RESULTS: Sixteen patients were available for follow-up at a mean of 32.6 months (range, 24 to 48 months). The mean visual analog scale score decreased from 5.51 ± 0.83 preoperatively to 0.98 ± 0.98 at the latest follow-up, and the median American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score improved from 75 preoperatively to 90 at the latest follow-up. Seven patients resumed sporting activities. Overall, 7 patients rated the result as excellent, 8 as good, and 1 as fair. The radiolucent area of the cysts disappeared on the plain radiographs in all cases. The mean Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue score was 60 ± 9.4 points, whereas subchondral bone edema persisted on the postoperative magnetic resonance images in 16 cases. The mean International Cartilage Repair Society arthroscopic score for cartilage repair at second-look arthroscopy was 9 ± 1.4 points.
CONCLUSIONS: Autologous iliac crest osteoperiosteal cylinder graft transplantation with supplemental bone grafting is a simple, safe, and effective procedure for treatment of large cystic medial OLT. It can successfully fill the subchondral cyst and repair the cartilage defect.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

PMID: 23906276 [PubMed - in process]

Read more... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23906276?dopt=Abstract