Evaluation of cartilage injuries and repair

Brittberg M, Winalski CS · The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume

Defines the ICRS classification now standard in cartilage repair trials: grade by depth from superficial softening (1) to full-thickness/subchondral bone exposure (3-4), plus lesion mapping and repair-tissue scoring.

Population

N/A — methodological paper defining the ICRS cartilage injury classification

Intervention

ICRS grading system (grades 0-4) for cartilage lesions and repair assessment

Comparator

Earlier systems (Outerbridge and derivatives)

Limitations

Expert consensus/review, not a validation study; inter-observer reliability established in later studies.