Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:The evidence supporting best practice guidelines in the field of cartilage repair of the ankle is based on both low quality and low levels of evidence. Therefore, an international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance toward consensus opinions based on the best available evidence on key topics within cartilage repair of the ankle. The purpose of this article is to report the consensus statements on "Fixation Techniques" developed at the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. METHODS:Seventy-five international experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 25 countries and 1 territory were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within 11 working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed and the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred in cases where statements were not agreed upon in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held, and the strength of consensus was characterized as follows: consensus, 51% to 74%; strong consensus, 75% to 99%; and unanimous, 100%. RESULTS:A total of 15 statements on fixation techniques reached consensus during the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. All 15 statements achieved strong consensus, with at least 82% agreement. CONCLUSIONS:This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with using fixation techniques in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus.

BACKGROUND:The evidence supporting best practice guidelines in the field of cartilage repair of the ankle are based on both low quality and low levels of evidence. Therefore, an international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance toward consensus opinions based on the best available evidence on key topics within cartilage repair of the ankle. The purpose of this article is to report the consensus statements on "Debridement, Curettage and Bone Marrow Stimulation" developed at the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. METHODS:Seventy-five international experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 25 countries and 1 territory were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within 11 working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed and the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred in cases where statements were not agreed upon in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held, and the strength of consensus was characterized as follows: consensus, 51% to 74%; strong consensus, 75% to 99%; unanimous, 100%. RESULTS:A total of 14 statements on debridement, curettage, and bone marrow stimulation reached consensus during the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. One achieved unanimous support, 12 reached strong consensus (greater than 75% agreement), and 1 achieved consensus. All statements reached at least 72% agreement. CONCLUSIONS:This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with debridement, curettage and bone marrow stimulation as a treatment strategy for osteochondral lesions of the talus.

BACKGROUND:The evidence supporting best practice guidelines in the field of cartilage repair of the ankle are based on both low quality and low levels of evidence. Therefore, an international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance toward consensus opinions based on the best available evidence on key topics within cartilage repair of the ankle. The purpose of this article is to report the consensus statements on "Diagnosis: History, Physical Examination, Imaging, and Arthroscopy" developed at the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. METHODS:Seventy-five international experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 25 countries and 1 territory were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within 11 working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed and the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred in cases where statements were not agreed upon in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held, and the strength of consensus was characterized as follows: consensus: 51 - 74%; strong consensus: 75 - 99%; unanimous: 100%. RESULTS:A total of 12 statements on the diagnosis of cartilage injuries of the ankle reached consensus during the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. Two achieved unanimous support and 10 reached strong consensus (greater than 75% agreement). All statements reached at least 86% agreement. CONCLUSIONS:This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians in the diagnosis of cartilage injuries of the ankle.

Introduction Autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is a treatment for osteochondral lesions with known concerns, including histological degradation of the graft and poor cartilage integration. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) have been described has having the potential to improve results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PRP and HA on AOT in a rabbit model. Methods Thirty-six rabbits underwent bilateral knee AOT treated with either the biological adjunct (PRP, n = 12; HA, n = 12; PRP + HA, n = 12) or saline (control). PRP and HA were administered as an intra-articular injection. The rabbits were euthanized at 3, 6, or 12 weeks postoperatively. The graft sections were assessed using the modified International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) scoring system. The results from the PRP alone group is from previously published data. Results The mean modified ICRS histological score for the PRP-treated group was higher than its control ( P = 0.002). The mean modified ICRS histological score for the HA-treated group showed no difference compared with its control ( P = 0.142). The mean modified ICRS histological score for the PRP + HA-treated group was higher than its control ( P = 0.006). There was no difference between the mean modified ICRS scores of the PRP- and the PRP + HA-treated grafts ( P = 0.445). Conclusion PRP may decrease graft degradation and improve chondral integration in an animal model. In this model, the addition of HA was not synergistic for the parameters assessed.

BACKGROUND:Uncontained-type osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) have been shown to have inferior clinical outcomes after treatment with bone marrow stimulation. While autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is indicated for larger lesions, no study has reported on the prognostic significance of the containment of OLTs treated with the AOT procedure. PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To clarify the effect of the containment of OLTs on clinical and radiological outcomes in patients who underwent AOT for OLTs. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Case control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS:A retrospective cohort study comparing patients with contained-type and uncontained-type OLTs was undertaken to include all patients who underwent AOT for the treatment of OLTs between 2006 and 2014. Analyses were performed by grouping the patients according to the containment type. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) preoperatively and at final follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 2 years' follow-up was evaluated with the modified magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score. Multivariate regression models were used to evaluate factors affecting postoperative FAOS, SF-12, and MOCART scores. RESULTS:Ninety-four patients were included: 31 patients with a contained-type OLT and 63 patients with an uncontained-type OLT. The median patient age was 34 years (interquartile range [IQR], 28-48 years) in the contained-type group and 36 years (IQR, 27-46 years) in the uncontained-type group. The median follow-up time was 45 months (IQR, 38-63 months) in the contained-type group and 52 months (IQR, 40-66 months) in the uncontained-type group. The median FAOS and SF-12 scores improved significantly after surgery in both contained-type and uncontained-type lesions ( P < .001). The median postoperative FAOS score of patients with contained-type OLTs was higher than that of patients with uncontained-type OLTs (91.7 vs 85.0, respectively; P = .009), but no significant differences were found between the contained-type and uncontained-type groups for postoperative SF-12 and MOCART scores. The multivariate regression models showed that patients with contained-type OLTs had an approximately 10-point better score on the FAOS compared with patients with uncontained-type OLTs ( P = .006). There was a nonsignificant trend for the rate of cystic occurrence in uncontained-type OLTs to be higher than that of contained-type OLTs (55.6% vs 38.7%, respectively; P = .125). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Patients with contained-type OLTs experienced better clinical outcomes than those with uncontained-type OLTs after AOT for the treatment of OLTs. However, the AOT procedure still provided good clinical and MRI outcomes in both contained-type and uncontained-type OLTs at midterm follow-up.

BACKGROUND:Treatment guidelines for cartilage lesions of the talus have been based on both low quality and low levels of evidence. Therefore, an international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance toward consensus opinions on key topics regarding cartilage lesions of the talus. The purpose of this consensus article is to explain the process and delineate the consensus statements derived from this consensus meeting on the use of "osteochondral autograft" for osteochondral lesions of the talus. METHODS:Seventy-five international experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 25 countries and 1 territory were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within 11 working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed and the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred in cases where statements were not agreed upon in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held, and the strength of consensus was characterized as follows: consensus, 51% to 74%; strong consensus, 75% to 99%; and unanimous, 100%. RESULTS:A total of 14 statements on osteochondral autograft reached consensus during the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. Two achieved unanimous support, 11 reached strong consensus (greater than 75% agreement), and 1 achieved consensus. All statements reached at least 67% agreement. CONCLUSIONS:This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with osteochondral autograft as a treatment strategy for osteochondral lesions of the talus.

BACKGROUND:Extracellular matrix cartilage allografts (EMCAs) and particulate cartilage allografts (PCAs) are relatively new biologics that may improve the quality of cartilage regeneration after bone marrow stimulation. The increasing popularity of these novel biologics in the treatment of osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the knee and ankle joints prompts a systematic evaluation of their efficacies. PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this systematic review was to clarify the effectiveness of EMCAs and PCAs on cartilage regeneration. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Systematic review; Level of evidence, IV. METHODS:Two reviewers searched MEDLINE and Embase in February 2016 based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Predetermined variables from each study were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS:For EMCAs, 1 in vitro study and 2 clinical studies for OCLs of the ankle joint were found. For PCAs, 3 in vitro studies, 5 clinical studies for OCLs of the knee joint, and 5 clinical studies for OCLs of the ankle joint were found. For all studies, in vitro chondrogenesis and clinical outcomes favored EMCAs and PCAs. However, the highest level of evidence was IV, and the methodological quality of evidence was indicated to be poor. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Both EMCAs and PCAs have yielded favorable outcomes in both in vitro and clinical studies. However, the available studies were of limited data with significant confounding factors. Therefore, it is unclear whether the effectiveness of these novel biologics is any greater than that of bone marrow stimulation alone in the repair of knee and ankle cartilage.

Surgical procedures for managing chronic lateral ankle instability include anatomic direct repair, anatomic reconstruction with an autograft or allograft, and arthroscopic repair. Open direct repair is commonly used for patients with sufficient ligament quality. Reconstruction incorporating either an autograft or an allograft is another promising option in the short term, although the longevity of this procedure remains unclear. Use of an allograft avoids donor site morbidity, but it comes with inherent risks. Arthroscopic repair of chronic lateral ankle instability can provide good to excellent short- and long-term clinical outcomes, but the evidence supporting this technique is limited. Deterioration of the ankle joint after surgery is also a concern. Studies are needed on not only treating ligament insufficiency but also on reducing the risk of ankle joint deterioration.