2015 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #1510

Full-Thickness Chondral Defects in Athletes: A Retrospective Review

Alex C. Dibartola, MD, MPH, Columbus, OH UNITED STATES
The Ohio State University College of Medicine Department of Orthopedics, Columbus, OH, USA

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary: The purpose of this study was to analyze chondral lesions in different athletic groups to identify factors associated with knee chondral defect size and severity.

Abstract:

Full-Thickness Chondral Defects in Athletes: A Retrospective Review

Alex C. DiBartola, Joshua S. Everhart, Divyesh Mehta, Laura Schmitt, Robert A. Magnussen, David C. Flanigan

Objectives

Previous studies on the incidence of chondral have identified athletes as an at risk population. The purpose of this study was to analyze chondral lesions in different athletic groups to identify factors associated with knee chondral defect size and severity.

Methods

A retrospective review of athletic patients undergoing knee arthroscopy for repair of a chondral defect from August 2010 - January 2013 was performed. A total of 240 athletes were included. Surgeries were preformed by one of three orthopedic surgeons. Eligible patients were 10-65 years old and had chondral lesions noted on MRI.

Results

Age range: 14-67 (103 women, 137 men). Median BMI: 27.2 (SD 4.9). Level of competition: recreational (167, 69.6%), high-school (44, 18.3%), collegiate (25, 10.8%), professional (3, 1.3%). Time from symptom onset to arthroscopy: median 114 days.
At the time of arthroscopy, 42.5% had a full thickness defect, 77.9% had multiple grade 1 or higher defects, and 9.6% have multiple full thickness defects. Sport with the lowest odds of full thickness defects: football (28%), highest odds: soccer (58.6%).
Increased BMI (OR 1.06) and age (OR 1.03) were associated with increased probability of a full thickness defect. Delaying 6 months or more between symptom onset and arthroscopy was associated with higher odds of a full thickness defect (OR 1.84). Smoking was associated with increased risk of a full thickness defect (OR 2.03). Past knee injury was associated with increased odds of full thickness defect (OR 3.29). Age was associated with increasing lesion size (R2=0.27, p=0.016).

Conclusion

Athletes have a high incidence of full thickness cartilage lesions. Increased BMI, age, time of symptoms onset, previous knee injury and smoking had higher odds of having full thickness defects.