Low Grade Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee: Need to be Fixed?

Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee is a nosological entity acquired, idiopathic and potentially reversible. Dissects the subchondral bone tissue plane from the underlying bone, making a partial or complete osteochondral detachment, with a loose body. Consensus to treat none surgically poor symptomatic and stable lesions. If the lesion becomes instable or more symptomatic, surgical treatment will be best the option. Recently histological evidence holds is possible find sources of instability in deep layers sub chondral bone, even in patients with ¨stables lesions¨. This condition might be the reason of unfavorable evolution certain cases previously considered as ¨stable or incipient¨, treated with the classic non operative protocols. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study consist in present a series of cases of young patients with symptomatic low grade juvenile OCD (grade I-II), treated surgically with subchondral debridement and fixation ¨in situ¨ describing the clinical and imaging findings. METHODS: We evaluated 15 cases of symptomatic juvenile OCD of the knee, stables lesion (grade I/ II) according to Di Paola´s classification, who have not responded to conservative therapy for at least 6 months. RESULTS: All patients were treated surgical consecutively with arthroscopically assisted ¨in situ¨ fixation with pins Smart Nail NR, ConMed-Linvatex and for the same group of surgeons. We evaluated the clinical and imagenologic outcomes with MRI for a minimum follow up of six month to one year. No looseness of fastening material or loose bodies in the submitted sample were recorded. The study by MRI imaging techniques using high definition chondral identification evidence allowed the consolidation of the fragment to the 6th month. CONCLUSION: All patients evolved asymptomatic and returned to the previous activity, with high level of satisfaction.