This study is to know the factors that may affect cartilage repair after autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) for the treatment of an osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) as seen through a second look arthroscopy. A total of 38 patients who had ACI treatment for OLT underwent a second look arthroscopy 1 year after the ACI operation. A modified magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) scoring system was used to assess the outcome of the repaired cartilage. Influencing factors were sex, accompanied procedure, location, site, depth, pre-operative AOFAS score, size and age. Factors that may affect cartilage repair after ACI treatment for OLT were evaluated. Of the different factors assessed, sex (P=0.75), accompanied procedure (P=0.50), depth (P=0.08), location (P=0.54), site (P=0.50) and pre-operative AOFAS score (P=0.42) were found not to affect cartilage repair after ACI treatment for OLT. The size of the lesion (P=0.0021) and patient's age (P=0.01) were the influential factors. As a result, factors affecting repaired cartilage formation after ACI of OLT were found through the second look arthroscopy. It was determined that not all of the factors affecting the clinical outcome after ACI for the repair of an OLT affected cartilage repair after ACI.
© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.