Clinical Outcomes After Arthroscopic Microfracture Treatment of Coexisting Talar and Tibial Osteochondral Lesions

BACKGROUND: Despite increased recognition of coexisting tibial and talar osteochondral lesions (OCLs), the risk factors influencing clinical outcomes remain unclear. PURPOSE: To report clinical follow-up results after arthroscopic microfracture surgery in patients with OCLs of the distal tibial plafond and talus and assess possible factors affecting these clinical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A total of 40 patients with coexisting talar and tibial OCLs who underwent arthroscopic microfracture surgery were included. For analysis, the study used the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale, Karlsson-Peterson scale, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain for clinical evaluations on the day before surgery, 12 months after surgery, and at the last follow-up. A stepwise regression model and Spearman rank correlation were used to assess possible factors affecting these clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 34.5 months (interquartile range [IQR], 26.5-54 months). At the final follow-up, the cohort included 40 patients (26 men and 14 women) with a mean age of 38.8 years (range, 19-60 years). The median AOFAS score increased from 57.5 (IQR, 47-65) before surgery to 88 (IQR, 83-92.5) at the final follow-up, the median Karlsson-Peterson score increased from 48 (IQR, 38.5-67) to 82 (IQR, 76-92), and the median VAS score improved from 5 (IQR, 4-6) to 1 (IQR, 0-2). All scale scores showed significant differences between the preoperative and final follow-up evaluations (P < .001). In the stepwise regression model and Spearman rank correlation analysis, the grade of tibial OCL had a significant independent effect on the final postoperative AOFAS scores of the patients (β = –0.502, P = .001; r = –0.456, P = .003). The size of the tibial lesion also had a significant independent effect on the final postoperative Karlsson-Peterson scores of the patients (β = –0.444, P = .004; r = –0.357, P = .024). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic microfracture treatment for coexisting talar and tibial OCLs can achieve good short- to midterm clinical outcomes. The grade and size of tibial OCLs are the main risk factors affecting the prognostic functional scores of such patients.