Editorial Commentary: Bioinductive Collagen Implants Reduce Rotator Cuff Retear, yet Cost-Effectiveness and Improvement in Clinical Outcomes Are Unclear.

The estimated health care costs of failed arthroscopic rotator cuff retears (RCRs) performed in the United States represent a huge economic burden of greater than $400 million per 2-year period. Unfortunately, retear rates do not appear to have improved significantly since the 1980s, despite advances in surgical technology and the biomechanics of repair. The failure of these advances to translate into improved clinical results suggests that the limiting step in reducing retear rates is biology rather than the biomechanics of repair. Bioinductive collagen implants (BCIs) are an emerging and potentially useful option for biological augmentation. Recent meta-analysis of preclinical and clinical studies demonstrates that biological augmentation significantly lowers the risk of retear. Retrieval studies from human RCR subjects who underwent treatment with BCI demonstrate cellular incorporation, tissue formation, and maturation, providing a logical basis for a reduction in retear rates as well as small increases in tendon thickness at the footprint. Although BCIs show potential as a possible game-changing solution for reducing failure rates of RCR, concerns remain regarding cost-effectiveness analyses and demonstration of functional outcome improvement.

Editorial Commentary: Evidence That the Shoulder Latarjet Procedure Results in Scapular Dyskinesia Is Not Compelling.

The Latarjet procedure was first described in 1954. It is a nonanatomic procedure that requires transfer of the coracoid process, together with the conjoint tendon, to the anterior glenoid margin. The aim is to prevent recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation through a "triple blocking" effect, which includes restoring bone loss, providing a dynamic sling effect, and performing capsulolabral repair. Despite the long history of the Latarjet procedure, studies evaluating its impact on scapulothoracic kinematics are sparse. However, there is a concern that scapulothoracic dyskinesia may occur owing to anatomic changes, including release of the coracoacromial ligament and pectoralis minor tendon, a change in the working length and vector of the conjoint tendon, subscapularis split, and capsular closure. The existing literature has major limitations and comprises predominantly small conflicting series that identify either no scapulothoracic dyskinesia after Latarjet or the presence of scapular protraction or retraction. Given that scapular dyskinesia is very common in shoulder instability patients and even asymptomatic general populations, the evidence that the Latarjet procedure results in dyskinesia is not compelling.

Editorial Commentary: Corticosteroid Injections Administered Within 4 Weeks Before Shoulder Arthroscopy Are Associated With an Increased Risk of Infection.

Corticosteroid injections are a frequently used modality for addressing shoulder pain. The widespread utilization of corticosteroid injections is supported by clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements including the 2019 American Academy for Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) guidelines for the management of rotator cuff injuries. However, steroids may be detrimental to healing potential following cuff repair and increase the risk of re-tear. In addition, corticosteroid injections administered within 4 weeks prior to shoulder arthroscopy are associated with an increased risk of infection. The degree of risk is dependent on the timing of surgery with longer time intervals between injection and shoulder arthroscopy being associated with less risk. The next version of the AAOS clinical practice guidelines for managing rotator cuff tears should incorporate commentary on the specific risk of surgical site infection following pre-operative corticosteroid injections, as well as on the timing of injections, with the aim of increasing awareness of these potentially devastating adverse effects.

Editorial Commentary: Ceiling Effects Are a Limitation of Frequently Used Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures Used to Assess Shoulder Function: Appropriate Selection of Shoulder Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures Is Required-Especially in Athletes.

Ceiling effects (CEs) are a major limitation of frequently used patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) in the assessment of shoulder function. It is generally considered that a CE may be present when the best possible score for a given PROM is achieved by at least 15% of the study population. When a CE occurs, it typically indicates that the scoring criteria are relatively easy and therefore may not reliably capture greater levels of patient function. This is a particular problem with the use of activities of daily living-oriented PROMs in the evaluation of athletic patients because they can still score highly, despite limitations in athletic shoulder function. When a CE is present, it can result in failure to determine the true efficacy of a procedure, limited responsiveness to change, and furthermore if a subsequent comparison of 2 groups of patients is undertaken, it may produce similar results despite meaningful differences between them. It is important to recognize that CEs are common and have important consequences but that careful selection of PROMs adapted to the characteristics of the study population and the specific research question can help to mitigate these issues.

Editorial Commentary: The Minimal Clinically Important Difference Is Less Important Than It Sounds: Patients Seek to Achieve Substantial Clinical Benefits and Not Minimally Perceptible Improvements When They Undergo Arthroscopic Surgery.

The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is a frequently reported metric for describing within-patient improvement in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). It was originally defined by Jaeschke et al. as "the smallest difference in score in the domain of interest which patients perceive as beneficial and which would mandate, in the absence of troublesome side effects and excessive cost, a change in the patient's management." The latter part of this statement is often omitted, and this results in a loss of the originally intended value through lack of sufficient clinical importance to change management. Other pitfalls in the use of the MCID include that they are population- and condition-specific. As such, MCIDs lack external validity and cannot easily be extrapolated from one study to another. Furthermore, broadly different values can be obtained depending on the calculation method used. This makes the MCID an unhelpful metric when seeking to understand the true efficacy of a given intervention. The Food and Drug Administration recommends anchor-based methodologies (which take into account patient perception), over distribution-based methods (which are purely statistical and do not account for clinical meaningfulness to patients). Regardless, it should be noted that even anchor-based methodologies are susceptible to statistical bias, and measures are apt to be influenced by the regression to mean phenomena, where the value of the preintervention scores and their relationship to postintervention scores can bias estimates of the MCID. Finally, when using MCIDs, one must consider that they are a low bar. This means that patients do not undergo treatment to achieve minimally perceptible clinical improvements; instead, they undergo treatment with the hope of achieving substantial clinical benefit or a patient acceptable symptom state, and so these are more appropriate individual-level metrics to consider when evaluating clinically meaningful outcomes of treatment.

Editorial Commentary: Knee Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis Procedures: Appropriate Study Design Is Essential for Reducing Conflicting Findings and Unnecessary Controversy in the Orthopaedic Literature.

Knee lateral extra-articular tenodesis procedures (LEAPs) reduce graft rupture rates when performed at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. However, in the setting of revision ACL reconstruction, LEAPs are less studied and remain controversial. Many studies support combined procedures (ACL + LEAP), yet others do not. When the literature comprises small patient cohorts and short follow-up periods, conflicting results often arise. The controversy surrounding them may be unnecessarily generated by the publication of low-quality studies. Future studies should focus on adequate power; appropriate design and methodology, including matching or randomization to account for potential confounding factors; proper statistical analyses; and avoidance of spin bias.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Revision Plus Lateral Extra-Articular Procedure Results in Superior Stability and Lower Failure Rates Than Does Isolated Anterior Cruciate Ligament Revision but Shows No Difference in Patient-Reported Outcomes or Return to Sports.

PURPOSE: To determine whether comparative clinical studies demonstrate significant advantages of revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (RACLR) combined with a lateral extra-articular procedure (LEAP), with respect to graft rupture rates, knee stability, return to sport rates, and patient-reported outcome measures, compared with isolated RACLR. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses Guidelines. A PubMed search was conducted using the key words "revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction" combined with any of the following additional terms, "lateral extra-articular tenodesis" OR "anterolateral ligament reconstruction" OR "Lemaire." All relevant comparative clinical studies were included. Key clinical data were extracted and evaluated. RESULTS: Eight comparative studies (seven Level III studies and a one Level IV study) were identified and included. Most studies reported more favorable outcomes with combined procedures with respect to failure rates (0%-13% following RACLR+LEAP, and 4.4%-21.4% following isolated RACLR), postoperative side-to-side anteroposterior laxity difference (1.3-3.9 mm following RACLR+LEAP and 1.8-5.9 mm following isolated RACLR), and high-grade pivot shift (0%-11.1% following RACLR+LEAP and 10.2%-23.8% in patients following isolated RACLR). There were no consistent differences between isolated and combined procedures with respect to return to sport or patient-reported outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review demonstrates that the addition of a LEAP to RACLR was associated with an advantage with respect to ACL graft failure rates and avoidance of high-grade postoperative knee laxity across almost all included studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, Systematic review of level III to IV studies.

Clinical Outcomes of Combined Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis Procedures in Skeletally Immature Patients: A Systematic Review From the SANTI Study Group.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in the pediatric population has changed significantly in the past few decades. Pediatric patients who underwent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) have a high risk of rerupture of up to 32%. The addition of lateral extra-articular procedures [lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET)], already shown to be effective in reducing the risk of rerupture in adults, may also be effective in pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the clinical outcomes of ACLR+LET tenodesis in pediatric patients. METHODS: Data were collected from Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Scopus Databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies reporting the clinical outcomes of ACLR+LET in the pediatric population using autograft, return to play, growth disturbances, failure rate, and surgical complications were included. RESULTS: A total of 5 studies comprising 381 pediatric patients were included. Three main surgical techniques with common features were used. The mean age of all pediatric patients in the included studies was 11.73 years (range, 5.6 to 16) with a mean follow-up of 50.1 months. The overall graft failure rate of the included studies was 4.65%. The return to play was 95.11%. The mean Lysholm score was 94.51 and the mean Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (Pedi-IKDC) was 93.39. In all, 1.9% of the patients had a coronal plane deformity and 0.8% had a limb length discrepancy. 4.6% of the patients had a contralateral ACL tear. CONCLUSIONS: A combined ACLR+LET in pediatric patients showed a graft failure ranging from 0% to 13.6% at a mean follow-up of 50.1 months. This low graft failure rate is consistent with ACLR+LET in adults. Further investigations are needed to validate these findings and the potential role of LET in reducing graft rupture rates in this population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-systematic review of level IV studies.

Editorial Commentary: Nonanatomic Lateral Extra-Articular Procedures Performed at the Time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Risk Overconstraint: Anatomic Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction Does Not.

Isolated anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is associated with a risk of graft rupture that is more than 5-fold higher than that of combined anterior cruciate ligament-anterolateral ligament (ALL) reconstruction at a mean follow-up of greater than 100 months. However, biomechanical and clinical studies report that overconstraint is a concern with nonanatomic lateral-sided reconstruction. In fact, the normal biomechanics of the native ALL are anisometric. The ligament is tight in extension (providing rotational control) and slack in flexion (allowing physiological internal rotation). The ALL femoral attachment is proximal and posterior to the lateral epicondyle. The tibial tunnel or tunnels are located anterior to the fibular head and posterior to the Gerdy tubercle. An ALL graft must lie deep to the iliotibial band and superficial to the lateral collateral ligament. Fixation is performed in extension and neutral rotation. A single- or double-strand technique may be used. Surgeons performing lateral extra-articular procedures must understand the technical pitfalls that can lead to overconstraint and must seek to avoid them. Overconstraint can occur for a number of reasons, including the use of nonanatomic reconstruction and technical errors in tensioning, fixation angle, and tunnel positioning.

Editorial Commentary: Lateral Extra-articular Procedures Concomitant to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Must Balance Clinical Efficacy and the Risk of Kinematic Restraint.

Lateral extra-articular procedures (LEAPs) performed concomitant to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction improve clinical outcomes and can restore normal knee kinematics. However, some LEAPs may result in overconstraint depending on technique. When using an iliotibial band based technique, passing the graft deep to the lateral collateral ligament and fixing it on the lateral cortex (rather than in a tunnel with an interference screw) minimizes the risk of tunnel collision and may also reduce the risk of overconstraint. Although several laboratory studies report overconstraint with iliotibial band based procedures, clinical reports of overconstraint are rare. This may be due to lack of a clear definition of clinical overconstraint and resultant underdiagnosis. However, long term randomised controlled study has demonstrated significantly higher rates of osteoarthritis when a modified Lemaire is added to an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. There is clearly a need for further study and in the meantime clinical efficacy must be balanced with the risk of kinematic restriction.

Editorial Commentary: Human Dermal Allograft Is Preferable to Fascia Lata Autograft Based on Similar Outcomes Without Donor-Site Morbidity.

Superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) is increasingly considered a "game-changer" for young patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears. Popular graft choices include fascia lata autograft (FLA) and human dermal allograft (HDA), with the latter strongly preferred in North America and Europe. Despite that, there seems to be a general perception that FLAs are associated with better healing rates due to better biology. However, critical analysis of the literature demonstrates abundant limitations that preclude strong conclusions about whether one graft type is optimal. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that HDAs used for SCR have good healing potential and are also associated with generally good short-term clinical outcomes. A clinical pearl is that humeral sided repair failures are not uncommon, and double-row repair techniques should be thoughtfully considered. The main downside of FLAs is the associated donor site morbidity. Given the lack of proven advantage of FLAs, the impetus to move away from the current trend to use HDAs is low.

Editorial Commentary: Let's ALL Agree-Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Outcomes Need to Be Improved and Extra-Articular Procedures Have an Essential Role.

We are united as an orthopaedic community in trying to improve the outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Graft rupture rates of 10% to 28% are reported in high-risk populations, reoperation for non-graft rupture-related indications are reported in 18% to 26%, and only 50% to 65% of recreational athletes return to their preinjury level of sports. Numerous groups across the world have published studies providing evidence demonstrating significant clinical efficacy of lateral extra-articular tenodesis in improving the outcomes of ACL surgery. Finally, the reductions in ACL graft rupture rates augmented with anterolateral ligament or a modified Lemaire reconstruction appear to be broadly comparable. In our hands, anterolateral ligament may result in fewer adverse events.

Clinical Outcomes of Arthroscopic Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair: A Systematic Review from the Scientific Anterior Cruciate Ligament Network International Study Group.

PURPOSE: To perform a systematic review of contemporary studies reporting clinical outcomes of primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair to determine whether these studies demonstrate any significant benefit of ACL repair and whether there is evidence of a deterioration of mid-term outcomes as seen in historical data. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. A PubMed search using the keywords "repair" AND "Anterior Cruciate Ligament" was performed (limits: English language, publication date between January 1, 2014, and January 13, 2019). All identified studies reporting clinical outcomes of arthroscopic ACL repair were included. Critical appraisal was conducted using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Clinical Trials and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies. Basic parameters of each study including population characteristics, repair technique, physical examination findings, and clinical outcome scores were recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: Nineteen eligible studies were identified (including 5 comparative studies). None of the comparative studies showed any significant difference between repair and reconstruction groups with respect to International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm, Tegner, side-to-side laxity difference, Lachman, pivot shift tests, or graft rupture rates. Four non-comparative studies reported outcomes at medium- to long-term follow up (range of mean follow up 43.3-79 months) with a mean Lysholm score between 85.3 and 100, mean IKDC subjective score between 87.3 and 100, and mean Tegner activity score between 5 and 7. CONCLUSIONS: Comparative studies identified no significant differences between ACL repair and reconstruction with respect to Lysholm, IKDC, side-to-side laxity difference, pivot shift grade, or graft rupture rates. However, these studies had major limitations including small numbers and short durations of follow up. Case series demonstrated that excellent outcomes can be achieved at medium- to long-term follow up with the SAR technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; Systematic review of Level II to IV investigations.

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.

Arthrogenic muscle inhibition after ACL reconstruction: a scoping review of the efficacy of interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether reported therapeutic interventions for arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) in patients with ACL injuries, following ACL reconstruction, or in laboratory studies of AMI, are effective in improving quadriceps activation failure when compared with standard therapy in control groups. DESIGN: A scoping review of the efficacy of interventions was conducted in accordance with the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Search terms included 'arthrogenic muscle inhibition', 'quadriceps activation following knee injuries', 'anterior cruciate' or 'knee' combined with 'quadriceps activation', 'quadriceps inhibition', 'corticomotor', 'arthrogenic', 'brain activation' and 'neuroplasticity'. Articles were evaluated for risk of bias using the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) criteria. The overall quality of evidence for each intervention was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Isolated case reports and articles reporting outcomes in patients with chronic disease or major trauma were excluded. All other original research articles were included. RESULTS: 780 potential articles were identified. 20 met the inclusion criteria. These studies provided a moderate quality of evidence to support the efficacy of cryotherapy and physical exercises in the management of AMI. There was low-quality evidence for efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and very low-quality evidence for efficacy of ultrasound and vibration. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review demonstrated moderate-quality evidence for the efficacy of cryotherapy and physical exercises in improving quadriceps activation failure after ACL injury and reconstruction. These therapeutic modalities are therefore recommended in the management of AMI.

Combined Anterior Cruciate and Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction in the Professional Athlete: Clinical Outcomes From the Scientific Anterior Cruciate Ligament Network International Study Group in a Series of 70 Patients With a Minimum Follow-Up of 2 Years.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes in professional athletes after combined anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and anterolateral ligament (ALL) reconstruction at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the Scientific Anterior Cruciate Ligament Network International (SANTI) Study Group database was performed. All professional athletes who underwent primary combined ACL and ALL reconstruction between January 2011 and March 2016 were included. Patient assessment included physical examination, pre- and postoperative subjective and objective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Tegner activity scale, and Lysholm scores. RESULTS: Seventy-two professional athletes underwent primary ACL and ALL reconstruction; 70 (97%) were available, with a mean follow-up of 3.9 years (range, 2-7). The preoperative side-to-side anteroposterior laxity difference was 7.1 ± 1.4 mm, and this decreased significantly after surgery to 0.4 ± 0.9 mm (P < .0001). Pivot-shift grade evolved from 16 grade I (22.8%) and 54 grade II or III (77.2%) preoperatively, to 66 absent pivot shift (94.3%) and 4 grade I (5.7; P < .001). By 1-year postoperatively, 60 athletes (85.7%) returned to professional sport, with a mean time interval of 7.9 months (range, 5-12). Preoperatively, the mean subjective IKDC was 56.1 ± 12.3, the Lysholm score was 48.4 ± 12.5, and the Tegner score was 9.3 ± 1. At final follow-up, the mean subjective IKDC was 90.5 ± 7.6 (P < .0001), the Lysholm score was 94.4 ± 7.5 (P < .0001), and the Tegner score was 8.8 ± 1.5 (P < .004). The objective IKDC evolved from 39 grade C (55.7%) and 31 grade D (44.3%) preoperatively to 65 grade A (92.9%) and 5 grade B (7.1%) (P < .0001). Eleven Patients (15,7%) underwent a subsequent ipsilateral reoperation including 4 (5.7%) revision ACL reconstructions. The risk of graft rupture was significantly higher in female patients (13.6% vs 2.1% in male patients; P = .048). CONCLUSIONS: Combined ACL and ALL reconstruction is associated with excellent outcomes in professional athletes with respect to graft rupture rates, return to sport, knee stability, and reoperation rates after injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

Acromioclavicular joint augmentation at the time of coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction fails to improve functional outcomes despite significantly improved horizontal stability.

PURPOSE: Acromioclavicular joint reconstruction is a well-established and frequently performed procedure. Recent scientific and commercial interest has led to a drive to develop and perform surgical techniques that more reliably restore horizontal stability in order to improve patient outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the biomechanical evidence for procedures directed at restoring horizontal stability and determine whether they are associated with superior clinical results when compared to well-established procedures. METHODS: A review of the online databases Medline and EMBASE was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines on the 23rd December 2017. Biomechanical and clinical studies reporting either static or dynamic horizontal displacement following acromioclavicular joint reconstruction (Coracoclavicular reconstruction or Weaver-Dunn) were included. In addition, biomechanical and clinical studies reporting outcomes after additional augmentation of the acromioclavicular joint were included. The studies were appraised using the Methodological index for non-randomised studies tool. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 18 studies eligible for inclusion: six biomechanical and 12 clinical studies. Comparative biomechanical studies demonstrated that acromioclavicular augmentation provided significantly increased horizontal stability compared to the coracoclavicular reconstruction and Weaver-Dunn procedure. Comparative clinical studies demonstrated no significant differences between coracoclavicular reconstruction with and without acromioclavicular augmentation in terms of functional outcomes (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon and Constant score), complication or revision rates. However, one comparative study did demonstrate an improvement in Taft (p = 0.018) and Acromioclavicular Joint Instability scores (p = 0.0001) after acromioclavicular augmentation. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, coracoclavicular reconstruction with augmentation of the acromioclavicular joint has been shown to provide improved horizontal stability in both biomechanical and clinical studies compared to isolated coracoclavicular reconstruction. However, comparative studies have shown no clinical advantage with respect to American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon or Constant scores and, therefore, the results of this systematic review do not support acromioclavicular augmentation in routine clinical practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is associated with greater tibial tunnel widening when using a bioabsorbable screw compared to an all-inside technique with suspensory fixation.

PURPOSE: To compare clinical outcomes and tunnel widening following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) performed with an all-inside technique (Group A) or with a bioabsorbable tibial screw and suspensory femoral fixation (Group B). METHODS: Tunnel widening was assessed using computed tomography (CT) and a previously validated analytical best fit cylinder technique at approximately 1-year following ACLR. Clinical follow-up comprised evaluation with IKDC, KSS, Tegner, Lysholm scores, and knee laxity assessment. RESULTS: The study population comprised 22 patients in each group with a median clinical follow-up of 24 months (range 21-27 months). The median duration between ACLR and CT was 13 months (range 12-14 months). There were no significant differences in clinical outcome measures between groups. There were no differences between groups with respect to femoral tunnel widening. However, there was a significantly larger increase in tibial tunnel widening, at the middle portion, in Group B (2.4 ± 1.5 mm) compared to Group A (0.8 ± 0.4 mm) (p = 0.027), and also at the articular portion in Group B (1.5 ± 0.8 mm) compared to Group A (0.8 ± 0.8 mm) (p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: Tibial tunnel widening after ACLR using hamstring tendon autograft is significantly greater with suspensory femoral fixation and a bioabsorbable tibial interference screw when compared to an all-inside technique at a median follow-up of 2 years. The clinical relevance of this work lies in the rebuttal of concerns arising from biomechanical studies regarding the possibility of increased tunnel widening with an all-inside technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Is shortening of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures associated with inferior clinical outcomes following nonoperative management? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Management of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures is controversial. Nonoperative treatment can lead to shortening, a risk factor for nonunion and poor functional outcomes. These inferior results have resulted in authors recommending surgical fixation for fractures with significant shortening. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the effect of fracture shortening on shoulder function and nonunion rates in nonoperatively managed displaced midshaft clavicle fractures. METHODS: A review of the online databases MEDLINE and Embase was conducted on February 16, 2018, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review was registered prospectively in the PROSPERO database. Clinical studies with midshaft clavicle fractures treated nonoperatively reporting an evaluation of the degree of clavicle shortening and either shoulder function or nonunion were included. The studies were appraised using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) tool. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 16 studies eligible for inclusion, comprising 4 randomized controlled trials and 12 nonrandomized retrospective comparative studies. Of the 12 case series, 11 failed to demonstrate any correlation between shortening and shoulder outcome scores. Of the 4 randomized controlled trials, 3 reported no significant association between fracture shortening and shoulder outcome scores. The studies also failed to demonstrate a significant association between nonunion and the presence of clavicle shortening. CONCLUSION: There is no significant association between fracture shortening and nonunion rates or shoulder outcome scores in displaced midshaft clavicle fractures managed nonoperatively.

Three-dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Anterolateral Ligament of the Knee: An Evaluation of Intact and Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient Knees From the Scientific Anterior Cruciate Ligament Network International (SANTI) Study Group.

PURPOSE: To determine the visualization rate of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) in uninjured and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knees using 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to characterize the spectrum of ALL injury observed in ACL-deficient knees, as well as determine the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of a 3D MRI classification of ALL injury. METHODS: A total of 100 knees (60 ACL deficient and 40 uninjured) underwent 3D MRI. The ALL was evaluated by 2 blinded orthopaedic surgeons. The ALL was classified as follows: type A, continuous, clearly defined low-signal band; type B, warping, thinning, or iso-signal changes; and type C, without clear continuity. The comparison between imaging performed early after ACL injury (<1 month) and delayed imaging (>1 month) was evaluated, as was intraobserver and interobserver reliability. RESULTS: Complete visualization of the ALL was achieved in all uninjured knees. In the ACL-deficient group, 24 knees underwent early imaging, with 87.5% showing evidence of ALL injury (3 normal, or type A, knees [12.5%], 18 type B [75.0%], and 3 type C [12.5%]). The remaining 36 knees underwent delayed imaging, with 55.6% showing evidence of injury (16 type A [44.4%], 18 type B [50.0%], and 2 type C [5.6%]). The difference in the rate of injury between the 2 groups was significant (P = .03). Multivariate analysis showed that the delay from ACL injury to MRI was the only factor (negatively) associated with the rate of injury to the ALL. Interobserver reliability and intraobserver reliability of the classification of ALL type were good (κ = 0.86 and κ = 0.93, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional MRI allows full visualization of the ALL in all normal knees. The rate of injury to the ALL in acutely ACL-injured knees identified on 3D MRI is higher than previous reports using standard MRI techniques. This rate is significantly higher than the rate of injury to the ALL identified on delayed imaging of ACL-injured knees. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, diagnostic, case-control study.