Editorial Commentary: Detailed Assessments of Confounders are Necessary for Valid Interpretations of Patellofemoral Cartilage Restoration Studies.

Cartilage restoration procedures have gained increased traction over the years as a treatment for chondral defects in relatively younger patients. A critical assessment of study populations for confounders is vital to interpret results in a valid manner. This is particularly true when assessing outcomes of cartilage restoration procedures in the patellofemoral compartment because there is often great heterogeneity associated with this population. Patients often undergo additional procedures (prior or concomitant), have variable anatomy (malalignment, maltracking, and trochlear dysplasia), and variable chondral defect sizes, depths, and locations (lateral patellar facet, medial patellar facet, median patellar ridge, trochlea). Without an assessment of study populations for potential confounders that may influence the results, only more limited conclusions can be gleaned from the results pertaining to these procedures. Finally, there are many choices for cartilage restoration (osteochondral autografting, osteochondral allografting, autologous chondrocyte implantation, autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis, and particulated juvenile articular cartilage) and different clinical situations in which one may confer benefit over the other, yet all seem to result in significant improvement for patients with acceptable failure rates.

Three-Dimensional Imaging of the Patellofemoral Joint Improves Understanding of Trochlear Anatomy and Pathology and Planning of Realignment.

Three-dimensional (3D) modeling using digital or printed models provides a unique perspective that caters to cognitive spatial ability in a way that can add to our understanding and mental representations of human anatomy. This is particularly useful in the setting of trochlear dysplasia, where the morphology of the groove can exhibit substantial variability and complexity. Using 3D reformatted images and models, a pragmatic understanding of how morphology influences patellofemoral pathology can be gleaned. Further, this perspective facilitates cognition of what patellar tracking may look like after realignment procedures. Using 3D modeling, concepts such as patella alta, trochlear depth, lateralization of the patellar entry point, trochlear curvature, and the presence of a proximal trochlear spur can help afford a better understanding of how trochlear anatomy may influence tracking while also providing insight as to the ideal tracking path. The use of 3D has recently emerged as a useful tool in multiple surgical subspecialties, particularly in situations involving surgical planning or complex anatomy. Given the complexity and variation in trochlear morphology in patients with trochlear dysplasia who develop either patellar instability or focal overloading, 3D modeling is well-suited to provide a perspective that can add to our understanding of trochlear dysplasia, and potentially even how we diagnose and treat it. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, expert opinion.

Over One-Third of Patients With Multiligament Knee Injuries and an Intact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Demonstrate Medial Meniscal Ramp Lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of ramp lesions and posteromedial tibial plateau (PMTP) bone bruising on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with multiligament knee injuries (MLKIs) and an intact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive patients surgically treated for MLKIs at 2 level I trauma centers between January 2001 and March 2021 was performed. Only MLKIs with an intact ACL that received MRI scans within 90 days of the injury were included. All MLKIs were diagnosed on MRI and confirmed with operative reports. Two musculoskeletal radiologists retrospectively rereviewed preoperative MRIs for evidence of medial meniscus ramp lesions (MMRLs) and PMTP bone bruises using previously established classification systems. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to calculate the reliability between the radiologists. The incidence of MMRLs and PMTP bone bruises was quantified using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 221 MLKIs were identified, of which 32 (14.5%) had an intact ACL (87.5% male; mean age of 29.9 ± 8.6 years) and were included. The most common MLKI pattern was combined injury to the posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner (n = 27, 84.4%). PMTP bone bruises were observed in 12 of 32 (37.5%) patients. Similarly, MMRLs were diagnosed in 12 of 32 (37.5%) patients. A total of 8 of 12 (66.7%) patients with MMRLs demonstrated evidence PMTP bone bruising. CONCLUSIONS: Over one-third of MLKI patients with an intact ACL were diagnosed with MMRLs on MRI in this series. PMTP bone bruising was observed in 66.7% of patients with MMRLs, suggesting that increased vigilance for identifying MMRLs at the time of ligament reconstruction should be practiced in patients with this bone bruising pattern. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

No Difference in Complication or Reoperation Rates Between Arthroscopic and Open Debridement for Lateral Epicondylitis: A National Database Study.

PURPOSE: To compare complication rates and 5-year reoperation rates between open debridement (OD) and arthroscopic debridement (AD) for lateral epicondylitis. METHODS: The PearlDiver MUExtr database (2010-2019) was reviewed for patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis (queried by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision [ICD-10] codes) undergoing OD or AD of the common extensor tendon without repair (queried by Current Procedural Terminology codes). Patients were stratified into 2 cohorts: those who underwent AD and those who underwent OD. Nonoperative treatment modalities were reported for both groups within 1 year before index procedure. The rates of 90-day postoperative complications were compared, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for complications. The 5-year reoperation rates, using laterality-specific ICD-10 codes, were also compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: In total, 19,280 patients (OD = 17,139, AD = 2,141) were analyzed in this study. The most common nonoperative treatments for patients who underwent OD or AD were corticosteroid injections (49.5% vs 43.2%), physical therapy (24.8% vs 25.7%), bracing (2.8% vs 3.2%), and platelet-rich plasma injections (1.3% vs 1.0%). There were no significant differences in radial nerve injuries, hematomas, surgical site infections, wound dehiscence, and sepsis events between the 2 procedures (P = .50). The 5-year reoperation rate was not significantly different between the AD (5.0%) and OD (3.9%) cohorts (P = .10). CONCLUSIONS: For lateral epicondylitis, both AD and OD of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (without repair) were found to have low rates of 90-day adverse events, with no significant differences between the 2 approaches. Similarly, the 5-year reoperation rate was low and not statistically different for those treated with OD or AD. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, cross-sectional study.

The Van Gorder approach for total elbow arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of the triceps during exposure for total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is critical to a successful outcome. Previously described techniques include elevating the triceps insertion from one side or leaving the triceps insertion attached and dislocating the joint. Another approach to the elbow, first described in 1933 by Willis Campbell, MD, and subsequently modified by George Van Gorder, MD, involves turning down the triceps tendon without disrupting the triceps insertion. This approach offers complete visualization of the joint and provides excellent exposure for TEA. Only the original report of the technique and a small series of patients using this technique for TEA exist in the literature. The goal of this study was to evaluate outcomes of the Van Gorder approach in a large series of patients undergoing TEA. METHODS: All patients who underwent TEA from 2008 to 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients who underwent primary TEA performed through the Van Gorder approach with at least 6 months' follow-up were included for analysis. Patients with prior elbow surgery were excluded. Demographic data, indication for surgery, postoperative range of motion, triceps function, and need for additional surgery were recorded. Prospectively collected visual analog scale (VAS) and Global Health Quality of Life scores were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age was 62 years, 81% were female, and the average follow-up was 30.2 months. The most common surgical indications included inflammatory arthritis (47%), osteoarthritis (24%), and fracture (19%). Postoperatively, average elbow arc of motion was an 8°-137°. There was 1 patient (1.89%) who developed failure of their triceps extension mechanism. A total of 10 patients (19%) underwent additional elbow surgery most commonly for superficial wound complications. Preoperative VAS scores decreased significantly, starting at 3 months postoperatively (6.76 to 3.37, P < .001), and remained constant at the 12- and 24-month postoperative visits. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study evaluating the Van Gorder surgical approach to the elbow for primary TEA with an average follow-up of 32 months. Overall rates of triceps failure and reoperation are consistent with other approaches for TEA.

What Factors Affect Whether Patients Return to the Same Surgeon to Replace the Contralateral Joint? A Study of Over 200,000 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hip and knee arthritis often undergo bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a staged or simultaneous fashion. However, when staged, the incidence and factors associated with having both procedures performed by the same surgeon or different surgeon are not well studied. METHODS: All patients undergoing nonsimultaneous bilateral THA or TKA for osteoarthritis were abstracted from the 2010 to 2020 PearlDiver Mariner administrative database. The National Provider Identifier number was used to determine whether the same surgeon performed both surgeries. Demographics, comorbidities, and 90-day complications after the first joint replacement were assessed as possible independent predictors of utilizing a different surgeon for the contralateral joint. RESULTS: Of 87,593 staged bilateral THAs, the same surgeon performed 40,707 (46.5%) arthroplasties. Of 147,938 staged bilateral TKAs, the same surgeon performed 77,072 (52.1%) arthroplasties. Notably, older cohorts of patients had independent, stepwise, and significantly greater odds of changing surgeons for the contralateral THA and TKA. Those patients who were insured by Medicare and Medicaid had significantly lower odds of changing surgeons. For both THA and TKA, surgical and implant-related adverse events (surgical site infection/periprosthetic joint infection, periprosthetic fracture, dislocation, manipulation) carried the greatest odds of undergoing the contralateral replacement with a different surgeon. CONCLUSION: Patients covered by Medicaid and sicker patients were significancy less likely to switch surgeons for their contralateral THA or TKA. Additionally, patients experiencing a surgery-related adverse event within 90 days of their first THA or TKA had significantly, increased odds of switching surgeons for their subsequent TJA.

Measuring Proximal Tibial Metaphyseal Width and Lateral Epiphyseal Height Improves Determination of Remaining Growth in Children.

BACKGROUND: Accurate assessments of skeletal maturity is of critical importance to guide type and timing of orthopaedic surgical interventions. Several quantitative markers of the proximal tibia were recently developed using historical knee radiographs. The purpose of the present study was to determine which marker would be most effective in assessment of full-length radiographs in a modern pediatric patient population. METHODS: All full-length radiographs at our institutions between 2013 and 2018 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria for our study required that the child reached final height as defined by 2 consecutive unchanged heights, at least 6 months apart, after age 16 for boys and 14 for girls. Patients with metabolic bone disease, prior surgery such as epiphysiodesis, or previous infections around the knee were excluded. Summary statistics for each of the 3 proximal tibial ratios were calculated and multiple linear regression was performed with percent of growth remaining as a dependent variable. A recommended regression model is presented and evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 692 full-length radiographs met inclusion criteria. Proximal tibial ratios were calculated and averaged values for each percent of growth remaining was presented. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that using all 3 variables led to overfitting of the model so tibial metaphyseal width/lateral tibial epiphyseal height was selected as the optimal ratio for use by clinicians. The optimal model for determining growth was found to have R2=0.723 in the developmental set and R2=0.762 in an excluded validation set. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the proximal tibial metaphyseal width/lateral tibial epiphyseal height is the ideal measurement for clinicians seeking to determine growth remaining in children. It presents average values between 0% and 25% of growth remaining. This study also develops and validates a multivariable regression model for determining percentage of growth remaining in children that will allow for quantitative determination of growth using full-length radiographs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Musculoskeletal Urgent Care Centers in Connecticut Restrict Patients with Medicaid Insurance Based on Policy and Location.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal urgent care centers are a new development in the urgent care landscape. Anecdotally, these centers are known to screen patients based on their insurance status, denying care to those with Medicaid insurance. It is important to know whether the practice of denying musculoskeletal urgent care to patients with Medicaid insurance is widespread because this policy could exacerbate existing musculoskeletal healthcare disparities. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Do musculoskeletal urgent care centers in Connecticut provide access for patients with Medicaid insurance? (2) Do musculoskeletal urgent care centers have the same Medicaid policies as the entities that own them? (3) Are musculoskeletal urgent care centers more likely to be located in affluent neighborhoods? METHODS: An online search was conducted to create a list of musculoskeletal urgent care centers in Connecticut. Each center was interviewed over the telephone using a standardized list of questions to determine ownership and Medicaid policy. Next, the entities that owned these musculoskeletal centers were called and asked the same questions about their Medicaid policy. Medicaid policy was compared between musculoskeletal urgent care centers and the practices that owned them. The median household income for each ZIP code containing a musculoskeletal urgent care center was compared with the median household income for Connecticut. The median household income was also compared between the ZIP codes of musculoskeletal urgent care centers that accepted or denied patients with Medicaid insurance. RESULTS: Of the 29 musculoskeletal urgent care centers in Connecticut, only four (13%) accepted patients regardless of their insurance type, 19 (66%) did not accept any form of Medicaid insurance, and six (21%) required that certain requisites and stipulations be met for patients with Medicaid insurance to receive access, such as only permitting a patient for an initial visit and then referring them to a local hospital system for all future encounters, or only permitting patients with Medicaid insurance who lived in the same town as the clinic. All 29 musculoskeletal urgent care centers were owned by private practice groups and nine of 14 of these groups had the same policy towards patients with Medicaid insurance as their respective musculoskeletal urgent care centers. All 29 musculoskeletal urgent care centers were co-located in a private practice clinic office. Musculoskeletal urgent care centers were located in areas with greater median household incomes than the Connecticut state median (95% CI, USD 112,322 to USD 84,613 versus the state median of USD 73,781; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most musculoskeletal urgent care centers in Connecticut do not accept patients with Medicaid insurance and have similar or stricter Medicaid policies as the groups that own them. Additionally, musculoskeletal urgent care centers were located in affluent neighborhoods. These findings are important because they suggest private practices are using musculoskeletal urgent care centers to capture patients with more favorable insurance. This is likely a result of the relatively low Medicaid reimbursement rates in Connecticut and reflects a need for an increase in either reimbursement or incentives to treat patients with Medicaid insurance. The financial impact of capturing well-insured patients from public and academic medical centers and directing Medicaid patients to these urgent care centers is not known. Additionally, although most of these 29 musculoskeletal urgent care clinics denied care to patients with Medicaid, the specific healthcare disparities caused by decreased access to care must be further studied.

Predicting Growth Quantitatively Through Proximal Tibia Radiograph Markers.

BACKGROUND: The creation of accurate markers for skeletal maturity has been of significant interest to orthopaedic surgeons. They guide the management of diverse disorders such as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, leg length discrepancy, cruciate ligament injuries, and slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Multiple systems have been described to predict growth using radiographic skeletal markers; however, no such system has yet been developed for the proximal tibia. The purpose of this study was to establish quantitative radiographic parameters within the proximal tibia that can be used to assess degree of skeletal maturity. METHODS: From the Bolton Brush collection, 94 children, consisting of 49 girls and 4 boys between the ages of 3 and 18 years old, were followed annually throughout growth with serial radiographs and physical examinations. Final height at maturity was used to calculate the growth remaining at each visit. Multiple measurements for each knee radiograph were performed and correlated with the percentage of growth remaining. Tibial epiphysis width, tibial metaphysis width, and height of the lateral tibial epiphysis were measured on each film and the composite ratios between each of these sets of variables along with their respective accuracy and reliability were calculated. Single and multiple linear regression models were constructed to determine accuracy of prediction. Interobserver and intraobserver studies were performed with 4 investigators ranging from medical student to senior attending and calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient. All 4 examiners measured all of the subjects and the ratios created were averaged. RESULTS: Tibial epiphysis width, tibial metaphysis width, and height of the lateral tibial epiphysis were all found to be strongly correlated with growth remaining with R values ranging from 0.57 to 0.84. In addition, all 3 ratios were found to be reliable with intraobserver and interobserver intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.92 to 0.94 and 0.80 to 0.94, respectively. A multiple linear regression model demonstrated that combining these 3 ratios allows for a predictive R value of 0.917, showing that these ratios when combined were highly predictive of growth remaining. All findings were independent of sex (P=0.996). CONCLUSIONS: We describe 3 measurements that can easily be obtained on an anteroposterior radiograph of the knee. We demonstrate that ratios of these variables can be measured reliably and correlate closely with remaining growth, independent of sex. Together, we believe that these factors will improve the accuracy of determining growth from lower extremity radiographs that include the proximal tibia. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides a new quantitative technique to evaluate growth in the lower extremity, which can inform a range of conditions including adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, leg length discrepancy, cruciate ligament injury, and slipped capital femoral epiphyses.

Successful Management of Impending Skin Necrosis After a Posterolateral Knee Dislocation.

Incarcerated medial soft tissue after posterolateral knee dislocations has been described, but limited information pertaining to the etiology and management of cutaneous injuries from incarceration exists. We present the case of a 64-year-old man, where reduction of a posterolateral knee dislocation resulted in incarceration of medial ligamentous structures and impending skin necrosis. The patient avoided full-thickness skin necrosis, which could have complicated treatment options. Careful consideration of the soft-tissue envelope of the knee for preventing additional skin injury in the perioperative period should be considered to potentially avert additional necrosis in patients with a 'pucker' sign after knee dislocations.

The Effect of Guided Growth Surgery on Langenskiold Stage and Mechanical Axis in Early-Onset Blount Disease: A Retrospective Case Series.

INTRODUCTION: Our understanding of the efficacy of guided growth surgery with tension-band plating (TBP) in early-onset Blount disease is evolving. Preliminary work has demonstrated that TBP can normalize the mechanical axis, yet its effect on Langenskiöld stage (LS) has not previously been reported. The primary outcome of this study was improvement in LS after TBP. Secondary outcomes were improvement in LS at most recent follow-up and improvement in mechanical axis deviation (MAD), mechanical medial proximal tibial angle, and mechanical lateral distal femoral angle at treatment completion and most recent follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective review was done of patients with early-onset Blount disease treated with TBP between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019, across two institutions. Inclusion criteria were a radiographic diagnosis of early-onset Blount disease (LS changes present), surgery with TBP, and follow-up beyond implant removal. Radiographs before surgery, at removal of hardware (ROH), and at most recent follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-five limbs in 16 children who underwent TBP at a mean age of 5.8 ± 2.3 years were included. Implants were in situ a mean of 1.9 ± 0.7 years. The mean follow-up after ROH was 3.6 ± 1.4 years. LS ranged from 1 to 5 preoperatively with 14 of 25 limbs (56%) staged ≥3. LS improved in 15 of 25 limbs (60%) at ROH and in 21 of 25 limbs (84%) at most recent follow-up. Langenskiöld changes resolved in 7 of 25 limbs (28%) at most recent follow-up. Preoperatively, the MAD was varus in all limbs, but at ROH, the MAD had improved in 22 of 23 limbs with neutral or valgus alignment in 20 of 23 limbs (87%). At most recent follow-up, 16 of 23 limbs (70%) maintained improved alignment. DISCUSSION: There was improvement/resolution of LS and varus deformity in early-onset Blount disease in most patients who underwent TBP. Based on these results, TBP for early-onset Blount disease should be the first-line surgical treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

The Posterior Trans-Septal Portal in Knee Arthroscopy Review of the Technique Evolution, Indications, and Technical Pearls.

Complete arthroscopic visualization of the posterior com-partment of the knee is limited when using the traditional anterior portals. The trans-septal portal technique, created in 1997, has allowed surgeons to view the complete posterior compartment of the knee in a less-invasive way compared to open surgery. Since the description of the posterior trans-septal portal, several authors have modified the technique. However, the paucity of literature describing the trans-septal portal technique hints that widespread arthroscopic adop-tion has not yet been achieved. While still in its infancy, the literature has cumulatively reported over 700 successful knee surgeries using the posterior trans-septal portal technique with no reports of neurovascular injury. However, creation of the trans-septal portal carries risks due to its close prox-imity to the popliteal and middle geniculate artery, giving surgeons little room for technical error when developing this portal. Knowledge of the posterior anatomy, the evolution of the trans-septal portal, and current recommendations and safety options for using the technique will benefit orthopedic surgeons looking to incorporate this technique into their surgical arsenal. Furthermore, utilization of the trans-septal portal technique offers a significant benefit to the surgical treatment of conditions that involve the need for posterior knee access or visualization.

Comparative Success of Repair Versus Reconstruction for Knee Extra-articular Ligament Injuries.

Background: Surgical techniques and associated outcomes in treating acute and chronic extra-articular ligament knee injuries are in evolution, and there is question as to whether repair or reconstruction is optimal. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare the subsequent surgery rate between surgical repair versus reconstruction for all extra-articular ligament injuries of the knee utilizing a large database. Our hypothesis was that overall surgical repair of both lateral and medial extra-articular knee injuries would have a higher revision rate than those treated by reconstruction. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The PearlDiver Mariner data set (2010-2019), with 122 million patients, was utilized to generate 2 patient cohorts: those who underwent surgical repair and those who underwent surgical reconstruction of a knee extra-articular ligament injury. All patients had a minimum of 2 years follow-up. Rates of concomitant or subsequent cruciate ligament reconstruction and rates of secondary procedures were assessed and compared between the 2 cohorts. Results: In total, 3563 patients were identified: extra-articular ligament reconstruction was performed for 2405 (67.5%), and repair was performed for 1158 (32.5%). Cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed for 986 (27.7%), of which 888 of 986 (90.1%) were performed on the same day as their extra-articular ligament procedure. At 2-year follow-up, the reconstruction cohort had higher rates of revision surgery compared with the repair cohort (8.2% vs 2.5%; P < .001). Conclusion: Using a large national database, knee extra-articular ligamentous reconstructions (those on both the lateral and the medial side) had a 3.3 times higher rate of revision surgery compared with repair at 2-year follow-up. Further study is needed to investigate the causes leading to revision surgery and to determine the optimal surgical treatment for both medial and lateral extra-articular knee ligament injuries.

Rates of subsequent surgeries after meniscus repair with and without concurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the rates of secondary knee surgery for patients undergoing meniscus repair with or without concurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr). METHODS: Utilizing a large national database, patients with meniscal repair with or without concurrent arthroscopic ACLr were identified. The two cohorts were then queried for secondary surgical procedures of the knee within the following 2 years. Frequency, age distribution, rates of secondary surgery, and type of secondary procedures performed were compared. RESULTS: In total, 1,585 patients were identified: meniscus repair with ACLr was performed for 1,006 (63.5%) and isolated meniscal repair was performed for 579 (36.5%). Minimum of two year follow up was present for 487 (30.7% of the overall study population). Secondary surgery rates were not significantly different between meniscus repair with concurrent ACLr and isolated meniscus repairs with an overall mean follow up of 13 years (1.5-24 years) (10.6% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.126). For the 2 year follow up cohort, secondary surgery rates were not significantly different (19.3% vs. 25.6%, p = 0.1098). There were no differences in survivorship patterns between the two procedures, both in the larger cohort (p = 0.2016), and the cohort with minimum 2-year follow-up (p = 0.0586). CONCLUSION: The current study assessed secondary surgery rates in patients undergoing meniscus repair with or without concurrent ACLr in a large patient database. Based on this data, no significant difference in rates of secondary knee surgery was identified.

Gouty Tophi Encompassing Retained Suture Material 7 Years After Achilles Tendon Rupture Repair.

CASE: We report the case of a 32-year-old male patient with no history of gout who developed gouty tophi encompassing retained suture material 7 years after initial repair of a ruptured Achilles tendon. The patient had a posterior ankle mass concerning for abscess. Monosodium urate crystals were identified, and uric acid level was elevated at the time of irrigation and debridement. CONCLUSION: Surgical site gout is a rare but important phenomenon to recognize in the treatment of patients with Achilles tendon repairs, particularly in patients with a history of abscess, infection, or collections localized to retained suture material.

Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty in Octogenarians: A National Database Analysis Including Over 700 Octogenarians.

Background: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) may be considered for select patients to relieve pain and restore function of the knee joint. Little research to date has explored the complication profile of UKA in an older population. The current study uses a large national surgical database to examine the 30-day postoperative adverse events in octogenarians compared with those in nonoctogenarians. Material and methods: The 2012-2018 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for all patients undergoing UKA for osteoarthritis. Those patients aged 80 years or older composed the octogenarian age group. Demographics and medical comorbidities were cataloged, in addition to 30-day adverse events. Multivariate regression analysis controlled for differences in demographics and comorbidities. Significance was set at P < .05. Results: A total of 10,103 patients undergoing UKA were identified, of which 728 (7.2%) were octogenarians. The octogenarian cohort had significantly higher comorbidity burden than nonoctogenarians. After controlling for demographics other than age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and medical comorbidities, octogenarians had higher 30-day odds of death (odds ratio [OR] = 6.12, P = .024), minor adverse events (OR = 2.97, P = .001), prolonged hospital length of stay (OR = 2.30, <0.001), nonhome discharge (OR = 4.50, P < .001), and readmission (OR = 1.72, P = .015), but did not experience increased odds of serious adverse events (OR = 1.07, P = .172) or return to the operating room (OR = 0.97, P = .881). Conclusion: The present study found a statistically significant increase in several adverse events within 30 days of surgery for patients aged ≥80 years when compared with patients younger than 80 years. Namely, UKA in octogenarians was associated with significantly increased odds of short-term mortality, urinary tract infection, transfusion, prolonged hospital stay, and readmission.

Arthroscopic Synovectomy for Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor/Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis in the Posterior Knee Using the Posterior Trans-Septal Portal Technique.

Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (T-GCT) and pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) are interchangeable terms for an uncommon benign proliferation of synovial tissue1-6. Although neoplastic and inflammatory origins have been hypothesized, the etiology of this condition is unknown. There is controversy regarding surgical treatment, as the open and arthroscopic approaches to synovectomy have shown comparable reported outcomes in the literature5-7. However, direct comparison of these 2 operative methods is problematic because of selective bias in the existing literature and the lack of any prospective, randomized controlled trials. In the posterior aspect of the knee, arthroscopic synovectomy is technically challenging because of anatomical blind spots when viewing this space from an anterior portal in a trans-notch fashion10-15. Additionally, incomplete arthroscopic synovectomies increase PVNS recurrence rates, making it imperative to remove the entire lesion8. The trans-septal portal (TSP) technique utilizes both posteromedial and posterolateral portals to create an intra-articular portal through the posterior septum that separates the 2 posterior compartments of the knee10-15. This portal allows working instruments to be passed back-and-forth across the posterior septum and increases the visualization of both the posterosuperior synovial lining of the condyles and the synovial reflection behind the posterior cruciate ligament, enabling a thorough assessment for arthroscopic PVNS resection10-16. In this video article, we describe a posterior arthroscopic synovectomy with use of a TSP for PVNS within the posterior compartment of the knee. Description: The patient is positioned such that the contralateral leg will not obstruct the ability to work in the posteromedial portal. Diagnostic arthroscopy is performed through standard anteromedial and anterolateral portals. Next, with visualization from the anterolateral portal and the knee in 90° of flexion, the posteromedial portal is created with use of a transilluminated spinal needle. The posterolateral portal is made in the same fashion as the posteromedial portal, with use of a trans-notch view from the anteromedial portal. With the arthroscope in the posteromedial portal, a blunt instrument or motorized shaver can be placed through the posterolateral portal to perforate the posterior septum and create the TSP. The mass can then be identified, biopsied, and removed with use of a motorized shaver or tissue grasper. Arthroscopic exploration through the TSP can then be done to confirm adequate excision. Alternatives: Alternatives include synovectomy either by arthrotomy, arthroscopy via a posteromedial or posterolateral portal with trans-notch views, or a combination of both. To limit the risk of recurrent diffuse PVNS, radiosynovectomy with yttrium-90 or phosphorus-32, either combined with surgery or alone, has been described2,17. External beam radiation has also been utilized, but radiation toxicity is seen as a major limitation17. Macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) or CSF-1 inhibitors have recently been developed. In 2019, the FDA approved the use of CSF-1 inhibitors, and they are considered an acceptable treatment for patients who are not candidates for surgical resection17. Rationale: Advantages involve increased posterior anatomy visualization to ensure adequate synovectomy, more working capacity for instruments, and decreased disruption of anatomical planes and scar tissue formation around neurovascular structures compared with open dissection10-16. Expected Outcomes: Excellent clinical results (defined by return to full knee function) have been reported for the TSP technique for PVNS synovectomy. In a study of 10 cases of posterior-knee PVNS masses removed via arthroscopic synovectomy with use of a TSP, Shekhar et al. reported good functional outcomes and no operative complications2. Keyhani et al. reported a series of 21 patients who underwent the same procedure for diffuse PVNS with similar findings9. Patients can expect to retain close to full knee function following this procedure2,9. Baseline magnetic resonance imaging is recommended for all patients at 3 to 6 months after excision, as asymptomatic recurrence can occur, and patients should be followed for a minimum of 2 years post-excision2,3,7,9,18. Important Tips: Keeping the knee in 90° of flexion provides the furthest distance from the saphenous vein on the medial side, the peroneal nerve on the lateral side, and the popliteal artery near the posterior septum when making the posterior portals10-16.Transillumination of the posterior portals is recommended10-16.Perforation of the septum should be in the posterolateral to posteromedial direction, allowing surgeons to have a wider "safe zone" to decrease the chance of vascular injury to the popliteal artery14. Acronyms and Abbreviations: CSF = colony-stimulating factorMCL = medial collateral ligamentMRI = magnetic resonance imagingPL = posterolateralPM = posteromedialPA = popliteal arteryROM = range of motionTS = trans-septalIKDC = International Knee Documentation Committee.

Reconceptualization of Trochlear Dysplasia in Patients With Recurrent Patellar Dislocation Using 3-Dimensional Models.

Background: Common classification schemes, measurements, and surgical planning for trochlear dysplasia are predicated on 2-dimensional imaging views. Purpose: To investigate patellofemoral joint osseous anatomy using 3-dimensional (3D) printed models to describe osseous anatomic trochlear variations in patients with recurrent patellar dislocation. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Computed tomography scans were obtained from 20 patients with recurrent patellar dislocation and 10 healthy control knees, and 3D prints generated from these computed tomography scans were studied with respect to mediolateral positioning of the proximal trochlear groove and groove obliquity as well as changes in the appearance, height, and orientation of the medial and lateral trochlear ridges. Each trochlea was centered with respect to a vertical line perpendicular to the distal femoral condyles and through the central intercondylar notch roof, with the 3D models resting on their posterior femoral condyles. A novel 3D measurement method was devised to assess groove obliquity, termed the entry point-transition point (EP-TP) angle. The EP was defined as the midpoint of the flattened region of the proximal trochlea where the lateral and medial ridges of the proximal trochlea meet, and the TP was the point along the trochlear groove at which the groove shape changes from an oblique orientation proximally to one more vertical distally. Measurements were obtained by 3 reviewers, and reliability analyses were performed. Results: With the dysplastic knees arranged according to flattening of the trochleas, increased obliquity of the trochlear grooves was observed, as reflected by increased EP-TP angles as well as more lateral patellar EPs into the proximal trochleas of these recurrent patellar dislocation knees when compared with the control knees. The degree of trochlear dysplasia (according to the Dejour classification and trochlear flatness in the frontal and axial planes) was associated with diminished prominence of the lateral trochlear convexity, increasingly lateralized proximal trochlear EPs, increased trochlear groove obliquity, lateral trochlear curvature, and progressive medial ridge deformity. Conclusion: The 3D reproductions enabled unique conceptualization of trochlear deformity associated with recurrent patellar dislocation.

In-hospital complications after cervical fusion in cases with versus without cerebral palsy.

Background: Patients with cerebral palsy (CP) are at increased risk for cervical spine pathology. Cervical fusion surgery may be considered in this population, but perioperative outcomes relative to patients without CP remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to compare in-hospital complications after cervical fusion in patients with versus without cerebral palsy (CP) using a retrospective cohort design. Methods: Cervical fusion cases with and without CP were identified in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. In-hospital adverse events were tabulated and grouped into any (AAE), serious (SAE), and minor adverse events (MAE). Length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality were assessed. Multiple logistic regression models with and without 1:1 propensity matching were used to compare outcomes between cases with and without CP, controlling for demographic and preoperative variables. Results: After weighting, 1,518,012 cases were included in the study population, of which 4,554 (0.30%) had CP. Those with CP were younger, more often male, suffered more comorbidities, more frequently operated on from a posterior or combined approach, and were more frequently addressed at more than one level. By multiple logistic regression after matching, CP cases had higher odds of AAE (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.05-2.81; p=0.030) and MAE (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.20-3.57; p=0.009), but no differences in odds of SAE or in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: As there is increasing awareness of potentially cervical pathology in the CP population, the current study suggests that surgical intervention for this population can be appropriately considered without severe in-hospital morbidity or mortality.

Comparative Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Proximal Hamstring Injuries: A Systematic Review.

Background: There is controversy regarding which patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) should be used for proximal hamstring tendon injuries. Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that (1) most (>50%) of the questions on the 13 most common PROMs for proximal hamstring injuries would demonstrate extensive overlap in the health domains and question categories and (2) each of the PROMs would contain a variable distribution of questions within each health domain. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: We conducted a literature review through PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL and identified the 13 most common PROMs for proximal hamstring injuries: Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Marx activity rating scale (MARS), 12-item Short Form Survey (SF-12), Tegner activity scale (TAS), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), Perth Hamstring Assessment Tool (PHAT), Proximal Hamstring Injury Questionnaire (PHIQ), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), University of California, Los Angeles activity score (UCLA), International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12), Hip Outcome Score (HOS), Sydney Hamstring Origin Rupture Evaluation (SHORE), and Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS). All PROM questions were sorted into 5 health domains (pain, symptoms, activities of daily living, sports, and mindset) and further divided into question categories if they referred to similar tasks or aspects of health. Questions in the same health domain and question category were considered overlapping, and those within a health domain that did not fit into a question category were considered unique. For each PROM, we analyzed the distribution of questions within particular health domains and question categories as well as the amount of overlapping and unique questions. Results: Of the 165 questions evaluated, 116 (70.3%) were overlapping, and 49 (29.7%) were unique. The SF-12 contained the most unique questions (9/12 [75.0%]). The MARS, TAS, SANE, and UCLA had 0 unique questions. The PHIQ and iHOT-12 contained questions in all 5 health domains. The PHAT, SHORE, and NAHS contained questions in every health domain except mindset. The LEFS, MARS, SF-12, TAS, mHHS, SANE, UCLA, and HOS contained questions in ≤3 health domains. Conclusion: The evaluated PROMs had a high degree of overlapping questions (≥50%) and demonstrated a statistically significant variance in the distribution of questions within each health domain.