Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of operative treatment for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee based on the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) classification.
Methods: This study included 24 patients with OCD of the knee (19 males, 5 females; mean age, 16 years). Patients were treated according to the ICRS classification. Patients classified as grade I-IV were treated as follows: grade I/II - arthroscopic retroarticular drilling (9 cases), grade III - in situ fixation by autologous osteochondral graft (AOG, 4 cases), and grade IV - autologous chondrocyte implantation (9 cases), AOG (1 case), or osteosynthesis with poly-L-lactic acid pins or bone pegs (2 cases). The healing time and bone union rate were evaluated by X-ray photographs and clinical results were examined by Lysholm score pre- and postoperatively for each grade.
Results: Bone union was achieved except in one grade II patient. The mean healing time was 4.5 months in the grade I/II and 6.5 months in the grade III patients. Pre-and postoperative Lysholm scores were 70±8.6 and 97±4.7 points in grade I/II patients, 71±12 and 97±2.8 points in grade III patients, 72±8.2 and 95±6.0 points in grade IV patients, respectively.
Conclusion: Operative treatments based on ICRS classification were effective for treating OCD of the knee.
