Discoid meniscus:Treatment considerations and updates

A discoid meniscus is a morphological abnormality wherein the meniscus loses its normal‘C’shape.Although most patients are asymptomatic,patients might still present with symptoms such as locking,pain,swelling,or giving way.Magnetic resonance imaging is usually needed for confirmation of diagnosis.Based on a constellation of factors,including clinical and radiological,different approaches are chosen for the management of discoid meniscus.The purpose of this review is to outline the treatment of discoid meniscus,starting from conservative approach,to the different surgical options for this condition.The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were used for this review.Studies discussing the treatment of discoid meniscus from 2018 to 2023 were searched.Initially there were 369 studies retrieved,and after removal of studies using the exclusion criteria,26 studies were included in this review.Factors such as stability,presence of tear,and morphology can help with surgical planning.Many approaches have been used to treat discoid meniscus,where the choice is tailored for each patient individually.Postoperatively,factors that may positively impact patient outcomes include male sex,body mass index<18.5,age at symptom onset<25 years,and duration of symptoms<24 months.The conventional approach is partial meniscectomy with or without repair;however,recently,there has been an increased emphasis on discoid-preserving techniques such as meniscoplasty,meniscopexy,and meniscal allograft transplantation.

Cyclops syndrome following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Can relapse occur after surgery?

Symptomatic cyclops lesions are complications that can be seen at rates of up to approximately 10%after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.However,recurrent cyclops lesions have rarely been documented.There are case rare series in the literature regarding the treatment of recurrent cyclops lesion.Future large studies are needed to investigate factors contributing to the development of cyclops lesions and syndrome and treatment options.

Congenital absence of the lateral meniscus:A case report

BACKGROUND Congenital absence of the menisci is a rare anatomical variation characterized by the absence or underdevelopment of one or both menisci in the knee joint.The menisci are crucial in load distribution,joint stability,and shock absorption.Understanding the clinical presentation,diagnosis,and management of this condition is important for optimal patient care.CASE SUMMARY A 27-year-old male with a long-standing history of knee pain underwent diagnostic arthroscopy,revealing a congenital absence of the meniscus.The patient's clinical findings,imaging results,surgical procedures,and pertinent images are detailed.This case presents a unique aspect with the congenital absence of the meniscus,contributing valuable insights to the literature on rare anatomical anomalies.CONCLUSION This case of congenital absence of the menisci highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by rare anomalies.The diagnostic arthroscopy played a crucial role in identifying the absence of the meniscus and providing an explanation for the patient's persistent knee pain.The case underscores the importance of individualized treatment approaches,including physical therapy,for optimal management of rare meniscal anomalies.Further research is warranted to explore effective management strategies for the aforementioned cases and to expand our knowledge of these rare conditions.

Review and update on the management of triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries in professional athletes

Triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries are common in amateur and professional sports.These injuries are mainly caused by acute or chronic repetitive axial loads on the wrist,particularly on the ulnar side and in association with rotations or radial/ulnar deviations.In order to treat professional athletes,a detailed specific knowledge of the pathology is needed.Moreover,the clinician should fully understand the specific and unique environment and needs of the athletes,their priorities and goals,the type of sport,the time of the season,and the position played.An early diagnosis and appropriate management with the quickest possible recovery time are the uppermost goals for both the athlete and the surgeon.A compromise between conservative vs surgical indications,athletes’needs and expectations,and financial implications should be achieved.Arthroscopic procedures should be timely planned when indicated as they could allow early diagnosis and treatment at the same time.Conservative measures are often used as first line treatment when possible.Peripheral lesions are treated by arthroscopic repair,whilst central lesions are treated by arthroscopic debridement.Further procedures(such as the Wafer procedure,ulnar osteotomies,etc.)have specific indications and great implications with regard to rehabilitation.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Gonarthrosis in a Low-Income Setting

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a frequent, debilitating, and degenerative condition. It is the most common operative indication for surgical arthroscopy. Hypothesis: Arthroscopy allows painless treatment of knee osteoarthritis and functional recovery. Patients and Methods: Our study was conducted in a private medical center in the city of Brazzaville in Congo, during the period from September 2020 to February 2023. It was prospective and based on patients with mechanical knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. A mobile arthroscopy device was used. The IKDC and KOOS scores allowed the evaluation of the treatment. Results: Our work involved 15 men and 7 women, with an average age of 39.9 years. Knee osteoarthritis was classified as type 2 according to Ahlbäck in 26 cases (70.27%) and type 3 in 11 cases (29.73%). In 7 patients, arthroscopy revealed lesions not visualized on MRI. Joint lavage was performed in all cases, synovial debridement in 17 cases (45.94%), and extraction of cartilaginous foreign bodies in 10 cases (27.03%). 20 patients were very satisfied with the surgery and 2 moderately satisfied. The EVA, subjective IKDC and KOOS scores were acceptable on a long-term follow-up. Discussion: Arthroscopy is a modern surgical technique for the management of intra-articular lesions of the knee. It relieves pain and stabilizes the degenerative process. A mobile arthroscopy device used here was preferred because of the low cost of installation and production.

Research progress on preparation of lateral femoral tunnel and graft fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)injury is one of the most common types of sports injuries.People’s need to participate in sports and desire for a high quality of life promotes the continuous development of ACL reconstruction technology.Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction has been recognized as an effective method for the treatment of ACL injuries.This review analyses and summarizes the advantages and limitations of each surgical procedure for arthroscopic ACL reconstruction reported in the relevant literature so as to promote the future development of more relevant techniques.

Recurrent cyclops lesion after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using bone tendon bone allograft:A case report

BACKGROUND Cyclops lesions are a known complication of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)reconstruction,with symptomatic cyclops syndrome occurring in up to 11%of surgeries.Recurrent cyclops lesions have been rarely documented;this case study documents the successful treatment of a recurrent cyclops lesion.CASE SUMMARY A 28-year-old female presented following a non-contact injury to the right knee.Workup and clinical exam revealed an ACL tear,and arthroscopic reconstruction was performed.Two years later a cyclops lesion was discovered and removed via arthroscopic synovectomy.Seven months postoperatively,the patient presented with pain,stiffness,and difficulty achieving terminal extension.A smaller recurrent cyclops lesion was diagnosed,and a repeat synovectomy was performed.The patient recovered fully.CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge,this is the first documented case of recurrent cyclops lesion after bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft ACL reconstruction presenting as cyclops syndrome.

The management of the long head of the biceps in rotator cuff repair:A comparative study of high vs.subpectoral tenodesis

Background:Tenodesis of the long head of the biceps(LHB)is commonly undertaken during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.We assessed the clinical and structural outcomes after high arthroscopic tenodesis(HAT)or mini-open subpectoral tenodesis(ST).We hypothesized that the clinical and structural results after HAT and ST are similar.Methods:We included 40 patients with rotator cuff tear and LHB tendinopathy.Twenty patients(7 women and 13 men;mean age:57.9 years;range:56-63 years)were treated using HAT,and 20 patients(8 women and 12 men;mean age:58.5 years;range:55-64 years)were treated using ST.Functional evaluation was performed preoperatively and at 6 weeks,6 months,and 1 year after surgery,using the Constant Murley Score and Simple Shoulder Test scores;the LHB was evaluated using the LHB score.A Visual Analogue Scale was administered to all patients preoperatively and 2 days after surgery.Results:The postoperative total and pain subscale’s Constant scores were significantly higher in the ST group.Moreover,2 LHB score values were significantly different between the groups.The postoperative LHB total score in the ST and HAT groups averaged 86.9±4.1(mean±SD)points and 73.3±6.4 points,respectively.The Pain/Cramps subscale in the ST and HAT groups averaged 47.1±5.9 and 33.2±4.6 points,respectively.The 2 groups showed no difference in Visual Analogue Scale values(5.5 in the HAT group;5.8 in the ST group)postoperatively.One patient in the HAT group reported a secondary onset of Popeye deformity.Conclusion:Both high arthroscopic and mini-open ST of the LHB tendon produced reliably good functional results,but the ST group was associated with better postoperative clinical outcomes.

Advances in wrist arthroscopic surgery in Indonesia

Since the 1990s,new insights in wrist arthroscopy have led to the introduction of numerous treatment methods.Consequently,therapeutic procedures are no longer limited to resection as more specialized repair and functional reconstruc-tion methods,involving tissue replacement and essential structural augmentation,have been shown to be beneficial.This article discusses the most prevalent rea-sons and uses for wrist arthroscopy,with an emphasis on Indonesia’s most recent and major advances in reconstructive arthroscopic surgery.Joint debridement,synovectomy,ganglionectomy,capsular release,and osteotomies are frequent resection operations.Ligament repair and arthroscopy-aided reduction and fixation for fractures and nonunion are all examples of reconstructive surgery.

Arthroscopic findings after manipulation under anesthesia in idiopathic capsulitis of the shoulder:A prospective study

BACKGROUND Manipulation under anesthesia(MUA)of the shoulder joint is a commonly used method for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis.Though it has been known to be associated with a variety of complications,there is a paucity of studies describing the arthroscopic findings after MUA.AIM To describe the arthroscopic findings in patients with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder after MUA.METHODS We recruited 28 patients with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis who underwent arthroscopic capsular release.Manipulation of the shoulder was performed under anesthesia in all of these patients before capsular release.Intra-articular findings were recorded during arthroscopic capsular release in these patients.RESULTS All patients showed the presence of synovitis.Twenty-seven patients showed tears in the capsule on the anterior aspect.One patient had an avulsion of the anterior rim of the glenoid and labrum following the manipulation.Four patients had partial rotator cuff tears,and one patient showed a superior labrum anterior posterior lesion,which was not diagnosed preoperatively on magnetic resonance imaging.CONCLUSION MUA leads to rupture of the capsule,which is the desired outcome.However,the site of rupture of the capsule is dependent on the maneuvers of MUA.In addition,partial tears of the rotator cuff and osteochondral fractures of the glenoid can also occur.

Pain in Non-Athlete Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement and Hip Labral Tears: A Longitudinal Study

Background: Pain in patients with orthopedic problems is an important aspect of surgical evaluation. However, the effect on the quality of life depends not only on the degree of pain but also on its type. Hip arthroscopy has been performed for hip joint symptoms caused by femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and hip labrum tears. However, the degree and type of pain after hip arthroscopy remains unknown. Objective: This study aimed to clarify the degree and type of pain during 6 months after hip arthroscopy. Methods: Non-athlete patients aged 20 - 65 years who underwent hip arthroscopy between December 2018 and October 2019 participated in a questionnaire survey before hospitalization and at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. The questionnaire comprised the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip-Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ) for quality of life, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) for activities, and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ-2) for pain. Results: The analysis included 10 patients (men: 4, women: 6, mean age: 38 ± 8.6 years, FAI: 6 cases, hip labrum tears: 4 cases). The average time from symptom onset to surgery was 26.9 ± 19.0 months. The analysis from before surgery to 6 months after surgery showed improvement over time in all scale scores (JHEQ, IPAQ, and SF-MPQ-2). The degree of pain was significantly improved based on the JHEQ visual analog scale evaluation (P = 0.019) 3 months after surgery. Significant improvement in intermittent pain (P = 0.011) based on SF-MPQ-2 was noted 3 months after surgery;however, no significant improvement in continuous pain was noted. Conclusions: Patients who underwent hip arthroscopy showed significant improvements in the degree of pain and type of intermittent pain from before surgery to 3 months after surgery, however, no change was observed in continuous pain.

Clinical,imaging,arthroscopic,and histologic features of bilateral anteromedial meniscofemoral ligament:A case report

BACKGROUND The anteromedial meniscofemoral ligament(AMMFL)is a very rare entity,commonly unrecognized and underreported.Although it was not proved to be a cause of anterior knee pain,concerns have been raised on the relationship between the presence of this structure and medial meniscus injury secondary to its abnormal motion.Regarding histologic examination,some studies have shown meniscus-like fibrocartilage,while others have identified it as ligament-like collagenous fibrous connective tissue.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of a 34-year-old ballerina with an AMMFL associated with a torn medial meniscus of both knees.Surgery was performed to treat the meniscal injury and two biopsies of each AMMFL were taken in different locations to define the histopathological composition.Histologic examination revealed fibrocartilaginous tissue compatible with meniscus.Follow-up evaluation one year after surgery evidenced full remission of symptoms and the patient had resumed her athletic activities.CONCLUSION Clinical,magnetic resonance imaging,arthroscopic,and histological features have been carefully described to better characterize the AMMFL.

Locked Posterior Shoulder Dislocation with Impression Fracture Treated All Arthroscopically with the Use of an Allograft Bone Block: A Case Report

Background: Locked posterior shoulder dislocations are uncommon and possess many difficulties in diagnosis. They are often overlooked during the initial examination and delayed diagnosis adversely affects healing process. Apart from many open treatment options, there are reports of single attempts to treat such cases arthroscopically. Purpose: We present an original case of a posterior locked dislocation of the shoulder joint with a fracture of the lesser tuberosity followed by reverse Hill-Sachs fracture, treated in a novel fashion all-arthroscopically with the use of allogenic bone graft. Method: According to Constant Shoulder Score that tries to assess functional and subjective performance of the shoulder joint before the operation and after 12 months, we achieved a leap from 11 to 84. Results: The patient restored almost full range of motion and painless movement in activities of daily life as well as during sports. Conclusion: The use of an arthroscope reduces the invasiveness of the procedure, improves visualization of the joint and allows augmentation of the bone loss without performing an open approach. We believe that this is a promising method of treatment for selected cases of locked posterior shoulder dislocation.

关节镜下等离子射频治疗尺骨鹰嘴滑囊炎

目的探讨关节镜下等离子射频治疗尺骨鹰嘴滑囊炎手术。方法选择难治性尺骨鹰嘴滑囊炎病例18例,应用关节镜辅助下经皮等离子消融气化,治疗滑囊炎。结果关节镜辅助下等离子射频气化治疗18例术后均无感染复发,无血管神经损伤等并发症。结论关节镜下等离子射频治疗尺骨鹰嘴滑囊炎,是一种操作安全、有效的治疗方法。

State-of-the-Art management of knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis(OA) is the most common type of arthritis found in the United States' population and is also the most common disease of joints in adults throughout the world with the knee being the most frequently affected of all joints. As the United States' population ages along with the increasing trends in obesity prevalence in other parts of the world, it is expected that the burden of OA on the population, healthcare system, and overall economy will continue to increase in the future without making major improvements in managing knee OA. Numerous therapies aim to reduce symptoms of knee OA and continued research has helped to further understand the complex pathophysiology of its disease mechanism attempting to uncover new potential targets for the treatment of OA. This review article seeks to evaluate the current practices for managing knee OA and discusses emerging therapies on the horizon. These practices include non-pharmacological treatments such as providing patient education and self-management strategies, advising weight loss, strengthening programs, and addressing biomechanical issues with bracing or foot orthoses. Oral analgesics and anti-inflammatories are pharmacologicals that are commonly used and the literature overall supports that some of these medications can be helpful for managing knee OA in the short-term but are less effective for long-term management. Additionally, more prolonged use significantly increases the risk of serious associated side effects that are not too uncommon. Diseasemodifying osteoarthritis drugs are being researched as a treatment modality to potentially halt or slow disease progression but data at this time is limited and continued studies are being conducted to further investigate their effectiveness. Intra-articular injectables are also implemented to manage knee OA ranging from corticosteroids to hyaluronans to more recently plateletrich plasma and even stem cells while several other injection therapies are presently being studied. The goal of developing new treatment strategies for knee OA is to prolong the need for total knee arthroplasty which should be utilized only if other strategies have failed. High tibial osteotomy and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty are potential alternatives if only a single compartment is involved with more data supporting unicompartmental knee arthroplasty as a good treatment option in this scenario. Arthroscopy has been commonly used for many years to treat knee OA to address degenerative articular cartilage and menisci, however, several high-quality studies have shown that it is not a very effective treatment for the majority of cases and should generally not be considered when managing knee OA. Improving the management of knee OA requires a multi-faceted treatment approach along with continuing to broaden our understanding of this complex disease so that therapeutic advancements can continue to be developed with the goal of preventing further disease progression and even potentially reversing the degenerative process.

Medium-term efficacy of arthroscopic debridement vs conservative treatment for knee osteoarthritis of Kellgren-Lawrence grades I-III

BACKGROUND Arthroscopic debridement is a mature treatment for knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Due to the differences in the research subjects,methods,and efficacy evaluation indexes,there are great differences in the surgical efficacy reported in the literature.AIM To compare the medium-term efficacy of arthroscopic debridement and conservative treatment for KOA of Kellgren-Lawrence grades I-III.METHODS Patients with KOA of Kellgren-Lawrence grades I-III who were admitted to the orthopedic clinic of our hospital from July 2018 to December 2018 and agreed to undergo arthroscopic surgery were included in an arthroscopic debridement group,and those who refused surgical treatment were included in a conservative treatment group.Gender,age,body mass index(BMI),side of KOA,American hospital for special surgery knee score(HSS score)before treatment,visual analogue scale(VAS)score during walking and rest before treatment,conservative treatment content,and surgical procedure were recorded.Outpatient visits were conducted at the 1st,3rd,6th,12th,and 24th mo after treatment in the two groups.The changes of HSS score and VAS score in each group before and after treatment were statistically analyzed,and the differences of HSS score and VAS score in different treatment stages between the two groups were also compared.RESULTS In the conservative treatment group,there were 80 patients with complete followup data,including 20 males and 60 females,aged 58.75±14.66 years old.And in the knee arthroscopic debridement group,there were 98 patients with complete follow-up data,including 24 males and 74 females,aged 59.27±14.48 years old.There was no statistically significant difference in the general data(gender,age,BMI,side of KOA,Kellgren-Lawrence grade distribution,HSS score,and VAS score)between the two groups before treatment.The HSS scores of the conservative treatment group at the 1st,3rd,6th,12th,and 24th mo after treatment were significantly higher than that before treatment(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference in HSS score of the conservative treatment group among the 1st,3rd,6th,12th,and 24th mo(P>0.05).The HSS score of the knee arthroscopic debridement group at the 1st mo after surgery was significantly higher than that before surgery(P<0.05).HSS scores of the knee arthroscopic debridement group at the 3rd,6th,12th,and 24th mo were significantly higher than those before surgery and at the 1st mo after surgery(P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in HSS scores at the 3rd,6th,12th,and 24th mo after surgery(P>0.05).HSS scores at the 3rd,6th,12th,and 24th mo were significantly higher in the arthroscopic debridement group than in the conservative treatment group(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference in HSS scores between the two groups before treatment and at the 1st mo of follow-up(P>0.05).VAS scores during walking and rest were significantly decreased in both groups,and the VAS score during rest was significantly lower in the arthroscopic debridement group than in the conservative treatment group,but there was no significant difference in the VAS score during walking between the two groups after treatment.CONCLUSION Compared with conservative treatment,arthroscopic debridement can significantly improve the knee resting pain and knee functional status of patients with KOA of Kellgren-Lawrence grades I-III within 2 years after treatment.

Functional outcomes of traumatic and non-traumatic rotator cuff tears after arthroscopic repair

AIM To compare the functional outcomes of traumatic and non-traumatic rotator cuff tears after arthroscopic repair. METHODS Eighty-seven patients with rotator cuff tears following arthroscopic treatment were divided into traumatic and non-traumatic tear groups. Postoperative muscle strength and outcomes using the modified University of California, Los Angeles score were evaluated. Sex, age, affected limb and dominant limb were correlated between groups. Muscle strength of the repaired and unaffected shoulders was compared. Rotator cuff injury size was measured. RESULTS Of the 87 patients who underwent rotator cuff repairs, 35 had traumatic tears and 52 had non-traumatic tears. In patients with non-traumatic tears, the average age was 59 years, 74.5% were female, 96.1% were righthand dominant and 92.3% had their dominant shoulder affected. Patients with traumatic tears were 59.5 yearsold on average, 51.4% were female, 91.4% were righthand dominant and 88.5% had their dominant shoulder affected. No difference existed in the mean modified University of California, Los Angeles score between patients with traumatic tears(33.7) compared with those with non-traumatic tears(32.8). No strength differences were observed between groups: The strength difference between the non-affected and affected sides was 1.21 kg in the non-traumatic group and 1.39 kg in the traumatic group(P = 0.576), while the strength ratio between the non-affected/affected sides was 0.805 in the nontraumatic group and 0.729 in the traumatic group(P = 0.224). CONCLUSION The functional results of traumatic rotator cuff repairs are similar to non-traumatic tears. Both outcomes are satisfactory.

Ankle fracture configuration following treatment with and without arthroscopic-assisted reduction and fixation

AIM: To report ankle fracture configurations and bone quality following arthroscopic-assisted reduction and internal-fixation(ARIF) or open reduction and internalfixation(ORIF). METHODS: The patients of ARIF(n = 16) or ORIF(n = 29) to treat unstable ankle fracture between 2006 and 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Baseline data, including age, sex, type of injury, immediate postoperative fracture configuration(assessed on X-rays and graded by widest gap and largest step-off of any intraarticular site), bone quality [assessed with bone mineral density(BMD) testing] and arthritic changes on X-rays following surgical treatments were recorded for each group.RESULTS: Immediate-postoperative fracture configurations did not differ significantly between the ARIF and ORIF groups. There were anatomic alignments as 8(50%) and 8(27.6%) patients in ARIF and ORIF groups(P = 0.539) respectively. There were acceptable alignments as 12(75%) and 17(58.6%) patients in ARIF and ORIF groups(P = 0.341) respectively. The arthritic changes in follow-up period as at least 16 wk following the surgeries were shown as 6(75%) and 10(83.3%) patients in ARIF and ORIF groups(P = 0.300) respectively. Significantly more BMD tests were performed in patients aged > 60 years(P < 0.001), ARIF patients(P = 0.021), and female patients(P = 0.029). There was no significant difference in BMD test t scores between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Ankle fracture configurations following surgeries are similar between ARIF and ORIF groups, suggesting that ARIF is not superior to ORIF in treatment of unstable ankle fractures.

Degenerative meniscus: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment options

The symptomatic degenerative meniscus continues to be a source of discomfort for a significant number of patients. With vascular penetration of less than onethird of the adult meniscus, healing potential in the setting of chronic degeneration remains low. Continued hoop and shear stresses upon the degenerative meniscus results in gross failure, often in the form of complex tears in the posterior horn and midbody. Patient history and physical examination are critical to determine the true source of pain, particularly with the significant incidence of simultaneous articular pathology. Joint line tenderness, a positive Mc Murray test, and mechanical catching or locking can be highly suggestive of a meniscal source of knee pain and dysfunction. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging are frequently utilized to examine for osteoarthritis and to verify the presence of meniscal tears, in addition to ruling out other sources of pain. Non-operative therapy focused on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy may be able to provide pain relief as well as improve mechanical function of the knee joint. For patients re-fractory to conservative therapy, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy can provide short-term gains regarding pain relief, especially when combined with an effective, regular physiotherapy program. Patients with clear mechanical symptoms and meniscal pathology may benefit from arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, but surgery is not a guaranteed success, especially with concomitant articular pathology. Ultimately, the long-term outcomes of either treatment arm provide similar results for most patients. Further study is needed regarding the short and long-term outcomes regarding conservative and surgical therapy, with a particular focus on the economic impact of treatment as well.

Cartilage repair techniques of the talus: An update

Symptomatic chondral or osteochondral defects of the talus reduce the quality of life of many patients.Although their pathomechanism is well understood,it is well known that different aetiologic factors play a role in their origin.Additionally,it is well recognised that the talar articular cartilage strongly differs from that in the knee.Despite this fact,many recommendations for the management of talar cartilage defects are based on approaches that were developed for the knee.Conservative treatment seems to work best in paediatric and adolescent patients with osteochondritis dissecans.However,depending on the size of the lesions,surgical approaches are necessary to treat many of these defects.Bone marrow stimulation techniques may achieve good results in small lesions.Large lesions may be treated by open procedures such as osteochondral autograft transfer or allograft transplantation.Autologous chondrocyte transplantation,as a restorative procedure,is well investigated in the knee and has been applied in the talus with increasing popularity and promising results but the evidence to date is poor.The goals of the current article are to summarise the different options for treating chondral and osteochondral defects of the talus and review the available literature.