Arthroscopic-assisted retrograde mosaicplasty for an osteochondral defect of the femoral head without performing surgical hip dislocation

Osteochondral autograft transplantation (mosaicplasty) for the osteochondral defects of the femoral head is generally performed with safe dislocation of the hip joint. Here, we present a 27-year-old male patient who had a symptomatic osteochondral defect of the femoral head and underwent mosaicplasty applied by hip arthroscopy without surgical hip dislocation. The preoperative radiological evaluation showed a focal osteochondral defect on the weight-bearing surface of the femoral head. With the assistance of hip arthroscopy, the defect area was reconstructed with osteochondral plug, which was taken from the ipsilateral knee, inserted in a retrograde fashion, and positioned with the spherical surface of the femoral head cartilage under fluoroscopic and arthroscopic control. At the final follow-up (26 months postoperatively), he had full range of motion (ROM) without pain and radiographic evaluation showed near complete incorporation of the graft with preservation of the native joint space. Mosaicplasty can be applied in a retrograde fashion with the assistance of hip arthroscopy without using surgical hip dislocation and may be an alternative treatment option for the osteochondral defects of the femoral head in young patients.