Prospective Evaluation of Structural Allograft Transplantation for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talar Shoulder.

BACKGROUND

Structural or bulk osteochondral allograft transplantation for shoulder talar osteochondral lesions as a salvage procedure has demonstrated efficacy in several retrospective reviews. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively patients who received fresh structural allograft transplantation to the talus.

METHODS

Prospective evaluation of a consecutive series of patients who underwent fresh structural allograft transplantation for an osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) was performed. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or computed tomography (CT) and plain radiographs were obtained on all patients. The following patient-reported outcomes questionnaires were administered preoperatively and yearly after surgery: 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) pain scale, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, Short Form 36 (SF-36), and the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA). Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were assessed for allograft incorporation and subsequent arthritis. Fourteen patients with an average age of 40 years (range, 18-69) and a mean follow-up of 55 months (range, 24-97) underwent structural fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation to the talar shoulder.

RESULTS

The average size of the OLT was 2269 mm (range, 813-8366) based on CT imaging and 5797 mm (range, 1136-12 489) based on MRI imaging. There was significant ( P < .05) improvement in the VAS pain, AOFAS scale, SF-36, and SMFA scores. Five (36%) of the patients required additional surgery for pain and stiffness. Two patients had cartilage delamination and were considered treatment failures. Therefore, the success rate was 86% (12/14).

CONCLUSION

Significant improvement in pain and function was achieved with structural allograft transplantation for large OLTs at midterm follow-up. This was a safe and effective treatment option in this small series for large OLTs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, prospective case series.