Comparison Between Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation and Arthroscopic Fragment Resection for Large Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans in Adolescent Athletes: A Minimum 5 Years' Follow-up.

Background: The choice of surgical option for unstable large capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions in skeletally immature athletes remains controversial.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose was to investigate functional and radiographic outcomes after arthroscopic fragment resection and osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) for unstable large capitellar OCD lesions in skeletally immature athletes with a minimum 5 years' follow-up. We hypothesized that the outcomes after OAT for large capitellar OCD lesions would be superior to those after arthroscopic fragment resection.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: A total of 19 elbows in 19 patients (17 male and 2 females) who underwent arthroscopic resection were assigned to group 1 (mean age, 14 years [range, 13-15 years]), whereas 29 elbows in 29 patients (29 male) who underwent OAT were assigned to group 2 (mean age, 14 years [range, 13-15 years]), with the mean follow-up of 8 (range, 5-11 years) and 7 (range, 5-13 years) years, respectively. All OCD lesions were larger than one-half of the radial head diameter. Functional scores, patient satisfaction, and range of motion were compared between the groups. Radiographic changes, including superior migration, radial head enlargement, and osteoarthritis (OA) grade, were examined.

Results: All patients returned to sports activity. Functional scores, patient satisfaction, and flexion at the final follow-up were significantly improved in both groups compared with preoperative values, and differences were not significant between groups at the final follow-up. Extension showed a significant improvement in both groups (group 1: -17° to 0°; group 2: -18° to -6°; < .001). Extension in group 1 was significantly better than that in group 2 at the final follow-up ( = .045). No elbows developed postoperative severe OA in group 1, whereas 3 elbows in group 2 had grade 3 OA; these 3 elbows had preoperative superior migration and radial head enlargement.

Conclusion: No differences were observed in clinical and radiographic outcomes between patients undergoing arthroscopic fragment resection and OAT, except for elbow extension, at a minimum 5 years' follow-up. We believe that for adolescents with large capitellar OCD lesion, OAT is a good option for skeletally immature elbows and that arthroscopic fragment resection is a reliable and less invasive surgical option for relatively mature elbows.