ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the clinical outcome in 21 patients (22 knees) undergoing osteochondral
autologous transplantation (OATS) in the knee over a 5-year period. Sixteen knees
in 15 patients were available for follow-up at an average of 40 months after the procedure.
The clinical outcome was analyzed using the IKDC and Knee and Osteoarthritis Outcome
Score (KOOS) evaluation forms, a subjective questionnaire, and a clinical examination.
At final follow-up, the average KOOS result for pain was 80.6 (range: 56-94), symptoms
53.6 (range: 25-71), function of activities of daily living 93.4 (range: 79-100),
function of sports and recreational activities 65.3 (range: 20-100), and quality of
life 51.0 (range: 6-88). The average IKDC score was 68.2. On our subjective questionnaire,
the average preoperative grade given was 3.1 (range: 1-7) with an improvement at the
most recent follow-up to a grade of 8.0 (range: 5-10) (P < .00001). Thirteen (86%) patients reported that they would have the surgery again
if they had to make the decision a second time. Age did not correlate with subjective
results on the IKDC evaluation (P=.7048) or score difference on our questionnaire (P=.9175). This procedure provides an option for articular resurfacing of the femoral
condyles for focal areas of chondral defects with promising results regarding subjective
improvement.
