Midterm Results of Fresh-Frozen Osteochondral Allografting for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Background: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are relatively common. Following the failure of conservative treatment, many operative options have yielded varied results. In this study, midterm outcomes after fresh-frozen osteochondral allograft transplantation for the treatment of OLT were evaluated. Methods: Twenty-five patients (12 women and 13 men) with a mean age 40.4 (range 18-70) years between 2009 and 2014 were enrolled. Of 25 ankles, 3, 13, 4, and 4 were involved with the talus at Raikin zone 3, 4, 6, and 7 as well as one coexisted with zone 4 and 6 lesion. The mean OLT area was 1.82 cm² (range, 1.1-3.0). The mean follow-up period was 5.5 years (range, 4-9.3). Outcomes evaluation included the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, visual analog scale score, and 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Result: AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score increased from 74 preoperatively to 94 at 2 years postoperatively (P <.001) and the SF-12 physical health component scores increased from 32 to 46 points (P <.001). Incorporation was inspected in all patients in the latest follow-up, and graft subsidence and radiolucency were observed in 2 and 7 cases, respectively, whereas graft collapse and revision OLT graft were not observed. Bone sclerosis was found in 6 of 25 patients. Conclusion: With respect to midterm results, fresh, frozen-stored allograft transplantation might be an option in the management of symptomatic OLT. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.