Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40297402›Full record

ArticleFoot & ankle orthopaedics2025

Midterm Outcomes and Surgical Approaches for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus.

Christoph Biehl, Carina Fritzsche, Nike Walter, Lotta Biehl, Thaqif El Khassawna, Christian Heiss, Markus Rupp

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Foot & ankle orthopaedics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Christoph BiehlDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Giessen, Giessen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2981-5062
Carina FritzscheDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Nike WalterClinic and Polyclinic of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg Clinic and Polyclinic for Surgery, Regensburg, Germany.
Lotta BiehlMedical Faculty Heidelberg of Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
Thaqif El KhassawnaExperimental Trauma Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2981-5062
Christian HeissDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Markus RuppDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Giessen, Giessen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7221-3783

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the talus are a significant cause of chronic ankle pain and functional impairment, typically following trauma. Despite advancements in diagnostic imaging and surgical interventions, long-term outcomes vary, and no gold standard treatment has been established. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the outcomes of n=64 patients undergoing OCL-related surgery. Inclusion criteria: an OCL of the talus, patients without OCL, with osteoarthritis, or infection were excluded. The cohort was categorized primarily based on the stage of OCL and the surgical technique used: bone marrow stimulation by retrograde or anterograde drilling and microfracturing, transplantation of autologous cancellous bone, and acellular cartilage replacement and other procedures. Postoperative outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). Statistical significance was determined using χ Results: A total of 97 operations were performed on 64 patients. Fifty-six percent of patients reported complete resolution of symptoms, 25% experienced partial improvement, and 19% showed no improvement. Patients aged ≤30 years had a higher success rate (62.5%) compared with older patients (45.8%, Conclusion: Surgical techniques for treating OCL of the talus provide moderate success, but a significant proportion of patients, especially those with advanced lesions, remain symptomatic. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series study.

Indexed as

bone marrow stimulationmaterial substitutionosteochondral lesiontalus

Identifiers

PMID40297402
PMCPMC12035044

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.