[Chondral and osteochondral lesions of the upper ankle joint. Clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapy].

Chondral and osteochondral lesions as well as bone bruises of the ankle are caused in the most cases by trauma and are localized almost exclusively at the talus. For diagnosis, operative management and follow up, magnetic resonance imaging was useful, which can be further improved by application of intravenous or intraarticullar contrast enhancement (Gadolinium). In adults operative therapy is favored. Due to new techniques, arthroscopy became an important alternative to arthrotomy. According to the stage of the disease, drilling or curettage, removal or fixation of the fragment, autologous bone transplantation or osteochondral graft can be performed. All procedures can be managed arthroscopically.