Abstract
Category:
Sports
Introduction/Purpose:
Osteochondral talar lesions (OLTs) are common entities in active patients who practice sports. Degenerative changes and development of osteoarthritis can occur in up to 50% of non-treated patients, due to poor chondral tissue healing abilities. In recent years, autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) repair has been introduced for OLTs with satisfactory results through medium-term follow-up. The aim of the study was to evaluate the return to sport and physical activities in patients underwent arthroscopic autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AT-AMIC) 2 years after surgery.
Methods:
This is an observational cross-sectional study. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and procedures were conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki. Twenty-seven consecutive patients, 62.9% (17) male (mean ± SD age: 33.7±11.2 years), that underwent AT-AMIC were included in the study. All patients were assessed with the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Score (AOFAS), physical component score of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (PCS-SF-12), HALASI ankle activity score and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scale preoperatively and at 24 months after surgery.
Results:
Overall, 81.48% of the patient group returned to the same preinjury sport. Mean follow-up was 42.7 ±11.1 months. A significant interaction with time (from pre-operative to the final follow-up) for the clinical parameters UCLA, Halasi, AOFAS and SF-12 was found, P<0.001). In addition, there were significant differences between preoperative versus last follow-up (all, P <0.001),
Conclusion:
A high percentage of patients return to their sport activity after osteochondral talar reconstruction with AT-AMIC technique; furthermore AT-AMIC improve quality of life in young and active patients, allowing return to sport.