Background: The evidence supporting best practice guidelines in the field of cartilage
repair of the ankle are based on both low quality and low levels of evidence. Therefore,
an international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance
toward consensus opinions based on the best available evidence on key topics within
cartilage repair of the ankle. The purpose of this article is to report the consensus
statements on "Pediatric Ankle Cartilage Lesions" developed at the 2019 International
Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle.Methods: Forty-three international
experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 20 countries convened to participate
in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements
were drafted within four working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage
repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed and
the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred
in cases where statements were not agreed upon in unanimous fashion within the working
groups. A final vote was then held, and the strength of consensus was characterised
as follows: consensus: 51-74%; strong consensus: 75-99%; unanimous: 100%. Results:
A total of 12 statements on paediatric ankle cartilage lesions reached consensus during
the 2019 Inter-national Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. Five achieved
unanimous support, and seven reached strong consensus (>75% agreement). All statements
reached at least 84% agreement. Conclusions: This international consensus derived
from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with the man-agement of paediatric
ankle cartilage lesions.
