Mosaicplasty of the Femoral Head: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Current Literature

Abstract

Osteochondral lesions of the femoral head are rare. For the treatment of these lesions, various joint-preserving procedures, particularly in young, active patients, have been developed. Mosaicplasty is a well-established surgical procedure for the knee. However, there is little evidence that this method can also be used to treat osteochondral lesions in the hip. The indication for cartilage procedures continues to evolve for the knee, and a similar strategy may be adopted for the hip joint. Due to limited evidence and a lack of experience, mosaicplasty treatment of these lesions remains challenging, especially in young patients. This study shows that open and arthroscopic management using the knee and femoral head as donor sites yielded good to excellent short- to mid-term outcomes. For osteochondral lesions of the femoral head, mosaicplasty may be a new alternative treatment option, although this needs to be proven with longer follow-ups and in a larger sample of patients.