• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.209-215
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate clinical results of autologous osteochondral graft in osteochondral lesions of the talus. Materials and Methods: Twenty feet in twenty patients underwent osteochondral autologous transfer in the osteochondral lesions of the talus. Sixteen were men and four were women. The mean age was 40.8 years old. The mean follow up was 2 years 9 months. Eighteen cases were medial, one case was lateral and one case was both, respectively. The average duration of symptom was 4 years 3 months. AOFAS ankle/hindfoot score (AOFAS score), visual analogue scale (VAS), Lysholm knee score were evaluated preoperatively and at the final follow up. Results: Postoperative AOFAS score was 87.3 (range, 69-100), which was significantly improved from preoperative AOFAS score of 62.0 (p=0.000). Postoperative VAS was 2.9 (range, 0-7), which was significantly improved from preoperative VAS of 7.5 (p=0.000). Postoperative Lysholm knee score was 92.4 (range, 80-100). All osteotomy of medial malleolus was united by the 4th month after surgery. Postoperative VAS was conversely correlated with the follow up period (p=0.024). There was no complications associated with surgery. Conclusion: Autologous osteochondral grafts in osteochondral lesion of the talus demonstrated excellent results with a short-term follow up.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.71-74
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• 2023

A medial opening wedge supramalleolar osteotomy (SMO) introduced by Takakura et al. is a useful realignment procedure for patients with ankle joint arthritis and varus malalignment by shifting the weight-bearing axis laterally and redistributing the loads on the ankle joint. When pain persists after arthroscopic microfracture in patients with medial osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT), redo arthroscopy, osteochondral autograft transplantation, autologous chondrocyte implantation, or matrix-induced chondrogenesis might be indicated. On the other hand, there is insufficient scientific evidence for realignment surgery through SMO, while the effect of realignment surgery has been studied consecutively for osteochondral lesions of the knee. Therefore, this paper reports a patient with medial OLT who underwent redo arthroscopy combined with SMO for persistent pain after primary arthroscopic microfracture.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2012

Osteochondral lesions of the talus are isolated cartilage and/or bone lesions that are known cause of chronic ankle pain. They can occur as the result of a single acute ankle injury or from repetitive loading of the talus. Technical development in radiologic imaging and ankle arthroscopy have improved diagnostic capabilities for detecting osteochondral lesions. Characteristics which are important in assessing an osteochondral lesions include: the size, the type (chondral, subchondral, cystic), the stability, the displacement, the location, and the containment of lesion. Nonoperative treatment involving period of casting and non-weight-bearing is recommended for acute, non-displaced osteochondral lesions in select pediatric and adolescent patients. Operative treatment is recommended for unstable lesions or failed conservative management. Marrow stimulation techniques (abrasion chondroplasty, multiple drilling, microfracture), osteochondral autograft or allograft, autologous chondrocyte implantation, are frequently employed. The purpose of this article is to review the historical background, etiology, classification systems, diagnostic strategies, and to describe a systematic approach to management of osteochondral lesions of the talus.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was aimed at elucidating the pathogenesis of talar osteochondral lesion by analyzing the histopathological findings. Materials and Methods: Twenty specimens from 20 patients who underwent surgical treatment for talus osteochondral lesions were studied. Preoperative MRI images including T1, T2, and stir images were taken and cases were classified according to modification of the Anderson's classification. There were 5 cases of MRI group 1, 6 cases of group 2, 7 cases of group 3 and 2 cases of group 4. A full thickness osteochondral plug including the osteochondral lesion of the talus was harvested from each patient and reviewed histopathologic changes of osteochondral fragment using H-E staining. Mean diameter of specimens was 8.5 mm and mean depth was 10.3 mm. Pathologic changes of articular cartilage and subchondral bone were observed. Subchondral bone was divided into superficial, middle and deep zones according to depth. Cartilage formation, trabecular thickening and marrow fibrosis were observed in each zone. Results: There were detachment of the joint cartilage at the tidemark in 16 cases of 20 cases and the separated cartilages were almost necrotic on the histopathologic findings. Cartilage formation within subchondral bone was discovered beneath the tidemark in 12 cases. Trabeculae were increased and thickened in 17 cases. These pathologic changes were similar to fracture healing process and these findings were more conspicuous near the tidemark and showed transition to normal bone marrow tissue with depth. No correlation between the pathological progression and MRI stages was found. A large cyst shown on MRI's was microscopically turned out to be multiple micro-cysts accompanied by fibrovascular structure and newly formed cartilage tissue. Conclusion: The histopathologic findings of osteochondral lesions are detachment of overlying cartilage at the tidemark and subsequent changes of subchondral bone. Subchondral bone changes are summarized as cartilage formation, marrow fibrosis and trabecular thickening that mean healing process following repeated micro fractures of trabecular. These osteochondral lesions should have differed from osteochondral fractures.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.137-143
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• 2023

Purpose: Autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is indicated for patients with a large osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT), accompanying subchondral cyst, and the failure of bone marrow stimulation (BMS) procedures. Despite the many reports on the clinical results of surgical treatment for medial osteochondral lesions, those of lateral lesions are rare. This paper reports the intermediate-term clinical outcomes after AOT for lateral OLTs. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with lateral OLTs were followed up for at least three years after AOT. The clinical evaluations comprised the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM). The radiographic assessment included the irregularity of the articular surface (subchondral plate), the progression of degenerative arthritis, and the changes in talar tilt angle and anterior talar translation. Results: The mean FAOS and FAAM scores improved significantly from 42.1 to 89.5 and 39.5 to 90.6 points, respectively, at the final follow-up (p<0.001). The radiological evaluation revealed two cases (9.5%) of articular step-off ≥2 mm and 1 case (4.8%) of progressive arthritis. The mean talar tilt angle and anterior talar translation improved significantly. As postoperative complications, there was one case of a local wound problem, one case of superficial peroneal nerve injury, and one case of donor site morbidity. At a mean follow-up of 62.3 months, no patient showed a recurrence of instability or required reoperation for OLT. Conclusion: AOT for the lateral OLTs demonstrated satisfactory intermediate-term clinical outcomes, including daily and sports activity abilities. Most OLT could be accessed through lateral ligament division and capsulotomy, and the incidence of iatrogenic complications, such as recurrent sprains or chronic instability, was minimal. AOT appears to be an effective and relatively safe treatment for patients with large lateral osteochondral lesions unresponsive to conservative therapy, with subchondral cysts, or with failed primary BMS.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2020

Among the various surgical treatment methods for osteochondral lesions of the talus, autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is a useful procedure in cases of a large defect, subchondral cyst, and failed primary bone marrow stimulation procedure. Although bone marrow stimulation alone may not regenerate the damaged plate sufficiently, AOT has the advantage of being able to replace the subchondral bone plate and cartilage with a new one at a same time. Nevertheless, postoperative cyst formation or pain may persist and donor site morbidity is still a limitation of AOT.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.35-38
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• 2000

Osteochondral fracture is common in adolescent and usually occurs in the knee and ankle. Many authors have written concerning osteochondral fracture of the ankle joint, however, many of these pertain only to the talus. The author has found an osteochondral fracture of the articular surface of the medial malleolus within the ankle joint not previously described. We report a case of this lesion that was treated by arthroscopic osteochondral fragment removal.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.139-143
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• 2017

Purpose: Osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) has traditionally been treated using an autologous osteochondral graft via the medial malleolar approach. Here, we compare the traditional method with the anterior arthrotomy approach. Materials and Methods: Between January 2005 and June 2015, 24 cases of patients who received autologus osteochondral graft for OLT and with at least 2 years of follow-up were evaluated. They were divided into two groups; one group receiving autologous osteochondral graft via the medial malleolar osteotomy approach (group 1, n=9) and another group via the anterior arthrotomy approach (group 2, n=15). The clinical outcomes were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Results: In all cases, the size of the subchondral cyst of the talus decreased, if not disappeared on the final follow-up radiograph. All osteochondral grafts were united. The mean AOFAS score increased from 61.5 preoperatively to 84.9 at the final follow-up. The mean AOFAS score of group 1 increased from 60.3 preoperatively to 78.0 (p=0.007) at the final follow-up, and the mean AOFAS score of group 2 also increased from 62.2 to 89.1 (p=0.006). The AOFAS score was statistically better in group 2 than in group 1 (p=0.034) at the final follow-up. Conclusion: Autologous osteochondral graft of the OLT yields satisfactory radiologic and clinical outcomes. Especially, better clinical outcome was observed in the group using the anterior arthrotomy approach (group 2) than in the group using the medial malleolar osteotomy approach (group 1).

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 2002

Purpose: To investigate the MRI and arthroscopic findings of osteochondral lesion of the talus which looked normal on plane radiography. Materials and methods: We investigated the MRI and arthroscopic findings of seven osteochondral lesions in which there were no abnormal finding on plane radiography and no cystic changes on MRI. Average age was 31 years(range, 19-43 years). Arthroscopic findings were classified according to the Ferkel's criteria. Results: History of injury was reported in all cases and the average duration from injury to presentation was 4 years and 4 months. Low signal change in T1WI was found in 6 of 7 lesions, no signal change in 1 case. Low signal change in T2WI was found in 4, no signal change in 3. 6 STIR images were obtained. High signal change was found in 3, no signal change in 2 and intermediate signal change was in 1. Arthroscopic grading was A in 1, C in 1, D in 2 , E in 1 and F in 2. We could not find any correlation between the findings on MRI and arthroscopic examination. Conclusion: We suggest arthroscopic examination is needed for accurate diagnosis of the osteochondral lesions of the talus which looked normal on plane radiography, because they have various MRl findings and high likelihood of existence of unstable cartilage lesions.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.37-41
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• 2020

Many articles on operative treatment strategies for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) have been published. On the other hand, there are only a few reports on the conservative treatment of OLT. Understanding the natural history of OLT is essential to establishing the correct treatment. Conservative treatment might lead to comparable clinical outcomes compared to the current options of the operative treatment in isolated OLT lesions. OLT lesions can be divided into two (or possibly three) types. Hence, the prognosis and outcome of certain operative treatments should be evaluated further. The prognosis of OLT combined with instability or malalignment appears poorer than that of isolated OLT lesions. Therefore, concomitant pathologies should be evaluated together when treating patients with OLT.