Analysis of factors affecting the prognosis of osteochondral lesions of the talus

PURPOSE: This study aims to analyze the correlation between the prognosis of osteochondral lesions of the talus and patient age, gender, duration of illness, and injury location, surface area, depth, and volume. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 44 patients who underwent talus osteochondral transplantation in the Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery of our hospital between January 2017 and December 2020 was performed. The clinical medical records of the patients were collected, and the location of the osteochondral lesion of the talus was determined according to the nine-division method. The surface area, depth, and volume of the osteochondral lesion of the talus were measured using mimics software in all patients. The visual analog scale (VAS), the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), and the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire scores were evaluated before surgery and at the last follow-up, and correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of 44 patients, 30 were followed up with a mean period of 24.33 ± 12.19 months. There were 18 men and 12 women, with an average age of 40.73 ± 10.57 years and an average disease duration of 28.30 ± 21.25 months. The VAS, AOFAS, and SF-36 scores of all patients at the last follow-up were significantly better than those before surgery. The degree of post-operative symptom improvement was not correlated with age, sex, duration of illness, and injury location, surface area, depth, and volume. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of osteochondral lesion of the talus is not related to patient age, gender, duration of disease, or injury location, surface area, depth, and volume.