Rehabilitation and Return to Sports: Proceedings of the International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle
Authors: D’Hooghe Pieter , Murawski Christopher D. , Boakye Lorraine A. T. , Osei-Hwedieh David O. , Drakos Mark C. , Hertel Jay , Lee Keun Bae , Popchak Adam , Wiewiorski Martin , van Dijk C. Niek , Ackermann Jakob , Adams Samuel B. , Andrews Carol L. , Angthong Chayanin , Batista Jorge P. , Baur Onno L. , Bayer Steve , Becher Christoph , Berlet Gregory C. , Brown Alexandra J. , Buda Roberto , Calder James D.F. , Canata Gian Luigi , Carreira Dominic S. , Clanton Thomas O. , Dahmen Jari , DiGiovanni Christopher W. , Dombrowski Malcolm E. , Ferkel Richard D. , Ferrao Paulo N. F. , Fortier Lisa A. , Glazebrook Mark , Giza Eric , Gomaa Mohamed , Görtz Simon , Haleem Amgad M. , Hamid Kamran S. , Hangody Laszlo , Hannon Charles P. , Haverkamp Daniel , Hintermann Beat , Hogan MaCalus V. , Hunt Kenneth J. , Hurley Eoghan T. , Karlsson Jón , Kearns Stephen R. , Kennedy John G. , Kerkhoffs Gino M. M. J. , Kim Hak Jun , Kong Siu Wah , Labib Sameh A. , Lambers Kaj T. A. , Lee Jin Woo , Ling Jeffrey S. , Longo Umile Giuseppe , Marangon Alberto , McCollum Graham , Mitchell Adam W. , Mittwede Peter N. , Nehrer Stefan , Niemeyer Philipp , Nunley James A. , O’Malley Martin J. , Paul Jochen , Pearce Christopher J. , Pereira Helder , Prado Marcelo P. , Raikin Steven M. , Reilingh Mikel L. , Rothrauff Benjamin B. , Schon Lew C. , Shimozono Yoshiharu , Simpson Helene , Smyth Niall A. , Sofka Carolyn M. , Spennacchio Pietro , Stone James W. , Sullivan Martin , Takao Masato , Tanaka Yasuhito , Thordarson David B. , Tuan Rocky , Valderrabano Victor , van Bergen Christiaan J.A. , van Dijk Pim A.D. , Vannini Francesca , Vaseenon Tanawat , Walther Markus , Xu Xiangyang , Yasui Youichi , Yinghui Hua , Yoshimura Ichiro , Younger Alastair S. E. , Zhang Zijun 
Published: July 2018

Background:

The evidence supporting best practice guidelines in the field of cartilage repair of the ankle are based on both low quality and low levels of evidence. Therefore, an international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance toward consensus opinions based on the best available evidence on key topics within cartilage repair of the ankle. The purpose of this article is to report the consensus statements on Rehabilitation and Return to Sports developed at the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle.

Methods:

Seventy-five international experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 25 countries and 1 territory were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within 11 working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed and the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred in cases where statements were not agreed upon in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held, and the strength of consensus was characterized as follows: consensus, 51% to 74%; strong consensus, 75% to 99%; unanimous, 100%.

Results:

A total of 9 statements on rehabilitation and return to sports reached consensus during the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. All 9 statements reached strong consensus, with at least 86% agreement.

Conclusions:

The rehabilitation process for an ankle cartilage injury requires a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach. This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with rehabilitation and return to sports after treatment of a cartilage injury of the ankle.