Orthopedics This Week reports on the findings of an HSS study led by foot and ankle surgeon Mark C. Drakos, MD, which found osteochondral autograft transplantation offers better outcomes than microfracture treatment for medium-sized talar osteochondral lesions

Dr. Drakos and researchers conducted a retrospective study comparing the clinical outcomes after treatment of medium-sized talar osteochondral lesions with microfracture treatment using extracellular matrix and bone marrow aspirate versus osteochondral autograft transplantation. The procedures were performed between 2015 and 2018. There was a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. Clinical outcome measures included patient-reported functional outcomes and the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score.

Overall, the osteochondral autograft transplantation group had higher MOCART scores suggesting that a single osteochondral autograft plug may be superior when it comes to structural repair. Functional outcomes in this group were also higher. These patients also reported less pain and depression and had higher global mental health scores.

Read the article at ryortho.com.

Additional coverage: Healio.com/news/orthopedics