Particulated juvenile articular cartilage allograft transplantation for osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Abstract

Osteochondral lesions of the talus can present a challenge to the orthopedic surgeon. Because of its avascular nature, articular cartilage has a poor capacity for self-repair and regeneration. A wide variety of strategies have been developed to restore the structure and function of injured cartilage. Surgical strategies range from repair of cartilage through the formation of fibrocartilage to a variety of restorative procedures, including tissue-engineering-based strategies. A novel treatment option involves the implantation of particulated articular cartilage obtained from a juvenile allograft donor, the DeNovo NT graft. This article reviews the DeNovo NT graft, its usage, and surgical technique.