Researchers in sports medicine services at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City evaluated the functional and radiographic outcomes of osteochondral lesions of the knee that had been arthroscopically repaired with a bioabsorbable fixation device. The study enrolled nine participants (eight males, one female; mean age 18 at time of surgery), all of whom had undergone arthroscopic repair of an osteochondral lesion involving the femoral condyle using a bioabsorbable fixation implant. Efficacy in patients was monitored utilizing pre- and post-operative MRIs, physical examinations, and questionnaires. After at least 6 weeks of rehabilitation, the osteochondral lesion and the overlying cartilage were graded as healed in seven of the patients, and as of questionable integrity in two patients. The study concludes that the implant, a bioabsorbable nail, is an efficient device to internally repair osteochondral lesions. It also reinforces the use of MRI for preoperative planning and postoperative assessment.

Dines JS, Fealy S, Potter HG, et al. Outcomes of osteochondral lesions of the knee repaired with a bioabsorbable device. Arthroscopy. 2008 Jan;24(1):62-8.

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