The Journal of foot and ankle surgery : official publication of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
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Comparative Study
Autogenous bone grafting for the treatment of talar dome lesions.
This study evaluated a surgical bone grafting technique, which restores the talar dome weightbearing articular surface for the repair of a transchondral lesion. An autogenous bone graft combined with viable cartilage is used to recreate a normal talar articular surface. In a retrospective analysis of talar dome lesions, 14 patients surgically treated with bone grafts were compared to 17 patients treated with curettage and subchondral drilling. ⋯ Patients were also asked their perception of their own surgical outcome (considering pain frequency and ability to participate in sporting activities or walk at a similar level compared to before the surgery), and if they would have the surgery again. No differences in the patients' preoperative symptoms or their subjective assessment post surgery were detected between the groups. While curettage plus drilling is the most common surgical procedure for chronic symptomatic talar dome lesion, our results suggest that bone grafting of the lesion yields better long-term clinical results.