Recommendations / 24/05/2021

What is a osteochondral lesion?

Osteochondral lesions or osteochondritis dessicans can occur in any joint, but are most common in the knee and ankle. Such lesions are a tear or fracture in the cartilage covering one of the bones in a joint. The cartilage can be torn, crushed or damaged and, in rare cases, a cyst can form in the cartilage.

How common are osteochondral lesions?

The incidence of bilateral OLT has shown to be around 10%(10). In long-term ankle pain patients, OLT shows up in 81% of patients – as a previously undiagnosed pathology(11). OLT represents only 4% of all osteochondral lesions in the body. These are more common in knees and elbows(12).

Can osteochondral lesion heal on its own?

In general, osteochondral lesions do not heal on their own. Treatment is usually determined by the stability of the lesion and the amount of pain that it causes you. For small cartilage lesions, especially in younger patients, doctors typically prescribe immobilization with a removable cast, called a cam walker.

Does osteochondral lesion require surgery?

Using small incisions, microsurgery instruments can be used to repair damaged bone and cartilage in your ankle after an osteochondral lesion. Surgery is more commonly prescribed for adult patients.

Can osteochondral fracture heal?

Because osteochondral fractures involve the subchondral bone, there is the potential that some of these injuries may heal without intervention. Non-operative treatment of these lesions generally involves a period of non- or restricted- weight bearing and joint protection.

How to diagnose osteochondral lesions of the knee?

■ Evaluate MRI findings of each condition and how they pertain to treatment. Several pathologic conditions may manifest as an osteochondral lesion of the knee, which is a localized abnormality of the subchondral marrow, subchondral bone, and articular cartilage.

Can a MRI detect a lower stage osteochondral defect?

However, they are insensitive to grading lower stage lesions and are inadequate in predicting stability. MRI is the modality of choice, with high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of separation of the osteochondral fragment (see: osteochondral injury staging and osteochondritis dissecans surgical staging ).

What are osteochondral lesions of the talus dome?

Osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the talus are defined as any damage involving both articular cartilage and subchondral bone of the talar dome. This term covers a wide spectrum of pathologies including (sub)chondral contusion, osteochondritis dissecans, osteochondral fracture and osteoarthritis resulting from longstanding disease.

What kind of lesion is a subchondral bone?

lesion of the knee that consists of a localized abnormality involving subchondral marrow, subchondral bone, and articular cartilage. Although understanding of these conditions has evolved substan-

Which is the best MRI for osteochondral lesions?

Although Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at 1.5 Tesla is the leading cross-sectional modality for detection and staging of OCL, lack of spatial resolution hampers accurate assessment of thin articular cartilage. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) arthrography is better suited for precise staging of cartilage lesions.

What is staging of osteochondral lesions of the talus?

Staging of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: MRI and Cone Beam CT Magdalena Posadzy*, Julie Desimpel†and Filip Vanhoenacker‡ Osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the talus involve both articular cartilage and subchondral bone of the talar dome. This term refers to a wide spectrum of pathologies including mild bone marrow contusion as

What does it mean to have an osteochondral defect?

Osteochondral defect is a term for a localized defect of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone. It is a morphologic finding that may be seen in various conditions and that produces a scalloped defect along the articular surface of the bone ( Fig 1 ).