Systematic Review
Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) pose significant treatment challenges in athletes due to the unique characteristics of the osteochondral unit and high functional demands. This systematic review and meta-analysis, covering literature from January 1990 to April 2024, compares surgical techniques for treating OLTs. Data on surgical details, return-to-sport (RTS) rates, clinical scores, and demographics were analyzed. The mean age was 34.5 years, body mass index 25.7 kg/m, and lesion size 111.5 mm, with a follow-up of 4.7 years. No significant differences were found in postoperative clinical scores among techniques. Bone marrow stimulation showed an RTS rate of 83.3% and RTS to pre-injury level of 52.7%.