Subchondral bone as a novel target for regenerative therapy of osteochondritis dissecans: A case report

Figure 1 Sequential coronal and sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging images at baseline and 4 mo. The focal subchondral bone and cartilage defect (orange circle) improved progressively over time, and the whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score improved from 25 at baseline to 14 at 4 mo. Initial integration was observed between regenerative and native subchondral bone and cartilage. The loose body still existed.

Figure 2 The operation is illustrated. A and B: Anteroposterior and lateral view radiography under a C-arm machine; C: Puncture with a bone marrow needle to the subchondral bone under C-arm fluoroscopy; D: Aspiration of peripheral blood stem cells with a syringe; E: Subchondral bone injection of peripheral blood stem cells through the bone marrow needle.

Figure 3  Diagram of injection.