Transiliac endoscopic assisted ilif: a cadaveric study / Ilif assistida por endoscopia por via transilíaca: estudo em cadáver / Ilif asistida por endoscopia transilíaca: estudio en cadáver

ABSTRACT Objective: Demonstrate the feasibility of endoscopic assisted L5S1 intraforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (iLIF) through a transiliac approach. Methods: Ten transiliac iLIF and ten supra iliac iLIF were performed bilaterally at L5S1 in five randomly selected fresh-frozen human cadavers. The following measurements were recorded: distances from the transiliac track to the iliac crest, posterior superior iliac spine, and superior gluteal neurovascular bundle; pelvic parameters; approach angles; cage's lateral and AP center point ratio (CPR); percentage of the cage crossing the midline in the AP and lateral views. Endplate integrity was assessed through endoscopic visualization. In addition, the facet joint, sacroiliac joint, iliolumbar ligament, and exiting and traversing nerve roots were checked for integrity through anatomic dissection. Results: In the transiliac technique, the axial and coronal approach angles were significantly decreased by 13.5º (95% CI -15.5; -11.5; p value<0.001) and 13.2º (95% CI -15.3; -11.1; p value<0.001), respectively, the sagittal approach angle was significantly increased by 5.4º (95% CI 1.8,8.9; p-value = 0.008), and the AP CPR was significantly higher (MD 0.16; 95% CI 0.12,0.20; p value<0.001). The percentage of the cage crossing the AP view's midline was increased by 31.6% (95% CI 19.8,43.4; p value<0.001). The integrity of endplates, facet joints, sacroiliac joints, iliolumbar ligament, and exiting and traversing nerve roots was maintained. Conclusion: L5S1 transiliac iLIF is a feasible surgical technique. It allows a more centrally placed interbody cage in the coronal plane without compromising the anterior position in the lateral plane. The integrity of the major anatomic structures at risk was preserved. Evidence Level III: A case-control study.

Resumo: Objetivo: Demonstrar a viabilidade da fusão intersomática lombar assistida por endoscopia (iLIF) em L5S1 através de abordagem transilíaca. Métodos: Dez iLIF por via transilíaca e dez iLIF por via suprailíaca foram realizados bilateralmente em L5S1 em cinco cadáveres selecionados aleatoriamente. Foram registadas as seguintes medidas: Distâncias da via transilíaca até a crista ilíaca, crista ilíaca póstero-superior e feixe neurovascular do glúteo superior; parâmetros pélvicos; ângulos da abordagem; relação do ponto central lateral e AP do cage (CPR); percentagem do cage cruzando a linha média nas incidências AP e perfil. A integridade das placas vertebrais foi avaliada através de visualização endoscópica. Foi verificada através de dissecção anatómica a integridade das articulações facetárias, sacroilíacas, ligamento iliolombar e raízes de L5 e S1. Resultados: Na técnica transilíaca, os ângulos de abordagem axial e coronal foram significativamente menores em 13,5º (CI 95% -15,5;-11,5; p<0,001) e 13,2º (CI 95% -15,3;-11,1; p<0,001 ), respectivamente, o ângulo de abordagem sagital aumentou significativamente em 5,4º (CI 95% 1,8,8,9; p = 0,008), e o AP CPR foi significativamente maior (MD 0,16; CI 95% 0,12,0,20; p <0,001). A percentagem do cage cruzando a linha média em AP foi superior em 31,6% (CI 95% 19,8,43,4; valor p<0,001). A integridade das placas vertebrais, articulações facetadas, articulações sacroilíacas, ligamento iliolombar e raízes de L5 e S1 foi mantida. Conclusão: A realização de iLIF L5S1 por via transilíaca é uma técnica cirúrgica viável. Permite que o cage seja colocado mais centrado no plano coronal sem comprometer a posição anterior no plano sagital. A integridade das principais estruturas anatómicas em risco foi preservada. Nível de Evidencia III: Estudo caso-controle.

Resumen: Objetivo: Demostrar la viabilidad de la fusión intersomática lumbar asistida por endoscopia (iLIF) en L5S1 con un abordaje transilíaco. Métodos: Se registraron las siguientes mediciones: distancias del abordaje transilíaco a la cresta ilíaca, la cresta ilíaca posterosuperior y el haz neurovascular glúteo superior; parámetros pélvicos; ángulos de abordaje; relación del punto medio lateral y AP del cage (CPR); porcentaje del cage que cruza la línea media en las incidencias AP y perfil. Se evaluó la integridad de las placas vertebrales por visualización endoscópica. Se comprobó la integridad de las articulaciones facetarias, las articulaciones sacroilíacas, el ligamento iliolumbar y las raíces de L5 y S1 mediante disección anatómica. Resultados: En la técnica transilíaca, los ángulos de abordaje axial y coronal fueron significativamente menores en 13,5° (IC 95% -15,5;-11,5; p<0,001) y 13,2º (IC 95% -15,3;-11,1); p<0,001 ), respectivamente, el ángulo de aproximación sagital aumentó significativamente en 5,4º (IC 95% 1,8,8,9; p = 0,008), y el AP CPR fue significativamente mayor (MD 0,16; IC 95% 0,12,0,20; p <0,001). El porcentaje del cage que cruzaba la línea media en AP era mayor en un 31,6% (IC 95% 19,8,43,4; valor p <0,001). Se mantuvo la integridad de las placas vertebrales, las articulaciones facetarias, las articulaciones sacroilíacas, el ligamento iliolumbar y las raíces de L5 y S1. Conclusión: La iLIF transilíaca L5S1 es una técnica quirúrgica viable. Permite colocar el cage más centrado en el plano coronal sin comprometer la posición anterior en el plano sagital. Se preservó la integridad de las principales estructuras anatómicas en riesgo. Nivel de evidencia III: Estudio de casos y controles.

Clinical outcomes, complications and fusion rates in endoscopic assisted intraforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (iLIF) versus minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF): systematic review and meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis aims to determine the clinical outcomes, complications, and fusion rates in endoscopic assisted intra-foraminal lumbar interbody fusion (iLIF) and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) for lumbar degenerative diseases. The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. The inclusion criteria were: five or more consecutive patients who underwent iLIF or MI-TLIF for lumbar degenerative diseases; description of the surgical technique; clinical outcome measures, complications and imaging assessment; minimum follow-up of 12 months. Surgical time, blood loss, and length of hospital stay were extracted. Mean outcome improvements were pooled and compared with minimal clinically important differences (MCID). Pooled and direct meta-analysis were evaluated. We identified 42 eligible studies. The iLIF group had significantly lower mean intra-operative blood loss, unstandardized mean difference (UMD) 110.61 mL (95%CI 70.43; 150.80; p value < 0.0001), and significantly decreased length of hospital stay (UMD 2.36; 95%CI 1.77; 2.94; p value < 0.0001). Visual analogue scale (VAS) back, VAS leg and Oswestry disability index (ODI) baseline to last follow-up mean improvements were statistically significant (p value < 0.0001), and clinically important for both groups (MCID VAS back > 1.16; MCID VAS leg > 1.36; MCID > 12.40). There was no significant difference in complication nor fusion rates between both cohorts. Interbody fusion using either iLIF or MI-TLIF leads to significant and clinically important improvements in clinical outcomes for lumbar degenerative diseases. Both procedures provide high rates of fusion at 12 months or later, without significant difference in complication rates. iLIF is associated with significantly less intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay. Study registration: PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews: Registration No. CRD42020180980, accessible at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ April 2020.

Chronic ankle instability has no correlation with the number of ruptured ligaments in severe anterolateral sprain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Despite being a significant public health problem, ankle sprains' prognostic factors are largely unknown. This review aimed to systematically analyze the literature on acute ankle sprains to compare the prognosis of a combined anterior talofibular (ATFL) and calcaneofibular (CFL) ligaments rupture with an isolated ATFL rupture in terms of progression to chronic ankle instability and other clinical outcomes. METHODS: The databases for Pubmed, CENTRAL and Web of Science were searched. Clinical studies reporting the prognostic effect of combined ATFL-CFL rupture versus an isolated ATFL rupture in conservatively treated ankle sprains, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months, were eligible for inclusion. Only studies with a reliable diagnostic method for anterolateral ankle ligaments evaluation, namely ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, arthrography or stress tenography, were included. The relative risk (RR), along with the 95% confidence interval (CI), was used to quantitatively analyze the main outcomes. RESULTS: Nine papers were selected for inclusion, of which five were suitable for quantitative analysis. None of them found a statistically significant correlation between ligament injury severity and progression to chronic instability. Concerning other clinical outcomes, three studies found a statistically significant correlation between a combined ligament injury and a worse clinical prognosis. From the quantitative analysis, the relative risk (RR) of chronic ankle instability in a single versus a combined ligament rupture showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: A significant statistical correlation between a combined ATFL-CFL rupture and chronic ankle instability, compared to an isolated ATFL rupture, was not found. There is, however, fair evidence showing a worse clinical outcome score in the combined ruptures, as well as a decreased return to full sports activities. The use of reliable and accessible diagnostic methods to determine the number of ruptured ligaments might have a role in managing severe ankle sprains. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Varus talar tilt combined with an internal rotation pivot stress assesses the supination instability vector in lateral ankle ligaments' injury - cadaver study.

BACKGROUND: The lack of consensus on the relevance of the varus talar tilt test (VTTT) might be due to the divergence between the insufficiency vector of lateral ankle instability and the direction of this clinical test. Our hypothesis is that the VTTT is more accurate to diagnose lateral ankle ligaments rupture when it's applied with a pre-positioning of the foot in internal rotation (IR). METHODS: We compared, in 12 cadaver ankles, the varus opening during a classic VTTT with the same test starting in an IR pivot, using a new arthrometer. RESULTS: The classic VTTT caused a 13° tilt after ATFL section and 23,8° after ATFL and CFL section. The application of a VTTT with an IR prepositioning caused a 21,2° tilt after ATFL section (p = 0,002) and 29,5° after ATFL and CFL section (p = 0,006). CONCLUSION: The VTTT is better to identify lateral ankle ligaments' insufficiency when it's applied with a pre-positioning of the foot in internal rotation. The resulting vector is similar to the supination trauma.

Ultrasonographic Assessment of Deltoid Ligament Integrity in Ankle Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Regardless of fibular status, the presence of a superficial deltoid ligament disruption or a combination of deep and superficial deltoid ligament disruption is central to the decision-making process in treating ankle fractures. The aims of the present study were to test whether ultrasonography can assess deltoid ligament integrity and to determine its validity and reliability by comparing it with gravity stress radiography. METHODS: A consecutive series of 81 eligible patients with a nondisplaced or minimally displaced fibula fracture identified on a standard radiograph were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent gravity stress radiography and ultrasonography. Image analysis included the layer type, integrity, and tear site of the deltoid ligament. Ultrasound validity and intra- and interobserver reliability were assessed by the interpretations of the first author and an independent observer who were blinded to the results. RESULTS: Of all patients, 64 (79.0%) had a deltoid ligament disruption; most of the tears were of both the superficial and deep layers, partial and proximal attachment tears, and only 8 (12.5%) were complete tears. Patients with an intact deltoid ligament had a mean medial clear space (MCS) value of 2.7 ± 0.5 mm, and those with deltoid ligament tears had a mean MCS value of 5.9 ± 3.4 mm (P < .001). In a comparison between ultrasonography and gravity radiography, we found a sensitivity of 100% versus 97%, a specificity of 90% versus 100%, a positive predictive value of 97% versus 100%, and a negative predictive value of 100% versus 90%, respectively. The intra- and interobserver reliability was evaluated as almost perfect in all conditions. In a comparison between ultrasonography and gravity radiography, we found a sensitivity of 100% versus 97%, a specificity of 90% versus 100%, a positive predictive value of 97% versus 100%, and a negative predictive value of 100% versus 90%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography proved to be an accurate tool, allowing the identification of deltoid ligament disruption and the involved components in a more dynamic fashion. Its relative ease of use and lack of ionizing radiation make it a useful and confident technique that can be performed by an orthopedist. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective comparative study.

Metallosis: A New Form of Autoimmune/Autoinflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants Syndrome (ASIA)?

Autoimmune/autoinflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) is a new entity in which exposure to an adjuvant triggers an aberrant autoimmune response. Metallosis is a rare condition characterized by the deposition and build-up of metal debris in the soft tissues of the body associated with metal-on-metal (MOM) prosthetic devices. It can present with local/systemic symptoms and signs due to a chronic inflammatory host response. The authors present the case of a 51-year-old woman with a 6-month history of systemic complaints due to intoxication with metal ions from hip metallosis. This case highlights the importance of follow-up and continuous monitoring of patients with a hip prosthesis. As this is a rare condition, a patient presenting with unspecific symptoms such as ASIA syndrome induced by metallosis requires a high level of clinical suspicion as the removal of the adjuvant can resolve the condition. LEARNING POINTS: Asia syndrome is a new entity in which exposure to an adjuvant triggers an aberrant autoimmune response.Metallosis is an uncommon condition with local and systemic presentation.A high level of suspicion and close monitoring is needed in patients with vague systemic complaints.

Quadruple Semitendinosus Graft Construct With Double Cortical Suspensory Fixation for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Biomechanical Study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical properties of a graft construct with quadrupled Semitendinosus and two cortical buttons with adjustable loops concerning elongation, stiffness and resistance. A total of 15 fresh human cadaveric semitendinosus tendons were quadrupled over the two adjustable loops and stitched at the tibial tip with a cerclage type suture. They underwent pre-tensioning at 300 N for 2 minutes followed by cyclic loading (1000 cycles between 50-250 N) and finally a load-to-failure test. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics software and groups were compared using a paired t-test, with a significance level set at α = 0.05. Graft construct elongation after pre-tensioning at 300 N was 12.8 mm (9.3 mm-16.5 mm) and mean cyclic elongation 0.4 mm (0.2 mm-0.9 mm), considered significant (p < 0,001). The resistance and stiffness values were respectively 849.46 N (649.30 N-1027.90 N) and 221.49 N (178,30 N - 276.10 N). Quadruple ST graft construct using two cortical buttons and adjustable loops showed a high stiffness and resistance with a very low elongation after cycling.

Rotational Instability after Anterior Talofibular and Calcaneofibular Ligament Section: The Experimental Basis for the Ankle Pivot Test.

The clinical diagnosis of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) rupture is based on the findings from the medical history and the anterior drawer test, a maneuver that allegedly pushes the talus and rearfoot anteriorly, although with great variability in its sensitivity. We consider that an ATFL rupture is best evaluated by a rotational vector (i.e., a pivot test) owing to the uncompromised medial ligaments that will block any pure anterior translation of the talus underneath the tibia. We idealized a constrained ankle cadaver model that only allows talar movements in the axial plane. Our hypothesis was that progressive sectioning of the lateral ankle ligaments in this model would cause a progressive and significant angular laxity in internal rotation. Our results showed 3.67 degrees ± 1.2 degrees of talus rotational laxity in the intact ankle, 9.6 degrees ± 3.2 degrees after ATFL sectioning, and 13.43 degrees ± 3.2 degrees after ATFL and calcaneofibular ligament sectioning, indicating almost threefold increase in internal talocrural rotation after single ATFL sectioning and an almost fourfold increase after double (ATFL and calcaneofibular ligament) sectioning. We consider this evidence of rotational ankle laxity to be a major step in defining the correct movement to diagnose an ATFL rupture and propose a new term to avoid further inconsistencies and variability, "the pivot test."