Imaging Following Cartilage Repair Surgery

Athletes performing high impact sports may damage their articular cartilage acutely, as an isolated injury, or with concurrent fracture, tendon or ligamentous injury. Chronic, repetitive loading stress on the joints may also cause cartilage damage in athletes. Cartilage damage may be partial-thickness defects, full-thickness defects or involve the underlying bone as osteochondral defects. The weight-bearing knee and ankle joints are mostly commonly affected; however overhead throwers in particular may experience cartilage injury to the elbow or shoulder. Cartilage injury may lead to pain, progressive joint degeneration and early osteoarthritis. Early diagnosis and treatment is important to ensure timely return to sports. A recent meta-analysis found 76% of athletes undergoing surgery to address cartilage injuries in the knee return to sport at mid-term follow-up; however this may be affected by cartilage lesion size, athlete age and concomitant surgical procedures [1].