A Case of In Situ Fixation of Large Lateral Condyle Femur Osteochondral Defect Secondary to Trauma in a Young Male - A Case Report.

Introduction: Post-traumatic osteochondral defects can cause chronic pain, reduced range of motion, and early osteoarthritis. Repairing these defects is clinically challenging due to the avascular nature of cartilage and limited self-repair capacity. Case Report: A 24-year-old male with a large lateral femoral condyle osteochondral defect following trauma presented with knee pain and restricted movement. Diagnostic arthroscopy confirmed the defect along with an intact ligament and meniscus. The osteochondral fragment was preserved and repaired using a novel in situ fixation technique. The fragment was fixed over the defect using Vicryl sutures through medial parapatellar arthrotomy. At 1-year follow-up, stable fixation was confirmed on imaging, and the patient achieved a full range of motion and pain-free daily activities. Post-operative knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome scores and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated satisfactory healing. Conclusion: The described suture fixation technique provides a low-cost, effective, and joint-preserving alternative for acute osteochondral defects in young patients, promoting functional recovery without donor-site morbidity.