• INTRODUCTION
    • The use of bioabsorbable implants for the fixation of osteochondral knee fractures remains controversy. The objective of this study is to analyze their clinical, radiological, patient-reported outcomes (PROMs), and return-to-sport (RTS) outcomes in children and adolescents.
  • METHODS
    • We performed a retrospective study including 33 skeletally immature patients (33 knees) with osteochondral knee fractures. Demographic, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), clinical and surgical data (number of implants and associated procedures) were collected. The detached fragment was using SmartNail® bioabsorbable implants. Radiological results were shown according to the MOCART 2.0 knee score. Patients completed the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Kujala Score, Lysholm Score, Tegner Activity Scale, and UCLA Activity Level questionnaires.
  • RESULTS
    • The mean age at surgery was 13.5 ± 2.2 years. The most frequent location was the patella (54.5%), followed by the lateral femoral condyle (33%). After a mean follow-up of 5.9 years (SD 3; range 2-14) and with a current mean age of 19.4 ± 3.9 years, most lesions healed with good cartilage appearance (mean MOCART score 91.67 ± 7.25, range 70-10) and no material failure detected on MRI, the RTS rate at the same level was 88%, and the mean PROMs results were: KOOS 89.1 ± 12.9, Kujala Score 91.3 ± 8.8, Lysholm Score 84.8 ± 16, Tegner Activity Scale 6.8 ± 1.5 and UCLA Activity Level 7.3 ± 1.3.
  • CONCLUSION
    • Fixation of traumatic osteochondral knee fractures in children and adolescents with bioabsorbable implants obtains good radiological results, as well as favorable PROMs and RTS rates, after a mean follow-up of 5.9 years.