Early Postoperative CT Scan Provides Prognostic Data on Clinical Outcomes of Fresh Osteochondral Transplantation of the Knee

• Published in: The American journal of sports medicine 2022-12, Vol.50 (14), p.3812-3818
• Main Authors: Gelber, Pablo Eduardo, Ramírez-Bermejo, Eduard, Fariñas, Oscar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical outcomes; Cohort Studies; Humans; Medical imaging; Ontario; Prognosis; Sports medicine; Tomography; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0363-5465; 1552-3365
• DOI: 10.1177/03635465221129601

Background: There is a lack of information regarding the ability of imaging studies to predict clinical outcomes after fresh osteochondral allograft (FOCA) transplantation of the knee. Purpose: To determine the value of computed tomography (CT) scans to predict the clinical outcome of FOCA transplantation using the assessment computed tomography osteochondral allograft (ACTOCA) score. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We prospectively collected data from all consecutive patients who underwent FOCA transplantation for osteochondral knee lesions at one institution between August 2017 and August 2019. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. CT scans performed 6 months after surgery were evaluated by a musculoskeletal radiologist using the ACTOCA scoring system. The radiologist was blinded to the patient’s medical history. Clinical outcomes were assessed preoperatively and at 12 and 30 months postoperatively using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, the Kujala score, the Tegner activity scale, and the Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET) score. Results: A total of 38 cases were included. The ACTOCA score at 6 months after surgery showed a statistically significant correlation with clinical results at 12 and 30 months. The correlation was better at 30 months, showing a high negative correlation with the IKDC score (−0.663) and a moderate negative correlation with the Kujala, WOMET, and Tegner scores (−0.593; −0.547, and −0.593, respectively) (P < .001). Conclusion: A statistically significant correlation between the mean ACTOCA score on CT scans at 6 months and the clinical results measured by the IKDC, Kujala, WOMET, and Tegner scores at 30 months confirmed the predictive value of the ACTOCA score for use in clinical practice.