-stage surgical correction of the hindfoot and midfoot deformities.

Controversies in tarsometatarsal injuries.

Lisfranc injuries still remain a problematic situation in many clinical cases. Although thought to be an uncommon problem, they are actually a common injury. This article serves to make the clinician aware of the many recent changes in diagnosis and treatment. Emphasis is placed on the precise diagnosis of this condition and subsequent follow-up.