Healing Predictors of Conservative Treatment for Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Talus.

Objective: To investigate the healing response of juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) of the talus after conservative treatment, identify healing predictors, and develop a predictive model for healing.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Clinics at a tertiary-level pediatric medical center.

Patients: Fifty-five patients (55 ankles) who presented with JOCD.

Interventions: Patients were managed with cast immobilization followed by activity restriction.

Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure of progressive lesion reossification was determined from the latest radiograph, after at least 6 months of nonoperative treatment. Final clinical evaluation was performed by a questionnaire and complementary telephone interview. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the influence of age, sex, lesion size, classification, location, duration of symptoms, containment lesion, and the occurrence of cyst-like lesions on healing potential.

Results: After nonoperative treatment, 18 (33%) of 55 lesions had failed to progress toward healing. An older age (P = 0.034) and a completely detached but undisplaced (grade III) lesion (P < 0.001) at the time of diagnosis were predictive for the failure of conservative treatment. A multivariate logistic regression best predictor model that included age and grade resulted in the best predicted healing and yielded an area under the curve of 0.920 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: In two-thirds of skeletally immature patients, conservative treatment resulted in the progressive healing of JOCD of the talus. For older patients with grade III lesions showing a lower healing probability, surgical treatment should be considered.