Treatment of osteoarthritic cartilage lesions with osteochondral autograft transplantation.

Twenty-two osteochondral autograft transplantations were performed on two types of knees: those with isolated (group 1) and multiple (group 2) degenerative cartilage lesions. At minimum 24-month follow-up, group 1 had significantly better pain relief and function than group 2 based on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and pain scores (10-point visual analog scale). Osteochondral autograft transplantation may be effective in treating knees with isolated degenerative cartilage lesions but appears contraindicated in those with multiple lesions.