Evaluation of radiological contribution to patient management: the orthopedist's point of view.

BACKGROUND: Orthopedists prefer imaging studies for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of orthopedists' characteristics, including subspecialty, age, education, and professional experience, in collaboration with radiologists and the usefulness of radiology reports for orthopedists in diagnosis and patient management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Questionnaires, consisting of 21 questions investigating the orthopedists' characteristics, their behavior with radiology reports, their thoughts on communication, and collaboration with radiologists, were distributed to 205 orthopedists. Descriptive analysis was performed, and the effects of orthopedist characteristics on the outcomes was evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 161 out of 205 enrolled participants were included in the analysis. A total of 156 (96.9%) participants stated that they reviewed at least one official radiology report, with MRI receiving the highest rate (92.4%). The main reason provided for not reviewing the radiology reports and requests regarding changes to radiology report formats seemed to be mostly related to time pressure. Despite a significant portion of the participants stating that clinical and surgical findings were inconsistent with radiology reports, less than half were inclined to contact the radiologist most of the time or always. Increasing age (P = 0.005), experience (P = 0.016), and university hospital specialization (P = 0.007) increased the tendency to form multidisciplinary team meetings. Communication with radiologists increased with age (P < 0.001), while more experience reduced the impact of radiology reports on decision-making (P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Increasing cooperation between orthopedists and radiologists will make a significant contribution to decision-making and treatment processes. Orthopedists' characteristics are influential factors in establishing this communication.

Clinical outcomes of platelet rich plasma (PRP) as an adjunct to microfracture surgery in osteochondral lesions of the talus.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of arthroscopic microfracture surgery alone or in combination with platelet rich plasma (PRP) on functional outcomes in osteochondral lesions of the talus. METHODS: A total of 35 patients were included in the study. Control subjects (n = 16) received treatment with microfracture surgery alone, while the remaining patients (PRP group, n = 19) were also given PRP. After an average follow-up of 16.2 months (range 12-24 months), patients were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scoring system, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), and the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain. RESULTS: At baseline, AOFAS and FAAM scores were similar in the two groups, whereas pain scores (VAS) were higher in those who were assigned to combined treatment. Despite the latter finding, the combined treatment with PRP resulted in better outcomes in terms of functional scores [AOFAS, 89.2 ± 3.9 vs. 71.0 ± 10.2, (p = 0.001); FAAM overall pain domain, 1.0 (1.0-2.0) vs. 2.5 (1.0-4.0), (p = 0.04); FAAM 15-min walking domain, 1.0 (1.0-2.0) vs. 2.0 (1.0-4.0) (p = 0.001)]; and pain-related scores [VAS, 2.2 ± 0.8 vs. 3.8 ± 1.2, (p = 0.001)] as compared to arthroscopic microfracture surgery alone. CONCLUSIONS: PRP as an adjunct to arthroscopic microfracture surgery for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus resulted in improved functional score status in the medium-term. Further studies to determine the long-term efficacy of this approach were warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Anatomic Factors Associated With the Development of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rerupture in Men: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Although several factors are associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rerupture, the effect of anatomic factors associated with ACL rupture on ACL rerupture development has not been evaluated. PURPOSE: To determine individual anatomic parameters independently associated with ACL rerupture and the diagnostic values of these parameters. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 91 male patients with ACL rerupture and 182 age-, sex-, body mass index-, and side dominance-matched patients without rerupture who underwent ACL reconstruction with a 5-year follow-up were included. In all, 35 parameters that were previously defined as risk factors for primary ACL rupture were compared between the 2 groups. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression models were created to evaluate independently associated factors. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed for independently associated parameters to predict sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff values. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation age of patients at the time of index surgery was 26.5 ± 6.7 years. Notch shape index (P = .014), tibial proximal anteroposterior (AP) distance (TPAPD) (P < .001), lateral femoral condylar AP distance (LCAPD)/TPAPD ratio (P < .001), medial meniscal cartilage bone height (P < .001), and lateral meniscal bone angle (P = .004) were found to be significantly different between the 2 groups. Only the LCAPD/TPAPD ratio (odds ratio, 2.713; 95% CI, 1.998-5.480; P < .001) was found to be independently associated with ACL rerupture development. The LCAPD/TPAPD ratio revealed 78.9% sensitivity and 75.5% specificity (area under the curve, 0.815; 95% CI, 0.760-0.870) for values above 1.52. CONCLUSION: The LCAPD/TPAPD ratio can be used to distinguish patients who are at risk of developing ACL rerupture from patients who are not. In the clinical practice, findings of this study may help to develop surgical and nonsurgical preventive strategies in ACL rerupture development.

The effect of biceps tenotomy on humeral migration and clinical outcomes in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of biceps tenotomy on humeral migration and clinical outcomes in patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff (RC) repair. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 60 patients who underwent arthroscopic RC repair. Patients were divided into two groups, whether they underwent concomitant biceps tenotomy or not. The group underwent concomitant biceps tenotomy, tenotomy ( +), or not, tenotomy (-). Clinical and functional outcomes were performed using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) scoring system. Radiological evaluation was performed in X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), measuring the acromiohumeral distance (AHD), humeral migration (HM) and upper migration index (UMI). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of patient characteristics. The follow-up period was 30.9 ± 8.7 months in the tenotomy ( +) group and 34.9 ± 8.2 months in the tenotomy (-) group with no significant difference. Postoperative ASES score improved significantly in the tenotomy ( +) group compared to the tenotomy (-) group (91.2 ± 4.7, 80.8 ± 18.7, respectively, p = 0.005). There was a significant difference in postoperative AHD, HM and UMI values (MRI; p = 0.003, p = 0.017, p = 0.025; X-ray; p = 0.049, p = 0.002, p = 0.010, respectively). The post-pre difference increase of AHD [MRI for tenotomy( +): 0.14 ± 0.86 and tenotomy(-): 0.91 ± 0.85, p = 0.001; X-ray for tenotomy( +): 0.61 ± 0.43 and tenotomy(-): 1.12 ± 0.7, p = 0.001] and UMI [MRI for tenotomy( +): 0.005 ± 0.05 and tenotomy(-): 0.04 ± 0.06, p = 0.006; X-ray for tenotomy( +): 0.01 ± .064 and tenotomy(-): 0.12 ± 0.37, p = 0.110] values were higher in the tenotomy (-) group compared to the tenotomy ( +) group while HM values decreased more in the tenotomy (-) group. [MRI for tenotomy ( +): -0.19 ± 1.07 and tenotomy (-): -0.79 ± 1.52, p = 0.079; X-ray for tenotomy ( +): -0.27 ± 0.54 and tenotomy (-): -1.006 ± 1.83, p = 0.040]. CONCLUSION: After short-term follow-up, the humeral head was positioned higher in patients who underwent LHBT tenotomy compared to patients without tenotomy. However, it seems to affect clinical outcomes during this period positively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.

Individual and Combined Anatomic Risk Factors for the Development of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Men: A Multiple Factor Analysis Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: No comparative studies have evaluated anatomic risk factors in a large cohort including both patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures and healthy participants. PURPOSE: To determine which anatomic parameters are independently associated with an ACL rupture and the diagnostic values of the individual and combined anatomic parameters. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 352 male patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction because of a primary ACL rupture and 350 age-, sex-, body mass index-, and side dominance-matched healthy participants were included. Measurements of 32 previously determined parameters and 7 calculations were performed. Between-group differences were calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were conducted for the individual and combined independently associated factors. RESULTS: The mean age and body mass index of all participants were 29.9 ± 7.7 years and 27.2 ± 3.1, respectively. There were significant differences between the groups regarding the notch width (NW), notch shape index, anterior tibial slope, notch width index, NW-eminence width (NW:EW) ratio, notch height, axial lateral wall angle, medial intercondylar ridge thickness, alpha angle, medial tibial depth (MTD), lateral tibial slope (LTS), coronal tibial plateau width, eminence width index, tibial proximal anteroposterior distance (TPAP), lateral condylar anteroposterior distance (LCAP)/TPAP, ACL cross-sectional area, ACL volume, medial and lateral meniscal cartilage height, medial and lateral meniscal cartilage angle (MCA), and medial and lateral meniscal cartilage bone height. The NW:EW ratio (odds ratio [OR], 4.419; P = .017), MTD (OR, 8.617; P = .001), LTS (OR, 2.254; P = .011), LCAP/TPAP (OR, 2.782; P = .037), and medial MCA (OR, 1.318; P = .010) were independently associated with the development of an ACL rupture. Combining the independently associated factors revealed a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 94% (area under the curve, 0.968). CONCLUSION: Patients with ACL ruptures could be distinguished from uninjured controls with high sensitivity and specificity via the combined use of the NW:EW ratio, MTD, LTS, LCAP/TPAP, and medial MCA. In clinical practice, these findings may contribute to the development of preventive strategies for ACL ruptures.

Calcific mediopatellar plica: a case report.

A 38-year-old male patient was admitted to our clinic with the complaints of pain and swelling in his right knee for two years. He had mechanical symptoms for nearly six months. Merchant and lateral knee X-ray revealed calcification in the medial patellar retinaculum. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated increased ossification and cortical irregularity in the patella's medial and inferior pole. Due to long-term complaints of the patient, arthroscopy was planned with the preliminary diagnoses of patellofemoral chondromalacia, cartilage degeneration and mediopatellar plica (MPP) syndrome. Arthroscopy revealed a calcific MPP, an interesting entity. It should be kept in mind that plica may become calcific in patients with suspected MPP and the complaints of the patient may not disappear within if left untreated.