[Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Talus - A Critical Review]

The etiology remains unclear. Mechanical factors seem to play an important role. Most histologies report clefts between the cartilage and bone and necrotic areas. Several classifications have been published based on observations from imaging techniques or on intraoperative findings. Clinical symptoms are unspecific. Imaging techniques are of great importance: X-rays of the ankle joint enable a quick diagnostic overview. MRT is the imaging-technique of choice for diagnosing OCDT-lesions. Regarding treatment, a tremendous number of retrospective publications exist. Only a few are classified as level I or II papers. Patients with open physes and low-grade lesions have good results with conservative therapy. Adults do not profit from a longer conservative procedure. Where surgery is necessary, the procedure depends on the stage of the lesion and on the state of the cartilage. With intact cartilage, retrograde procedures or transchondral drilling are to be favoured. Where the cartilage is damaged, several techniques can be used: while techniques such as drilling and microfracturing, or matrix-associated microfracturing produces repair cartilage, other techniques reconstruct the defect with osteochondral grafts or cell-based procedures such as chondrocyte transplantation. Regarding the outcome, it is difficult to make a precise, scientifically-based recommendation which has been confirmed by more than one prospective study. Only limited recommendations are possible: In juveniles with intact cartilage, initially conservative treatment is indicated. If there is no improvement, conservative invasive techniques such as drilling may help. In adults conservative therapy should be limited to a few weeks. Regarding the surgical treatment options, there is a tendency towards better results with procedures which reconstruct the bone and the cartilage and there is also a trend towards better long-term results when co-morbidities are treated. Severe grades of osteoarthrosis are rare.