ISAKOS: 2019 Congress in Cancun, Mexico
ISAKOS

2019 ISAKOS Biennial Congress Paper #217

 

Rehabilitation and Return to Sports Proceedings from the International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle

Pieter D'Hooghe, MD PhD, Doha, Qatar QATAR
Christopher D. Murawski, MD, Pittsburgh, PA UNITED STATES
C. Niek van Dijk, MD, PhD, Abcoude NETHERLANDS

UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, UNITED STATES

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary

The purpose of this paper is report the consensus statements on Rehabilitation and Return to Sports developed at the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle.

Abstract

Background

The evidence supporting best practice guidelines in the field of cartilage repair of the ankle are based on both low quality and low levels of evidence. Therefore, an international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance toward consensus opinions based on the best available evidence on key topics within cartilage repair of the ankle.

Methods

Seventy-five international experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 25 countries and one territory were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within 11 working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed and the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred in cases where statements were not agreed upon in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held, and the strength of consensus was characterized as follows: consensus: 51 - 74%; strong consensus: 75 - 99%; unanimous: 100%.

Results

A total of 9 statements on rehabilitation and return to sports reached consensus during the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. All 9 statements reached strong consensus with at least 86% agreement.

Conclusions

The rehabilitation process for ankle cartilage injuries requires a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach. This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with rehabilitation and return to sports after treatment of a cartilage injury of the ankle.