Editorial Commentary: Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: All, Nothing, or Something in Between

Osteochondral lesions of the talus occur with relatively frequency, often as the sequelae of benign ankle sprains, and are only surpassed by the knee and elbow as more common locations. While microfracture of the talus is the most common first-line surgical treatment performed at the time of ankle arthroscopy, marrow stimulation alone results in fibrocartilaginous repair tissue rather than true hyaline-like articular cartilage. In addition, the benefits of bone marrow stimulation for the treatment of large (>150 mm²), deep (>7 mm), or cystic lesions is limited. Autologous osteochondral transplant has emerged as one such treatment option for large lesions that may address underlying bone loss and reconstitute articular cartilage. The utility of autologous osteochondral transplant also must be interpreted with an understanding of the potential complications, including donor-site morbidity. In addition, it is important to decompress, curettage, and back fill associated cysts with bone graft. When cysts are not treated aggressively, patients may have ongoing bone marrow edema and pain.