Arthroscopic treatment of a osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral trochlea [Trattamento artroscopico di una osteocondrite dissecante della troclea femorale]

The juvenile osteochondritis dissecans of femoral trochlea is an uncommon lesion. Review of the literature reveals few reported cases of the medial or lateral trochlea. We report on 11-year-old child with a complete separate trochlea fragment. MRI and arthroscopy have shown a 2,5 × 2,2 cm osteochondral lesion. The fragment was reduced and synthesised by 3 absorbable pins using arthroscopic approach. At 6 months follow-up, the patient did not complain of knee pain, had full range of motion and returned to all the activities performed before the traumatic event. MRI and Athro-MRI showed healing of the lesion and continuity of the articular surface without any cleft between the fragment and the surrounding cartilage.