Osteochondral lesions are defects of the cartilaginous surface and underlying subchondral bone of the ankle.

Whilst smaller size lesions may be satisfactorily repaired by fibrocartilage by traditional techniques, larger talus osteocondral lesions require cartilage repair with hyaline tissue to prevent OA progression. The “one-step” method developed and patented at IOR has proved to be effective for treatment of small and middle size osteochondral lesions of the talus.This study is an observational prospective clinical study were large defects are treated with concentrate bone marrow (CBM) and platelet rich fibrin (PRF) and patients examined preoperatively and at  3, 6, 12, 24 months. CBM and bone turnover markers are evaluated and a preclinical study conducted in a rabbit model for the treatment of osteochondral lesions by a one step procedure trying to elucidate the role of the transplanted cells.

Aim of the study is to define  the main factors that influence clinical outcomes.

Unit 1
WP Coordinator: Prof. Sandro Giannini, IOR
Phone +39-051-6366669  Email: sandro.giannini@ior.it
Head of the II Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology is responsible for the selection of patients, for the surgical interventions and the follow up evaluations.

Unit 2
Unit Leader: Dr. Brunella Grigolo, PhD, IOR
Phone +39-051-6366803  E-mail: brunella.grigolo@ior.it
Senior Researcher of Laboratory of Immunorheumatology and Tissue Regeneration and head of Laboratory RAMSES is responsible of the preclinical studies in vitro, characterizing concentrated mononuclear cells and bone biomarkers used for osteochondral lesion treatments. 

Unit 3
Unit Leader: Milena Fini, MD, IOR
Phone +39-051-6366787  E-mail: milena.fini@ior.it
Head of Laboratory of Preclinical and Surgical Studies and Laboratory BITTA is responsible for in vivo  preclinical studies on animal model.

Unit 4
Unit Leader: Ugo Albisinni, MD
Phone +39-051-6366836  Email: ugo.albisinni@ior.it
Director of Department of Radiology and Imaging, he will responsible for the imaging evaluation, follow-up, and analysis of the results obtained in the clinical study.