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Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the quality of the reparative cartilage during second-look needle arthroscopy following talar osteoperiostic grafting from the iliac crest (TOPIC) or autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) procedure for the management of large osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the talus., Design: Prospective case series., Methods: Patients who underwent second-look needle arthroscopy following either TOPIC or AOT procedure were prospectively recruited when they needed a second look. The primary outcome was the assessment of the quality of the reparative cartilage via second-look needle arthroscopy scored by the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) score. The secondary outcomes were the number and nature of needle arthroscopy interventions and complications associated with these interventions., Results: Five patients underwent second-look needle arthroscopy following TOPIC procedure and 11 patients underwent second-look in-office needle arthroscopy following AOT. The mean ICRS in the TOPIC cohort was 9.4 ± 1.0 at a mean time of 24.4 months following the index procedure. The mean ICRS in the AOT cohort was 10.6 ± 1.3 at a mean time of 58.8 months following the index procedure. No complications were observed in either cohort., Conclusion: This study demonstrated that TOPIC and AOT lead to adequate-looking quality reparative cartilage at short-term to mid-term follow-ups. However, further studies with larger patient cohorts and longer follow-ups are warranted. Furthermore, second-look needle arthroscopy is a safe and viable minimally invasive procedure that can effectively evaluate the quality of reparative cartilage following surgical intervention for OCLs of the talus., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: G.M.M.J.K. and J.G.K. are paid consultants of Arthrex. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to assess the gender-specific differences in the presentation and outcomes following Talar OsteoPeriostic grafting from the Iliac Crest (TOPIC) between male and female patients., Methods: A prospective comparative analysis was performed comparing consecutive female and male patients having been treated by the press-fit TOPIC procedure. Clinical comparative assessment preoperatively and at 12 months of follow-up included determination of the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores for pain during walking (primary outcome), at rest and during stair-climbing. The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) was also assessed. A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed for lesion size, morphology and localization determination preoperatively as well as 10-12 weeks postoperatively to assess the union of the osteotomy site and at 1 year postoperatively to assess consolidation of the graft as well as intra-graft cyst development., Results: A total of 48 patients (30 women, 18 men) were eligible for inclusion. Both men and women demonstrated significant functional improvements postoperatively concerning the clinical outcomes with no significant differences between men and women (n.s.) except for a significantly greater improvement in postoperative FAOS pain scores in women. Men presented with OLTs significantly larger in both surface area (208 mm 2 for males versus 155 mm 2 for females, p < 0.05) as well as lesion volume (3.0 cm 3 for males versus 1.8 cm 3 for females, p < 0.05). At 1-year postoperatively, all patients showed graft consolidation. Cyst formation was present in 11 females (37% of the group) and 10 males (59% of the group), respectively (n.s.)., Conclusion: Both males and females showed clinically relevant improvements in the clinical outcomes after undergoing the TOPIC procedure with significant differences in preoperative lesion size. The TOPIC procedure is a good treatment strategy for large OLTs in both men and women., Level of Evidence: Level III, comparative prospective clinical cohort., (© 2024 The Authors. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy.)

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) involve the subchondral bone and the overlying articular cartilage. Various surgical treatments for these lesions are available, such as bone marrow stimulation (BMS), autologous osteochondral grafting, and fixation of an osteochondral fragment. Treatment choice depends on the condition of the lesion, which includes lesion size, morphology, location, and the presence of cysts. Among the surgical procedures available to date, in situ fixation of the osteochondral fragment has the advantage of restoring the articular surface while preserving the native hyaline cartilage and its subchondral bone. Fixation for OLT has been shown to be clinically successful for the treatment of both acute and chronic lesions. Moreover, the indication for osteochondral fragment fixation is expanding as recent studies have found good clinical outcomes in relatively small-sized lesions. The present article describes the current evidence on fixation for acute and chronic OLT., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: The present study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and safety at a 1-year follow-up after 5 or 6 weeks of non-weight bearing after a Talar OsteoPeriostic grafting from the Iliac Crest (TOPIC) for a medial osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT)., Methods: A retrospective comparative case-control analysis of prospectively followed patients who underwent a TOPIC procedure with medial malleolus osteotomy was performed. Patients were matched in two groups with either 5 or 6 weeks of non-weight bearing. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) during walking, rest, running, and stairclimbing. Additionally, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score were assessed. Moreover, radiology and complications were assessed., Results: Eleven patients were included in the 5-week non-weight bearing group and 22 in the 6-week non-weight bearing group. No significant differences were found in any of the baseline variables. The NRS during walking in the 5-week group improved by 3.5 points and 4 points for the 6-week group (p = 0.58 at 1-year post-operatively). In addition, all other NRS scores, FAOS subscales and the AOFAS scores improved (all n.s. at 1 year follow-up). No significant differences in radiological (osteotomy union and cyst presence in the graft) were found. Moreover, no significant differences were found in terms of complications and reoperations., Conclusion: No statistical significant differences were found in terms of clinical, radiological and safety outcomes between 5 or 6 weeks of non-weight bearing following a TOPIC for a medial OLT., Level of Evidence: Level III, Therapeutic., (© 2024 The Author(s). Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy.)

Background: The long-term sustainability of arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) remains a matter of debate. The primary aim of the present study was to assess the 10-year survival free from revision in ankles that had undergone arthroscopic BMS for an OLT. The secondary aim was to evaluate the influence of baseline patient and lesion characteristics on survival., Methods: Patients who underwent arthroscopic BMS for a symptomatic OLT and had a minimum follow-up of 10 years were included to assess procedure survival. The primary outcome, the 10-year cumulative survival rate, was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier survival method. Secondary outcomes were the median time to revision and the effects of baseline factors (lesion size, primary or non-primary lesion type, preoperative cysts, and obesity as defined by a body mass index [BMI] of ≥30 kg/m 2 ) on survival, analyzed with a Cox regression model and reported using hazard ratios (HRs)., Results: The 262 included patients had a mean follow-up of 15.3 ± 4.8 years. The 10-year cumulative survival rate of the arthroscopic BMS procedures was 82% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 77% to 87%). At 15 years of follow-up, the cumulative survival rate was 82% (95% CI: 76% to 86%). The median time to revision was 2.4 years (interquartile range: 1.3 to 5.1 years). Of the baseline factors, obesity (HR: 3.0 [95% CI: 1.44 to 6.43], p < 0.01) was associated with decreased survival. Lesion size (HR: 0.9 [95% CI: 0.5 to 1.8], p = 0.8), non-primary lesion type (HR: 1.8 [95% CI: 0.9 to 3.4], p = 0.1), and the presence of preoperative cysts (HR: 1.0 [95% CI: 0.6 to 1.9], p = 0.9) were not significantly associated with survival., Conclusions: At a minimum follow-up of 10 years, the survival rate of arthroscopic BMS for OLT was 82%. At 15 and 20 years of follow-up, survival appeared to remain stable. Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) was associated with a higher likelihood of revision surgery. This risk factor should be incorporated into the treatment algorithm for OLT when counseling patients regarding surgery., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: Disclosure: No external funding was received for this work. The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article ( http://links.lww.com/JBJS/I9 )., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated. All rights reserved.)

The current concepts thoroughly highlight the ankle cartilage cascade focusing on the different stages and the different etiologic factors that can introduce a patient into the cascade. Moreover, the authors will provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the types of lesions that may present as symptomatic, asymptomatic, and dangerous for progression into osteoarthritis, and the authors supply the reader with considerations and directions for future clinical implications and scientific endeavors., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) with a fragment on the talar dome that fail conservative treatment and need surgical treatment can benefit from in situ fixation of the OLT. Advantages of fixation include the preservation of native cartilage, a high quality subchondral bone repair, and the restoration of the joint congruency by immediate fragment stabilization. To improve the chance of successful stabilization, adequate lesion exposure is critical, especially in difficult to reach lesions located on the posteromedial talar dome. In this study we describe the open Lift, Drill, Fill, Fix (LDFF) technique for medial osteochondral lesions of the talus with an osteochondral fragment. As such, the lesion can be seen as an intra-articular non-union that requires debridement, bone-grafting, stabilization, and compression. The LDFF procedure combines these needs with access through a medial distal tibial osteotomy., Indications: Symptomatic osteochondral lesion of the talus with a fragment (≥ 10 mm diameter and ≥ 3 mm thick as per computed tomography [CT] scan) situated on the medial talar dome which failed 3-6 months conservative treatment., Contraindications: Systemic disease, including active bacterial arthritis, hemophilic or other diffuse arthropathies, rheumatoid arthritis of the ankle joint, and malignancies. Neuropathic disease. End-stage ankle osteoarthritis or Kellgren and Lawrence score 3 or 4 [3]. Ipsilateral medial malleolus fracture less than 6 months prior. Relative contra-indication: posttraumatic stiffness with range of motion (ROM) < 5°. Children with open physis: do not perform an osteotomy as stabilization of the osteotomy may lead to early closure of the physis, potentially resulting in symptomatic varus angulation of the distal tibia. In these cases only arthrotomy can be considered., Surgical Technique: The OLT is approached through a medial distal tibial osteotomy, for which the screws are predrilled and the osteotomy is made with an oscillating saw and finished with a chisel in order to avoid thermal damage. Hereafter, the joint is inspected and the osteochondral fragment is identified. The cartilage is partially incised at the borders and the fragment is then lifted as a hood of a motor vehicle (lift). The subchondral bone is debrided and thereafter drilled to allow thorough bone marrow stimulation (drill) and filled with autologous cancellous bone graft from either the iliac crest or the distal tibia (fill). The fragment is then fixated (fix) in anatomical position, preferably with two screws to allow additional rotational stability. Finally, the osteotomy is reduced and fixated with two screws., Postoperative Management: Casting includes 5 weeks of short leg cast non-weightbearing and 5 weeks of short leg cast with weightbearing as tolerated. At 10-week follow-up, a CT scan is made to confirm fragment and osteotomy healing, and patients start personalized rehabilitation under the guidance of a physical therapist., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The primary purpose of the present study was to assess the patient-reported outcomes, complications, and reoperation rate of patient who underwent surgical treatment for symptomatic osteochondral lesions of the talonavicular joint (TNJ)., Methods: Patients undergoing surgical treatment for symptomatic osteochondral lesions of the TNJ with a minimum of 12-month follow-up were included. Outcomes included clinical patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), return to sports and work outcomes, and postoperative complications or reoperations. Medical records were screened by 2 independent reviewers. Patients were contacted by phone and underwent an in-depth interview. Additionally, operative techniques for both arthroscopic and open surgical approaches for treating TNJ osteochondral lesions were described., Design: Retrospective Case Series (Level IV) and Surgical Technique., Results: A total of 7 patients were included with a final follow-up time of 25.4 (SD: 15.2) months follow-up. PROMs were considered satisfactory for 5 out of 7 patients, 6 out of 7 patients returned to any level of sports at a mean of 3.7 (SD: 4.2) months, and 5 out of 6 patients returned to preinjury level of sports at a mean of 14 (SD: 7.5) months. All patients returned to work at an average of 5.4 (SD: 3.6) weeks. No complications or reoperations after index surgery were reported., Conclusion: Surgical treatment of TNJ osteochondral lesions is a feasible procedure that may offer successful clinical, sport, and work outcomes in the majority of patients. Both open and arthroscopic surgical treatments are available and can be considered in a patient-specific treatment plan., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective case series was to evaluate clinical outcomes following both conservative treatment and arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for the management of symptomatic subtalar osteochondral lesions (OCLs)., Design: All symptomatic subtalar OCLs with a minimum of 12 months follow-up having undergone either a conservative management or arthroscopic procedure were included. Patient-reported outcomes were collected via questionnaires consisting of the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) of pain in rest, during walking, during stair climbing, and during running. In addition, return to sports data, return to work data, reoperations, and complications were collected and assessed. In total, 11 patients across 2 academic institutions were included (3 males, 8 females). The median age was 43 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 32-53)., Results: All patients underwent conservative treatment first; in addition, 9 patients underwent subtalar arthroscopic debridement with or without BMS. The median follow-up time was 15 months (IQR: 14-100). In the surgically treated group, the median NRS scores were 2 (IQR: 1-3) during rest, 3 (IQR: 2-4) during walking, 4 (IQR: 4-5) during stair climbing, 5 (IQR: 4-5) during running and the median FAOS score at final follow-up was 74 (IQR: 65-83). In the conservatively treated patients, the median NRS scores were all 0 (IQR: 0-0) and the median FAOS scores were 90 (IQR: 85-94). In the group of surgical treated patients, 4 were able to return to the same level of sports, 2 returned to a lower level of sports. Both conservatively treated patients returned to the sport and the same level of prior participation. All patients except one in the surgical group returned to work., Conclusions: This retrospective case series demonstrated that a high number of patients converted to surgery after initial conservative treatment. In addition, debridement and BMS show good clinical outcomes for the management of symptomatic subtalar OCLs at short-term follow-up. No complications nor secondary surgical procedures were noted in the surgically treated group. The high rate of failure of conservative treatment suggests that surgical intervention for symptomatic subtalar OCLs can be the primary treatment strategy; however, further research is warranted in light of the small number of patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: To determine the clinical, safety, and radiological outcomes after biological resurfacing arthroplasty for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of one or more joints of the midtarsal joint complex., Design: All prospectively followed patients with OA to one of or multiple joints of the midtarsal joint complex who were operated with a biological resurfacing arthroplasty with a fascia lata autograft (BioJoint procedure) were included. A total of 7 patients were included (5 males, 2 females), with a median age of 52 (interquartile range [IQR] 44-55) years. The primary outcome was the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain during walking 2 years postoperatively. Range of motion (ROM), revision rates, and complications were assessed. A postoperative MRI scan was performed to assess progression of OA, graft position and ingrowth, and the degree of bone marrow edema., Results: There was a 100% follow-up of the patients (median follow-up: 33 [IQR 26-33] months). The NRS during walking improved from 6 preoperatively to 2 at 2 years postoperatively ( P < 0.05). There were no reoperations nor severe complications. The limitations in the ROM remained limited in the majority of the cases. MRI at 2 years of follow-up showed no progression of OA, reduced bone marrow edema, and no loosening of the grafts., Conclusion: Biological resurfacing arthroplasty with a fascia lata autograft (BioJoint procedure) for OA to one or more joints in the midtarsal joint complex showed clinically relevant pain reduction during walking, improvement in clinical and radiological outcomes, and proved to be safe and durable., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: To assess the patient-reported outcomes, as well as the revision and complication rates, of patients who underwent arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for an osteochondral lesion of the tibial plafond (OLTP)., Methods: Patients with an OLTP treated with arthroscopic BMS at a minimum follow-up of 2-years were cross-sectionally included from a historical database. The primary outcome was the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) during walking. Secondary outcomes included the NRS in rest and during running, and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score. Additionally, the association of baseline patient and lesion demographics with follow-up patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) was assessed with the Spearman rank correlation test. A subanalysis was performed for PROMs in patients with or without a coexisting talar (i.e., bipolar) lesion. Finally, the revision surgery (i.e., repeat surgery for the OLTP) and complication rates were assessed., Results: Fifty-one patients were included at a mean 8.8 (standard deviation [SD] = 5.7, range, 2-22) years follow-up. Seventy-three percent of patients had a solitary OLTP, and 27% had a coexisting talar (bipolar) lesion. Males had a significantly higher rate of bipolar lesions compared to females (P ≤ .01), and patients with a bipolar lesion had a significantly larger OLTP lesion diameter (P = .02) and volume (P = .04). At final follow-up, the mean NRS during walking was 1.9 (SD = 2.3) out of 10. Anterior-posterior OLTP size (r = 0.36; P ≤ .01) was significantly associated with a higher NRS pain score during walking, although the presence of bipolar lesions did not result in inferior clinical outcomes. At final follow-up, 6% of patients underwent revision surgery. Minor complications were observed in 12% of patients., Conclusions: Arthroscopic BMS for OLTP results in favorable patient-reported outcomes at mid- to long-term follow-up, although moderate outcomes were observed in sports activities. Lesion size was associated with increased pain scores, although bipolar lesions did not result in inferior patient-reported outcomes. Six percent of patients required revision surgery, and 12% of patients had minor complications after surgery., Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The primary aim was to assess the return to sports outcomes of patients with symptomatic osteochondral lesions (OCLs) to the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP-1) joint treated by arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS). Secondary aims were to present patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on pain scores as well as surgery-related complications or reoperations to the MTP-1 joint., Design: All patients with MTP-1 OCLs treated by arthroscopic BMS with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were included. Outcomes included return to sports and work outcomes, satisfaction outcomes with the performed treatment, PROMs, as well as postoperative complications and reoperations. Medical records were screened by 2 independent reviewers and patients were contacted by phone to partake in an in-depth interview. Complications, reoperations, and revision surgeries were additionally assessed., Results: Nine patients (median age: 22 years with interquartile range (IQR) 20-29 years) were included with a median follow-up time of 47 (IQR: 23-92) months. Six (86%) out of 7 patients who participated in sports preoperatively returned to sports at any level at a median of 4 (IQR: 2.6-5.8) months. Five patients (71%) returned to pre-injury level of sport and eventually returned to performance at a median of 4 (IQR 2.8-7.5) and 8 (IQR: 4.0-10.5) months, respectively. The median Numeric Rating Scale for pain during walking was 1 (IQR 0-2.5) and all (100%) patients were able to return to work at a median of 4 (IQR: 2-17) weeks. Eighty-nine percent of the patients were very or fairly satisfied with the result of their treatment. No complications, reoperations, or revision surgeries were reported., Conclusions: Arthroscopic BMS for patients with symptomatic OCLs to the MTP-1 joint can be considered safe and yields an 86% return to sport at any level and a 71% return to pre-injury and performance level, with good clinical, return to work, as well as satisfaction outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: Uniformity of reporting is a requisite to be able to compare results of clinical studies on the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and quality of reporting of size, morphology, and location of OLTs., Design: A literature search was performed from 1996 to 2023 to identify clinical studies on surgical treatment of OLTs. Screening was performed by 2 reviewers, who subsequently graded the quality using the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS). The primary outcome was the frequency and qualitative assessment of reporting of size, morphology, and location., Results: Of 3,074 articles, 262 articles were included. This comprised a total of 11,785 patients. Size was reported in 248 (95%) of the articles and was described with a measure for surface area in 83%, however, in 56%, definition of measurement is unknown. Intraclass coefficient (ICC) value for the reliability of size measurement was 0.94 for computed tomography (CT) scan and 0.87 for MRI scan. Morphology was reported in 172 (66%) of the articles and using a classification system in 23% of the studies. Location was reported in 220 (84%) of the studies., Conclusion: No consensus was found on the reporting of morphology, with non-validated classification systems and different terminologies used. For location, reporting in 9 zones is underreported. Size was well reported and measurements are more reliable for CT compared with MRI. As these prognostic factors guide clinical decision-making, we advocate the development of a standardized and validated OLT classification to reach uniform reporting in literature., Level of Evidence: Level III, systematic review., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: To compare cartilage quality after different surgical interventions for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT), evaluated by second-look arthroscopy. Secondary aims were to report concomitant diagnoses, and to correlate cartilage quality with clinical and radiological outcomes. This review hypothesizes that the cartilage repair after bone marrow stimulation (BMS) is inferior to the other available treatment options., Methods: PROSPERO ID: CRD42022311489. Studies were retrieved through PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), and Cochrane Library. Studies were included if they reported cartilage quality after second-look investigation after surgical treatment of OLT. The primary outcome measure was the cartilage quality success and failure rates (%) per surgical intervention group. Correlations between the cartilage quality and clinical or radiological outcomes were calculated., Results: Twenty-nine studies were included, comprising 586 ankles that had undergone second-look arthroscopy on average 16 months after initial surgery. The success rate for BMS was 57% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 48%-65%), for fixation (FIX) 86% (95% CI = 70%-94%), for osteo(chondral) transplantation (OCT) 91% (95% CI = 80%-96%), for cartilage implementation techniques (CITs) 80% (95% CI = 69%-88%), and for retrograde drilling 100% (95% CI = 66%-100%). The success rate of BMS was significantly lower than FIX, OCT, and CIT ( P < 0.01). There were no significant differences between other treatment groups. A moderate positive significant correlation between the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score and the International Cartilage Repair Society score (ICRS) was found (ρ = 0.51, P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Successful restoration of cartilage quality was found in the majority of surgically treated OLTs. However, BMS yields inferior cartilage quality compared with FIX, OCT, and CIT. Study Design. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Level of evidence. Level IV, systematic review and meta-analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: Ankle osteoarthritis severely impacts patients' mental and physical quality of life. Besides total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis, ankle distraction has been shown to be a promising alternative. The primary aim of the present study was to determine the annual revision rates (ARRs) after ankle distraction. The secondary aim was to obtain an overview of patient-reported outcome measures and functional outcomes., Methods: A literature search until November 2023 was performed. Methodological quality was assessed using the methodological index for non-randomised studies criteria. Primary outcome was the ARR which was log-transformed and pooled using a random effects model. Secondary outcomes were pooled using a simplified pooling technique and included the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Scale (AOFAS), range of motion (ROM) and post-operative complications., Results: The literature search resulted in 287 articles, of which 10 studies, comprising 602 patients, were included. The patients had a pooled mean age of 47 years (range of means: 40-68) and a mean follow-up of 35 months (range of means: 24-48). The overall methodological quality was moderate to fair. The pooled ARR after ankle distraction was 4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3%-7%). Pooling of AOFAS showed mean 26-point improvement (from 54 to 80). Additionally, ROM dorsiflexion improved at 5°, and the plantarflexion remained at 31°. The overall complication rate was 41% (95% CI, 35%-48%), of which 77% (95% CI, 67%-85%) were pin-tract infections., Conclusion: Ankle distraction results in an ARR of 4% (95% CI, 3%-7%) with clinically relevant improved AOFAS scores. The overall complication rate is 41% and is mainly attributable to treatable pin-tract infections (77% of recorded complications)., Level of Evidence: Level IV, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis., (© 2024 The Authors. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy.)

Purpose: A treatment-specific rehabilitation protocol and well-defined return-to-play criteria guide clinical decision-making on return to normal function, activity, sports and performance after surgical treatment for osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT). The optimal rehabilitation protocols in the current literature remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the existing literature on rehabilitation protocols from the early postoperative phase to return to sport onwards after different types of surgical treatment of OLTs., Methods: PubMed, Embase, CDSR, DARE and Central were searched systematically from inception to February 2023 according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. All clinical studies with a description of postoperative rehabilitation criteria after surgical treatment of OLTs were included. The primary outcome of this study is the extent of reportage for each rehabilitation parameter expressed in percentage. The secondary outcome is the reported median time for each parameter in rehabilitation protocols for all different treatment modalities (type of surgery). The median time, expressed as number of weeks, for each parameter was compared between different types of surgery., Results: A total of 227 articles were included reporting on 255 different rehabilitation protocols from seven different types of surgery. Weight-bearing instructions were reported in 84%-100% and the use of a cast or walker was prescribed in 27%-100%. Range of motion exercises were described in 54%-100% whereas physical therapy was advised in 21%-67% of the protocols. Any advice on return to sport was described in 0%-67% protocols. A nonparametric analysis of variance showed significant differences between the different surgical treatment modalities for the following parameters between the treatment groups: time to full weight-bearing (p < 0.0003) and return to high impact level of sports (p < 0.0003). Subjective or objective criteria for progression during rehabilitation were reported in only 24% of the studies., Conclusion: An in-depth exploration of the current literature showed substantial variation in postoperative rehabilitation guidelines with an associated underreporting of the most important rehabilitation parameters in postoperative protocols after surgical treatment of OLTs. Furthermore, nearly all rehabilitation protocols were constructed according to a time-based approach. Only one out of four reported either objective or subjective criteria., Level of Evidence: Level IV, systematic review., (© 2024 The Authors. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy.)

Introduction: The first line of treatment for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) is nonoperative. To date, there is limited evidence on risk factors that may influence conversion to surgery after primary nonoperative treatment for symptomatic OLTs. The aim of this study was therefore to identify risk factors for conversion to surgery after initial nonoperative treatment of OLTs., Methods: For this cohort study, patients with a primary OLT who were nonoperatively treated for at least 6 months between 1990 and 2020 were included. Univariable Cox regression analysis, resulting in hazard ratios (HRs), on the primary outcome (i.e. conversion to surgery after initial nonoperative treatment) was performed for potential risk factors. The following risk factors were analyzed: gender, age, body mass index (BMI), numeric rating scale (NRS), lesion size (depth, sagittal length, coronal length, volume, surface), lesion morphology (presence of fragments and presence of cysts), lesion location (medial/central/lateral), congruency of the ankle joint and trauma in history. Data imputation was conducted according to the multiple data principle with pooling., Results: Forty-two patients with primary OLTs were included in this study: 23 (55%) males and 19 (45%) females with a mean age of 39.1 (SD: 14.2). The median overall follow-up time was 66 months (range: 7-188). Around 23% of the patients had a conversion to surgery at the median observation time. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a survival rate of 93% (95% confidence interval [CI]:84-100), 90% (95% CI: 81-99), and 77% (95% CI: 63-91) at 1, 2, and 5 years after the initiation of treatment, respectively. After performing the COX regression analysis, age was the sole risk factor significantly associated with conversion to surgery with an HR of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.87-0.99). The different HRs for all other risk factors were as follows: gender: 0.33 (95% CI: 0.08-1.34), BMI: 0.87 (95% CI 0.76-1.01), depth: 0.97 (95% CI: 0.79-1.18), coronal length: 1.19 (95% CI: 0.97-1.44), sagittal length: 0.98 (95% CI: 0.87-1.12), surface area: 1.17 (95% CI: 0.41-3.31), volume: 0.96 (95% CI: 0.24-3.91), presence of fragments: 4.17 (95% CI: 0.84-20.61)., Conclusion: For primary OLTs, 77% of the patients were successfully treated nonoperatively at a median follow-up of 66 months without the need for a surgical intervention. Survival rates of 93%, 90%, and 77% were found at 1, 2, and 5 years after the initiation of treatment, respectively. We found that a higher age at the moment of diagnosis was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of conversion to surgery with a 7% decrease of likelihood each year the patient is older at the moment of diagnosis. The findings of this study are clinically relevant as it ameliorates the quality of the shared decision-making process between the patient and the treating team as we can advise OLT patients at a higher age with tolerable symptomatology that there is a relatively lower risk of conversion to surgery., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Over the years, possibilities in ankle arthroscopy have evolved from diagnostic inspection to complex interventional procedures. Further innovation may come from needle arthroscopy, which has improved substantially in image quality in recent years and can now be used for interventional procedures as well. We here present a standardized approach to wide-awake needle arthroscopy of the anterior ankle under local anesthesia. As new needle arthroscopic procedures of the ankle arise, this approach serves to help ensure safe, uniform, and beneficial adoption of this emergent technique., Competing Interests: The authors report the following potential conflicts of interest or sources of funding: The Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine from the Amsterdam UMC was supported with an unrestricted research grant from Arthrex GmbH. G.M.M.J.K. received consultancy fees from Arthrex during the conduct of the study. S.A.S.S. serves as a board member for the Dutch Orthopedic Society. All other authors (T.S., A.B.W.) declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Full ICMJE author disclosure forms are available for this article online, as supplementary material., (© 2023 The Authors.)

We describe an elite youth football player who developed lateral foot pain of previously unknown origin. A thorough patient history and physical examination as well as an in-depth presentation of radiographic findings on Computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan were described. Through this combination, the puzzle was resolved and a rare peroneus longus tendinopathy due to bony spurs in the cuboid groove was diagnosed. A peroneus longus exploration, release and reduction of the cuboidal bone spurs was performed and intensive rehabilitation phase followed. The patient successfully returned to performance and set a career in professional football.

Background: This study assessed the use of dual-energy computed tomography (CT) to evaluate sub-calcaneal plantar fat pad changes in people with diabetic neuropathy., Methods: Dual-energy CT scans of people with diabetic neuropathy and non-diabetic controls were retrospectively included. Average CT values (in Hounsfield Units) and thickness (in centimeters) of the sub-calcaneal plantar fat pad were measured in mono-energetic images at two energy levels (40 keV and 70 keV). The CT values measured in patients with diabetic neuropathy were correlated to barefoot plantar pressure measurements performed during walking in a clinical setting., Findings: Forty-five dual-energy CT scans of people with diabetic neuropathy and eleven DECT scans of non-diabetic controls were included. Mean sub-calcaneal plantar fat pad thickness did not significantly differ between groups (diabetes group 1.20 ± 0.34 cm vs. control group 1.21 ± 0.28 cm, P = 0.585). CT values at both 40 keV (-34.7 ± 48.7 HU vs. -76.0 ± 42.8 HU, P = 0.013) and 70 keV (-11.2 ± 30.8 HU vs. -36.3 ± 27.2 HU, P = 0.017) were significantly higher in the diabetes group compared to controls, thus contained less fatty tissue. This elevation was most apparent in patients with Type 1 diabetes. CT values positively correlated with the mean peak plantar pressure., Interpretation: Dual-energy CT was able to detect changes in the plantar fat pad of people with diabetic neuropathy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Despite the use of perioperative anxiolytics and pain medication, surgery can be a stressful and painful experience. Providing patients with distractions using video and/or audio tools in addition to medication may be helpful. To date, no studies have compared different distraction modalities in a same-day surgical setting in adults. This study aims to determine whether audio-visual distraction with video glasses (AVD) is more effective in reducing anxiety and pain compared to audio distraction (AD) in conscious patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. It was hypothesised that AVD, being the more immersive modality, would be more effective than AD on the outcome parameters., Methods: Fifty patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery with local and/or regional anaesthesia in a clinical day-care setting were randomly assigned to receive either fixed-scenery AVD or patient-choice AD with music. Primary outcome was anxiety, as measured by the Dutch version of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6 (STAI-6) prior to and 15 min after the intervention. Secondary outcomes were pain (Numeric Rating Scale Pain [NRS-P]), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and patient satisfaction., Results: Within each group, there was a significant reduction in anxiety (p = 0.028 for AVD, p < 0.001 for AD). In contrast to our hypothesis, listening to music without watching a video (AD group) reduced anxiety significantly more than experiencing full AVD (p = 0.018). The mean pain score did not change significantly within either user group, nor did pain scores differ between user groups., Conclusion: In conscious patients undergoing surgery, watching a movie (using video glasses and a headphone set) and listening to music (using only a headphone set) are able to significantly reduce anxiety. AVD, although believed to provide higher levels of distraction, did not prove to be superior to AD. The clinical relevance of this study highlights the potential benefits of AVD or AD modalities in improving the surgical experience for conscious patients. Further research is required to examine the influence of freedom of choice in content on the aforementioned outcomes. To estimate the true value of higher immersion levels, different distraction modalities (e.g. AVD versus virtual reality) featuring the exact same scenery or content need to be compared., Level of Evidence: Level I., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Press-fit Talar OsteoPeriostic grafting from the Iliac Crest (TOPIC) is a novel technique for the treatment of large osteochondral lesions of the talus. The purpose of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the 2-year clinical outcomes for patients with medial osteochondral lesions of the talus that were treated with the TOPIC procedure., Methods: Forty-three patients were prospectively assessed before and 24 months after the TOPIC procedure. All procedures were performed through a medial distal tibial osteotomy. Clinical assessment preoperatively and at 24 months of follow-up included determination of the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores for pain during walking (primary outcome), at rest, during running, and during stair-climbing. The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score and Physical Component Summary (PCS) score of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) were also assessed. A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed 12 weeks postoperatively to assess union of the distal tibial osteotomy site and at 1 and 2 years postoperatively to assess consolidation of the graft as well as cyst development in the graft., Results: All enrolled patients were available for follow-up. The median NRS score for pain during walking improved from 7 points preoperatively to 2 points at 2 years postoperatively (p < 0.001). All other NRS scores for pain improved significantly. All FAOS subscale scores improved significantly, including those for pain (from 53 to 75), symptoms (from 50 to 61), activities of daily living (from 68 to 88), sports (from 30 to 55), and quality of life (from 19 to 38). The SF-36 PCS score improved from 43 to 48 (p < 0.001), and the MCS score changed from 28 to 26 (p > 0.05). There was a 100% rate of union of the osteotomy site at the distal tibia and 100% of the grafts showed consolidation at 1 and 2 years postoperatively., Conclusions: The TOPIC procedure for large osteochondral lesions of the medial talar dome is an effective technique that resulted in significant improvement exceeding the minimal clinically important difference in pain scores (primary outcome) as well as in other outcomes, with 100% consolidation of the grafts., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article ( http://links.lww.com/JBJS/H594 )., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to assess the overall clinical success rate of non-operative management for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT)., Methods: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed (MEDLINE), COCHRANE and EMBASE (Ovid) databases. Clinical success rates per separate study were calculated at the latest moment of follow-up and were defined as successful when a good or excellent clinical result at follow-up was reported in a qualitative manner or when a post-operative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score at or above 80 was reached. When clinical outcomes were based on other clinical scoring systems, outcomes reported as good or excellent were considered as clinical success. Studies methodologically eligible for a simplified pooling method were combined to calculate an overall pooled clinical success rate. Radiological changes over the course of conservative treatment were assessed either considering local OLT changes and/or overall ankle joint changes., Results: Thirty articles were included, including an overall of 868 patients. The median follow-up of the included studies was 37 months (range: 3-288 months). A simplified pooling method was possible among 16 studies and yielded an overall pooled clinical success rate of 45% (95% CI 40-50%). As assessed with plain radiographs, progression of ankle joint osteoarthritis was observed in of 9% (95% CI 6-14%) of the patients. As assessed through a Computed Tomography (CT) scan, focal OLT deterioration was observed in 11% (95% CI 7-18%) of the patients. As assessed with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, focal OLT deterioration was observed in 12% (95% CI 6-24%) of the patients. An unchanged lesion was detected on plain radiographs in 53% (48/91; CI 43-63%), 76% (99/131; 95% CI 68-82%) on a CT scan and on MRI in 84% (42/50; 95% CI 71-92%) of the patients., Conclusion: The current literature on non-operative management of OLTs is scarce and heterogeneous on indication and type of treatment. Promising clinical results are presented but need to interpreted with caution due to the heterogeneity in indication, duration and type of treatment. Further studies need to focus on specific types on conservative management, indications and its results., Level of Evidence: Systematic review, Level IV., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Ankle osteoarthritis is debilitating and usually affects relatively young people, often as a result of previous ankle traumas, frequently occurring in sports. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for ankle osteoarthritis have shown no evidence of benefit over the course of 26 weeks. Previous studies on PRP for knee osteoarthritis showed that clinically significant improvements with PRP occurred between 6 to 12 months in the absence of initial benefit. No studies have evaluated the effect of PRP from 6 to 12 months in ankle osteoarthritis., Purpose: To assess the efficacy of PRP injections in ankle osteoarthritis over the course of 52 weeks., Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1., Methods: In this 52-week follow-up trial, 100 patients with ankle osteoarthritis were randomized to a PRP group or placebo (saline) group. Patients received 2 intra-articular talocrural injections: at inclusion and after 6 weeks. Patient-reported outcome measures were used to assess pain, function, quality of life, and indirect costs over 52 weeks., Results: Two patients (2%) were lost to follow-up. The adjusted between-group difference for the patient-reported American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score over 52 weeks was -2 points (95% CI, -5 to 2; P = .31) in favor of the placebo group. No significant between-group differences were observed for any of the secondary outcome measures., Conclusion: For patients with ankle osteoarthritis, PRP injections did not improve ankle symptoms and function over 52 weeks compared with placebo injections., Registration: NTR7261 (Netherlands Trial Register).

Objective: The primary aim was to determine and compare the complication rate of different surgical treatment options for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). The secondary aim was to analyze and compare the severity and types of complications., Design: A literature search was performed in MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE (Ovid), and the Cochrane Library. Methodological quality was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS). Primary outcome was the complication rate per surgical treatment option. Secondary outcomes included the severity (using the Modified Clavien-Dindo-Sink Complication Classification System for Orthopedic Surgery) and types of complications. The primary outcome, the severity, and the sub-analyses were analyzed using a random effects model. A moderator test for subgroup-analysis was used to determine differences. The types of complications were presented as rates., Results: In all, 178 articles from the literature search were included for analysis, comprising 6,962 OLTs with a pooled mean age of 35.5 years and follow-up of 46.3 months. Methodological quality was fair. The overall complication rate was 5% (4%-6%; treatment group effect, P = 0.0015). Analysis resulted in rates from 3% (2%-4%) for matrix-assisted bone marrow stimulation to 15% (5%-35%) for metal implants. Nerve injury was the most observed complication., Conclusions: In 1 out of 20 patients treated surgically for an OLT, a complication occurs. Metal implants have a significantly higher complication rate compared with other treatment modalities. No life-threatening complications were reported.

Background: Chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) is associated with the presence or development of intra-articular pathologies such as chondral or osteochondral lesions, or (O)CLs. Currently, the incidence of (O)CLs in patients with CLAI is unknown., Purpose: To determine the incidence of (O)CLs in patients with CLAI., Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4., Methods: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase (Ovid), and Cochrane databases for articles published from January 2000 until December 2020. Two authors independently screened the search results and conducted the quality assessment using the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) criteria. Clinical studies were included that reported findings on the presence of ankle (O)CLs based on pre- or intraoperative diagnostic measures in patients with CLAI (>6 months of symptoms). Patient and lesion characteristics were pooled using a simplified method. Lesion characteristics included localization and chondral and osteochondral involvement. The primary outcome was the incidence of (O)CLs in ankles with CLAI. A random-effects model with 95% CIs was used to analyze the primary outcome. The distribution of (O)CLs in the ankle joint was reported according to talar or tibial involvement, with medial and lateral divisions for talar involvement., Results: Twelve studies were included with 2145 patients and 2170 ankles with CLAI. The pooled incidence of (O)CLs in ankles with CLAI was 32.2% (95% CI, 22.7%-41.7%). Among all lesions, 43% were chondral and 57% were osteochondral. Among all (O)CLs, 85% were located on the talus and 17% on the distal tibia. Of the talar (O)CLs, 68% were located medially and 32% laterally., Conclusion: (O)CLs were found in up to 32% of ankles with CLAI. The most common location was the talus (85%). Furthermore, most lesions were located on the medial talar dome (68%). These findings will aid physicians in the early recognition and treatment of ankle (O)CLs in the context of CLAI.

Purpose: To describe the long-term clinical results of arthroscopic fragment fixation for chronic primary osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT), using the Lift-Drill-Fill-Fix (LDFF) technique., Methods: Eighteen patients (20 ankles) underwent fixation for a primary OLT with an osteochondral fragment using arthroscopic LDFF and were evaluated at a minimum of 5-year follow-up. Pre- and postoperative clinical assessment was prospectively performed by measuring the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) of pain at rest, during walking and when running. Additionally, the change in Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and the procedure survival (i.e., no reoperation for the OLT) at final follow-up was assessed., Results: At a mean follow-up of 7 years, the median NRS during walking significantly improved from 7 (IQR 5-8) pre-operatively to 0 (IQR 0-1.5) at final follow-up (p =  < 0.001). This result was sustained from 1-year follow-up to final follow-up. The NRS during running significantly improved from 8 (IQR 6-10) to 2 (IQR 0-4.5) (p < 0.001) and the NRS in rest from 2.5 (IQR 1-3) to 0 (IQR 0-0) (p =  < 0.001). The median FAOS at final follow-up was 94 out of 100 for pain, 71 for other symptoms, 99 for activities of daily living, 80 for sport and 56 for quality of life. The FOAS remained significantly improved post-operatively on all subscales, except for the symptoms subscale. The procedure survival rate is 87% at final follow-up., Conclusion: Arthroscopic LDFF for fixable chronic primary OLTs results in excellent pain reduction and improved patient-reported outcomes, with sustained results at long-term follow-up. These results indicate that surgeons may consider arthroscopic LDFF as treatment of choice for fragmentous OLT., Level of Evidence: Level IV, prospective case series., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To provide a natural scaffold, good quality cells, and growth factors to facilitate replacement of the complete osteochondral unit with matching talar curvature for large osteochondral lesions of the lateral talar dome., Indications: Symptomatic primary and non-primary lateral osteochondral lesions of the talus not responding to conservative treatment. The anterior-posterior or medial-lateral diameter should exceed 10 mm on computed tomography (CT) for primary lesions; for secondary lesions, there are no size limitations., Contraindications: Tibiotalar osteoarthritis grade III, malignancy, active infectious ankle joint pathology, and hemophilic or other diffuse arthropathy., Surgical Technique: Anterolateral arthrotomy is performed after which the Anterior TaloFibular Ligament (ATFL) is disinserted from the fibula. Additional exposure is achieved by placing a Hintermann distractor subluxating the talus ventrally. Thereafter, the osteochondral lesion is excised in toto from the talar dome. The recipient site is micro-drilled in order to disrupt subchondral bone vessels. Thereafter, the autograft is harvested from the ipsilateral iliac crest with an oscillating saw, after which the graft is adjusted to an exactly fitting shape to match the extracted lateral osteochondral defect and the talar morphology as well as curvature. The graft is implanted with a press-fit technique after which the ATFL is re-inserted followed by potential augmentation with an InternalBrace™ (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA)., Postoperative Management: Non-weightbearing cast for 6 weeks, followed by another 6 weeks with a walking boot. After 12 weeks, a computed tomography (CT) scan is performed to assess consolidation of the inserted autograft. The patient is referred to a physiotherapist., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Foot ulcers are a frequent and costly problem in people with diabetes mellitus and can lead to amputations. Prevention of these ulcers is therefore of paramount importance. Claw/hammer toe deformities are commonly seen in people with diabetes. These deformities increase the risk of ulcer development specifically at the (tip of) the toe. Percutaneous needle tenotomy of the tendon of the m. flexor digitorum longus (tendon tenotomy) can be used to reduce the severity of claw/hammer toe deformity with the goal to prevent ulcer recurrence. The main objective of this randomized controlled trial is to assess the efficacy of flexor tenotomy to prevent recurrence of toe ulcers in people with diabetes and a history of toe (pre-)ulcers. Additionally, we aim to assess interphalangeal joints (IPJ) and metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) angles in a weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing position, barefoot plantar pressure during walking, cost-effectiveness and quality of life before and after the intervention and compare intervention and control study groups. Sixty-six subjects with diabetes and claw/hammer toe deformity and a recent history of (pre-)ulceration on the tip of the toe will be included and randomized between flexor tenotomy of claw/hammer toes (intervention) versus standard of care including orthosis and shoe offloading (controls) in a mono-center randomized controlled trial., Clinicaltrialsgov Registration: NCT05228340., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Background: The primary aim was to determine the clinical success rate after treatment for talocalcaneal (TCC) and calcaneonavicular coalitions (CNC). The secondary aim was to evaluate the complication, recurrence and revision rate., Methods: A search was carried out in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. Methodological quality was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomised Studies (MINORS) criteria. The primary outcome was the clinical success rate and was pooled per type of coalition and treatment modality. 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) of the success rates were calculated. Secondary outcomes included complication rates, coalition recurrence rates, revision rates and pain improvement using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A sub-analysis on interposition material was performed., Results: 43 articles comprising of 1284 coalitions were included, with a pooled mean follow-up of 51 months. Methodological quality was fair. The overall pooled success rate for TCCs was 79% (95% CI, 75%-83%). Conservative treatment, open resection and arthroscopic resection of TCCs resulted in success rates of 58% (95% CI, 42%-73%), 80% (95% CI, 76%-84%) and 86% (95% CI, 71%-94%), respectively. CNCs have an overall success rate of 81% (95% CI, 75%-85%), with 100% (95% CI, 34%-100%), 80% (95% CI, 74%-85%) and 100% (95% CI, 65%-100%) for conservative treatment, open resection and arthroscopic resection, respectively. Pooled complication rates of 4% (95% CI, 3%-7%) for TCCs and 6% (95% CI, 4%-11%) for CNCs were found. The success rates of resection with and without interposition material for TCCs were 83% (95% CI, 78%-87%) and 79% (95% CI, 65%-88%), and for CNCs 81% (95% CI, 76%-86%) and 69% (95% CI, 44%-85%), respectively., Conclusion: Treatment of tarsal coalitions can be considered good to excellent as well as safe, with an overall clinical success rate of 79% for TCCs and 81% for CNCs. Arthroscopic resection of the coalition appears to be non-inferior to open resection of TCCs and CNCs., Level of Evidence: Level IV, Systematic Review., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

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. The purpose of this article is to report the consensus statements on "Pediatric Ankle Cartilage Lesions" developed at the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle., Methods: Forty-three international experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 20 countries convened to participate in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within four 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 characterised as follows: consensus: 51-74%; strong consensus: 75-99%; unanimous: 100%., Results: A total of 12 statements on paediatric ankle cartilage lesions reached consensus during the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. Five achieved unanimous support, and seven reached strong consensus (>75% agreement). All statements reached at least 84% agreement., Conclusions: This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with the management of paediatric ankle cartilage lesions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The primary aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of osteochondral lesions of the contralateral talus in patients with computed tomography (CT)-confirmed osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). The secondary aims were to determine if the contralateral lesions were symptomatic and to describe the demographic characteristics and radiographic presentation of patients with bilateral OLT., Methods: To identify patients with bilateral OLT, we utilized a cross-sectional database of consecutive patients with a CT-proven OLT who had undergone bilateral CT scanning at our hospital between January 1989 and June 2021. The primary outcome was the prevalence of bilateral OLT. Patients with bilateral OLT were grouped into a unilaterally symptomatic group and a bilaterally symptomatic group. Patient and lesion characteristics were compared between these groups as well as between the symptomatic and asymptomatic ankles in the unilaterally symptomatic group. Radiographic examination included lesion volume, location, and morphology., Results: Of 1,062 patients with OLT, 161 (15%) had bilateral OLT. Of the patients with bilateral OLT, 53 (33%) were bilaterally symptomatic. Patients who were bilaterally symptomatic were younger (p = 0.03) and more likely to present with a non-traumatic etiology (p < 0.01) in comparison with those who were unilaterally symptomatic. No differences were observed between the unilaterally and bilaterally symptomatic groups in terms of lesion morphology, volume, or location. In the unilaterally symptomatic group, lesion volume was significantly larger in symptomatic ankles in comparison with the contralateral, asymptomatic ankles (p < 0.01), but no significant differences were observed in terms of lesion morphology or location., Conclusions: In patients presenting with symptomatic OLT, the prevalence of bilateral OLT was 15%, and 1 in 3 patients with bilateral OLT were symptomatic on both sides. Larger lesion volume was associated with the presence of symptoms in patients with bilateral OLT. For patients with bilateral OLT, the treating team should be aware that younger patients and patients without a history of trauma are at a higher risk for having bilateral symptoms., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article ( http://links.lww.com/JBJS/H146 )., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Skeletally immature osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) are underreported and little is known about the clinical efficacy of different treatment options. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of different conservative and surgical treatment options. The secondary aim was to assess return to sports (RTS) and radiologic outcomes for the different treatment options., Methods: An electronic literature search was carried out in the databases PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CDSR, CENTRAL, and DARE from January 1996 to September 2021 to identify suitable studies for this review. The authors separately screened the articles for eligibility and conducted the quality assessment using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS). Clinical success rates were calculated per separate study and pooled per treatment strategy. Radiologic outcomes and sports outcomes for the different treatment strategies were assessed., Results: Twenty studies with a total of 381 lesions were included. The mean MINORS score of the included study was 7.6 (range: 5 to 9). The pooled success rate was 44% [95% confidence interval (CI): 37%-51%] in the conservative group (n=192), 77% (95% CI: 68%-85%) in the bone marrow stimulation (BMS) group (n=97), 95% (95% CI: 78%-99%) in the retrograde drilling (RD) group (n=22), 79% (95% CI: 61%-91%) in the fixation group (n=33) and 67% (95% CI: 35%-88%) in the osteo(chondral) autograft group (n=9). RTS rates were reported in 2 treatment groups: BMS showed an RTS rate of 86% (95% CI: 42%-100%) without specified levels and an RTS rate to preinjury level of 43% (95% CI: 10%-82%). RD showed an RTS rate of 100% (95% CI: 63%-100%) without specified levels, an RTS rate to preinjury level was not given. RTS times were not given for any treatment option. The radiologic success according to magnetic resonance imaging were 29% (95% CI: 16%-47%) (n=31) in the conservative group, 81% (95% CI: 65%-92%) (n=37) in the BMS group, 41% (95% CI: 18%-67%) (n=19) in the RD group, 87% (95% CI: 65%-97%) (n=19) in the fixation group, and were not reported in the osteo(chondral) transplantation group. Radiologic success rates based on computed tomography scans were 62% (95% CI: 32%-86%) (n=13) in the conservative group, 30% (95% CI: 7%-65%) (n=10) in the BMS group, 57% (95% CI: 25%-84%) (n=7) in the RD group, and were not reported for the fixation and the osteo(chondral) transplantation groups., Conclusions: This study showed that for skeletally immature patients presenting with symptomatic OLTs, conservative treatment is clinically successful in 4 out of 10 children, whereas the different surgical treatment options were found to be successful in 7 to 10 out of 10 children. Specifically, fixation was clinically successful in 8 out of 10 patients and showed radiologically successful outcomes in 9 out of 10 patients, and would therefore be the primary preferred surgical treatment modality. The treatment provided should be tailor-made, considering lesion characteristics and patient and parent preferences., Level of Evidence: Level IV-systematic review and meta-analysis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Purpose: In fracture and realignment surgery, the contralateral unaffected side is often used as a model or template for the injured bone even though clinically valuable quantitative data of bilateral symmetry are often unavailable. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to quantify and present the bilateral symmetry of the tibia and fibula., Methods: Twenty bilateral lower-leg CT scans were acquired in healthy volunteers. The left and right tibia and fibula were segmented resulting in three-dimensional polygons for geometrical analyses (volume, surface and length). The distal and proximal segment of the right tibia of each individual was subsequently matched to the left tibia to quantify alignment differences (translation and rotation). Bone symmetry on group level was assessed using the Student's t test and intra-individual differences were assessed using mixed-models analyses., Results: Intra-individuals differences were found for tibia volume (5.2 ± 3.3 cm 3 ), tibia surface (5.2 ± 3.3 cm 2 ), translations in the lateral (X-axis; 9.3 ± 8.9 mm) and anterior direction (Y-axis; 7.1 ± 7.0 mm), for tibia length (translation along Z-axis: 3.1 ± 2.4 mm), varus/valgus (φ z : 1.7 o  ± 1.4°), and endotorsion/exotorsion (φ z : 4.0 o  ± 2.7°)., Conclusion: This study shows intra-individual tibia asymmetry in both geometric and alignment parameters of which the surgeon needs to be aware in pre-operative planning. The high correlation between tibia and fibula length allows the ipsilateral fibula to aid in estimating the original tibia length post-injury. Future studies need to establish whether the found asymmetry is clinically relevant when the contralateral side is used as reference in corrective surgery., Level of Evidence: III cohort study., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: The evidence supporting best practice guidelines in the field of cartilage repair of the ankle is 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. The purpose of this article is to report the consensus statements on "terminology for osteochondral lesions of the ankle" developed at the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle., Methods: Forty-three international experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 20 countries were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within four 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 on in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held, and the strength of consensus was characterised as follows: consensus, 51%-74%; strong consensus, 75%-99%; unanimous, 100%., Results: A total of 11 statements on terminology and classification reached consensus during the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. Definitions are provided for osseous, chondral and osteochondral lesions, as well as bone marrow stimulation and injury chronicity, among others. An osteochondral lesion of the talus can be abbreviated as OLT., Conclusions: This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with the appropriate terminology for osteochondral lesions of the ankle., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess the effect of flexor tenotomy in patients with diabetes on barefoot plantar pressure, toe joint angles and ulcer recurrence during patient follow-up., Methods: Patients with a history of ulceration on the toe apex were included. They underwent minimally invasive needle flexor tenotomy by an experienced musculoskeletal surgeon. Dynamic barefoot plantar pressure measurements and static weight-bearing radiographs were taken before and 2-4 weeks after the procedure., Results: A total of 14 patients underwent flexor tenotomy on 50 toes in 19 feet. There was a mean follow-up time of 11.4 months. No ulcer recurrence occurred during follow-up. Mean barefoot plantar pressure was assessed on 34 toes and decreased significantly after the procedure by a mean 279 kPa (95% CI: 204-353; p < 0.001). Metatarsophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joint angles were assessed on nine toes and all decreased significantly (by 7° [95% CI: 4-9; p < 0.001], 19° [95% CI: 11-26; p < 0.001] and 28° [95% CI: 13-44; p = 0.003], respectively)., Conclusion: These observations show a beneficial effect of flexor tenotomy on biomechanical and musculoskeletal outcomes in the toes, without ulcer recurrence., (© 2021 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Diabetes UK.)

Objective: To determine and compare the incidence rate of (osteo)chondral lesions of the ankle in patients with acute and chronic isolated syndesmotic injuries., Design: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed (MEDLINE) and EMBASE (Ovid) databases from 2000 to September 2021. Two authors independently screened the search results, and risk of bias was assessed using the MINORS (Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies) criteria. Studies on acute and chronic isolated syndesmotic injuries with pre-operative or intra-operative imaging were included. The primary outcome was the incidence rate with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of (osteo)chondral lesions of the ankle in combined and separate groups of acute and chronic syndesmotic injuries. Secondary outcomes were anatomic distribution and mean size of the (osteo)chondral lesions., Results: Nine articles (402 syndesmotic injuries) were included in the final analysis. Overall (osteo)chondral lesion incidence was 20.7% (95% CI: 13.7%-29.9%). This rate was 22.0% (95% CI: 17.1-27.7) and 24.1% (95% CI: 15.6-35.2) for acute and chronic syndesmotic injuries, respectively. In the combined acute and chronic syndesmotic injury group, 95.4% of the lesions were located on the talar dome and 4.5% of the lesions were located on the distal tibia. (Osteo)chondral lesion size was not reported in any of the studies., Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that (osteo)chondral lesions of the ankle are present in 21% of the patients with isolated syndesmotic injuries. No difference in incidence rate was found between the different syndesmotic injury types and it can be concluded that the majority of lesions are located on the talar dome., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42020176641.

Since both the talocrural and subtalar joints can be involved in chronic ankle instability, the present study assessed the talar morphology as this bone is the key player between both joint levels. The 3D orientation and curvature of the superior and the posteroinferior facet between subjects with chronic ankle instability and healthy controls were compared. Hereto, the talus was segmented in the computed tomography images of a control group and a chronic ankle instability group, after which they were reconstructed to 3D surface models. A cylinder was fitted to the subchondral articulating surfaces. The axis of a cylinder represented the facet orientation, which was expressed by an inclination and deviation angle in a coordinate system based on the cylinder of the superior talar facet and the geometric principal axes of the subject's talus. The curvature of the surface was expressed as the radius of the cylinder. The results demonstrated no significant differences in the radius or deviation angle. However, the inclination angle of the posteroinferior talar facet was significantly more plantarly orientated (by 3.5°) in the chronic instability group (14.7 ± 3.1°) compared to the control group (11.2 ± 4.9°) (p < 0.05). In the coronal plane this corresponds to a valgus orientation of the posteroinferior talar facet relative to the talar dome. In conclusion, a more plantarly and valgus orientated posteroinferior talar facet may be associated to chronic ankle instability., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society.)

Background: 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. The purpose of this article is to present the consensus statements on osteochondral lesions of the tibial plafond (OLTP) and on ankle instability with ankle cartilage lesions developed at the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle., Methods: Forty-three experts in cartilage repair of the ankle were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within 4 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 on in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held., Results: A total of 11 statements on OLTP reached consensus. Four achieved unanimous support and 7 reached strong consensus (greater than 75% agreement). A total of 8 statements on ankle instability with ankle cartilage lesions reached consensus during the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. One achieved unanimous support, and seven reached strong consensus (greater than 75% agreement)., Conclusion: These consensus statements may assist clinicians in the management of these difficult clinical pathologies., Level of Evidence: Level V, mechanism-based reasoning.

Objective: To compare clinical, sports, work, and radiological outcomes between primary and secondary osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs; <15 mm) treated with arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS)., Design: Secondary OLTs were matched to primary OLTs in a 1:2 ratio to assess the primary outcome measure-the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) during activities. Secondary outcomes included the pre- and 1-year postoperative NRS at rest, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score subscales, and the EQ-5D general health questionnaire. The rates and time to return to work and sports were collected. Radiological examinations were performed preoperatively and at final follow-up using computed tomography (CT)., Results: After matching, 22 and 12 patients with small (<15 mm) OLTs were included in the primary and secondary groups, respectively. The NRS during activities was not different between primary cases (median: 2, interquartile range [IQR]: 1-4.5) and secondary cases (median: 3, IQR: 1-4), P = 0.5. Both groups showed a significant difference between all pre- and postoperative clinical outcome scores, but no significant difference between BMS groups postoperatively. The return to sport rate was 90% for primary cases and 83% for secondary cases ( P = 0.6). All patients returned to work. Lesion filling on CT was complete (67% to 100%) in 59% of primary cases and 67% of secondary cases ( P = 0.6)., Conclusion: No differences in outcomes were observed between arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation in primary and secondary OLTs at 1-year follow-up. Repeat BMS may therefore be a viable treatment option for failed OLTs in the short term.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the exact location distribution in patients with osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) using a 9-grid scheme. The secondary aim is to match lesion location to lesion size, arthroscopic or open operation, and trauma occurrence., Methods: A systematic review was performed in the databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane. Search terms consisted of "talus" and "osteochondral lesion." Two independent reviewers evaluated search results and conducted the quality assessment using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS). Primary outcome measure was OLT location in the 9 zone-grid. Secondary outcome measures were OLT size in 9-zones, preoperative radiological modality use, demographic lesion size variables as well as open or arthroscopic treatment., Results: Fifty-one articles with 2,087 OLTs were included. Heterogeneity concerning methodological nature was observed and methodological quality was low. The posteromedial (28%) and centromedial (31%) zones combined as one location was the location with the highest incidence of OLTs with a rate of 59%. Individual OLT size was reported for only 153 lesions (7%). Preoperative combination of X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or computed tomography (CT) was reported in 20 studies (43%). Trauma was reported in 78% of patients. Furthermore, 67% was treated arthroscopically and 76% received primary OLT treatment., Conclusion: The majority of OLTs are located in the posteromedial and centromedial zone, while the largest OLTs were reported in the centrocentral zone. Further research is required to identify the prognostic impact of location occurrence on the outcomes following OLT treatment.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to systematically review the literature and to evaluate the outcomes following bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for nonprimary osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT)., Design: A literature search was performed to identify studies published using PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, CDSR, DARE, and CENTRAL. The review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Two authors separately and independently screened the search results and conducted the quality assessment using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS). Studies were pooled on clinical, sports, work, and imaging outcomes, as well as revision rates and complications. The primary outcome was clinical success rate., Results: Five studies with 70 patients were included in whom nonprimary OLTs were treated with secondary BMS. The pooled clinical success rate was 61% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50-72). The rate of return to any level of sport was 83% (95% CI, 70-91), while the return to pre-injury level of sport was 55% (95% CI, 34-74). The rate of return to work was 92% (95% CI, 78-97), and the complication rate was assessed to be 10% (95% CI, 4-22). Imaging outcomes were heterogeneous in outcome assessment, though a depressed subchondral bone plate was observed in 91% of the patients. The revision rate was 27% (95% CI, 18-40)., Conclusions: The overall success rate of arthroscopic BMS for nonprimary osteochondral lesions of the talus was 61%, including a revision rate of 27%. Return to sports, work, and complication outcomes yielded fair to good results.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) at long-term follow-up., Methods: A literature search was conducted from the earliest record until March 2021 to identify studies published using the PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), and Cochrane Library databases. Clinical studies reporting on arthroscopic BMS for OLTs at a minimum of 8-year follow-up were included. The review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Two authors independently conducted the article selection and conducted the quality assessment using the Methodological index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS). The primary outcome was defined as clinical outcomes consisting of pain scores and patient-reported outcome measures. Secondary outcomes concerned the return to sport rate, reoperation rate, complication rate, and the rate of progression of degenerative changes within the tibiotalar joint as a measure of ankle osteoarthritis. Associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated based on the primary and secondary outcome measures., Results: Six studies with a total of 323 ankles (310 patients) were included at a mean pooled follow-up of 13.0 (9.5-13.9) years. The mean MINORS score of the included studies was 7.7 out of 16 points (range 6-9), indicating a low to moderate quality. The mean postoperative pooled American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 83.8 (95% CI 83.6-84.1). 78% (95% CI 69.5-86.8) participated in sports (at any level) at final follow-up. Return to preinjury level of sports was not reported. Reoperations were performed in 6.9% (95% CI 4.1-9.7) of ankles and complications related to the BMS procedure were observed in 2% (95% CI 0.4-3.0) of ankles. Progression of degenerative changes was observed in 28% (95% CI 22.3-33.2) of ankles., Conclusion: Long-term clinical outcomes following arthroscopic BMS can be considered satisfactory even though one in three patients show progression of degenerative changes from a radiological perspective. These findings indicate that OLTs treated with BMS may be at risk of progressing towards end-stage ankle osteoarthritis over time in light of the incremental cartilage damage cascade. The findings of this study can aid clinicians and patients with the shared decision-making process when considering the long-term outcomes of BMS., Level of Evidence: Level IV., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Importance: Approximately 3.4% of adults have ankle (tibiotalar) osteoarthritis and, among younger patients, ankle osteoarthritis is more common than knee and hip osteoarthritis. Few effective nonsurgical interventions exist, but platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are widely used, with some evidence of efficacy in knee osteoarthritis., Objective: To determine the effect of PRP injections on symptoms and function in patients with ankle osteoarthritis., Design, Setting, and Participants: A multicenter, block-randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial performed at 6 sites in the Netherlands that included 100 patients with pain greater than 40 on a visual analog scale (range, 0-100) and tibiotalar joint space narrowing. Enrollment began on August 24, 2018, and follow-up was completed on December 3, 2020., Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 2 ultrasonography-guided intra-articular injections of either PRP (n = 48) or placebo (saline; n = 52)., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the validated American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score (range, 0-100; higher scores indicate less pain and better function; minimal clinically important difference, 12 points) over 26 weeks., Results: Among 100 randomized patients (mean age, 56 years; 45 [45%] women), no patients were lost to follow-up for the primary outcome. Compared with baseline values, the mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score improved by 10 points in the PRP group (from 63 to 73 points [95% CI, 6-14]; P < .001) and 11 points in the placebo group (from 64 to 75 points [95% CI, 7-15]; P < .001). The adjusted between-group difference over 26 weeks was -1 ([95% CI, -6 to 3]; P = .56). One serious adverse event was reported in the placebo group, which was unrelated to the intervention; there were 13 other adverse events in the PRP group and 8 in the placebo group., Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with ankle osteoarthritis, intra-articular PRP injections, compared with placebo injections, did not significantly improve ankle symptoms and function over 26 weeks. The results of this study do not support the use of PRP injections for ankle osteoarthritis., Trial Registration: Netherlands Trial Register: NTR7261.