Preoperative Computer Simulation and 3D-Printed Guide Plate of Autologous Transplantation Achieved Favorable Outcomes in Patients With Large Cystic Osteochondral Lesion of the Talus

The authors aimed to evaluate whether a customized preoperative planning and intraoperative navigation protocol using computer simulation and 3D-printed guide plates could improve outcomes in patients undergoing autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation (AOPT) for large cystic osteochondral lesions of the talus. The study found that the customized AOPT group experienced significantly lower pain, improved functional scores, shorter surgery times, and reduced cyst recurrence compared to the conventional AOPT group, suggesting that personalized surgical planning may enhance the effectiveness of this complex procedure. However, the authors caution that the results should be interpreted with care due to the study's limited sample size and non-randomized design.