Evaluating a Surgical Treatment for Large Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
In most cases – up to 85% – osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) occur after an ankle sprain or traumatic injury. The lesions may soften the cartilage layers, cause cyst-like lesions, or fracture the cartilage and bone layers, causing ankle pain, swelling, catching, or instability.
Structural fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation of the talar shoulder was developed to surgically manage large, challenging OLTs, and good outcomes have been reported retrospectively.
Prospective Evaluation
To better understand patient outcomes, researchers at Duke University Medical Center prospectively evaluated 31 patients who had undergone the procedure between 2007 and 2019. Their evaluation included:
- Preoperative imaging with an MRI or CT scan plus radiographs
- Postoperative patient questionnaires administered yearly, including the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA)
- Postoperative imaging to check for allograft assimilation, arthritic changes, and range of motion
