Medial femoral trochlea flap reconstruction: Clinical outcomes and perspectives

INTRODUCTION: We report our experience with use of the medial femoral trochlea (MFT) osteochondral flap for carpal applications. METHODS: Outcomes of all patients treated with MFT flaps were reviewed. Healing, range of motion, grip strength, carpal alignment, pain, and complication data were collected. RESULTS: MFT flaps were performed on seven patients with a mean age of 26.1 (range, 17-42) years. Indications included scaphoid proximal pole nonunion (n = 3), Kienböck's disease (n = 3), and Preiser's disease (n = 1). The mean follow-up was 32.3 (range, 5-70) months. Union was achieved in five patients at a mean of 12 (range 6-22) weeks. All five patients had increased grip strength and absence of pain at follow-up. There were two failures due to graft resorption. CONCLUSIONS: The MFT osteochondral flap is a technically challenging yet powerful tool to replace the loss of both carpal articular cartilage and adjacent bone.