Background
Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) are common injuries among athletes. The unique characteristics of the osteochondral unit, combined with high functional demands, present a treatment challenge. This review and meta-analysis aim to highlight the differences between techniques and identify the most effective surgical strategies for athletes.
Methods
A systematic review of the literature from January 1990 to April 2024 was conducted, with the search strategy registered in PROSPERO. Surgical procedure details, return-to-sport (RTS) rates, sport-related scores, clinical scores, and demographics were extracted. Meta-analyses were performed when possible.
Results
The mean age at surgery was 34.5 ± 9.9 years, the mean BMI was 25.7 ± 4.2 kg/m², the mean lesion size was 111.5 ± 75.8 mm², and the mean follow-up was 4.7 ± 3.4 years. No statistically significant differences were detected among the postoperative values of the VAS score, AOFAS score, or FAOS sport score reported for the different surgical strategies (p-value > 0.05). Significant differences were observed in return-to-sport rates and return-to-sport at pre-injury levels. The highest number of studies reporting RTS rates involved bone marrow stimulation, with an RTS rate of 83.3% (95% CI 80.3-86.2%) and an RTS to pre-injury level of 52.7% (95% CI 47.8-57.6%). The second most reported technique was osteochondral replacement, with an RTS rate of 83.7% (95% CI 79.6-87.8%) and an RTS to pre-injury level of 54.6% (95% CI 45.6-63.6%), though this difference was not statistically significant (p-value > 0.05). The best RTS to pre-injury level was reported for cartilage regeneration cell-based techniques: 72.5% (95% CI 55.9-94.4%), though based on only four studies. Differences in RTS rates and RTS to pre-injury levels between cartilage implantation and BMS, and between cartilage regeneration cell-based and osteochondral replacement, were statistically significant (p-value < 0.05).
Conclusions
The various surgical treatment options for talar OCD allow for adequate return-to-sport (RTS) times and rates. However, RTS rates decrease when considering patients’ return to their pre-injury levels compared to returning at any level. A tailored approach for each case is recommended to ensure an optimal return to sport for the athlete without compromising long-term clinical outcomes.