Surgical treatment for talus Osteochondral Lesions: What's new?

Abstract

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) are a common pathology encountered by foot and ankle surgeons. Symptomatic cartilage lesions in the ankle pose a significant challenge and often require surgical intervention to alleviate pain, improve joint function, and restore the integrity of the articular surface. Possible treatment options, including operative and nonoperative management, have been widely discussed in the literature, with substantial heterogeneity regarding treatment approaches and resulting patient-reported outcomes and joint function metrics. A general problem regarding OLT is that this entity is not clearly defined, nor its description, location, or best treatment for each type that may be required in some symptomatic presentations. The focus of our paper was to show the proper treatment for each lesion, including location, deepness, vascularity, and capability of healing. Level of evidence V; Expert opinion.