Bioabsorbable fixation for knee osteochondral lesions tied to high return to activity among adolescents

Written By : Dr Supreeth D R |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2023-01-16T09:45:59+05:30 | Updated On 16 Jan 2023 11:53 AM IST

Bioabsorbable fixation in managing osteochondral lesions is increasing in popularity. Kendall E. Bradley et al conducted a study to report outcomesof bioabsorbable fixation nails in treatment of osteochondral lesions of the knee in a pediatric and adolescent population. The study has been published in ‘The Knee’ journal.

A retrospective review of pediatric patients undergoing surgery with bioabsorbable fixation for knee osteochondral lesions was performed. Demographic, clinical, and surgical data was collected including symptom duration, lesion location, size, use of bone grafting, and number of implants. Return to activities was documented. Patients recommended revision surgery were compared to those who were not.

Key findings of the study:

• 47 patients with median age 13.9 years and 25.5% female were included with median clinical follow-up of 47.3 weeks.

• 87.2% of patients were cleared for full activities.

• Four male patients (8.5%) were recommended revision surgery, of whom three underwent surgery including removal of loose bioabsorbable fixation.

• Demographic data did not differ between the group with successful versus failed primary surgery (p > 0.05).

• Symptom duration was more acute (<1 month) in the four recommended revision surgery (75% versus 9.3%, p = 0.008).

• The group recommended revision also had larger lesion size (median 5.4 cm2 versus 2 cm2 , p = 0.04).

• Distal femoral physeal status, lesion location, necessity for bone grafting, and number of implants did not differ between groups.

The authors concluded that – “Adolescents had a high return to activity following bioabsorbable fixation for knee osteochondral lesions with 87.2% cleared for full return. In the 8.5% of patients who were deemed to have failed primary fixation, symptoms were more likely to be acute in nature with larger lesion sizes.”

MBBS, Dip. Ortho, DNB ortho, MNAMS

Dr Supreeth D R (MBBS, Dip. Ortho, DNB ortho, MNAMS) is a practicing orthopedician with interest in medical research and publishing articles. He completed MBBS from mysore medical college, dip ortho from Trivandrum medical college and sec. DNB from Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru. He has expirence of 7years in the field of orthopedics. He has presented scientific papers & posters in various state, national and international conferences. His interest in writing articles lead the way to join medical dialogues. He can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751