Chondral Thickness and Radii of Curvature of the Femoral Condyles and Talar Trochlea

Abstract

To localize optimal donor regions for osteochondral graft transplantation, the chondral thickness and the radii of curvature of femoral condyles and the talar trochlea were determined. Optosil impressions of the articular surfaces of ten formalin fixed distal femora and talar domes were prepared. Therefrom, 5-mm thick frontal sections were made in order to measure the radii of curvature. Femoral condyles and talar trochleas were sliced sagittally into 2-mm thick sections. Chondral thickness was measured on x-rays. Talar cartilage thickness measured 0.7 to 2.0 mm. Cartilage thickness of the femoral condyles was 0.7 mm to 3.1 mm. The smallest radial values of the talar surface were proximal and distal. Flattening of the medial and lateral talar margins and of the central articular surface was evident. For the femur, the curvature was greater in the edge areas than in the central region. For talar defects, the grafts should be taken from the condylar edges, where the chondral thickness is decreased.

chondral thickness - mosaicplasty - curvature - cartilage defect

References

• 1 Ahmad C S, Cohen Z A, Levine W N, Ateshian G A, Mow V C. Biomechanical and topographic considerations for autologous osteochondral grafting in the knee.  Am J Sports Med. 2001;  29 201-206
• 2 Bobic V. Arthroscopic osteochondral autograft transplantation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a preliminary clinical study.  Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 1996;  3 262-264
• 3 Bobic V. [Autologous osteo-chondral grafts in the management of articular cartilage lesions].  Orthopäde. 1999;  28 19-25
• 4 Breinan H A, Minas T, Hsu H P, Nehrer S, Sledge C B, Spector M. Effect of cultured autologous chondrocytes on repair of chondral defects in a canine model.  J Bone Joint Surg. 1997;  79-A 1439-1451
• 5 Buckwalter J A, Mankin H J. Articular cartilage - Part I. Tissue design and chondrocyte matrix interactions.  J Bone Joint Surg. 1997;  79-A 600-611
• 6 Cohen Z A, McCarthy D M, Kwak S D, Legrand P, Fogarasi F, Ciaccio E J, Ateshian A. Knee cartilage topography, thickness, and contact areas from MRI: in-vitro calibration and in-vivo measurements.  Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 1999;  7 95-109
• 7 Eckstein F, Schnier M, Haubner M, Priebsch J, Glaser C, Englmeier K H, Reiser M. Accuracy of cartilage volume and thickness measurements with magnetic resonance imaging.  Clin Orthop. 1998;  352 137-148
• 8 Hangody L, Kish G, Karpati Z, Udvarhelyi I, Szigeti I, Bely M. Mosaicplasty for the treatment of articular cartilage defects: application in clinical practice.  Orthopedics. 1998;  21 751-756
• 9 Hangody L, Kish G, Modis L, Szerb I, Gaspar L, Dioszegi Z, Kendik Z. Mosaicplasty for the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the talus: two to seven year results in 36 patients.  Foot Ankle Int. 2001;  22 552-558
• 10 Hangody L, Feczko P, Bartha L, Bodo G, Kish G. Mosaicplasty for the treatment of articular defects of the knee and ankle.  Clin Orthop. 2001;  391 328-336
• 11 Hangody L, Füles P. Autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty for the treatment of full-thickness of weight-bearing joints.  J Bone Joint Surg. 2003;  85-A 25-32
• 12 Imhoff A B, Ottl G M, Burkart A, Traub S. [Autologous osteochondral transplantation on various joints].  Orthopäde. 1999;  28 33-44
• 13 Huberti H H, Hayes W C. Patellofemoral contact pressures: The influence of q-angle and tendofemoral contact.  J Bone Joint Surg. 1984;  66-A 715-724
• 14 Jubel A, Andermahr J, Koebke J, Hauselmann H J, Rehm K E. [Treatment of defects of joint cartilage].  Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2002;  127 1904-1908
• 15 Kurrat H J. The stress of the human hip joint. VI. A functional analysis of the cartilage thickness in the human femoral head.  Anat Embryol. 1977;  150 129-140
• 16 Matsusue Y, Yamamuro T, Hama H. Arthroscopic multiple osteochondral transplantation to the chondral defect in the knee associated with anterior cruciate ligament disruption.  Arthroscopy. 1993;  9 318-321
• 17 Simonian P T, Sussmann P S, Wickiewicz T L, Paletta G A, Warren R F. Contact pressures at osteochondral donor sites in the knee.  Am J Sports Med. 1998;  26 491-494
• 18 Terukina M, Fujioka H, Yoshiya S, Kurosaka M, Makino T, Matsui N, Tanaka J. Analysis of the thickness and curvature of articular cartilage of the femoral condyle.  Arthroscopy. 2003;  19 969-973