Arthroscopic autogenous osteochondral transplantation for treating knee cartilage defects: A 2- to 5-year follow-up study

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the medium-term results of arthroscopic treatment of chondral and osteochondral lesions of the knee with autogenous osteochondral transplantation (AOT). Type of Study: Case series. Methods: Thirty-three skeletally mature patients with symptomatic, full-thickness cartilage lesions of the femoral condyles, between 1 and 2.5 cm in diameter, were treated with arthroscopic AOT. Grafts were harvested from the superior and lateral intercondylar notch and press-fit into holes drilled into the defect. All patients were evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively with the Lysholm knee score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Standard Evaluation Form, and knee joint radiographs. Results: Thirty patients of a mean age of 44.6 years were followed-up for a mean time of 45.1 months. Symptom duration ranged from 1 month to 15 years (median, 9.5 months). The mean Lysholm score significantly improved from 43.6 preoperatively to 87.5 postoperatively ( P Conclusions: Arthroscopic AOT is an effective and safe method of treating symptomatic full-thickness chondral defects of the femoral condyles in appropriately selected cases. However, further studies with long-term follow-up are needed to determine if the grafted area will maintain structural and functional integrity over time. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic, case series (no, or historical, control group).