DOI: 10.36347/sasjs

Pages: 233-238

The aim of this study is to report the outcomes of the treatment of OCD of the talus using arthroscopic microfracture technique in King Abdul Aziz specialist Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia. Thirty one patients with symptomatic osteochondral defects of the talus were enrolled in this prospective clinical study between the years 2007 and 2015. The patients were treated with arthroscopic debridement and microfracture technique. Demographics, mechanism of injury, lesion characteristics, and the American Orthopaedic and Ankle Society score (AOFAS) was compared for the patients pre and postoperatively. The mean follow up was 36±4 months. Male/female ratio was 1.8/1 with mean age 31.6±6.8 years (median 27.8 years). Trauma was the cause in 77.5% of cases. The mean size of the lesion was 156 mm2 and the median was 157.8 mm2. Medial lesions represented 61.3% of cases. Berndt' and Harty stage II represented 29% of the lesions, stage III was 22.6%, stage IV was 22.6%, and stage V (25.8%). The mean preoperative AOFAS score of all patients was found to be significantly improved postoperatively from 68.6±15.4 to 93.3±20.8 (P value < 0.5). 87.1% of patients were very satisfied from the operation and 12.9% patients were not satisfied. During the period of follow up no major complications were recorded. Arthroscopic debridement and microfracture for treatment of OCD of talus proved to be technically simple, safe and efficient in improving pain and function and the outcome was better in young patients with smaller lesions.