OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical outcomes of the osteochondral autologous transplantation technique for treatment of osteochondral defects of the knee in athletes. METHODS: For an average follow-up period of 52 months (30 to 82 months), 19 patients were evaluated pre and post-operatively by using subjective IKDC scores, modified Cincinnati Scores, and rate of return to sports activities. Prognosis according to age, duration of symptoms and location of the lesion was also evaluated. RESULTS: Subjective IKDC scores were 64.6 + 6.8 pre-operatively and 81.8 + 20.1 post-operatively. Modified Cincinnati score was 5.3 + 0.8 pre-operatively and 7.5 + 1.7 post-operatively. Fifty-three percent of the patients returned to pre-operative level of sports activity, 29% returned to a lower level, and 17% did not return to sports. Better results were observed in patients younger than 35 years, with less than one year of symptoms, in patients with femoral condyle defects and without concomitant meniscus or ACL tear. Throclear lesions had inferior results to condylar defects. CONCLUSION: Osteochondral autologous transplantation promoted a subjective improvement of the knee in athletes. Return to sports activity occurred in a specific group of patients
Articular cartilage; Transplantation, autologous; Athletic injuries; Osteoarthritis
