PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of full-thickness focal chondral defects in the athlete's knee. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of multiple databases, evaluating studies of the prevalence of articular cartilage defects in athletes. Because of the heterogeneity of data, a meta-analysis could not be performed. RESULTS: Eleven studies were identified for inclusion (931 subjects). All studies were level 4 evidence. Defects were diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging, arthroscopy, or both. Forty percent of athletes were professionals (NBA and NFL). The overall prevalence of full-thickness focal chondral defects in athletes was 36% (range = 2.4%-75% between all studies). Fourteen percent of athletes were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Patellofemoral defects (37%) were more common than femoral condyle (35%) and tibial plateau defects (25%). Medial condyle defects were more common than lateral (68% vs 32%), and patella defects were more common than trochlea (64% vs 36%). Meniscal tear (47%) was the most common concomitant knee pathological finding, followed by anterior cruciate ligament tear (30%) and then medial collateral ligament or lateral collateral ligament tear (14%). CONCLUSIONS: Full-thickness focal chondral defects in the knee are more common in athletes than among the general population. More than one-half of asymptomatic athletes have a full-thickness defect. Further study is needed to define more precisely the prevalence of these lesions in this population.
PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of full-thickness focal chondral defects in the athlete's knee. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of multiple databases, evaluating studies of the prevalence of articular cartilage defects in athletes. Because of the heterogeneity of data, a meta-analysis could not be performed. RESULTS: Eleven studies were identified for inclusion (931 subjects). All studies were level 4 evidence. Defects were diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging, arthroscopy, or both. Forty percent of athletes were professionals (NBA and NFL). The overall prevalence of full-thickness focal chondral defects in athletes was 36% (range = 2.4%-75% between all studies). Fourteen percent of athletes were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Patellofemoral defects (37%) were more common than femoral condyle (35%) and tibial plateau defects (25%). Medial condyle defects were more common than lateral (68% vs 32%), and patella defects were more common than trochlea (64% vs 36%). Meniscal tear (47%) was the most common concomitant knee pathological finding, followed by anterior cruciate ligament tear (30%) and then medial collateral ligament or lateral collateral ligament tear (14%). CONCLUSIONS: Full-thickness focal chondral defects in the knee are more common in athletes than among the general population. More than one-half of asymptomatic athletes have a full-thickness defect. Further study is needed to define more precisely the prevalence of these lesions in this population.
Authors: Lei Ding; Biagio Zampogna; Sebastiano Vasta; Kee Woong Jang; Francesca De Caro; James A Martin; Annunziato Amendola Journal: Am J Sports Med Date: 2015-08-26 Impact factor: 6.202
Authors: Toby O Smith; Benjamin T Drew; Andoni P Toms; Simon T Donell; Caroline B Hing Journal: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc Date: 2012-01-24 Impact factor: 4.342
Authors: Dean Wang; Rohit G Jayakar; Natalie L Leong; Michael P Leathers; Riley J Williams; Kristofer J Jones Journal: Cartilage Date: 2016-06-23 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Daniel Meyerkort; Jay R Ebert; Timothy R Ackland; William B Robertson; Michael Fallon; M H Zheng; David J Wood Journal: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc Date: 2014-05-11 Impact factor: 4.342