In the early 1980s, doctors treated a group of older teens and young adults with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee using a surgical method that combined curettement (cleaning out damaged bone), bone grafting, and pinning of the loose fragment back into place. These patients were skeletally mature, meaning their growth plates were closed, and they typically had large lesions that could not heal on their own.
The study followed 17 patients for 5 to 7 years after surgery.
Key findings:
- Healing rate: 16 out of 17 lesions healed, usually within 8 months.
- Function: Most patients had good strength and knee function afterward, though some still experienced mild pain or swelling.
- Cartilage and arthritis: While the joint surface often looked smooth after surgery, many patients showed signs of early arthritis over time. Those who already had degenerative changes or very large/loose fragments tended to have worse results.
- Lesson learned: The sooner the condition is treated (before the joint shows wear-and-tear), the better the long-term outcome.
Takeaway: This older study demonstrated that restoring the bone with grafting and fixing the fragment in place usually leads to healing, but it cannot always prevent arthritis from developing in the long run.
