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J Knee Surg 2021; 34(01): 039-046
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1721669
Special Focus Section

Return-to-Sport Review for Current Cartilage Treatments

Nathan W. Skelley
1   Sanford Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of South Dakota Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
,
Chad Kurtenbach
1   Sanford Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of South Dakota Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
,
Kristofer Kimber
1   Sanford Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of South Dakota Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
,
Bruce Piatt
1   Sanford Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of South Dakota Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
,
Benjamin Noonan
1   Sanford Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of South Dakota Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

The return to play outcome is an important measure for orthopaedic sports medicine treatments. This variable is especially important when discussing cartilage treatments because there are many different cartilage options available to athletes with articular injuries and this population is particularly interested in the ability to return to activities. Although many outcome variables are considered in any surgical procedure, the return-to-sport variable is focused on an active population and can be tailored to that patient's sport-specific goals. In this article, we will review some of the most recent and up-to-date articles describing return-to-sport outcomes for various knee cartilage treatments. This article will focus on the most common current knee cartilage treatments including microfracture, autologous chondrocyte implantation, osteochondral autograft transplant, and osteochondral allograft transplantation.

Keywords

return to play - cartilage treatment - osteochondral - microfracture - autologous chondrocyte implantation

Ethical Approval

This article is waived by our Institutional Review Board as no identifying patient information was used.




Publication History

Received: 05 June 2020

Accepted: 12 November 2020

Article published online:
03 January 2021

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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