Pain Relief and the Opioid Crisis in the United States and Canada.

Opioid analgesics hijack the body's innate wellness machinery (eg, naloxone blocks the placebo effect) and alleviate both physical and emotional pain. Starting in the 1980s, marketing and advocacy created an opioid-centric pain relief strategy based on the idea that physicians undermanage pain and worry too much about addiction. The increase of prescription opioids in the ecosystem (along with a resurgence in heroin use) contributed to dependence, misuse, overdoses, and overdose deaths. Laws punishing undermanagement of pain from the opioid crisis combined with more recent laws punishing overprescription of opioids add to the difficulties orthopaedic surgeons have in managing the pain of surgery and acute injury. The substantial variation in pain intensity for nociception (actual or potential tissue damage) and the persistent use of opioids after healing is well established are both accounted for largely by psychosocial factors (stress, distress, and less effective coping strategies). When a patient has more pain than expected, surgeons should first rule out compartment syndrome and infection and then focus on a comprehensive team- and strategy-based approach that addresses these psychosocial factors.

Tibial Eminence Fracture and Pediatric ACL Avulsion Diagnosis and Treatment: A Case Report.

Introduction: Tibial eminence fractures resulting from the avulsion of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insertion are a common knee injury in the pediatric population. This injury is traditionally corrected through internal fixation using a guide pin and a cannulated screw. Due to the reported consequences of cannulated screws impinging on the joint space, we explored an alternative procedure to address this injury without the use of cannulated screws. We believe this is the first report of an alternate and improved procedure for repairing a tibial eminence fracture caused by ACL avulsion using non-absorbable sutures to secure the bony fragment back onto the tibial eminence. Case Report: We report the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of a 15-year-old Caucasian male who suffered a tibial eminence fracture associated with an ACL avulsion following a tackle football injury. We utilized a new all-arthroscopic procedure that involved securing the bony fragment of the tibial eminence using sutures that were passed through the ACL and proximal tibial using interosseous bone tunnels. Conclusion: This novel procedure successfully eliminates the need for intra-articular screws in the adolescent knee while treating tibial avulsion fractures - as supported by the patient's marked radiographical and symptomatic improvement at the 2, 6, and 12-week follow-up visits.

Novel Meniscus Transfer Technique: A Case Report.

The meniscus is an essential component of the knee joint, acting as a shock absorber as well as assisting in the transmission of forces. Due to the meniscus importance of the knee, much of the current literature focuses on treatment techniques that can spare and repair the meniscus when it is torn. The unique vasculature of the meniscus often makes repair difficult or, in many cases, impossible. A current focus within orthopedics has been on meniscal allograft transplantation to fill this gap. The lack of a universal surgical technique for graft fixation, along with the current failure rates, demonstrates the need for further improvements. The senior author proposes a novel technique for meniscal allograft transplantation that has shown decreased blood loss and surgical time, while also reducing intra-operative trauma to the knee. This case reports a 16-year-old patient who underwent a right lateral meniscal allograft transplant following a large segmental defect tear of the lateral meniscus. The patient initially underwent arthroscopy and meniscectomy with screw fixation of the lateral femoral condyle lesion. After physical therapy, the patient experienced increased pain and swelling, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrating a meniscal defect unamenable to repair. The patient met indications for meniscal allograft transplantation given the failed meniscectomy, absence of cartilage loss and significant osteoarthritis, and the patient's age of less than 50 years old.

Comparison of Graft Type and Fixation Method in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Based on Randomized Control Studies.

BACKGROUND: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee. ACL reconstruction (ACLR) proves the standard for treating this injury. However, graft choice and method of fixation remain a heavily debated topic. This study investigates the following: bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) vs. hamstring tendon (HT) autograft, single-bundle vs. double-bundle hamstring graft, and metal vs. bioabsorbable screws in ACLR. METHODS: A systematic review was performed on PubMed and Google Scholar according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data were collected on patient demographics, complications, and functionality scores including International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm scores. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted with Review Manager. Outcome measurements were determined using forest plots with significant differences considered p < 0.05. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were included, accounting for 2,170 patients. No statistically significant difference was appreciated when comparing BPTB to hamstring autografts. Patients who received a double bundle HT autograft exhibited significantly superior outcomes in terms of revision (p = 0.05), failure (p = 0.002), normal pivot shift tests (p = 0.04), and normal IKDC (p = 0.008). When comparing screw types, bioabsorbable screws had a greater Lysholm score (p = 0.01) and lower failure rates for copolymer screws (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Overall, the data collected suggested that BPTB and HT autografts display similar postoperative results. However, if an HT autograft is used, the data suggest a double-bundle graft improves both functionality and decreases the possible complications. Finally, bioabsorbable screws prove superior to metal screws when looking at both functionality and failure rates. Further research into the superior graft type is still needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Anatomical and surgical considerations of the pectoralis muscle.

Introduction: The pectoralis major (PM) muscle is the largest and most superior muscle of the anterior chest wall. The PM plays an important role in flexion, adduction, and internal rotation of the arm. The pectoralis major's size, strength, and anatomical location make it an excellent candidate in transfer surgeries due to its ability to restore balancing forces that may be lost in scapular winging and subscapularis tears. Each of these injuries and pathologies involves the PM muscle in some way, and careful consideration of its anatomy and physiology is necessary. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the anatomy, physiology, and surgical considerations of the pectoralis muscle with a specific focus on the surgical techniques involving the muscle. Methods: A comprehensive literature search using a combination of the following terms: pectoralis major, rupture, transfer, chronic subscapularis tear, pectoralis surgery, anatomy, scapular winging, and long thoracic nerve anatomy. There were no limitations with regards to article type or publishing date, but article language was limited to only English. Conclusion: The pectoralis muscle is an important muscle when it comes to function of the upper extremity primarily or through transfer procedure. Injuries and impairments of the pectoralis major or other muscles of the upper extremity can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, limiting their ability to perform activities of daily living. A thorough understanding of anatomical, functional, and surgical purposes of the pectoralis muscle is crucial for achieving optimal outcomes and avoiding complications.

Nicotinic receptor agonists reduce L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias in a monkey model of Parkinson's disease.

Abnormal involuntary movements or dyskinesias are a serious complication of long-term l-DOPA treatment of Parkinson's disease, for which there are few treatment options. Accumulating preclinical data show that nicotine decreases l-DOPA-induced dyskinesias (LIDs), suggesting that it may be a useful antidyskinetic therapy for Parkinson's disease. Here, we investigated whether nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists reduced LIDs in nonhuman primates. We first tested the nonselective nAChR agonist 1, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-6,10-methano-6H-pyrazino[2,3-h][3]benzazepine (varenicline), which offers the advantage that it is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in humans. 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-lesioned monkeys (n = 23) were first administered l-DOPA/carbidopa (10/2.5 mg/kg) twice daily 5 days/week until stably dyskinetic. Oral varenicline (0.03-0.10 mg/kg) decreased LIDs ∼50% compared with vehicle-treated monkeys, whereas nicotine treatment (300 µg/ml in drinking water) reduced LIDs by 70% in a parallel group of animals. We next tested the selective α4ß2*/α6ß2* nAChR agonist TC-8831 [3-cyclopropylcarbonyl-3,6-diazabicyclo[3.1.1]heptane] on LIDs in the same set of monkeys after a 10-week washout. We also tested TC-8831 in another set of MPTP-lesioned monkeys (n = 16) that were nAChR drug-naïve. Oral TC-8831 (0.03-0.3 mg/kg) reduced LIDs in both sets by 30-50%. After a washout period, repeat TC-8831 dosing led to a greater decline in LIDs (60%) in both sets of monkeys that was similar to the effect of nicotine. Tolerance to any nAChR drug did not develop over the course of the study (3-4 months). NAChR drug treatment did not worsen parkinsonism or cognitive ability. These data suggest that nAChR agonists may be useful for the management of dyskinesias in l-DOPA-treated Parkinson's disease patients.

Knee Extension Lag Treated with Posterior Capsulotomy of the Knee: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: The posterior capsule of the knee plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of the knee joint. Pathologies involving the posterior capsule have been implicated in developing flexion contractures. Posterior capsulotomy is a well-studied modality for this issue, performed through either an open or arthroscopic approach. Case Report: A 74-year-old Caucasian male presented with a complex extensor lag of his right knee and an inability to gain full extension either actively or passively. Through the use of standard knee arthroscopy, the authors were able to not only correct his posterior capsular pathology but also address anterior knee lesions. Only the combination of both allowed a full extension of the joint. Conclusion: Posterior capsulotomy of the knee may be carried out successfully and safely through either an open or arthroscopic approach. Arthroscopic capsulotomy is proposed as a safer, minimally invasive option that has been gaining recent favor compared to open approaches.

Medical malpractice reform: the role of alternative dispute resolution.

BACKGROUND: Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) refers to techniques used to resolve conflicts without going to the courtroom. As healthcare and malpractice costs continue to rise, there is growing interest in tactics such as early apology, mediation, and arbitration in the medical arena. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Why is ADR needed? (2) Is ADR useful in health care? (3) What are the current legal and political developments favoring ADR? (4) What obstacles remain? METHODS: We performed MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar searches with key words "medical malpractice", "ADR", and "alternative dispute resolution" to obtain public policy studies, law review articles, case analyses, ADR surveys, and healthcare review articles. RESULTS: Early apology and disclosure programs report 50% to 67% success in avoiding litigation as well as substantial reductions in the amount paid per claim. Mediation boasts 75% to 90% success in avoiding litigation, cost savings of $50,000 per claim, and 90% satisfaction rates among both plaintiffs and defendants. Arbitration is viewed as less satisfying and less efficient than mediation but still more time- and cost-effective than litigation. The current legal environment is favorable to ADR with recent court decisions upholding pretreatment arbitration clauses. The main obstacle to ADR is the mandatory reporting requirement of the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). CONCLUSIONS: ADR has the potential to help reform the current tort system, reducing cost and increasing both parties' satisfaction. Easing the reporting requirements for the NPDB would lead to more widespread acceptance of ADR among physicians.

Medial and Lateral Patellar Instability Leading to Medial Patellofemoral Ligament and Lateral Retinaculum Reconstruction: A Case Report.

CASE: Combined medial and lateral patellar instability is exceptionally rare with only 3 reported cases to date. Here, we present the case of a 37-year-old White woman with multiple recurrent medial and lateral patellar instability. After failure of conservative care with bracing and therapy, she underwent surgical stabilization with medial and lateral allograft reconstruction. CONCLUSION: This case provides an example of the condition and successful surgical follow-up.

Transitioning to anatomic anterior cruciate ligament graft placement.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction techniques continue to improve. Recent biomechanical studies have found improved rotational stability as femoral tunnel placement becomes more horizontal and closer to the true ACL footprint. Clinical studies also correlate improved outcomes with these more anatomic reconstructions. This article reviews the transition from traditional to anatomic ACL reconstructions, as well as 3 techniques for achieving this: the modified transtibial technique, use of an accessory medial portal, and the retrograde drilling technique.

Opioid Prescribing Practices of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Results of a National Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Opioids are widely used after orthopaedic procedures. Nonmedical opioid use is a growing public health issue. METHODS: An anonymous online survey was distributed by e-mail to the orthopaedic societies of all 50 states and several large private practices to assess practicing orthopaedic surgeons' opioid prescribing practices. RESULTS: A total of 555 orthopaedic surgeons practicing in 37 states responded. The most commonly prescribed opioid for both teenagers and adults was hydrocodone/acetaminophen. Of note, 42.3% reported that a patient they have prescribed opioids for developed an opioid dependency, whereas 35.3% do not believe that opioid use is a problem in their practice. Of note, 30.3% reported prescribing refills, and factors significantly associated with increased prescribing of refills included a greater number of years in practice (P < 0.001) and practicing in a suburban rather than an urban or rural environment (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Orthopaedic surgeons rarely prescribe any refills, tend to prescribe less opioids to teenagers than adults, and prescribe fairly uniformly for patients who are treated nonsurgically or undergo minor or arthroscopic surgery. They exhibit considerable variation in prescribing for fractures and major procedures.

Recoil and stiffening by adherent leukocytes in response to fluid shear.

Prolonged exposure to fluid shear stress alters leukocyte functions associated with the immune response. We examined the initial response of freshly isolated human leukocytes to fluid shear stress under high magnification. Adherent leukocytes exhibit a rapid biomechanical response to physiological levels of fluid shear stress. After passive displacement in the direction of a constant fluid shear stress, adherent leukocytes actively recoil back in the opposite direction of the fluid flow. Recoil is observed within seconds of the applied fluid shear stress. Simultaneously, fluid shear stress induces a stiffening of the cell. The immediate cell displacement in response to a step increase in fluid shear stress is greatly attenuated in subsequent steps compared to the initial fluid shear stress step. Recoil is not mediated by actin polymerization-dependent mechanisms, as cytochalasin D had no effect on this early response. However, stiffening was determined in part by an intact actin cytoskeleton. Inhibiting myosin force generation with ML-7 abolished the recoil and stiffening responses, implicating force generation by myosin as an important contributor to the early leukocyte response to fluid shear stress. This initial shear stress response may be particularly important in facilitating leukocyte attachment under sustained fluid shear stress by the flowing blood in the microcirculation.

Meniscal debridement: current concepts.

The meniscus is a commonly injured structure in the knee. When intact, it serves multiple biomechanical functions that protect the underlying articular cartilage. When injured, it can cause pain and mechanical symptoms that restrict activity. Although meniscal tears can be effectively treated with arthroscopic debridement, there is concern that any amount of meniscectomy, no matter how small, is a risk factor for the development of long-term osteoarthritis. This article reviews current concepts in arthroscopic meniscal debridement, including clinical outcome studies, to understand which factors affect outcome after this commonly performed procedure.

Meniscus transplantation: current concepts.

Treatment options are limited for young, meniscal-deficient patients with pain. This patient population is not age appropriate for total joint replacement, yet the loss of the meniscus leaves them at significant risk for the development of osteoarthritis. One increasingly popular option is the use of allograft meniscal transplantation. However, many questions, both clinical and biomechanical, still surround allograft meniscus transplantation. Clinical questions include risks of disease transmission, patient factors affecting ultimate outcome, optimal graft preservation methods, and surgical technique choice. Biomechanical questions include whether allograft meniscus transplantation can reproduce the functions of the meniscus, the effects of proper sizing and fixation methods on contact mechanics, and the effects of freezing on allograft strength. This article reviews these questions and more current concepts regarding allograft meniscus transplantation.

Hip abductor strength in people with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study of reliability and association with function.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical importance of hip abductor (HA) strength in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), the purposes of this study were to 1) compare the association of HA strength and physical function to that of knee extensor (KE) strength and physical function, and 2) determine the reliability of the assessment of HA strength using a hand-held dynamometer. METHODS: Thirty-five individuals [58 years standard deviation 10 years old] with knee osteoarthritis participated. Physical function was assessed with performance-based [Get-Up and Go (GUG), stair climb and descent (SC), and five times chair rise (CR)] and self-reported (WOMAC function) measures. The relationship between strength and function was assessed using bivariate correlation and hierarchical multiple regression models. Reliability across sessions was assessed in 25 subjects. RESULTS: In the bivariate models, both KE and HA strength were both significantly associated with performance-based measures of function, but not WOMAC function. After controlling for anthropometric factors and KE strength in the hierarchical models, HA made significant independent contributions to the prediction of GUG and SC, but not CR or WOMAC function. The reliability of HA strength was excellent (ICC2, 3=0.94; 95% CI=0.86-0.97), while the minimum detectable change (MDC95) was 0.29Nm/kg (95% CI=0.23-0.41). CONCLUSION: HA strength can be reliably measured and is closely associated with functional performance in people with knee OA. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results provide preliminary evidence suggesting that HA strength may be an important rehabilitation target for the conservative management of knee OA.

The contribution of leg press and knee extension strength and power to physical function in people with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study.

The purposes of this study were to 1) determine the additional contributions of leg press and knee extensor power, over and above that of strength, to the performance of physical function tasks in people with knee osteoarthritis, and 2) compare the ability of bilateral leg press to unilateral knee extensor strength and power to predict functional task performance. METHODS: A cross-sectional, exploratory study of 40 individuals with tibiofemoral knee osteoarthritis resulting in moderate impairments in physical function was conducted. Physical function (Get-up and Go, timed stair climb and descent, and five time chair rise) and muscle performance (leg press and knee extension strength and power) were assessed. RESULTS: After controlling for covariates and strength, leg press, but not knee extensor, power explained additional variance in physical function (11% and 21%). Conversely, adding strength to regression models including covariates and power did not consistently improve the prediction of physical function. Additionally, leg press power consistently explained more variance in physical function (44 to 57%) than involved (24 to 34%) or uninvolved (28 to 48%) knee extension power. CONCLUSIONS: Leg press power may be a more functionally relevant measure of muscle performance than knee extension strength in this population. Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of interventions specifically designed to improve leg press power in people with knee osteoarthritis.

Longitudinal Evaluation of Stair Walking Biomechanics in Patients with ACL Injury.

PURPOSE: After anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction, abnormal biomechanics during daily tasks may have prominent and detrimental long-term consequences on knee joint health. The purpose of this study was to longitudinally evaluate hip and knee joint biomechanics during stair ascent and descent in patients with acute ACL injury and at return to activity after ACL reconstruction. METHODS: Twenty individuals with unilateral ACL injury (age, 20.9 ± 4.4 yr; height, 172.4 ± 7.5 cm; mass, 76.2 ± 12.2 kg) that were scheduled to undergo surgical reconstruction were compared with 20 healthy matched controls (age, 21.7 ± 3.7 yr; height, 173.7 ± 9.9 cm; mass, 76.1 ± 19.7 kg). Lower extremity biomechanics were recorded using three-dimensional motion analysis during stair ascent and descent at two testing sessions (before surgery and at approximately 6 months after surgery or when they were allowed to return to unrestricted physical activity). Time between sessions for healthy participants was matched on the basis of the ACL group. Peak sagittal and frontal plane knee and hip joint angles and moments, joint angles at initial contact, and joint excursions across stance phase were evaluated. RESULTS: The ACL-injured limb of patients experienced smaller knee extension moments than the uninjured limb and healthy controls during stair ascent and descent (P < 0.05) before and 6 months after ACL reconstruction. During stair ascent, ACL patients experienced more extended knee joint positions and less sagittal plane knee joint excursions, coupled with greater frontal plane hip joint excursions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ACL injury experience reductions in knee flexion angle and knee extension moments during stair walking. These alterations were observed both before and after reconstruction, suggesting that early gait retraining interventions may be beneficial in these patients.

Quadriceps Strength Predicts Self-reported Function Post-ACL Reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Quadriceps strength is a useful clinical predictor of self-reported function after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, it remains unknown if quadriceps strength normalized to body mass (QBM) or quadriceps strength limb symmetry index (QLSI) is the best predictor of self-reported function in individuals with ACLR. We sought to determine whether QBM and QLSI are able to predict individuals with ACLR who self-report high function (≥90% on the international knee documentation committee (IKDC) index). METHODS: Ninety-six individuals with a history of a primary unilateral ACLR were recruited for a multisite cross-sectional descriptive laboratory experiment. Bilateral isometric quadriceps strength was collected at 90° of knee flexion to calculate QBM and QLSI (ratio of the ACLR limb to the contralateral limb). Area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated using receiver operating characteristic curve analyses to determine the capacity of QBM and QLSI to predict individuals with high self-reported function on the IKDC index. RESULTS: QBM displayed high accuracy (AUC = 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-0.86) for identifying participants with an IKDC index ≥90%. A QBM cutoff score of 3.10 N·m·kg was found to maximize sensitivity (0.61) and specificity (0.84), and displayed 8.15 (3.09-21.55) times higher odds of reporting high function. QLSI displayed a moderate accuracy (AUC = 0.62, 0.50-0.73) for identifying participants with an IKDC index ≥90%. A QLSI cutoff score of 96.5% maximized sensitivity (0.55) and specificity (0.70), and represented 2.78 (1.16-6.64) times higher odds reporting high function. CONCLUSION: QBM is a stronger predictor of high self-reported function compared with QLSI in individuals with ACLR. Rehabilitation guidelines may benefit from incorporating the use of QBM measurements for the purpose of predicting participants that may maintain high self-reported function.