Stay Ipsilateral: An Analysis of Tibial Tunnel Distance Between Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Posterior Meniscal Root Repair.

PURPOSE: To establish mean distance or identify intersection between tibial tunnels for posterior meniscal root repair in the setting of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction. METHODS: Twelve cadaver knees and 12 solid foam synthetic tibiae were used. ACL and PCL tunnels were drilled for single-bundle reconstruction, and both medial and lateral posterior root repair tunnels were drilled. Specimens underwent computed tomography scanning and shortest distances between tunnels in all planes were measured by 2 readers. Distances were compared between groups using a t-test. RESULTS: In ACL reconstruction, the medial meniscal root tunnel was not significantly closer to the cruciate tunnel when drilled from either medial or lateral side (P = .333). The lateral meniscal root tunnel was significantly closer when drilled from medial compared to lateral side (P < .001). In PCL reconstruction, both medial (P = .037) and lateral (P = .028) meniscal root tunnels were significantly closer to the PCL tunnel when drilled from the contralateral side of the tibia. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that posterior meniscal root repair tunnels are often placed within a few millimeters and can even intersect cruciate ligament reconstruction tunnels in the proximal tibia. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The information in this study may assist surgeons in planning for cruciate ligament reconstruction with concomitant posterior meniscal root repair.

Effect of Patient Height and Sex on the Patellar Tendon and Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

BACKGROUND: Graft-tunnel mismatch is an avoidable complication in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Patient height and sex may be predictors of patellar tendon length (PTL) and intra-articular ACL length (IAL). Understanding these relationships may assist in reducing graft-tunnel mismatch during ACL reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autograft. PURPOSE: To determine the association of patient height and sex with PTL and IAL. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were obtained on the healthy knees of 100 male and 100 female patients. Patients with prior surgery, open physes, significant degenerative changes, ACL rupture, or extensor mechanism injury were excluded. Three independent readers measured PTL, IAL, and Caton-Deschamps Index (CDI) on MRI. Bivariate and linear regression analysis was performed to detect the association of anthropometric data with anatomic parameters measured on MRI studies. RESULTS: The mean age and body mass index were not significantly different between the male and female patients; however, male patients were significantly taller than female patients (1.75 vs 1.72 m, respectively; P < .001). There was a substantial agreement between the 3 readers for all parameters (κ > 0.75). Overall, female patients had significantly longer PTL (47.38 vs 43.92 mm), higher CDI (1.146 vs 1.071), and shorter IAL (33.05 vs 34.39 mm) (P < .001 for all). Results of the linear regression analysis demonstrated that both height and female sex were predictive of longer PTL. Further, height was independently predictive of IAL but sex was not. CONCLUSION: PTL was correlated more with patient sex than height. IAL was also correlated with patient sex. Longer BTB grafts are expected to be harvested in female patients compared with male patients of the same height despite shorter IAL. These associations should be considered during BTB ACL reconstruction to minimize graft-tunnel mismatch.

A method for calculating the fragility index of continuous outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Clinicians' overdependence on p-values to determine significance in clinical trials is common yet potentially misleading. The Fragility Index (FI) describes how robust a significant result is by determining the number of events the statistical significance hinges on. However, this concept cannot be applied to nondichotomous variables. We describe a method to calculate a Continuous Fragility Index (CFI) for continuous variables. We further provide a method to estimate CFI when original data is not available. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: An iterative substitution algorithm is described to calculate CFI prospectively from data or retrospectively from summary statistics and its response to variations in the data is reported. We then apply this method to a previously published review as a proof-of-concept. RESULTS: The CFI increases linearly with sample size, logarithmically with mean difference, and decreases exponentially with standard deviation. Forty-eight studies were included of which 30 had significant non-dichotomous outcomes. CFI and FI were uncorrelated and mean CFI was significantly higher than FI (9 vs. 2, P< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our algorithm extends fragility to continuous outcomes, expanding the applications of the fragility concept. The fragility of outcomes within a single study may vary based on variable type and should be evaluated independently.

Comparison of medical comorbidities in Medicare patients treated by orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons throughout the USA.

AIMS: Medical comorbidities are a critical factor in the decision-making process for operative management and risk-stratification. The Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCC) risk adjustment model is a powerful measure of illness severity for patients treated by surgeons. The HCC is utilized by Medicare to predict medical expenditure risk and to reimburse physicians accordingly. HCC weighs comorbidities differently to calculate risk. This study determines the prevalence of medical comorbidities and the average HCC score in Medicare patients being evaluated by neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeon, as well as a subset of academic spine surgeons within both specialities, in the USA. METHODS: The Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Database, which is based on data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' National Claims History Standard Analytic Files, was analyzed for this study. Every surgeon who submitted a valid Medicare Part B non-institutional claim during the 2013 calendar year was included in this study. This database was queried for medical comorbidities and HCC scores of each patient who had, at minimum, a single office visit with a surgeon. This data included 21,204 orthopaedic surgeons and 4,372 neurosurgeons across 54 states/territories in the USA. RESULTS: Orthopaedic surgeons evaluated patients with a mean HCC of 1.21, while neurosurgeons evaluated patients with a mean HCC of 1.34 (p < 0.05). The rates of specific comorbidities in patients seen by orthopaedic surgeons/neurosurgeons is as follows: Ischemic heart disease (35%/39%), diabetes (31%/33%), depression (23%/31%), chronic kidney disease (19%/23%), and heart failure (17%/19%). CONCLUSION: Nationally, comorbidity rate and HCC value for these Medicare patients are higher than national averages for the US population, with ischemic heart disease being six-times higher, diabetes two-times higher, depression three- to four-times higher, chronic kidney disease three-times higher, and heart failure nine-times higher among patients evaluated by orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons.Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-6:257-260.

Maximizing Return to Sports After Achilles Tendon Rupture in Athletes.

Achilles tendon ruptures are devastating injuries to athletes, with return-to-sports rates around 70% and some risk for diminished performance post-injury. Surgical management in athletes is often favored for a number of reasons, although evidence guiding the optimal treatment is limited. Functional rehabilitation has been supported as a key component of operative and nonoperative treatment plans. Return-to-play protocols in the literature are sparse and varied due to often ambiguous definitions of what it means to return to sport and a lack of explicit criteria. Optimal sport-specific return-to-play milestones should be defined to guide the rehabilitation of injured athletes.

Weighted-Ball Velocity Enhancement Programs for Baseball Pitchers: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Weighted-implement training utilizing over- or underweight baseballs has increased in popularity at all levels in competitive baseball. However, there is no consensus on the efficacy or safety of these training methods. HYPOTHESIS: This systematic review was intended to answer the following questions: Does weighted-ball training improve pitching velocity? Does weighted-ball training increase the risk of injury? STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Searches were conducted with MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the ProQuest Physical Education Index. Articles were included if the study population consisted of adult, adolescent, or youth baseball pitchers training with under- or overweight baseballs, with velocity as a measured outcome. Articles were excluded if they were review articles, examined sports other than baseball, utilized weighted implements other than baseballs, or were not published in peer-reviewed journals. Included articles were at least level 4 evidence. Data extracted for qualitative analysis included training protocol parameters (such as ball weight, number of pitches, duration of training), velocity change, and injuries or complications reported. RESULTS: A total of 4119 article titles were retrieved, of which 156 were selected for abstract review. After manual removal of duplicates, 128 abstracts were reviewed. Of these, 17 met the inclusion criteria, and the full text was obtained. After full-text review, 7 additional articles were excluded, leaving 10 articles that met inclusion criteria and were included for analysis. CONCLUSION: Weighted-implement training increased pitching velocity in the majority of the included studies. However, the quality of available evidence was determined to be very poor, and there was marked heterogeneity in training protocols, ball weights, and study populations. There was inadequate evidence reported to determine the risk of injury with this type of training.

Online Physical Therapy Protocol Quality, Variability, and Availability in Achilles Tendon Repair.

BACKGROUND: Substantial progress has been made in characterizing the benefit of early functional rehabilitation following Achilles tendon repair (ATR). However, standardized ATR rehabilitation guidelines have yet to be produced. Furthermore, as patients increasingly use the Internet to independently retrieve health care content, access to standardized, clinically effective rehabilitation protocols is necessary. METHODS: Online ATR physical therapy protocols from US academic orthopaedic programs were reviewed. A comprehensive scoring rubric was designed after reviewing all identified protocols and was used to assess each protocol for both the presence of various rehabilitation components as well as when those components were introduced. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 155 US academic orthopaedic programs published postoperative Achilles rehabilitation protocols online, with a total of 27 individual protocols available for review. Twenty-one protocols (78%) recommended immediate postoperative splinting. Only one protocol recommended short-leg casting. Twenty-six protocols (96%) advised immediate nonweightbearing with progression to weightbearing as tolerated at an average of 3.0 weeks (range, 1-8 weeks) and to full weightbearing at an average of 7.3 weeks (range, 2-12 weeks). Active plantarflexion and dorsiflexion to neutral were included by most protocols (93%) at an average of 3.9 (range, 0-9) weeks and 3.4 (range, 0-8) weeks, respectively. There was considerable variability in the inclusion and timing of strengthening, stretching, proprioception, and basic cardiovascular exercises. Fourteen protocols (52%) recommended return to training after meeting certain athletic activity criteria. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the quality, variability, and patient accessibility of publicly available rehabilitation protocols for ATR provided by US orthoapedic teaching programs. To this end, we found that a minority of US academic orthopaedic programs publish ATR rehabilitation protocols online. While a trend away from traditional ankle casting is apparent, many programs have not adopted the accelerated weightbearing and controlled mobilization techniques that have been shown to produce better functional outcomes and greater patient satisfaction. There is also a substantial degree of variability in both the composition and timing of rehabilitation components across physical therapy protocols. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level III: Retrospective comparative study.

Professional Soccer Players' Return to Play and Performance After Operative Repair of Achilles Tendon Rupture.

BACKGROUND: The majority of Achilles tendon ruptures are sports related; however, no investigation has examined the impact of surgical repair for complete ruptures on professional soccer players. PURPOSE: To examine the return to play, playing time, and performance of professional soccer players following Achilles tendon repair. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and Major League Soccer (MLS) athletes who sustained a primary complete Achilles tendon rupture and were treated surgically between 1988 and 2014 were identified via public injury reports. Demographic information and performance-related statistics for the identified athletes were recorded for the season before surgery and 2 seasons after surgery and were compared with information for matched controls. Statistical analyses were used to assess differences in recorded metrics. RESULTS: A total of 24 athletes with Achilles ruptures met inclusion criteria, 17 (70.8%) of whom were able to return to play. On average, players had 8.3 years of professional-level experience prior to sustaining an Achilles rupture. Among athletes who returned to play, no differences were found in the number of games played or started, minutes played, or goals scored 1 year postoperatively compared with the year prior to injury. However, 2 years postoperatively, these athletes played 28.3% (P = .028) fewer minutes compared with their preoperative season, despite starting and playing in an equivalent number of games. Matched controls had baseline playing time and performance statistics similar to those of players. However, controls played and started in significantly more games and played more minutes at 1 and 2 years compared with players (P < .05). No differences were found in goals scored at any time point. CONCLUSION: This is the first investigation examining the effect of an Achilles repair on the career of professional soccer players. This is a difficult injury that most commonly occurs in veteran players and prevents 29.2% of players from returning to play despite surgical management. Additionally, athletes able to return to play were found to play fewer minutes 2 years postoperatively compared with their baseline as well as playing less at 1 and 2 years postoperatively compared with uninjured matched controls. The reduction in playing time following an Achilles repair has significant implications for professional players and teams.

Integrating soft and hard tissues via interface tissue engineering.

The enthesis, or interface between bone and soft tissues such as ligament and tendon, is prone to injury and often does not heal, even post surgical intervention. Interface tissue engineering represents an integrative strategy for regenerating the native enthesis by functionally connecting soft and hard tissues and thereby improving clinical outcome. This review focuses on integrative and cell-instructive scaffold designs that target the healing of the two most commonly injured soft tissue-bone junctions: tendon-bone interface (e.g., rotator cuff) and ligament-bone interface (e.g., anterior cruciate ligament). The inherent connectivity between soft and hard tissues is instrumental for musculoskeletal motion and is therefore a key design criterion for soft tissue regeneration. To this end, scaffold design for soft tissue regeneration have progressed from single tissue systems to the emerging focus on pre-integrated and functional composite tissue units. Specifically, a multifaceted, bioinspired approach has been pursued wherein scaffolds are tailored to stimulate relevant cell responses using spatially patterned structural and chemical cues, growth factors, and/or mechanical stimulation. Moreover, current efforts to elucidate the essential scaffold design criteria via strategic biomimicry are emphasized as these will reduce complexity in composite tissue regeneration and ease the related burden for clinical translation. These innovative studies underscore the clinical relevance of engineering connective tissue integration and have broader impact in the formation of complex tissues and total joint regeneration. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:1069-1077, 2018.

The medicolegal landscape of spine surgery: how do surgeons fare?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Because of the limited and confidential nature of most legal data, scarce literature is available to physicians about reasons for litigation in spine surgery. To optimally compensate patients while protecting physicians, further understanding of the medicolegal landscape is needed for high-risk procedures such as spine surgery. Based on these, surgeons can explore ways to better protect both their patients and themselves. PURPOSE: To characterize the current medicolegal environment of spine surgery by analyzing a recent dataset of malpractice litigation. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. PATIENT SAMPLE: All malpractice cases involving spine surgery available to public query between the years of 2010 and 2014. OUTCOME MEASURES: Case outcome for spine surgery malpractice cases between the years of 2010 and 2014. METHODS: WestlawNext was used to analyze spine surgery malpractice cases at the state and federal level between the years 2010 and 2014. WestlawNext is a subscription-based, legal search engine that contains publicly available federal and state court records. All monetary values were inflation adjusted for 2016. One hundred three malpractice cases were categorized by case descriptors and outcome measures. Claims were categorized as either intraoperative complaints or preoperative complaints. RESULTS: Rulings in favor of the defendant (surgeon) were noted in 75% (77 of 103) of the cases. Lack of informed consent was cited in 34% of cases. For the 26 cases won by the plaintiff, the average amount in settlement was $2,384,775 versus $3,945,456 in cases brought before a jury. Cases involving consent averaged a compensation of $2,029,884, whereas cases involving only intraoperative complaints averaged a compensation of $3,667,530. A significant correlation was seen between increased compensation for plaintiffs and cases involving orthopedic surgeons (p=.020) or nerve injury (p=.005). Wrong-level surgery may be associated with lower plaintiff compensation (p=.055). The length of cases resulting in defense verdicts averaged 5.51 years, which was significantly longer than the 4.34 years average length of settlements or verdicts in favor of plaintiffs (p=.016). CONCLUSIONS: Spine surgeons successfully defended themselves in 75% of lawsuits, although the cases won by physicians lingered significantly longer than those settled. Better understanding of these cases may help surgeons to minimize litigation. More than one third of cases involved a claim of insufficient informed consent. Surgeons can protect themselves and optimize care of patients through clear and documented patient communication, education, and intraoperative vigilance to avoid preventable complications.

Seasonal Variation of Achilles Tendon Injury.

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is a common injury with increasing incidence. Several risk factors have been identified; however, little is known about seasonal variations in injury prevalence. Previous reports have generated mixed results, with no clear consensus in the literature. The purpose of this investigation was to retrospectively review ATRs seen at a major academic orthopaedic surgery department in New York City to determine whether a statistically significant seasonal pattern of ATRs exists. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted, identifying patients with an acute ATR. Patients were excluded if they had a chronic rupture, laceration, débridement for tendinitis, Haglund deformity, or other nonacute indications for surgery. Date and mechanism of injury were determined from the clinical record. RESULTS: The highest rate of injury was seen in spring (P = 0.015) and the lowest in fall (P < 0.001), both of which were statistically significant. Overall, no statistically significant difference was noted in summer or winter, although more injuries were seen in summer. When only sports-related injuries are considered, a similar trend is seen, with most injuries occurring in spring (n = 48, P = 0.076) and fewest in fall (n = 25, P = 0.012); however, only the lower number in fall reaches statistical significance. No statistically significant difference was noted between seasons when only non-sports-related injuries were considered. CONCLUSION: A statistically significant increase was noted in the incidence of ATRs in spring and a statistically significant decrease in fall. The need for recognition of risk factors and preventive education is increasingly important in the orthopaedic surgery community and for primary care physicians, athletic trainers, coaches, and athletes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic level IV.

Evaluation of common elbow pathologies: a focus on physical examination.

Elbow tendinopathy accounts for the majority of elbow pathology in patients presenting to upper extremity and sports medicine surgeons. With increased participation in overhead sports in an aging population, the incidence of elbow injuries has risen. A comprehensive knowledge of elbow anatomy and biomechanical function of the elbow complex is prerequisite in the assessment of patients with elbow injuries; however, a thorough understanding of alternative and confounding pathologies is essential for accurate diagnosis. Because tendinopathy, tendonitis, and tendon tears have an anatomic basis for their pathology, a targeted history and meticulous physical examination often yields an accurate clinical diagnosis. The importance of physical examination and provocative examination maneuvers must be stressed in a technologically advanced era where clinical diagnosis is too commonly attained solely by advanced imaging modalities. A revived dedication to the physical examination may enhance our ability to correctly diagnose various pathologies about the elbow. Early and accurate clinical diagnosis is the first step in the proper initiation of treatment modalities and improvement in overall patient outcome.

Tissue engineering advances in spine surgery.

Autograft, while currently the gold standard for bone grafting, has several significant disadvantages including limited supply, donor site pain, hematoma formation, nerve and vascular injury, and fracture. Bone allografts have their own disadvantages including reduced osteoinductive capability, lack of osteoprogenitor cells, immunogenicity and risk of disease transmission. Thus demand exists for tissue-engineered constructs that can produce viable bone while avoiding the complications associated with human tissue grafts. This review will focus on recent advancements in tissue-engineered bone graft substitutes utilizing nanoscale technology in spine surgery applications. An evaluation will be performed of bone graft substitutes, biomimetic 3D scaffolds, bone morphogenetic protein, mesenchymal stem cells and intervertebral disc regeneration strategies.

Optimal internal fixation of anatomically shaped synthetic bone grafts for massive segmental defects of long bones.

BACKGROUND: Large segmental bone defects following tumor resection, high-energy civilian trauma, and military blast injuries present significant clinical challenges. Tissue engineering strategies using scaffolds are being considered as a treatment, but there is little research into optimal fixation of such scaffolds. METHODS: Twelve fresh-frozen paired cadaveric legs were utilized to simulate a critical sized intercalary defect in the tibia. Poly-ε-caprolactone and hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds 5 cm in length with a geometry representative of the mid-diaphysis of an adult human tibia were fabricated, inserted into a tibial mid-diaphyseal intercalary defect, and fixed with a 14-hole large fragment plate. Optimal screw fixation comparing non-locking and locking screws was tested in axial compression, bending, and torsion in a non-destructive manner. A cyclic torsional test to failure under torque control was then performed. FINDINGS: Biomechanical testing showed no significant difference for bending or axial stiffness with non-locking vs. locking fixation. Torsional stiffness was significantly higher (P=0.002) with the scaffold present for both non-locking and locking compared to the scaffold absent. In testing to failure, angular rotation was greater for the non-locking compared to locking constructs at each torque level up to 40 N-m (P<0.05). The locking constructs survived a significantly higher number of loading cycles before reaching clinical failure at 30 degrees of angular rotation (P<0.02). INTERPRETATION: The presence of the scaffold increased the torsional stiffness of the construct. Locking fixation resulted in a stronger construct with increased cycles to failure compared to non-locking fixation.

Gremlin 1 identifies a skeletal stem cell with bone, cartilage, and reticular stromal potential.

The stem cells that maintain and repair the postnatal skeleton remain undefined. One model suggests that perisinusoidal mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) give rise to osteoblasts, chondrocytes, marrow stromal cells, and adipocytes, although the existence of these cells has not been proven through fate-mapping experiments. We demonstrate here that expression of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist gremlin 1 defines a population of osteochondroreticular (OCR) stem cells in the bone marrow. OCR stem cells self-renew and generate osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and reticular marrow stromal cells, but not adipocytes. OCR stem cells are concentrated within the metaphysis of long bones not in the perisinusoidal space and are needed for bone development, bone remodeling, and fracture repair. Grem1 expression also identifies intestinal reticular stem cells (iRSCs) that are cells of origin for the periepithelial intestinal mesenchymal sheath. Grem1 expression identifies distinct connective tissue stem cells in both the bone (OCR stem cells) and the intestine (iRSCs).

CA-074Me compound inhibits osteoclastogenesis via suppression of the NFATc1 and c-FOS signaling pathways.

The osteoclast is an integral cell of bone resorption. Since osteolytic disorders hinge on the function and dysfunction of the osteoclast, understanding osteoclast biology is fundamental to designing new therapies that curb osteolytic disorders. The identification and study of lysosomal proteases, such as cathepsins, have shed light on mechanisms of bone resorption. For example, Cathepsin K has already been identified as a collagen degradation protease produced by mature osteoclasts with high activity in the acidic osteoclast resorption pits. Delving into the mechanisms of cathepsins and other osteoclast related compounds provides new targets to explore in osteoclast biology. Through our anti-osteoclastogenic compound screening experiments we encountered a modified version of the Cathepsin B inhibitor CA-074: the cell membrane-permeable CA-074Me (L-3-trans-(Propylcarbamoyl) oxirane-2-carbonyl]-L-isoleucyl-L-proline Methyl Ester). Here we confirm that CA-074Me inhibits osteoclastogenesis in vivo and in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. However, Cathepsin B knockout mice exhibited unaltered osteoclastogenesis, suggesting a more complicated mechanism of action than Cathepsin B inhibition. We found that CA-074Me exerts its osteoclastogenic effect within 24 h of osteoclastogenesis stimulation by suppression of c-FOS and NFATc1 pathways.

Factors affecting satisfaction and shoulder function in patients with a recurrent rotator cuff tear.

BACKGROUND: It is widely accepted that most patients treated with rotator cuff repair do well regardless of the integrity of the repair. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to reexamine this concept and identify the factors affecting the outcomes of patients with a recurrent tear. METHODS: A cohort of patients who had been treated with rotator cuff repair completed a survey regarding satisfaction with the operatively treated shoulder, physical activity, and shoulder function. Ultrasonography was performed to determine rotator cuff integrity. Patients were divided into three age categories: younger than fifty-five years, fifty-five to sixty-five years, and sixty-six years or older. The relationships of the outcomes to patient age, repair integrity, and other demographic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-seven (26%) of the 180 enrolled patients had a retear, defined as a full-thickness defect. In each age category, the satisfaction, ASES (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons), and SST (Simple Shoulder Test) scores in the retear group were significantly poorer than those in the no-retear group (p < 0.05). Within the retear group, all three scores were significantly better in the oldest age category (p < 0.05); there were no significant differences among the age categories within the no-retear group (p > 0.05). Simple regression analysis showed that younger age, a Workers' Compensation claim, and lower education level were significant predictors of poorer scores in patients with a retear (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis of the retear group showed that (1) lower education level and a Workers' Compensation claim were independent predictors of a poorer satisfaction score; (2) lower education level, younger age, and a Workers' Compensation claim were independent predictors of a poorer ASES score; and (3) lower education level was the only independent predictor of a poorer SST score (p < 0.01 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a retear negatively affected the clinical outcomes following rotator cuff repair. This finding refutes the widely held concept that patients typically do well regardless of the repair integrity following rotator cuff repair. In patients with a retear, nonanatomic factors including younger age, lower education level, and a Workers' Compensation claim were associated with poorer outcomes.

Management of articular cartilage defects of the knee.

Articular cartilage injuries of the knee present a difficult clinical dilemma and their treatment is controversial. Hyaline articular cartilage is an avascular, low-friction, and wear-resistant weightbearing surface that has limited capacity for self-repair. The optimal treatment for cartilage lesions has yet to be established. Various treatment methods are employed to reestablish a stable cartilage surface, including microfracture, autologous and allograft osteochondral transplantation, autologous chondrocyte implantation, matrix-associated chondrocyte implantation, and scaffold-assisted methods. Treatment algorithms help to guide physicians' decision making in the care of these injuries. In this article, results from outcomes studies as well as prospective randomized clinical trials comparing treatment methods are reviewed, and current practice guidelines are summarized.

Nanoparticle-mediated local delivery of Methylprednisolone after spinal cord injury.

Systemic administration of a high-dose of Methylprednisolone (MP) can reduce neurological deficits after acute spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the use of high-dose MP in treating acute SCI is controversial due to significant dose related side effects and relatively modest improvements in neurological function. Here, using a rat model of SCI, we compare the efficacy of controlled, nanoparticle-enabled local delivery of MP to the injured spinal cord with systemic delivery of MP, and a single local injection of MP without nanoparticles. Based on histological and behavioral data, we report that local, sustained delivery of MP via nanoparticles is significantly more effective than systemic delivery. Relative to systemic delivery, MP-nanoparticle therapy significantly reduced lesion volume and improved behavioral outcomes. Nanoparticle-enabled delivery of MP presents an effective method for introducing MP locally after SCI and significantly enhances therapeutic effectiveness compared to bare MP administered either systemically or locally.