Scaffold-Based Therapies: Proceedings of the International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle
Authors: Rothrauff Benjamin B. , Murawski Christopher D. , Angthong Chayanin , Becher Christoph , Nehrer Stefan , Niemeyer Philipp , Sullivan Martin , Valderrabano Victor , Walther Markus , Ferkel Richard D. , Ackermann Jakob , Adams Samuel B. , Andrews Carol L. , Batista Jorge P. , Baur Onno L. , Bayer Steve , Berlet Gregory C. , Boakye Lorraine A. T. , Brown Alexandra J. , Buda Roberto , Calder James D.F. , Canata Gian Luigi , Carreira Dominic S. , Clanton Thomas O. , Dahmen Jari , D’Hooghe Pieter , DiGiovanni Christopher W. , Dombrowski Malcolm E. , Drakos Mark C. , 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 , Hertel Jay , 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 , Lee Keun Bae , Ling Jeffrey S. , Longo Umile Giuseppe , Marangon Alberto , McCollum Graham , Mitchell Adam W. , Mittwede Peter N. , Nunley James A. , O’Malley Martin J. , Osei-Hwedieh David O. , Paul Jochen , Pearce Christopher J. , Pereira Helder , Popchak Adam , Prado Marcelo P. , Raikin Steven M. , Reilingh Mikel L. , Schon Lew C. , Shimozono Yoshiharu , Simpson Helene , Smyth Niall A. , Sofka Carolyn M. , Spennacchio Pietro , Stone James W. , Takao Masato , Tanaka Yasuhito , Thordarson David B. , Tuan Rocky , van Bergen Christiaan J.A. , van Dijk C. Niek , van Dijk Pim A.D. , Vannini Francesca , Vaseenon Tanawat , Wiewiorski Martin , 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 “Scaffold-Based Therapies” 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 scaffold-based therapies reached consensus during the 2017 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. One achieved unanimous support, 8 reached strong consensus (greater than 75% agreement), and 1 was removed because of redundancy in the information provided. All statements reached at least 80% agreement.

Conclusions:

This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with applying scaffold-based therapies as a treatment strategy for osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Level of Evidence:

Level V, expert opinion.