Distal tibia osteochondral allograft as a successful treatment for a glenoid chondral defect in a pediatric patient

Osteochondral defects (OCDs) of the glenohumeral joint are a rare phenomenon without a gold standard for procedural management. There has been a rising incidence of this diagnosis amongst the pediatric population with a variety of theories suggesting its etiology. The use of distal tibia osteochondral allograft has been described as a treatment method for glenoid bone loss in the adult population, however no such description of treatment and outcomes exists for isolated chondral defects. Most of the current evidence describing surgical treatment options of OCD lesions is from studies involving the knee, elbow, and ankle. This report describes the successful surgical treatment of a glenoid OCD using distal tibia allograft in a high-level pediatric gymnast.