Comparison of Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Adverse Local Tissue Reaction in Patients With Head-Neck Taper Corrosion.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) in metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) total hip arthroplasty (THA) secondary to head-neck taper corrosion is challenging. The purpose of this study is to compare differences between asymptomatic and symptomatic ALTR in an observational cohort, including presentation, metal ion differences, and metal artifact reduction sequence (MARS) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of an observational cohort of 492 MoP THA patients at increased risk of developing ALTR. Ninety-four patients underwent revision arthroplasty for ALTR. Patients were stratified into symptomatic and asymptomatic ALTR groups. Presentation, metal ion levels, and imaging findings were compared. RESULTS: For patients with confirmed ALTR, 41% were asymptomatic. There was a statistically significant difference in the serum chromium levels between symptomatic and asymptomatic ALTR patients (2.2 µg/L vs 3.1 µg/L, P = .05). There was no statistically significant difference between the serum cobalt levels or MRI findings in these 2 groups. We observed that extracapsular disease associated with ALTR could be misinterpreted as trochanteric bursitis. CONCLUSION: Almost half of the MoP THA ALTR cases identified were asymptomatic. Cobalt levels could not differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic pseudotumor formation. Symptomatic and asymptomatic MoP ALTRs have similar MARS MRI characteristics. Our findings suggest that it is essential to risk stratify patients who could potentially have ALTR based on implant type, symptoms, ion levels, and MARS MRI.

The Postoperative Meniscus: Anatomical, Operative, and Imaging Considerations.

Meniscal surgery is commonplace. Patients who have had prior surgery may return for additional imaging for continued or new pain, limited range of motion, or interval injury. Accurate interpretation of postoperative imaging requires a clear understanding of the normal meniscal anatomy and biomechanics. Surgical goals and current surgical techniques impact the imaging appearance. These techniques are reviewed in the context of the various meniscal tear patterns. Multiple imaging modalities may be used in patient assessment with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging providing key information regarding the integrity of the meniscal repair. Imagers need to be aware of the key findings for a normal versus pathologic appearance to the postoperative meniscus as well as other potential MR findings that may account for patient presentation.

Can glenoid wear be accurately assessed using x-ray imaging? Evaluating agreement of x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Walch classification.

BACKGROUND: The Walch classification is the most recognized means of assessing glenoid wear in preoperative planning for shoulder arthroplasty. This classification relies on advanced imaging, which is more expensive and less practical than plain radiographs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Walch classification could be accurately applied to x-ray images compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the gold standard. We hypothesized that x-ray images cannot adequately replace advanced imaging in the evaluation of glenoid wear. METHODS: Preoperative axillary x-ray images and MRI scans of 50 patients assessed for shoulder arthroplasty were independently reviewed by 5 raters. Glenoid wear was individually classified according to the Walch classification using each imaging modality. The raters then collectively reviewed the MRI scans and assigned a consensus classification to serve as the gold standard. The κ coefficient was used to determine interobserver agreement for x-ray images and independent MRI reads, as well as the agreement between x-ray images and consensus MRI. RESULTS: The inter-rater agreement for x-ray images and MRIs was "moderate" (κ = 0.42 and κ = 0.47, respectively) for the 5-category Walch classification (A1, A2, B1, B2, C) and "moderate" (κ = 0.54 and κ = 0.59, respectively) for the 3-category Walch classification (A, B, C). The agreement between x-ray images and consensus MRI was much lower: "fair-to-moderate" (κ = 0.21-0.51) for the 5-category and "moderate" (κ = 0.36-0.60) for the 3-category Walch classification. DISCUSSION: The inter-rater agreement between x-ray images and consensus MRI is "fair-to-moderate." This is lower than the previously reported reliability of the Walch classification using computed tomography scans. Accordingly, x-ray images are inferior to advanced imaging when assessing glenoid wear.

The anterolateral capsule is infrequently damaged as evaluated arthroscopically in patients undergoing anatomic ACL reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Concomitant anterolateral complex (ALC) injury may contribute to persistent rotatory knee instability following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. There is no consensus on how to best identify concomitant ALC injury preoperatively, nor how well ALC injury identified on imaging modalities correlates with clinical examination of knee instability. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the incidence of concomitant ALC injury in ACL-injured knees, as determined by arthroscopy to preoperative radiography, ultrasound, and MRI. METHODS: A total of 117 patients with a unilateral primary ACL injury who underwent individualized anatomic ACLR between June 2016 and May 2019 were enrolled. Preoperative imaging modalities, including X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI, were evaluated for concomitant ALC injury. Clinical examination under anesthesia, including the anterior drawer, Lachman, and pivot shift tests were performed. Anterolateral capsule injury, as defined by hemorrhage and/or capsular tearing on diagnostic arthroscopy, was also determined. Correlative analyses of ALC injury incidence and severity were performed across imaging modalities and against clinical examination grades. RESULTS: ALC injury incidence across imaging modalities was as follows: X-ray (3%), arthroscopy (19%), MRI (53%), and US (63%). The ALC injury rate on arthroscopy was significantly less than MRI (p < 0.001) or ultrasound (p < 0.001). ALC injury incidence and severity were significantly correlated between MRI and US grading scales (p = 0.02), but no correlations among other imaging modalities were found. Similarly, no imaging modality meaningfully correlated with physical examination maneuvers. CONCLUSION: The incidence of ALC injury varies across imaging modalities, with lower injury rates found on arthroscopy (19%) compared to MRI (53%) and US (63%). Increasing ALC injury severity grades on imaging does not predict increasing anterolateral knee laxity on clinical examination. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V, retrospective case series.

Predictors of Adverse Local Tissue Reaction in a High-Risk Population.

BACKGROUND: Adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) is a recognized complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA) with metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) bearing surface implants. Specific models of THA implants have been identified as having a higher incidence of ALTR. The purpose of this study is to determine if serum metal levels, patient symptoms, implant factors, and imaging findings can be predictive of ALTR within this high-risk population. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed an observational cohort of 474 patients who underwent MoP THA and were at increased risk of having ALTR. Patients were stratified based on the presence or absence of ALTR. Patient symptoms, serum metal ions, implant head offset, and imaging findings were compared. RESULTS: Patients with ALTR were more likely to be symptomatic (52.9% vs 9.9%, P < .0001). The presence of ALTR was associated with significantly higher serum cobalt and chromium levels (6.2 ppb vs 3.6 ppb, P < .0001; 2.3 ppb vs 1.2 ppb, P < .0001). Head offsets greater than 4 mm were associated with a higher prevalence of ALTR (53% vs 38%, P = .05). On metal artifact reduction sequence magnetic resonance imaging, patients with ALTR had larger effusions (4.7 cm vs 2.1 cm, P < .001) and a higher incidence of trochanteric bursitis (47% vs 16%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In high-risk MoP implants, serum cobalt and chromium levels are elevated, even in patients without ALTR. A larger femoral head offset is a risk factor for the development of ALTR. Our study suggests that patients presenting with painful THA and elevated metal ions require risk stratification based on patient symptoms, metal artifact reduction sequence magnetic resonance imaging findings, and implant factors.