The talus is the most important bone structure that forms the ankle joint. They provide movement of the ankle joint with the joint surface they form with the lower end of the tibia. The cartilage layer in the talus is the most important surface for the ankle joint. The cartilage layers on the bone ensure joint mobility in an ideal environment thanks to the intra-articular fluid they secrete. The most important feature that distinguishes cartilage tissue from bone tissue is its lack of healing capacity. Cartilage damage is most commonly seen after ankle trauma. However, it is also a problem encountered in patients without a history of trauma. They can be seen especially in cortisone use, some familial blood diseases and rheumatic diseases.
In case of cartilage problems, patients develop complaints such as joint movement limitation, pain, feeling of ejaculation and feeling of stuckness. As the problem progresses, problems such as decreased walking distance and swelling also occur. Examinations such as x-ray, MRI and Tomography can be used in diagnosis. These methods are necessary to determine the stage of the disease and also to plan the treatment.
In recent years, two new products have been used for treatment of cartilage problems. One of these products is Glucosaminoglucan chondroitin sulfate. This active ingredient is one of the main ingredients found in the structure of cartilage. The aim is to increase cartilage quality in long-term use.
The second product is hyaluronic acid, which is used for its lubricating effect in the joint and to reduce pain. This application, which is performed as intra-articular injections, should be applied into the joint once a week for 3-5 weeks. Physical therapy and rehabilitation also have a place in early stage patients. The first method in surgical treatment is arthroscopic techniques. Arthroscopic surgery is a surgical treatment performed by entering the ankle through mini incisions made at 2-3 points, accompanied by a camera. The aim is to relieve pain by creating a false cartilage tissue on the damaged part of the cartilage using microfracture methods. The success rate of these methods is around 75-80%.
In advanced cases (defects larger than 1cm), open surgery methods are used. Mosaicplasty (intact cartilage taken from the knee is transferred to the ankle) mental) allograft use (transplantation of cartilages taken from cadavers) can be applied. In addition, cartilage transplantation can be performed by producing cartilage in the genetic laboratory using a genetic method from the patient's own cartilage cells, which has not yet been implemented in our country.
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