Favorable 10-year outcomes of osteochondral autologous transplantation for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee following subchondral insufficiency fracture with optimal alignment correction

Abstract Purpose The long-term effect of osteochondral autologous transplantation (OAT) on spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) following subchondral insufficiency fracture remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term survivorship and clinical outcomes of OAT for SONK, with a...

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Main Authors: Kohei Nishitani, Yasuaki Nakagawa, Masahiko Kobayashi, Shinichiro Nakamura, Shogo Mukai, Shinichi Kuriyama, Shuichi Matsuda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Knee Surgery & Related Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43019-025-00285-2
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author Kohei Nishitani
Yasuaki Nakagawa
Masahiko Kobayashi
Shinichiro Nakamura
Shogo Mukai
Shinichi Kuriyama
Shuichi Matsuda
author_facet Kohei Nishitani
Yasuaki Nakagawa
Masahiko Kobayashi
Shinichiro Nakamura
Shogo Mukai
Shinichi Kuriyama
Shuichi Matsuda
author_sort Kohei Nishitani
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose The long-term effect of osteochondral autologous transplantation (OAT) on spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) following subchondral insufficiency fracture remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term survivorship and clinical outcomes of OAT for SONK, with a focus on factors associated with clinical success. Methods Patients who underwent OAT for SONK between 1998 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Survivorship was assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis, with revision surgery as the endpoint. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score obtained preoperatively and at final follow-up. Clinical failure was defined as an IKDC score below the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS; 62.1 points). The association between final IKDC score and postoperative femorotibial angle (FTA) was analyzed using linear and quadratic regression. Results A total of 33 OATs were included (mean age: 64.6 ± 8.0 years; mean lesion size: 3.9 ± 1.7 cm2). High tibial osteotomy was performed in 15 patients with FTA > 180°, and 24 patients were followed for ≥ 10 years (mean: 13.7 ± 3.4 years). One arthroplasty was performed at 14.2 years, yielding a 15-year survival rate of 88%. The IKDC score improved significantly (35.0 ± 12.6 to 70.6 ± 14.1, p < 0.001), with a clinical success rate of 79.2%. Quadratic regression showed optimal postoperative FTA between 163.1° and 178.3° for achieving PASS. Conclusions OAT may provide favorable long-term survivorship and clinical outcomes in SONK, particularly when postoperative alignment is appropriately corrected.
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spelling doaj-art-de81cf6feae044dda58d8e1e9e04b6232025-08-20T03:45:52ZengBMCKnee Surgery & Related Research2234-24512025-08-013711910.1186/s43019-025-00285-2Favorable 10-year outcomes of osteochondral autologous transplantation for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee following subchondral insufficiency fracture with optimal alignment correctionKohei Nishitani0Yasuaki Nakagawa1Masahiko Kobayashi2Shinichiro Nakamura3Shogo Mukai4Shinichi Kuriyama5Shuichi Matsuda6Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Japan Baptist Medical FoundationDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto Shimogamo HospitalDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical CenterDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto UniversityAbstract Purpose The long-term effect of osteochondral autologous transplantation (OAT) on spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) following subchondral insufficiency fracture remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term survivorship and clinical outcomes of OAT for SONK, with a focus on factors associated with clinical success. Methods Patients who underwent OAT for SONK between 1998 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Survivorship was assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis, with revision surgery as the endpoint. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score obtained preoperatively and at final follow-up. Clinical failure was defined as an IKDC score below the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS; 62.1 points). The association between final IKDC score and postoperative femorotibial angle (FTA) was analyzed using linear and quadratic regression. Results A total of 33 OATs were included (mean age: 64.6 ± 8.0 years; mean lesion size: 3.9 ± 1.7 cm2). High tibial osteotomy was performed in 15 patients with FTA > 180°, and 24 patients were followed for ≥ 10 years (mean: 13.7 ± 3.4 years). One arthroplasty was performed at 14.2 years, yielding a 15-year survival rate of 88%. The IKDC score improved significantly (35.0 ± 12.6 to 70.6 ± 14.1, p < 0.001), with a clinical success rate of 79.2%. Quadratic regression showed optimal postoperative FTA between 163.1° and 178.3° for achieving PASS. Conclusions OAT may provide favorable long-term survivorship and clinical outcomes in SONK, particularly when postoperative alignment is appropriately corrected.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43019-025-00285-2OsteonecrosisKneeAlignmentCartilageRepair
spellingShingle Kohei Nishitani
Yasuaki Nakagawa
Masahiko Kobayashi
Shinichiro Nakamura
Shogo Mukai
Shinichi Kuriyama
Shuichi Matsuda
Favorable 10-year outcomes of osteochondral autologous transplantation for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee following subchondral insufficiency fracture with optimal alignment correction
Knee Surgery & Related Research
Osteonecrosis
Knee
Alignment
Cartilage
Repair
title Favorable 10-year outcomes of osteochondral autologous transplantation for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee following subchondral insufficiency fracture with optimal alignment correction
title_full Favorable 10-year outcomes of osteochondral autologous transplantation for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee following subchondral insufficiency fracture with optimal alignment correction
title_fullStr Favorable 10-year outcomes of osteochondral autologous transplantation for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee following subchondral insufficiency fracture with optimal alignment correction
title_full_unstemmed Favorable 10-year outcomes of osteochondral autologous transplantation for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee following subchondral insufficiency fracture with optimal alignment correction
title_short Favorable 10-year outcomes of osteochondral autologous transplantation for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee following subchondral insufficiency fracture with optimal alignment correction
title_sort favorable 10 year outcomes of osteochondral autologous transplantation for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee following subchondral insufficiency fracture with optimal alignment correction
topic Osteonecrosis
Knee
Alignment
Cartilage
Repair
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43019-025-00285-2
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