Outcomes and return to sport after osteochondral autograft transplantation for osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum: a systematic review

Background Capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions are common in athletes. Osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT) is one possible treatment option, though outcomes including return to sport (RTS) data are limited to small series. The purpose of this study was to systematically review RTS following OAT for capitellar OCD lesions. Our secondary objectives were to evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs), range of motion (ROM), and complications after OAT. Methods PubMed, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched for peer-reviewed articles on “osteochondral autograft transfer” and related terms for capitellar OCD lesions. Articles were included if they reported an RTS rate and had a follow-up time point of at least 12 months. Data on RTS rates, PRO measures, complications, and ROM were extracted. Articles were assessed for methodological quality using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies criteria. Results Six hundred sixty-six articles were retrieved, and 24 articles (470 patients) met the inclusion criteria. In total, 454/470 patients (97%) returned to sports following OAT for OCD. The RTS rate ranged from 79% to 100%. Return to previous level of performance ranged from 10% to 100%. Timmerman-Andrews postoperative scores (range = 169-193) were most often reported, with 87% of patients showing scores within the excellent range. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores were also excellent postoperatively for all studies reporting, with higher scores among centralized lesions vs. lateral. Conclusions Following OAT for capitellar OCD lesions, RTS rates are high; however, athletes should be counseled on the potential of a return to lower performance or the need to change positions. Lateral lesion location may negatively impact outcomes. PRO scores are typically excellent and postoperative ROM consistently improves. This information helps counsel patients regarding expectations and outcomes of OAT for OCD of the capitellum.

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the elbow is common among youth baseball players and gymnasts, with an overall incidence of 6.0 per 100,000 in the United States, with a 1.8% cumulative incidence per year among youth baseball players. 9,17,36apitellar OCD may present as an incidental finding on imaging with only 35% of patients with capitellar OCD reporting pain. 17atients presenting with symptoms of pain or mechanical symptoms impairing athletic performance are treated based on patient age and stability of the lesion.The goal of treatment is to restore full, painless range of motion (ROM) in order to return the athlete to his or her previous level of performance.Nonoperative treatment is often successful in stable lesions, particularly those with an open capitellar physis. 31When conservative treatments for all-sized lesions fail and with large or unstable lesions, surgical management may be beneficial.
Surgical options for OCD include removal of loose bodies, drilling, d ebridement, microfracture, chondrocyte implantation, bonepeg grafting, and osteochondral transplants. 30Osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT) is a cartilage restoration procedure in which a cartilage and bone plug is harvested, often from a non-weight-bearing aspect of the distal femoral condyle, then transferred into the defect. 24While outcomes have generally been described as favorable with limited donor-site morbidity, case series are limited, and several recent studies have been published since previous systematic reviews.The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the literature regarding OAT return to sport (RTS), patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and ROM.

Study design
This study is a systematic review of published peer-reviewed studies reporting RTS, PROs, ROM, and complications after OAT for OCD.The design and conduct of this systematic review followed guidelines from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews.Reporting of this review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. 23eta-analyses were not performed as included articles are level III and IV evidence studies.

Literature search
A comprehensive literature search was conducted in July 2022 to evaluate the literature from inception.Embase and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases were searched using a prespecified search strategy (Fig. 1).Related terms for osteochondral autograft transplantation, grafting, elbow, capitellum, and outcomes were combined and searched (the complete list of Boolean terms is found in Appendix 1).The resulting articles were exported into the EndNote reference management tool (Clarivate, Philadelphia, PA, USA) for records management. 32

Selection criteria
All articles were independently reviewed by two authors (E.N.B. and G.C.L.) for inclusion, with a third reviewer available to resolve any disagreements.The online software Rayyan was used to review and select articles. 20Peer-reviewed primary research articles in the English language regarding capitellar OCD treatment with OAT or stratified for OAT with follow-up for at least 12 months were included.We required that articles include a quantitative report of (RTS) and at least one PRO measure or ROM measurement.
Articles were excluded if they were not available in the English language, were not primary research articles (including book chapters, systematic reviews, editorial commentaries, narrative reviews, animal, or cadaver studies), were surgical technique papers which did not include outcome measures, or if they were reports that did not include outcomes pertaining to OAT (fixation, d ebridement, allograft transplantation without OAT data).Twentyfour articles were included.

Data analysis
The following data were extracted: authors and year published, patient demographics (number of elbows, age, sex, skeletal maturity, level of play), patient characteristics (dominant arm involvement, lesion classification, mean follow-up), outcomes (RTS rate, PRO measures, ROM, and number of revision procedures), and complications.The primary outcome measure of this study was the RTS rate regarding OATs.Preoperation and postoperation data were collected for ROM and PROs when available.Two articles were included which did not include preoperative and postoperative PROs, but these were included as information was complete for all other desired data points. 1,3teochondritis lesions were described predominantly using the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society grading system. 18Grade 0 lesions are normal cartilage with no magnetic resonance imaging signal changes.Grade 4 lesions are the most severe and contain a loose body within the lesion or joint space.Grade 2, 3, and 4 lesions were reported among the included studies.
Outcome measures were recorded for each study.The Timmerman-Andrews (TA) scoring system 33 defines an excellent overall score as 180-200 while a poor score is defined as less than 120.Total scores are a sum of a subjective component (patient's perception of the following: pain, swelling, locking/catching, and difficulty performing activities) and an objective component (flexion contracture, pronation/supination, and sagittal arc of motion).Outcome measures were also reported using the Broberg and Morrey rating system, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, and Mayo Elbow score.Higher scores are associated with better elbow function except for the DASH score, in which a lower score is associated with better function.RTS was defined as the patient being able to return to any level of competition for their primary sport.The rate at which patients returned to a lower level of sport was also extracted when included.

Methodological quality
Methodological quality was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies scoring system (Appendix 2). 29he Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies instrument contains 8 items for noncomparative studies and 12 items for comparative studies to assess the risk of bias.Higher scores are correlated with a lower risk of study bias.Each study was independently reviewed by two authors (E.N.B.) and (G.C.L.) with a third author available to resolve any disagreements.

Study selection, demographics, and lesion characteristics
The initial search yielded 452 results from PubMed, 312 results from Embase, and 132 results from Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature.The reference lists of articles were reviewed for missed articles and one additional article was included.After duplicates were removed, a total of 666 unique articles were identified for review with 24 meeting inclusion criteria.The summary of these studies, demographic, and lesion characteristics are shown in Table I.Included studies were from 2005 to 2021.There were 3 Level III cohort studies 16,35,39 22 Level IV studies.Overall, 470 patients were included.The age of patients ranged from 13 to 22 years of age.Five studies reported the skeletal maturity of patients. 6,14,15,26,28All except 3 studies had a patient population strictly composed of athletes. 3,27,37 Return to sport Outcome scores for the included studies are summarized in Table II.RTS was achieved in 454/470 patients (97%).RTS rate ranged from 79% to 100%; all but 5 studies reported a RTS rate of 100%. Seven studies reporte proportion of their study population, 38 patients in total, returning to a reduced level of sport (range: 10%-100%).6,8,12,15,21,28,40 Baseball players, and pitchers specifically, were more likely to RTS at a lower level of play or not able to return at all.Time to RTS among included articles ranged from 4 months to 12 months.

Patient-reported outcome measures
The mean measurements of function improved postoperatively in all studies.Thirteen studies utilized the TA scoring system; 87% of patients had excellent outcomes with a mean score of 186.4 (range: 169-193.8).Four studies reported outcomes using the DASH scoring system with a mean score of 2.92 (range: 5.4-1.0).Three studies (37 patients) utilizing the JOA scoring system reported a mean score of 97.6 (range: 93.8-99.2).In studies stratifying for lesion location, Matsuura reported significantly higher TA scores at final follow-up for central lesions (193.8 ± 9.5) vs. lateral lesions (185.3 ± 17.6). 16Yamagami reported a significant increase in JOA scores preoperatively to postoperatively in the central (74.5 to 99.2), lateral localized (63.7 to 95.4), and lateral widespread (75.9 to 90.5) cohorts. 39Funakoshi reported similar results with significant TA improvements preoperatively to postoperatively in both central (125 to 193.5) and lateral (138.3 to 186.7) lesion cohorts. 6nge of motion ROM was reported in 22 of the 24 articles as degrees of total arc, flexion, extension, extension lag, or flexion lag.Preoperative extension data were available for 406 patients and preoperative flexion data were available for 401 patients.These patients had a respective average of 9.1 lack of full extension and 126.8 of flexion preoperatively.Postoperative extension data were available for 416 patients and postoperative flexion data were available for 411 patients.These patients had a respective average of 3.6 lack of full extension and 135.6 of flexion postoperatively.Two studies stratified for lesion location.Matsuura reported significantly better extension postoperatively in central lesion patients vs lateral lesion patients. 16Yamagami reported a significant improvement in ROM preoperatively to postoperatively in both the central lesion and lateral location lesion cohorts. 39

Revisions and second looks
All but five studies reported second looks and revisions.The number of revision and second look procedures ranged from 0 to 6 per study.Ayzenberg et al reported two revision procedures in which a back-fill cyst and the removal of a loose body necessitated a second look.Lyons et al reported a single postoperative complication in which irrigation and d ebridement of a superficial wound infection were performed.Mirzayan et al noted two second-look procedures: one for a flexion contracture and another for areas of fissuring adjacent to the transplanted cartilage.Nishinaka et al reported four revision procedures; two for loose bodies impairing ROM, one spur impairing ROM, and one for screw deviation which avulsed articular cartilage.Sato et al noted two second-look procedures due to the cartilage layer peeling from the graft.Both patients presented with locking symptoms after returning to sport.Shimada et al (2012) noted additional surgery in five patients due to "minor symptoms or for removal of instrumentation."Shimada et al (2005) reported six reoperations but did not expand upon why reoperations were necessary.Yamagami et al reported four reoperations: one for resection of a loose body, and three for synovectomy or osteochondral plug transplantation.Yamamoto et al reported a single reoperation for the removal of a loose body.
Complications/donor site morbidity Donor site morbidity was described in 14 of the included articles and affected 26 patients (Table III).Complications of donor site morbidity varied widely across studies ranging from 0% to 62.5% of subjects.Iwasaka et al reported 5 patients (62.5%) who experienced knee joint effusions which lasted a mean of 5 weeks postoperatively. 8The most common complication of the autograft donor site was anterior knee pain with several participants also reporting knee pain exacerbated by high-impact exercise and heavy lifting.Three articles included in our study utilized costal cartilage as an autograft site.One patient experienced a pneumothorax as a complication of harvesting which resolved following chest tube insertion.

Discussion
This systematic review demonstrated that OAT for elbow OCD consistently resulted in an excellent rate of RTS and PRO measures.ROM consistently improved, and PROs were excellent in 80%-90% of patients.The only inconsistent finding was the return to previous level of performance (10%-100%), which may be impacted by sport and position played (pitchers).
PROs improved preoperatively to postoperatively across all studies.All studies, apart from Nishinaka et al and Ueda et al, reported postoperative TA scores in the excellent range.In studies stratifying for the location of the OCD lesion, patients with central lesions reported better postoperative outcomes on the TA scale compared to patients with lateral lesions.These findings are consistent with previous work by Logli et al which also reported more favorable outcomes for patients with central lesions. 11ur study found the RTS range among the represented studies was 79%-100% including 498 patients, with all but 5 included studies reporting a RTS rate of 100%.RTS rates in this study are consistent with prior systematic reviews of OAT for OCD.Westerman et al found a RTS rate of 95% in 164 athletes and a return to previous level of play in 94%. 38Average time to RTS was 6 months.Our study found a time to RTS ranging from 4 months to 12 months.Kirsch et al reported a return to play rate of 94% including patients with a mean time of 5.6 months. 10he majority of studies contained an athlete-only population, predominately baseball players.Systematic review by Logli et al reported a return to previous level of performance ranging from 62% to 100% with a range of return to a reduced level of 7%-41%. 11itchers had a lower return to the same level, likely due to a higher lateral compressive force when throwing.Several included studies within this systematic review reported considerable rates of return to a reduced level of sport ranging from 0% to 90%.It is important to note that two studies with RTS rates less than 100% report players leaving sports for reasons unrelated to elbow injury. 37,40Weigelt et al report 14% of patients and Yamamoto et al report 6% of patients leaving for reasons unrelated to elbow injury.Potential return to a lower level of sport or the need to change positions should be taken into consideration for athletes.Complication rates were overall low, but donor site morbidity was reported ranging from 0% to 62.5% of patients across studies.Anterior knee pain was the most frequent reported complication with respect to lateral femoral condyle autograft harvesting.Our rates of donor site complications align with a prior systematic review on donor site morbidity by Bexkens et al. 4 They postulated that the size of the autograft may increase the complication rate, as some grafts ranged up to 11 mm in diameter.They also noted that the donor site morbidity rates were similar with respect to knee and costal harvesting.The morbidity of costal autograft harvesting could be argued as more significant given the approximation of costal cartilage to the pleura and the potential for pneumothorax.The surgeon and patient should discuss possible morbidity when autograft harvesting is considered.

Limitations
The primary limitation of this study is that it is comprised of level of evidence III and IV studies.Therefore, bias will be present due to differing practice patterns and possible selection bias.Additionally, surgical indications may vary between studies which can limit comparisons.Another limitation is the variability in reported outcome measures and follow-up.Additional higher level of evidence studies, including comparative treatment studies, are needed to provide more definitive conclusions.

Conclusions
Following OAT for capitellar OCD lesions, RTS rates are high; however, athletes should be counseled on the potential of a return to lower performance or the need to change positions.Lateral lesion location may negatively impact outcomes.PRO scores are typically excellent and postoperative ROM consistently improves.This information helps counsel patients regarding expectations and outcomes of OAT for OCD of the capitellum

IncludedFigure 1
Figure 1 PRISMA flow chart.PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.

Table I
Demographic and lesion characteristics reported in 24 included studies.Table IISummary findings for return to sport rates and patient outcomes.
ICRS, International Cartilage Repair Society; NR, not reported.*Ratio reports entire study population.