Background: Cartilage regenerative procedures have been receiving increased interest because of their potential to alter the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). The application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been proposed as a new treatment option for OA based on the ability of these cells to differentiate into chondrocytes. Purpose: To investigate the clinical and second-look arthroscopic outcomes of MSC implantation and to identify prognostic factors associated with this treatment. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated 37 knees examined using second-look arthroscopic surgery after MSC implantation for cartilage lesions in OA knees. Clinical outcomes were evaluated according to the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score and Tegner activity scale, and cartilage repair was assessed using International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grading. Statistical analyses were performed to identify various prognostic factors associated with the clinical and second-look arthroscopic outcomes. Results: The mean patient age was 57.4 years (range, 48-69 years), the mean follow-up period was 26.5 months (range, 24-34 months), the mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.3 kg/m ² (range, 19.8-31.2 kg/m ² ), and the mean lesion size was 5.4 ± 2.9 cm ² (range, 2.3-8.9 cm ² ). The mean IKDC and Tegner activity scale scores were significantly improved from 38.0 ± 7.8 to 61.0 ± 11.0 and from 2.5 ± 0.5 to 3.6 ± 0.7, respectively ( P < .001 for both). According to the ICRS overall repair grades at second-look arthroscopic surgery, 2 of the 37 lesions (5%) were grade I (normal), 7 (19%) were grade II (near normal), 20 (54%) were grade III (abnormal), and 8 (22%) were grade IV (severely abnormal). In terms of overall patient satisfaction with the operation, 33 (94%) patients reported good to excellent satisfaction. High BMI (≥27.5 kg/m ² ) and large lesion size (≥5.4 cm ² ) were found to be significant predictors of poor clinical and arthroscopic outcomes ( P < .05 for both). Other prognostic factors, including patient age, sex, cartilage lesion location, and presence of subchondral cysts, did not significantly influence the outcomes ( P > .05). Conclusion: The outcomes of MSC implantation for cartilage repair in OA knees seem encouraging; high BMI and large lesion size are important factors affecting outcomes. Although still in the early stages of application, MSC implantation for cartilage repair may have great potential for the treatment of OA knees. However, second-look arthroscopic findings revealed that 76% had the repair rated as abnormal or severely abnormal by ICRS standards. The development of an advanced surgical procedure with tissue-engineered scaffolds may be needed to treat patients with large cartilage lesions.

Background: Supramalleolar osteotomy (SMO), which redistributes the load line within the ankle joint, has been reported as an effective treatment for varus ankle osteoarthritis. However, no study has examined cartilage regeneration in the medial compartment of the ankle after SMO. Hypothesis/Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes of SMO and to identify the association between the outcomes of SMO and cartilage regeneration evaluated by second-look arthroscopy. The hypothesis was that cartilage regeneration would be an important predictor of the outcomes of SMO and that arthroscopic marrow stimulation would aid in cartilage regeneration. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 31 ankles were retrospectively evaluated after arthroscopic marrow stimulation with SMO for varus ankle osteoarthritis; second-look arthroscopy was conducted for all these ankles. Clinical outcome measures included a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Radiological outcome variables included the tibial-ankle surface angle (TAS), talar tilt (TT), and tibial-lateral surface angle (TLS), and progression of degenerative arthritis of the ankle was assessed. In the second-look arthroscopy, cartilage regeneration was evaluated using the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade. Results: The mean ± standard deviation VAS and AOFAS scores were 7.1 ± 0.8 and 62.9 ± 4.0 preoperatively, and they significantly improved to 3.4 ± 1.3 and 83.1 ± 7.5, respectively ( P < .001, for both) at the time of the second-look arthroscopy (mean, 13.2 months postoperatively). However, at final follow-up (mean, 27.4 months postoperatively), they were significantly decreased to 4.1 ± 1.6 and 79.9 ± 8.0, respectively, compared with the values at second-look arthroscopy ( P < .001, for both). The mean TAS, TT, and TLS improved significantly after SMO but showed no significant correlation with the clinical outcomes and ICRS grade ( P > .05 for all three). At second-look arthroscopy, the ICRS overall repair grades were normal in 1 (3%), nearly normal in 7 (23%), abnormal in 13 (42%), and severely abnormal in 10 (32%). Progressive degenerative arthritis was observed in 13 cases (42%). The ICRS grade was significantly associated with the clinical outcomes ( P < .0001) and development of degenerative arthritis of the ankle joint ( P = .002). Conclusion: This study showed improved clinical outcomes after SMO for varus ankle osteoarthritis in comparison to the preoperative assessments. Furthermore, the ICRS grade was significantly associated with the clinical outcomes of SMO at final follow-up and significantly associated with the development of degenerative arthritis of the ankle joint. Therefore, arthroscopic marrow stimulation should be considered with SMO to ensure adequate cartilage regeneration. However, given the ICRS grades observed at the time of the second-look arthroscopies and the progression of degenerative arthritis in 42%, the long-term prognosis in this group of patients is uncertain.

Background: Supramalleolar osteotomy (SMO) is reported to be an effective treatment for varus ankle osteoarthritis by redistributing the load line within the ankle joint. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proposed as a new treatment option for osteoarthritis on the basis of their cartilage regeneration ability. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical, radiological, and second‐look arthroscopic outcomes between MSC injection with marrow stimulation and marrow stimulation alone in patients with varus ankle osteoarthritis who have undergone SMO.Methods: In this retrospective study, 62 patients (64 ankles) with varus ankle osteoarthritis underwent second‐look arthroscopy at a mean of 12.8 months after arthroscopic marrow stimulation combined with SMO; 33 ankles were subjected to marrow stimulation alone (group I), and 31 were subjected to marrow stimulation with MSC injection (group II). Clinical outcome measures included a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Radiological outcome variables included the tibial–ankle surface (TAS), talar tilt (TT), and tibial–lateral surface (TLS) angles. In second‐look arthroscopy, cartilage regeneration was evaluated using the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade.Results: The mean VAS score improved significantly from 7.2 ± 1.0 to 4.7 ± 1.4 in group I and from 7.3 ± 0.8 to 3.7 ± 1.5 in group II at the final follow‐up (P < 0.001 for both groups). The mean AOFAS score also improved significantly from 61.7 ± 5.8 to 80.9 ± 6.7 in group I and from 60.6 ± 6.1 to 85.2 ± 5.1 in group II at the final follow‐up (P < 0.001 for both groups). There were significant differences in the mean VAS and AOFAS scores between groups at the final follow‐up (P = 0.002 and 0.010, respectively). At second‐look arthroscopy, there were significant differences in ICRS grades between groups(P = 0.015 for medial aspect of the talar dome, P = 0.044 for medial aspect of the tibial plafond, and P = 0.005 for articular surface of the medial malleolus). ICRS grades were significantly correlated with clinical outcomes in both groups (all P < 0.05). Mean TAS, TT, and TLS angles improved significantly after SMO in both groups but were not significantly correlated with clinical outcomes or ICRS grade (all n.s.).Conclusions: The clinical and second‐look arthroscopic outcomes of MSC injection with marrow stimulation were better compared to those of marrow stimulation alone in patients with varus ankle osteoarthritis who have undergone SMO. Furthermore, the ICRS grade is significantly correlated with clinical outcome.

Background: Among the various operative treatments of Morton’s neuroma, deep transverse metatarsal ligament (DTML) release has been performed for decompression of neuroma. However, the main lesion of Morton’s neuroma is located between the metatarsal head and the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and more distal than the DTML. Hence we performed the metatarsal shortening osteotomy along with DTML release for decompression of neuroma, and investigated the clinical outcomes of it and compared the outcomes with those of DTML release alone. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 84 consecutive patients (86 neuromas) who underwent surgery for a Morton’s neuroma between February 2008 and March 2011. The first 46 neuroma (group A) were treated with DTML release alone, and the next 40 neuroma (group B) underwent the metatarsal shortening osteotomy with DTML release. Clinical outcomes were compared between the groups and the associations between clinical outcomes and neuroma size were assessed. Results: Clinical outcomes were significantly improved after surgery in both groups but there were significant differences in clinical outcomes between the 2 groups at final follow-up. There were significant correlations between neuroma size and outcomes in group A, whereas no significant correlations were found between neuroma size and outcomes in group B. Conclusion: The metatarsal shortening osteotomy with DTML release resulted in better outcomes compared with DTML release alone in patients with Morton’s neuromas. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative series.