Management of Cartilage Injuries of the Foot and Ankle in Basketball

Abstract

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) are the most common articular injuries in athletes. OLTs encompass a variety of pathological lesions that can be problematic for a basketball player. Lesions that are larger and include more extensive cartilage damage are risk factors for degenerative changes, which can be devastating to performance and career longevity. Making matters worse, articular cartilage has inherently poor regenerative capacity, and there is tenuous blood supply to the subchondral bone of the talus. These issues make the treatment of OLTs particularly challenging for team physicians and orthopedic surgeons. This chapter reviews the current best practices for the surgical treatment and rehabilitation of osteochondral lesions of the talus in elite basketball players based on the most recent literature.