Evaluation of Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment with Bioabsorbable Implants in Children and Adolescents

(1) Background: This is the first systematic review concerning the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans with the use of bioabsorbable implants. The study was done as a comprehensive review to identify important factors affecting the results of OCD treatment in children and adolescents; (2) Methods: We searched electronic bibliographic databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge until May 2022. This systematic review was performed according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and PICO (Patients, Interventions, Comparisons, Outcomes) guidelines; (3) Results: We identified 2662 original papers of which 11 were found to be eligible for further analysis. The study group included a total of 164 OCD lesions in 158 patients. In 94.86% of postoperative cases, there was complete healing or local improvement on follow-up CT or MRI scans. The great majority of patients achieved a good clinical effect. Out of 164 OCD lesions, 10 did not heal (6.09%); (4) Conclusions: Surgical treatment of stable and unstable OCD in children with the use of bioabsorbable implants facilitates a high rate of healing and a good clinical outcome; treatment of juvenile OCD is associated with a better outcome compared to adult OCD; the use of bioabsorbable implants for the treatment of humeral capitellum OCD is associated with a more frequent incidence of synovitis (18.2%).

Automated summary

This study is the first systematic review on the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) using bioabsorbable implants. The findings show that surgical treatment with bioabsorbable implants facilitates a high rate of healing and good clinical outcomes in children and adolescents with OCD.