Significant Reduction of Radiation Exposure Using Specific Settings of the O-Arm for Percutaneous Cementoplasty in Accordance With the ALARA Principle.

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) navigation has become routinely used in spine surgery, allowing more accurate and safe procedures. However, radiation exposure related to the use of imaging is an unresolved issue, and information about it is relatively scarce. The "as low as reasonably achievable" (ALARA) principle aims to reduce the radiation exposure for the patients as low as possible. The objective of this study was to compare the effective dose related to the use of the O-arm in standard settings with adapted features for dose reduction during percutaneous cementoplasty. METHODS: From March 2021 to October 2022, all consecutive patients who underwent navigated percutaneous cementoplasty with the use of the O-arm were prospectively included. Demographic, operative, irradiation, and radiological data were collected. The main outcome was the effective dose (E) in millisievert (mSv). Secondary outcomes were the absolute risk of cancer (AR) in percent equivalent to a whole-body exposition, operative time, and radiological results according to Garnier. In group A, patients were operated on with standard settings of the O-arm, whereas in group B, navigation on the field of view, collimation, and low-dose settings were used. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were included in the study: 43 in group A and 27 in group B. Also, 109 vertebrae were operated: 59 in group A and 50 in group B. Mean E was significantly higher in group A than in group B (9.94 and 4.34 mSv, respectively; P < 0.01). The 3D-related E followed the same trend (7.82 and 3.97 mSv, respectively), as did 2-dimensional-related E (2.12 and 0.37 mSv, respectively; P < 0.01). Average AR was also significantly higher in group A than in group B (5.10-4% and 2.10-4% respectively; P < 0.01). Operative time was similar in both groups, but the rate of satisfactory radiological results was higher in group A than in group B (95% and 84%, respectively; P = 0.11), and we found similar rates of cement leakage (22% and 24%, respectively; P = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: The application of settings of the O-arm in accordance with the ALARA principle helped to significantly reduce the radiation exposure and should be routinely used for O-arm-assisted cementoplasty procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study details technical aspects and settings that may help users of the O-arm to decrease radiation exposure to patients and surgeons alike, especially in cementoplasty procedures, as well as in other procedures performed under O-arm guidance.

Major acetabular prosthetic protrusion following total hip arthroplasty: a case report of a reconstruction challenge.

Background: Acetabular protrusion is an acetabular defect caused by the shift of the femoral head through the pelvic bone. Because of bone loss, usual anatomical landmarks may be confusing or absent, leading to a particularly high demanding surgical reconstruction in case of total hip arthroplasty (THA) implantation, without adequate support of the acetabulum due to major acetabular defect. To our knowledge, no article has dealt with acetabular defects to this extent and associated femoral osteolysis, which we will attempt to do in this case report. That's why we would like to share this case in order to propose an interesting alternative for the management of these challenging pathologies. Case Description: We hereby present the case of a rare pattern of severe acetabular prosthetic protrusion through the pelvic ring on a 77-year-old patient without any trauma. He was surgically treated with acetabular metal augment and a wide femoral modular reconstruction prosthesis. An instability was revealed after 6 weeks, so he underwent an early surgical revision with a constraint cup, overwhelming the absence of abductor apparatus. After this, his recovery was complete and uneventful, with effective function of the reconstructed hip joint and adequate stability of the prosthesis. Conclusions: Although acetabular protrusion is a rare complication in total hip replacement patients, we would like to draw attention to the challenging nature of this complication, both in terms of initial assessment and surgical management. The described strategy showed effective function of the reconstructed hip joint and final adequate stability of the prosthesis despite the absence of a competent abductor apparatus.

Conservative management of a specific subtype of Maisonneuve fractures: a report of two cases.

Background: Maisonneuve fractures are most commonly characterised by a specific pattern with a medial malleolar fracture or deltoid ligament rupture, a disruption of the ankle syndesmosis ligaments and a fracture of the proximal fibula. Case Description: We hereby describe for the first time two cases of conservative therapy of Maisonneuve fracture with intact medial structures and with associated posterior malleolus fracture. Patients were assessed with ankle radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The distal fibula was anatomically positioned in its notch and the deltoid ligament and interosseous membrane (IOM) were intact. In addition, the posterior malleolus fracture was not associated with talar subluxation or articular impaction, and the mortise remained anatomically positioned on the initial radiographs. Based on clinical and imaging evaluations, the decision was made to follow conservative treatment. Follow-up showed stability criteria on standing radiographs, and their evolution was clinically uneventful with a good AOFAS score after 1 year. Conclusions: The discussion emphasized the scarce description of conservative therapy of Maisonneuve fractures for which surgical treatment is considered to be the gold standard. The good results of these two cases are in favour with conservative therapy, avoiding adverse events and complications related to surgery, and showed that conservative therapy should be also considered as an effective therapeutic option in selected cases. We also emphasize that the results of our two cases are, moreover, in favor of an early weight-bearing protocol.

Knee Extension Deficit in the Early Postoperative Period Predisposes to Cyclops Syndrome After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Risk Factor Analysis in 3633 Patients From the SANTI Study Group Database.

BACKGROUND: Cyclops syndrome is characterized by a symptomatic extension deficit attributed to impingement of a cyclops lesion within the intercondylar notch. The syndrome is an important cause of reoperation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). It has been suggested that remnant-preserving ACLR techniques may predispose to cyclops syndrome, but there is very limited evidence to support this. In general terms, risk factors for cyclops syndrome are not well-understood. PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of and risk factors for reoperation for cyclops syndrome in a large series of patients after ACLR. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed, including all patients who underwent primary ACLR between January 2011 to December 2017. Patients undergoing major concomitant procedures were excluded. Demographic data, intraoperative findings (including the size of preserved remnants), and postoperative outcomes were recorded. Those patients who underwent reoperation for cyclops syndrome were identified, and potential risk factors were evaluated in multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3633 patients were included in the study, among whom 65 (1.8%) underwent reoperation for cyclops syndrome. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that preservation of large remnants did not predispose to cyclops lesions (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% CI, 0.63-1.93). The most important risk factor was extension deficit in the early postoperative period. If present at 3 weeks postoperatively, it was associated with a >2-fold increased risk of cyclops syndrome (OR, 2.302; 95% CI, 1.268-4.239; P < .01), which was increased to 8-fold if present 6 weeks after ACLR (OR, 7.959; 95% CI, 4.442-14.405; P < .0001). None of the other potential risk factors evaluated were found to be significantly associated with an increased frequency of cyclops syndrome. CONCLUSION: Failure to regain full extension in the early postoperative period was the only significant risk factor for cyclops syndrome after ACLR in a large cohort of patients. Other previously hypothesized risk factors, such as preservation of a large anterior cruciate ligament remnant, did not predispose to the development of this debilitating postoperative complication.

Triaxial accelerometer evaluation is correlated with IKDC grade of pivot shift.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between tibial acceleration parameters measured by the KiRA device and the clinical grade of pivot shift. The secondary objective was to report the risk factors for pre-operative high-grade pivot shift. METHODS: Two-hundred and ninety-five ACL deficient patients were examined under anesthesia. The pivot shift tests were performed twice by an expert surgeon. Clinical grading was performed using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scale and tibial acceleration data was recorded using a triaxial accelerometer system (KiRA). The difference in the tibial acceleration range between injured and contralateral limbs was used in the analysis. Correlation coefficients were calculated using linear regression. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for high grade pivot shift. RESULTS: The clinical grade of pivot shift and the side-to-side difference in delta tibial acceleration determined by KiRA were significantly correlated (r = 0.57; 95% CI 0.513-0.658, p < 0.0001). The only risk factor identified to have a significant association with high grade pivot shift was an antero-posterior side to side laxity difference > 6 mm (OR = 2.070; 95% CI (1.259-3.405), p = 0.0042). CONCLUSION: Side-to-side difference in tibial acceleration range, as measured by KiRA, is correlated with the IKDC pivot shift grade in anaesthetized patients. Side-to-side A-P laxity difference greater than 6 mm is reported as a newly defined risk factor for high grade pivot shift in the ACL injured knee. DIAGNOSTIC STUDY: Level II.

Acromioclavicular Septic Arthritis Caused by Veillonella parvula.

We hereby report the case of a primary acromioclavicular septic arthritis caused by Veillonella parvula. This bacteria is rare as a pathogen but is well known as a commensal of the lungs, vagina, mouth, and gastrointestinal tract of humans. However, it may turn as an opportunistic pathogen. It was isolated in blood culture and confirmed in biopsy specimen. The patient had complete recovery after surgical washout with second look at postoperative day two and targeted antibiotic treatment.

Figure-of-4 Cruciate Remnant Objective Assessment Test Reducibility of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Stump for Feasibility of Arthroscopic Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair.

Suture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has reemerged as a treatment option for proximal ACL tears. Preoperative imaging can provide insight into the feasibility of performing arthroscopic primary ACL repair, but the final decision is taken only after confirming with arthroscopy that the ACL remnant is reducible. We describe a test called the Figure-of-4 Cruciate Remnant Objective Assessment test that objectively interprets the reducibility of the ACL remnant for arthroscopic primary ACL repair.

Anterior Closing-Wedge Osteotomy for Posterior Slope Correction With Tibial Tubercle Preservation.

An excessive posterior tibial slope has been identified as a potential risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament tears. Anterior closing-wedge osteotomy decreases the posterior slope and can eliminate this risk factor in patients with recurrent instability and greater than 12° posterior slope. We will describe an anterior closing-wedge osteotomy technique performed at the tibial tubercle (TT), in which the TT is not detached to preserve the extensor mechanism attachment. A vertical cut is performed in the sagittal plane just posterior to the TT, leaving a distal cortical hinge. Two proximal parallel K-wires and 2 distal parallel K-wires convergent to the proximal ones are inserted from the anterior cortex on both sides of the tubercle toward the tibial posterior cortex at the posterior cruciate ligament's tibial insertion. Proximal and distal cuts are performed to remove the bone wedge. Reduction is achieved by gentle knee extension. Fixation is completed with 2 staples placed medially and laterally to the TT.

Lateral Meniscus Repair Using Posterolateral Portal: Suture Hook Technique.

Lateral meniscus lesions result in loss of meniscus hoop stresses and can lead to lateral compartment overload and early degenerative changes. Arthroscopic suture repair provides good long-term results. However, posterior vertical tears in the peripheral area of the meniscus can be technically challenging to resolve. This Technical Note describes the suture hook technique using an accessory posterolateral portal. We believe it is a safe, effective method for repairing full vertical tears of the lateral meniscus.