Sulcus Deepening Trochleoplasty and Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction for Patellofemoral Instability: A 2-Year Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcome data of patients undergoing DeJour sulcus-deepening trochleoplasty with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) for high-grade trochlear dysplasia at a single institution in the United States. METHODS: A total of 67 patients (76 knees) with severe trochlear dysplasia and recurrent patellar instability were prospectively enrolled and underwent DeJour sulcus-deepening trochleoplasty with MPFLR from 2011 to 2019. Inclusion criteria included recurrent lateral patellar instability following failure of conservative treatment with radiographic evidence of severe trochlear dysplasia (DeJour types B or D). Patients with less than 2-year follow-up were excluded. Radiographic analysis, physical examination, clinical follow-up, patient demographics, and patient-reported outcome measures were obtained for all patients at each visit. RESULTS: Forty patients (44 knees) had complete 2-year or longer follow-up and were included. The majority of patients were female (81.8%) with a mean age of 19.2 years (standard deviation [SD] 6.7; range 13.2-47.0). Follow-up ranged from 2.0 years to 6.8 years (mean 3.6 years, SD 1.35). In total, 45.5% had failed previous surgery for patellar instability. Eight knees developed arthrofibrosis and the overall reoperation rate was 27.3%. No patients had fixation failure and no further surgery was required for instability. The mean preoperative International Knee Documentation Committee score of 50.8 improved to 79.1 (P < .001), and the mean preoperative Kujala score of 56.4 improved to 86.5 (P < .001). Patients reported high satisfaction rates (mean 9.1 of 10). When applicable, 100% of patients returned to work, whereas 84.8% returned to sport. There was no significant radiographic progression of patellofemoral arthritis at a mean of 2.4 years after surgery (SD 1.7). CONCLUSIONS: DeJour sulcus-deepening trochleoplasty combined with MPFLR and used with tibial tubercle osteotomy and lateral release is a reliable and effective treatment for recurrent patellar instability due to severe trochlear dysplasia, even in this group with many revisions of previous procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, case series.

Smoking Increases Postoperative Complications After Distal Radius Fracture Fixation: A Review of 417 Patients From a Level 1 Trauma Center.

Background: Unstable distal radius fractures that undergo surgical stabilization have varying complication rates in the literature. Smoking is known to affect bone healing and implant fixation rates but has never been definitively shown to affect postoperative outcomes of surgically managed distal radius fractures. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients with surgically treated distal radius fractures at a Level 1 Trauma Center who had at least 6 weeks of follow-up over a 5-year period. Charts were reviewed for basic demographic information, comorbidities, details about the operative procedure, and early complications. Notable physical examination findings were noted, such as wrist stiffness and distal radius tenderness to palpation. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the smoking and nonsmoking groups. To control for confounding differences, a hierarchical multivariable regression analysis was performed. Results: Four hundred seventeen patients were included in the study, and 24.6% were current smokers at the time of surgery. The overall complication rate for smokers was 9.8% compared with 5.6% in nonsmokers. The smoking cohort showed significantly higher rates of hardware removal, nonunion, revision procedures, wrist stiffness, and distal radius tenderness. When controlling for the confounding variables of diabetes and obesity, smokers still had significantly higher rates of the same complications. Conclusion: Patients who smoke have a statistically significant higher rate of postoperative distal radius tenderness, wrist stiffness, nonunion, hardware removal, and revision procedures compared with those who do not smoke in a review of 417 total patients undergoing surgical fixation for distal radius fractures.

Manipulation Under Anesthesia With Lysis of Adhesions Is Effective in Arthrofibrosis After Sulcus-Deepening Trochleoplasty: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Sulcus-deepening trochleoplasty has been established as an effective treatment for patellar instability due to trochlear dysplasia. However, arthrofibrosis is a known complication following trochleoplasty, which may require manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) with or without lysis of adhesions (LOA) to increase the knee range of motion (ROM), especially flexion. PURPOSE: To prospectively follow patients for ROM improvements and subsequent complications after undergoing MUA with or without LOA in the setting of sulcus-deepening trochleoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A total of 76 knees with severe trochlear dysplasia were prospectively enrolled and underwent sulcus-deepening trochleoplasty, with a mean (±SD) follow-up of 32.5 ± 19.3 months. Concomitant procedures included medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, lateral retinacular release, and tibial tubercle osteotomy. Physical examination including ROM and findings of recurrent patellar instability were collected for all patients. Arthrofibrosis was defined as active and passive flexion less than 90° within 3 months of surgery combined with a plateau in progress with physical therapy. Paired-samples and independent-samples t tests were used. A P value less than .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 62 knees met inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the study. Of these patients, 11 experienced arthrofibrosis as a complication and underwent MUA within 3 months of their index procedure. Of these 11 patients, 9 subsequently underwent arthroscopic LOA following MUA because acceptable ROM could not be achieved with manipulation alone. Patients with arthrofibrosis had a premanipulation mean ROM that was significantly different from those without arthrofibrosis (77.3° ±18.6° vs 133.3° ± 12.7°, respectively; P < .001). In the arthrofibrotic group, postoperative ROM increased significantly after MUA and/or LOA compared with the preoperative ROM (127.3° ± 12.5° vs 77.3° ± 18.6°, respectively; P < .001). ROM in the arthrofibrotic group after MUA/LOA was not significantly different from that in the nonarthrofibrotic group (flexion, 127.3° ± 12.5° vs 133.3° ± 12.7°, respectively; P = .156). No complications from the MUA or LOA were reported at subsequent follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: When indicated in the setting of severe trochlear dysplasia, sulcus-deepening trochleoplasty is a treatment for disabling recurrent patellar instability with a known complication of arthrofibrosis. Initiation of postoperative physical therapy within 3 days of surgery may reduce the incidence of arthrofibrosis. If arthrofibrosis is encountered after a sulcus-deepening trochleoplasty, MUA without LOA is not as effective as when following other procedures of the knee, whereas MUA with LOA is an effective procedure likely to result in ROM and patient outcome scores similar to those of a nonarthrofibrotic knee after the same procedure. Both MUA and LOA appear to be safe based on the limited number of patients in this study without complication.

Patellar Osteonecrosis Following Knee Arthroscopy.

Patellar osteonecrosis is a rare condition, although knee osteonecrosis has been described in the arthroplasty literature. This is the first case describing knee arthroscopy as the cause of osteonecrosis. A 50-year-old woman who was experiencing knee pain during her marathon training and singles tennis underwent knee arthroscopy for a torn medial meniscus. The result of her partial medial meniscectomy led to patellar osteonecrosis 3 months following the index procedure. Osteonecrosis of the knee has been reported in the arthroplasty and sports medicine literature following surgical intervention, usually in total knee replacement or more complex surgical operations. However, patellar osteonecrosis following knee arthroscopy has not been reported previously. Taking care of the anterior fat pad is essential to avoid disruption of important blood supply to the patella. [Orthopedics. 2019; 42(6):e552-e554.].

Porous Titanium Wedges in Lateral Column Lengthening for Adult-Acquired Flatfoot Deformity.

Lateral column lengthening (LCL) is a common procedure for reconstruction of stage II flexible adult-acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD). The recent development of porous titanium wedges for this procedure provides an alternative to allograft and autograft. The purpose of this study was to report radiographic and clinical outcomes achieved with porous titanium wedges in LCL. A retrospective analysis of 34 feet in 30 patients with AAFD that received porous titanium wedges for LCL from January 2011 to October 2014. Deformity correction was assessed using both radiographic and clinical parameters. Radiographic correction was assessed using the lateral talo-first metatarsal angle, the talonavicular uncoverage percentage, and the first metatarsocuneiform height. The hindfoot valgus angle was measured. Patients were followed from a minimum of 6 months up to 4 years (mean 16.1 months). Postoperative radiographs demonstrated significant correction in all 3 radiographic criteria and the hindfoot valgus angle. We had no cases of nonunion, no wedge migration, and no wedges have been removed to date. The most common complication was calcaneocuboid joint pain (14.7%). Porous titanium wedges in LCL can achieve good radiographic and clinical correction of AAFD with a low rate of nonunion and other complications. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level IV: Case series.

Patellar Instability: When is Trochleoplasty Necessary?

Trochleoplasty is a very effective procedure for correcting trochlear dysplasia and addressing instability of the patella. With an increasing knowledge about the anatomy and biomechanics of the anterior distal femur, a wider array of surgical techniques may be applied to address specific conditions. Patients must be carefully selected to undergo trochleoplasty by use of a thorough history and physical examination as well as basic and advanced imaging. The presence of a "J sign" on physical examination, a history of recurrent instability, patella alta, trochlear dysplasia, and elevated tibial tubercle to trochlear groove are signs and symptoms for which the patient should be evaluated. We attempt to elucidate when trochleoplasty is indicated by means of addressing all aspects of evaluation.

Elective Thoracolumbar Spine Fusion Surgery in Patients with Parkinson Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Few data are available concerning clinical outcomes in patients with Parkinson disease who undergo elective thoracolumbar spine fusion surgery. The goal of this study is to elucidate complication and revision rates after posterior thoracolumbar fusion surgery in patients with Parkinson disease, with a focus on how Parkinson disease modifies these rates. METHODS: The PearlDiver database (2005-2012) was queried for patients who underwent posterior approach thoracolumbar fusion from 2006 to 2011. Cohorts of patients with a previous diagnosis of Parkinson disease (n = 4816) and without (n = 280,702) were compared. Multivariate analysis that included various comorbidities and demographics was used to calculate effects of Parkinson disease on development of postoperative infection and major medical complications within 90 days and revision surgery within 1 year. For analyses, significance was set at P < 0.001. RESULTS: Major medical complications were observed in 545 patients (11.3%) for 90 days after the index procedure. Postoperative infection was noted in 91 patients (1.9%) within 90 days, and revision surgeries were performed in 250 patients (5.2%) within 1 year. Multivariate analysis showed that Parkinson disease was significantly associated with an increased risk for medical complications (adjusted odds ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.34; P < 0.001) and revision surgery (adjusted odds ratio, 1.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-1.93; P < 0.001), but not postoperative infection (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Parkinson disease are more likely to require revision surgery and have higher rates of adverse medical events postoperatively. Patients with Parkinson disease should be appropriately selected to ensure favorable clinical outcomes.

The duration of acne treatment.

BACKGROUND: Acne has a ~90% lifetime prevalence, however the duration of the condition and its treatment is not well characterized. The purpose of this study was to estimate for how long acne patients are treated. METHODS: Electronic patient records from an academic practice were queried to identify dermatology visits with an acne diagnosis (ICD-9: 706.1) between January 1, 2009 and June 1, 2012. The duration of care for acne treatment was calculated as the time between the earliest and latest visits. Kaplan Meier analyses were used to describe treatment duration RESULTS: 1,130 patients had at least one visit acne-related visit to a dermatologist, with 631 (56%) having only one visit and 499 (44%) having multiple visits over the study period. For patients with multiple visits, the mean duration from first to last visit was 0.57 year (95% CI: 0.52, 0.62); 25% ceased visiting in 0.25 year, 50% in 0.40 year, and 75% in 0.64 year. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a lower limit on the duration of acne treatment. The duration of acne treatment is longer than the duration of typical acne clinical trials. Understanding the duration of the disease can help set patients' treatment expectations, which may help improve adherence.

WITHDRAWN: Quantitative Analysis of Dobutamine-Atropine Stress Echocardiography.

The publisher regrets that this was an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published in Eur. J. Echocardiogr., 4 (2003) 169-177, . The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn.

Why do acute myocardial infarction patients not call an ambulance? An interview with patients presenting to hospital with acute myocardial infarction symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Studies from overseas indicate that patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) symptoms often fail to use the emergency services as recommended, thereby depriving themselves from life-saving treatment in case of cardiac arrest and delaying the time to myocardial reperfusion in the presence of a coronary occlusion. AIMS: To compare patients brought in by ambulance to those not brought in by ambulance and to question why some patients do not use the emergency services when presenting to hospital with AMI symptoms. METHODS: Prospective interview and follow up of consecutive patients presenting with AMI symptoms to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in a metropolitan area within a 1-month period. RESULTS: Of the 215 patients presenting to the emergency department, 113 (53%) arrived by private transportation. Sixty (53%) of these felt their symptoms did not warrant calling the ambulance, 17 (15%) had first consulted their general practitioner. The private transport group accounted for 28% of documented AMI. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of patients with AMI symptoms refrain from calling the emergency services because they do not consider themselves critically ill. Education programmes appear to be warranted because more appropriate use of emergency services will save lives.

A comparison of the proseal laryngeal mask airway, the laryngeal tube S and the oesophageal-tracheal combitube during routine surgical procedures.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to compare three supraglottic airway devices: the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA), the laryngeal tube S (LTS) and the oesophageal-tracheal combitube (OTC) during routine surgical procedures. METHODS: Ninety American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-III patients scheduled for routine minor obstetric surgery were randomly allocated to the PLMA (n = 30), the LTS (n = 30) or the OTC (n = 30) group, respectively. The overall success rate, insertion time, cuff pressures and resulting airway leak pressures were determined as well as a subjective assessment of handling and the incidence of sore throat, dysphagia and hoarseness were performed. RESULTS: Insertion time until the first adequate ventilation was significantly (P < 0.0001) shorter in the PLMA (median 29 s; 25-75th percentile 25-48 s; range 10-161 s; success rate 100%) and in the LTS group (38 s; 30-44 s; 13-180 s; 100%) compared to the OTC group (75 s; 48-98 s; 35-180 s; 90%). In vivo cuff pressures and airway leak pressures increased with the inflating cuff volume in all devices and were highest in the OTC group. Postoperatively, patients in the PLMA and the LTS group complained significantly less about sore throat (P < 0.001 and 0.05) and dysphagia (P < 0.001 and 0.02) compared to the OTC group, while there was no difference regarding the incidence of hoarseness. Subjective assessment of handling was comparable with the PLMA and the LTS, but inferior with the OTC. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, both PLMA and LTS proved to be suitable for routine surgical procedures and proved to be superior to the OTC which cannot be recommended for routine use.

Quantitative analysis of dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography.

AIMS: To investigate the usefulness of fractional area change of entire left ventricular areas obtained from apical views for quantitative analysis of dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography in the presence of mild to moderately reduced left ventricular function and abnormal intra-thoracic heart motion after coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: Stress echocardiograms from 38 echogenic patients before and 3 months after bypass surgery and from 44 echogenic healthy subjects were analysed. In successfully revascularized patients the fractional area change at peak stress was correlated to the baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (r=0.54, P<0.01), whereas the increase from baseline to peak stress was constant over a wide range of baseline ejection fractions. With respect to identifying the pre-revascularization examination as diseased, the area under the receiver operator characteristics curve based on Delta fractional area change from baseline to peak stress was 0.78 (95% CI 0.55-1.00) indicating moderate accuracy comparable with the results obtained with conventional analysis. CONCLUSION: Fractional area change of entire left ventricular cavity areas is a useful parameter for quantitative analysis of dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography. The diagnostic properties of the parameter are not offset by moderate reduction in left ventricular function or by surgery-induced abnormal intra-thoracic heart motion.

Quantitative analysis of dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography by fractional area change.

AIMS: To investigate the usefulness of fractional area change with respect to the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-eight echogenic patients with a normal left ventricular function referred for coronary angiography underwent dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography. Measures of fractional area change by segments and by total left ventricular areas were normalized using data from 27 echogenic healthy subjects. The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve indicated a significant diagnostic contribution of fractional area change for both methods (P<0.05) and sensitivity and specificity for predicting significant coronary stenosis were 80% (95% CI 69-91%) and 76% (95% CI 56-97%) for fractional area change of the total left ventricular area of the two chamber view, comparable to results of conventional wall motion analysis. Segmental fractional area change offered no advantages to that of total left ventricular areas with regard to the diagnosis or localization of coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION: Fractional area change of the total left ventricular area is an accurate marker of coronary artery disease and may form a basis for quantitative dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography analysis provided that reproducible endocardial tracings can be obtained.

Atrioventricular plane motion during dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography: the biphasic response in healthy subjects revisited.

This study was undertaken to establish normal values for the systolic atrioventricular plane motion (AVPM) from base to apex during dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography (DASE) and to compare them with those of patients with coronary artery disease. The AVPM was measured at baseline, low dose and peak dobutamine-atropine infusion in 20 patients referred for coronary angiography and in 20 control subjects. Atrioventricular plane motion was measured at the posterior, anterior, septal, and lateral positions of the mitral annulus in the apical 2- and 4-chamber views by an observer blinded to clinical and angiographic data. In healthy subjects undergoing DASE, AVPM initially increased but subsequently decreased to below baseline values at peak stress. Atrioventricular plane motion at any stage and the changes therein during DASE were within the normal reference interval in the majority of patients. In conclusion, AVPM decreased during DASE in healthy subjects and was not a sensitive marker of coronary artery disease.

Comparison of methods of fractional area change for detection of regional left ventricular dysfunction.

Three methods for assessment of fractional area change (FAC) and conventional versus cross-sectional segmentation were compared under conditions known to occur frequently during stress echocardiography. Quantitative analysis of 80 echocardiograms obtained from healthy subjects, patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and after coronary artery bypass grafting included segmental and cross-sectional FACs by the centroid method with fixed and floating reference and a method with floating external reference. All segmental and cross-sectional FACs were equally sensitive to LV dysfunction, and segmental FACs failed to accurately predict the location of coronary lesions. The centroid method with floating reference and cross-sectional FACs were the least affected by surgery induced intrathoracic heart motion. In moderate to severe LV dysfunction FAC by the centroid method with floating reference and cross sections were rarely within normal limits. Cross-sectional FACs may prove to be useful in stress echocardiography. For viability studies segmental FAC by fixed reference appears to be the method of choice.

Biosynthesis and localization of phosphatidyl-scyllo-inositol in barley aleurone cells.

A novel isomer of phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidyl-scyllo-inositol, was characterized in the aleurone cells of barley seeds. In this investigation, the subcellular localization of scyllo-PI and the relative rates of biosynthesis and accumulation of [32P]phosphoric acid ([32Pi])-labeled scyllo- and myo-phosphoinositides in the plasma membrane and intracellular membrane pools were investigated. About 25% of the [32Pi]-labeled phospholipids were present in plasma membrane and 75% in intracellular membranes. Incorporation of [32Pi] into scyllo-PI was greater than into myo-PI in both the plasma membranes and intracellular membranes at all time points investigated, thus suggesting a higher rate of biosynthesis; however, the data do not preclude reduced breakdown of labeled scyllo-PI as a contributing factor. In vitro studies were conducted to investigate the presence of cytidinediphosphate diacylglycerol (CDP-DG):scyllo-inositol 3-phosphatidyltransferase (scyllo-PI synthase) and to optimize enzymatic activity. The inclusion of nonionic detergents (Brij 58 and Triton X-100) effected significant enhancement in the biosynthesis of scyllo-PI, whereas anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic detergents had little or no effect. This is the first evidence for CDP-DG:scyllo-inositol 3-phosphatidyltransferase activity.

Fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in dysfunctional myocardium subtended by an occluded coronary artery. Relation to dobutamine contractile reserve and Sestamibi uptake.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial segments with impaired function may have the potential for functional recovery. Augmented exogenous glucose uptake in relation to blood flow estimated by [2-18F]2-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and positron emission tomography (PET) frequently indicates functional reversibility. The spectrum of FDG uptake levels in relation to Sestamibi uptake and dobutamine contraction reserve in areas with impaired function subtended by an occluded coronary artery has never been reported. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventeen patients with stable angina pectoris and dysfunctional myocardium subtended by an occluded coronary artery were studied with FDG-PET, low-dose dobutamine echocardiography and Sestamibi-Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography. In a 16 segment model dysfunctional myocardial segments showed a normally distributed FDG uptake ranging from 34% to 150% when normalized to peak segmental Sestamibi uptake. Low FDG uptake was associated with both lack of dobutamine induced contractile reserve and low Sestamibi uptake (in 73% of the segments) whereas high FDG uptake displayed both contractile reserve and Sestamibi uptake (57%). Segments with intermediate FDG uptake had either contractile reserve or a preserved Sestamibi uptake (62%). CONCLUSION: Dysfunctional myocardium subtended by an occluded coronary artery represents a continuum of metabolic states with a high degree of heterogeneity with regard to contractile reserve and Sestamibi uptake.

Long-term effects on cardiac output and peripheral resistance in patients treated with enalapril after acute myocardial infarction. CONSENSUS II Multi-Echo Study Group. Cooperative New Scandinavian Enalapril Survival Study.

In the Cooperative New Scandinavian Enalapril Survival Study (CONSENSUS II), in which enalapril treatment was initiated intravenously within 24 h after acute myocardial infarction, there was a neutral effect on 6-month mortality, whereas a beneficial effect on the progression of congestive heart failure was noted. We studied the effect of enalapril on left ventricular systolic function in terms of cardiac output and mean acceleration time measured by pulsed-wave Doppler in the left ventricular outflow tract and peripheral resistance. Early angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition after acute myocardial infarction did not result in a general improvement of cardiac output. However, a small increase in cardiac output was observed in a subgroup of enalapril-treated patients with ejection fraction > or = 45%, probably due to a reduction in peripheral resistance in these patients.

Myocardial sestamibi single-photon emission tomography: variations in reference values with gender, age and rest versus stress?

Reference data files support the evaluation of myocardial perfusion single-photon emission tomography (SPET). The aim of this study was to create a large reference data base for technetium-99m sestamibi SPET, age and gender matched to the general patient population. One hundred and twenty-eight healthy volunteers (76 males and 52 females) with a likelihood of coronary artery disease of less than 5% underwent rest and maximal exercise 99mTc-sestamibi SPET with a 2-day protocol and 180 degrees elliptical rotation. The normalized activity values of 99mTc-sestamibi in the inferior wall differed significantly between men and women. Age variations were found for men in the anterior wall. Normalized activity values in all four walls were strikingly similar during rest and stress. Our results suggest that the use of reference files in 99mTc-sestamibi SPET requires a gender- and, for males, possibly an age-matched reference population. Different reference files at rest and during stress might not be necessary.