The retrograde extra-articular drilling decompresses the lesion and can allow revascularization without disruption of the articular cartilage surface. Researchers examined 31 patients who were an average of four years old.
All patients underwent arthroscopic knee evaluation and percutaneous retrograde drilling through the condylar epiphysis. There was an overall improvement in Lysholm score, Tegner score and visual analog scale pain scores. In all cases, radiographs revealed stable or improved lesions.
Read the abstract about treating young patients with osteochondritis dissecans.
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