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Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine
Published in: Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine 1/2021

01-02-2021 | Osteochondrosis Dissecans | Hot Topics

Surgical Management of Osteochondral Defects of the Knee: An Educational Review

Authors: Matthew Howell, Quintin Liao, Christopher W. Gee

Published in: Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Numerous surgical techniques are available to treat osteochondral defects of the knee. The aim of this review is to analyse these procedures, including their methodology, outcomes and limitations, to create a treatment algorithm for optimal management.

Recent Findings

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. Surgical interventions aim to restore a congruent, durable joint surface providing symptomatic relief and reducing the risk of early arthritic changes. These methods include fixation, chondroplasty, microfracture, autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis, autograft transplants, allograft transplants and autologous chondrocyte implantation. There is currently much debate as to which of these methods provides optimal treatment of osteochondral defects.

Summary

The overall evidence supports the use of each technique depending on the individual characteristics of the lesion. New technologies provide exciting prospects; however, long-term outcomes for these are not yet available.
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Metadata
Title
Surgical Management of Osteochondral Defects of the Knee: An Educational Review
Authors
Matthew Howell
Quintin Liao
Christopher W. Gee
Publication date
01-02-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1935-9748
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-020-09685-1

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