Topographic matching of selected donor and recipient sites for osteochondral autografting of the articular surface of the femoral condyles.

The purpose of this study was to define the topography of the articular surface of the femoral condyles and to develop a method for computerized topographic matching of donor and recipient sites for osteochondral transplantation. The condyles of seven fresh cadaveric femurs were mounted on the rotating stage of a laser-based coordinate measuring machine. An anatomic coordinate system defining the articular surface of the condyles was created. Customized software was developed to allow selection and topographic matching of osteochondral graft donor and recipient sites from any location on the surface of the condyles. For cartilage defects within the weightbearing portions of the medial or lateral femoral condyles, grafts taken from sites from the most medial or lateral portions of the patellar groove provided a significantly better topographic match than did grafts taken from the central intercondylar notch.