Arthroscopic Management of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Osteochondral fractures of the ankle are typically caused by traumatic injuries of the ankle. Repetitive trauma can lead to further cartilage damage with subsequent increasing size of the lesion, ultimately leading to severe cartilage disorder and degenerative arthritis of the ankle. Arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation has been shown to be a highly successful option for patients with small osteochondral lesions. Studies show a higher failure rate for larger lesions and cystic changes that disrupt the subchondral plate. The threshold size seems to be 150 mm(2).