Slattery and Kweon review the Outerbridge classification for chondral lesions — originally developed in 1961 for patellar chondromalacia — examining its description, historical expansion to the knee, hip, and shoulder, and the reliability evidence across seven validation studies using arthroscopic video and imaging comparisons.
When grading chondral lesions arthroscopically, always probe the cartilage — video-only assessment misses the softening that defines Grade I and struggles to distinguish Grade II from III by size alone.
Recognize that Outerbridge grading communicates severity between surgeons but carries only moderate reliability, is experience-dependent, and should not be used as a standalone research endpoint without imaging correlation.
Slattery and Kweon review the Outerbridge classification for chondral lesions — originally developed in 1961 for patellar chondromalacia — examining its description, historical expansion to the knee, hip, and shoulder, and the reliability evidence across seven validation studies using arthroscopic video and imaging comparisons.
When grading chondral lesions arthroscopically, always probe the cartilage — video-only assessment misses the softening that defines Grade I and struggles to distinguish Grade II from III by size alone.
Recognize that Outerbridge grading communicates severity between surgeons but carries only moderate reliability, is experience-dependent, and should not be used as a standalone research endpoint without imaging correlation.