Arthrosurfacing in talar osteochondral lesions

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are frequently challenging problems for orthopaedic surgeons. Although the talar cartilage has remarkable stiffness to compression and elasticity, it is susceptible to injury and has limited regenerative capability. The treatment strategy mainly is based on classification, diameter, stage, and depth of the lesion as well as patients' age and level of activity, presence of kissing lesions, and lower limb alignment. Debridement, curettage, antegrade/retrograde drilling, microfracture, and mosaicplasty are the most frequently used treatments for osteochondral talar lesions. Recently a novel treatment method - resurfacing arthroplasty - has become popular. The goal of this chapter is to describe the surgical technique of talar resurfacing arthroplasty, review the current literature, and discuss rehabilitation protocols after talar resurfacing.