Glued periosteal grafts in the knee

Periosteal grafting was performed in 4 patients with osteochondritis dissecans of the medial femoral condyle and 1 patient with osteonecrosis of the lateral femoral condyle following prednisone therapy. The lesions were drilled out deep into the cancellous bone. The periosteal graft was taken from the medial facet of the tibia and fixed to the excavated bony defect by the tissue glue Fibrinkleber Human Immuno (Tisseel). The patients were followed clinically, by arthroscopic examination and by radiography at 3, 6, and 12 months. After 1 year the borderline between the new and surrounding cartilage was hardly visible.