Reliability and Validity of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score in Patients Undergoing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was developed to document outcomes from knee injury, including the impact of osteoarthritis on knee function. The purpose of this study is to determine the reliability and validity of the KOOS subscales for evaluating outcomes following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). METHODS: KOOS Pain, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Sport, Symptoms, and Quality of Life (QoL) scores collected from 172 patients who underwent UKA were used in the analysis. KOOS subscales were tested for reliability and validity of scores through a Rasch model analysis. RESULTS: KOOS Sport, KOOS ADL, and KOOS QoL had good evidence of reliability with acceptable person reliability, person separation, and item reliability. For overall scale functioning, KOOS Pain, Symptoms, and ADL all had 1 question that did not have an acceptable value for infit or outfit mean square value. Questions in KOOS Sport and QoL all had acceptable values. There was a positive, linear relationship between the Short-Form 12 Physical Component Summary and the KOOS subscales which indicated good evidence of convergent validity. These associations were also seen when the cohort was separated in medial and lateral UKA. CONCLUSION: Two of the 5 KOOS subscales (KOOS Sport and KOOS QoL) were considered adequate in measuring outcomes, as well as reliability. The KOOS ADL had borderline values; however, it had adequate infit and outfit values. The KOOS Pain and Symptom score performed poorly in this analysis. For documenting outcomes following UKA, this study supports the use of KOOS ADL, Sport, and QoL.

Patient Reported Outcome Measures in the Foot and Ankle: Normative Values Do Not Reflect 100% Full Function.

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this study was to determine normative values for foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM), activities of daily living (ADL), FAAM/foot and ankle disability (FADI) Sport, Tegner activity scale, SF-12 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) in individuals who are representative of the "normal" adult population in the United States. The secondary purpose was to perform a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of ankle functional ability to provide evidence of reliability and validity of commonly used orthopaedic outcome scores. Our hypothesis was that normative values will differ based on patient characteristics and demographics, and that the selected commonly used foot and ankle outcomes scores will demonstrate acceptable reliability and validity estimates. METHODS: There were 271 persons in this study (101 women, 170 men, average age = 31.4 (SD = 15.1) years, average BMI = 25.9 (SD = 5.9)). Age, sex and BMI were documented. Comparisons of outcome scores were made between cohorts. CFA was performed to test factor structure of ankle functional ability. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in FAAM ADL between women and men (n.s.) or FAAM Sport (n.s.). Women had significantly higher SF-12 PCS (P = 0.001). Men had significantly higher SF-12 MCS (P < 0.001) and Tegner (P = 0.024). FAAM ADL, FAAM Sport and SF-12 PCS scores were significantly higher in people who did not have previous ankle surgery. Younger people and those with lower BMI had significantly higher ankle function. Reliability was excellent, and the CFA had excellent model fit demonstrating evidence of validity. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that normative values of foot and ankle outcome measures did not reflect 100% function and differed by sex, previous ankle surgery status, age and BMI. Individuals who did not have previous ankle surgery were younger, and had lower BMI and higher functional levels. Reliability was excellent, and the CFA model demonstrated excellent fit, providing evidence for validity, and lending support to use aggregated outcome measures as one scale. This study is unique in that it provides surgeons with normative ankle values in commonly reported outcome measures including the FAAM, FADI SF-12 and Tegner activity scale, in the normal population, based on BMI, age, gender and previous ankle surgery status. This information can be a very useful tool in the clinical setting for patient expectations counseling. In addition, surgeons and clinicians can feel confident using these outcome scores to assess their patients' progress through the continuum of care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Survey results from an international hip course: comparison between experts and non-experts on hip arthroscopy clinical practice and post-operative rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical practices between expert and non-expert arthroscopy hip surgeons. METHODS: Registered orthopedic surgeons completed anonymous surveys during a hip arthroscopy meeting. The survey included 60 questions on physician's level of expertise, surgical anesthesia, procedures performed, hospital stay, pain control, rehabilitation and socioeconomic parameters, and the results are presented. Comparisons were made between hip arthroscopy experts (> 500 cases performed) and non-experts (≤ 500 cases performed) on aspects of patient care. RESULTS: Forty-eight (74%) surgeons responded. Forty-four questionnaires were filled out completely. There were no significant differences in recommendations between 15 (34%) hip arthroscopy experts and 29 (66%) non-experts on hip capsular management and cartilage repair techniques, use of antithrombotic prophylaxis and opioid analgesics, time of rehabilitation initiation and patient compliance factors, use of hip brace and CPM, and patient evaluation to return to sports following surgery. Surgical expertise was significantly associated with the performance of hip labral reconstruction (p = 0.016), subspine decompression (p = 0.039) and recommendation of a longer period of restricted weight bearing following the performance of microfractures (p = 0.011). There were no significant differences in clinical practice between surgeons who performed hip arthroscopy exclusively versus those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Hip arthroscopy is a relatively new field, and clinical practice may vary among physicians based on the surgical expertise. In this study, hip arthroscopy experts agree with non-experts on most aspects of patient care. Surgical expertise was associated with performance of advanced techniques and recommendation of longer period of restricted weight bearing following performance of microfractures. This study highlights different care patterns that need to be investigated to determine which treatment results in improved patient care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.

Primary Versus Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Patient Demographics, Radiographic Findings, and Associated Lesions.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in intra-articular pathology, demographic characteristics, and radiographic characteristics of the knee associated with primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) versus revision ACLR at the time of initial presentation with either a native anterior cruciate ligament tear or an anterior cruciate ligament graft tear. Secondarily, we aimed to investigate risk factors for concomitant medial and lateral meniscal tears and cartilage injuries at the time of ACLR. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of patients who underwent primary or revision ACLR by a single surgeon. The exclusion criteria were as follows: skeletally immature patients; patients with an intra-articular fracture; patients with an ipsilateral knee infection; or patients who underwent an osteotomy, cartilage restoration procedure, or meniscal transplantation either previously or concomitantly with the ACLR. Detailed patient demographic data, radiographic long-standing alignment, tibial slope, and intraoperative findings including articular cartilage injury grade and meniscus integrity were documented at surgery. RESULTS: There were 487 patients included in this study (363 with primary ACLR and 124 with revision ACLR). There were no significant differences in age (P = .119), sex (P = .917), body mass index (P = .468), allograft versus autograft reconstruction (P = .916), or prevalence of meniscal tears (P = .142) between the primary and revision groups. Patients who underwent revision ACLR had a significantly increased medial tibial slope (P = .048) and a higher prevalence of chondral defects on both the medial (P < .001) and lateral (P = .003) femoral condyles when compared with primary ACLR patients. Logistic regression showed that a decreased tibial slope was correlated with femoral medial-sided chondral injuries and that varus or valgus coronal-plane malalignment was correlated with lateral meniscal tears in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study show that patients undergoing a revision ACLR have significantly more chondral lesions, as well as higher-grade chondral lesions, at the time of presentation. Furthermore, coronal malalignment and a decreased tibial slope may contribute to injury patterns of the lateral meniscus and medial compartment cartilage, respectively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective case-control study.

Posteromedially placed plates with anterior staple reinforcement are not successful in decreasing tibial slope in opening-wedge proximal tibial osteotomy.

PURPOSE: To document the effectiveness of a novel technique to decrease tibial slope in patients who underwent a proximal opening-wedge osteotomy with an anteriorly sloped plate placed in a posteromedial position. The hypothesis was that posteromedial placement of an anteriorly sloped osteotomy plate with an adjunctive anterior bone staple on the tibia would decrease, and maintain, the tibial slope correction at a minimum of 6 months following the osteotomy. METHODS: All patients who underwent biplanar medial opening-wedge proximal tibial osteotomy with anterior staple augmentation to decrease sagittal plane tibial slope were included, and data were collected prospectively and reviewed retrospectively. Indications for decreasing tibial slope included medial compartment osteoarthritis with at least one of the following: ACL deficiency, posterior meniscus deficiency, or flexion contracture. Preoperative, immediate postoperative, and 6-month postoperative radiographs were reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (14 males and 7 females) were included in the study with a mean age of 36.5 years. Intrarater and interrater reliability of slope measurements were excellent at all time points (ICC ≥ 0.94, ICC ≥ 0.85). The osteotomy resulted in an average tibial slope decrease of 0.8 from preoperative (n.s.). At 6-month postoperative, average slope was not significantly different from time-zero postoperative slope (mean = +0.2°). CONCLUSIONS: The most important finding of this study was that posteromedial placement of an anteriorly angled osteotomy plate augmented with an anterior staple during a biplanar medial opening-wedge proximal tibial osteotomy did not decrease sagittal plane tibial slope. Whether a staple was effective in maintaining tibial slope from time zero to 6 months postoperatively was unable to be assessed due to no significant change in tibial slope from the preoperative postoperative states. The results of this study note that current osteotomy plate designs and surgical techniques are not effective in decreasing sagittal plane tibial slope. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Patient-Centered Outcomes and Revision Rate in Patients Undergoing ACL Reconstruction Using Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Autograft Compared With Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Allograft: A Matched Case-Control Study.

PURPOSE: To determine whether outcomes after ACL reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft are similar to those of BPTB allograft, while controlling for graft, surgical technique, and surgeon. METHODS: This study was approved by the institutional review board at The Vail Valley Medical Center in Vail, Colorado. Patients 18 to 70 years old who underwent primary ACL reconstruction were included. Patients in each group were matched by age and gender. Patient demographic data, surgical data, and subjective data were collected prospectively. Subjective questionnaires were administered at a minimum of 2 years after ACL reconstruction. RESULTS: This study included 192 knees (191 patients; 143 male, 48 female; mean age, 33 years; range, 18 to 57 years), with 96 knees in each group. No autografts required ACL revision. The revision rate for allograft group was 14% (n = 11; mean age, 23 years; range, 18 to 40 years). Of 11 revisions, 9 (82%) were ≤25 years old. In allograft group, patients ≤25 years old were 23 times (95% confidence interval, 4.4 to 123.0) more likely to require revision ACL reconstruction than patients >25 years (P < .001). Follow-up was available for 87% of patients (n = 156/180). Mean follow-up time in the allograft group was 4.7 years (range, 2.0 to 9.8 years), and in the autograft group, 8.6 years (range, 2.0 to 16.2 years; P < .001). There was no significant difference between allografts and autografts for mean Lysholm (85.6 v 83.4; P = .43), mean Tegner (6.0 v 5.4; P = .09), or mean patient satisfaction (9.0 v 8.8; P = .57). Lysholm score correlated to Tegner (rho = 0.404; P < .001) and patient satisfaction with outcome (rho = 0.443; P ≤ .001). Tegner was correlated with age at surgery (rho = -0.274; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in patient-centered outcomes based on graft type; however, the allograft group required more revisions. Patient satisfaction was high for both groups. ACL reconstruction using BPTB autograft or allograft produces similar outcomes; however, revision rates were higher for allografts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Posterior meniscus root tears: associated pathologies to assist as diagnostic tools.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate associated pathologies identified at arthroscopy in patients with meniscus root tears. METHODS: This study was Institutional Review Board approved. All patients who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery where a complete meniscus root tear was identified were included in this study. Concurrent ligament tears and articular cartilage changes ≥Outerbridge grade 2 were recorded and stored in a data registry. RESULTS: Fifty patients (28 males, 22 females) [mean age = 36.5 years (range 17.1-68.1 years)] who were diagnosed with a medial or lateral meniscus root tear at arthroscopy were included in this study out of 673 arthroscopic surgeries (prevalence 7.4 %). Twenty-three (46 %) patients had a medial meniscus root tear, 26 (52 %) patients had a lateral meniscus root tear and one (2 %) patient had both. Thirty-four per cent of patients (n = 17) underwent partial meniscectomy, while 60 % (n = 31) underwent suture repair. During arthroscopy, 60 % (n = 30) of patients were diagnosed with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Patients with lateral meniscus root tears were 10.3 times (95 % CI 2.6-42.5) more likely to have ACL tears than patients with medial meniscus root tears (p = 0.012). Patients who had medial meniscus root tears were 5.8 times (95 % CI 1.6-20.5) more likely to have chondral defects than patients who had lateral meniscus root tears (p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: In this study, patients' preoperative functional scores and activity levels were low. Patients with lateral meniscal root tears were more likely to have an ACL tear. Patients with medial meniscal root tears were more likely to have an knee articular cartilage defect with an Outerbridge grade 2 or higher chondral defect. This study confirms the importance of comprehensive assessment of concurrent injuries to properly diagnose meniscus root tears. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Outcomes following anatomic fibular (lateral) collateral ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical outcomes following anatomic fibular (lateral) collateral ligament (FCL) reconstruction. It was hypothesized that anatomic FCL reconstruction would result in improved subjective clinical outcomes and a high patient satisfaction with outcome. METHODS: All patients 18 years or older who underwent FCL reconstruction from April 2010 to January 2013 with no other posterolateral corner pathology were included in this study. Patient subjective outcome scores were collected preoperatively and at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: There were 43 patients (22 males, 21 females, median age = 28.3 years, range 18.7-68.8) included in this study. The median time from injury to surgery was 22 days. Follow-up was obtained for 88 % of patients (n = 36) with a mean follow-up of 2.7 years. The mean Lysholm score significantly improved from 49 (range 11-100) to 84 (range 55-100) postoperatively (p < 0.001). The mean WOMAC score significantly improved from 37 (range 3-96) to 8 (range 0-46) postoperatively (p < 0.001). The median SF-12 physical component subscale score significantly improved from 35 (range 22-58) to 56 (range 24-62) postoperatively (p < 0.001). The median SF-12 mental component subscale score did not show significant change preoperatively 54 (range 29-69) to postoperatively 55 (range 25-62). The median preoperative Tegner activity scale improved from 2 (range 0-10) to 6 (range 2-10) postoperatively (p < 0.001). The median patient satisfaction with outcome was 8 (range 1-10). Postoperative patient-reported outcome scores were not significantly different for patients who underwent concomitant ACL reconstruction compared to patients without ACL reconstruction. CONCLUSION: An anatomic FCL reconstruction with a semitendinosus graft significantly improved patient function and yielded high patient satisfaction in the 43 patients. Additionally, there was no significant difference in patient-reported outcomes when accounting for concomitant ACL reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Diagnostic accuracy of 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging for the detection of meniscus posterior root pathology.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of 3 T MRI, including sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values, for detection of posterior medial and lateral meniscus root tears and avulsions. METHODS: All patients who had a 3 T MRI of the knee, followed by arthroscopic surgery, were included in this study. Arthroscopy was considered the gold standard. Meniscus root tears diagnosed at arthroscopy and on MRI were defined as a complete meniscus root detachment within 9 mm of the root. All surgical data were collected prospectively and stored in a data registry. MRI exams were reported prospectively by a musculoskeletal radiologist and reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 287 consecutive patients (156 males, 131 females; mean age 41.7 years) in this study. Prevalence of meniscus posterior root tears identified at arthroscopy was 9.1, 5.9% for medial and 3.5% for lateral root tears (one patient had both). Sensitivity was 0.770 (95% CI 0.570, 0.901), specificity was 0.729 (95% CI 0.708, 0.741), positive predictive value was 0.220 (95% CI 0.163, 0.257) and negative predictive value was 0.970 (95% CI 0.943, 0.987). For medial root tears, sensitivity was 0.824 (95% CI 0.569, 0.953), specificity was 0.800 (95% CI 0.784, 0.808), positive predictive value was 0.206 (95% CI 0.142, 0.238) and negative predictive value was 0.986 (95% CI 0.967, 0.996). For lateral meniscus posterior root tears, sensitivity was 0.600 (95% CI 0.281, 0.860), specificity was 0.903 (95% CI 0.891, 0.912), positive predictive value was 0.181 (95% CI 0.085, 0.261) and negative predictive value was 0.984 (95% CI 0.972, 0.994). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated moderate sensitivity and specificity of 3 T MRI to detect posterior meniscus root tears. The negative predictive value of 3 T MRI to detect posterior meniscus root tears was high; however, the positive predictive value was low. Sensitivity was higher for medial root tears, indicating a higher risk of missing lateral root tears on MRI. Imaging has an important role in identifying meniscus posterior horn root tears; however, some root tears may not be identified until arthroscopy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study (diagnostic), Level II.

Ten-year survivorship after knee arthroscopy in patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 and grade 4 osteoarthritis of the knee.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to document 10-year outcomes and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) rate after arthroscopic treatment of knee osteoarthritis and compare survivorship of patients with Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade 3 and 4 knees. METHODS: Eighty-one knees in 73 patients (49 male, 32 female; mean age, 58 years; range, 37 to 79 years) that underwent an arthroscopic regimen for knee osteoarthritis between August 2000 and November 2001 were included in this institutional review board-approved study. The inclusion criterion was Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade 3 or 4 radiographic changes. A TKA had been recommended to all patients; however, none wished to undergo arthroplasty. All patients underwent arthroscopic treatment. Endpoint was defined as TKA for survivorship analysis. Outcomes were collected at a minimum follow-up of 10 years (Lysholm, Tegner, patient satisfaction, and WOMAC scores). RESULTS: Of 81 knees, 7 were in patients who died and 2 in patients who refused to participate, leaving 72 knees available for follow-up. Follow-up was obtained for 95% of patients (n = 69). Forty-three knees (62%) were converted to TKA at a mean of 4.4 years (range 1.0 to 9.6) after index arthroscopy. Mean survival time was 6.8 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.9 to 7.6 years). Survivorship was 60% at 5 years and 40% at 10 years. Patients with KL grade 4 osteoarthritis were 5.3 times more likely to fail (95% CI, 1.3 to 23.4) than those with KL grade 3 (P = .012). Mean survival time for patients with KL grade 4 was 5.7 years (95% CI, 4.5 to 6.9), and mean survival time for those with KL grade 3 was 7.5 years (95% CI, 6.2 to 8.7) (P = .022). For 26 knees that did not undergo arthroplasty, the mean Lysholm score was 74 (95% CI, 67 to 80), the median Tegner activity scale score was 3 (range, 0 to 8), the median patient satisfaction with outcome was 9 (range, 1 to 10), and the mean WOMAC score was 18.5 (95% CI, 13 to 24) at 10 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The mean survival time after arthroscopic treatment of osteoarthritis with a defined protocol was 6.8 years. Forty percent delayed arthroplasty for a minimum of 10 years. Patients with KL grade 4 changes in their knee had a higher risk of conversion to arthroplasty and a significantly lower mean survival time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Quantitative analysis of torsional stiffness in supplemental one-third tubular plate fixation in the management of isolated syndesmosis injuries: a biomechanical study.

BACKGROUND: Disruption of the distal tibia and fibula articulation or syndesmosis can occur without fracture, and isolated syndesmotic disruption is often treated operatively. Following syndesmotic screw removal, a period of protected weight-bearing usually follows to allow the screw holes to heal. Our hypothesis was that supplementing transsyndesmotic fixation with a one-third tubular plate would potentially increase the torsional stiffness about the ankle, thus reducing the risk of fracture after screw removal and potentially allowing a faster return to weight-bearing and sport. METHODS: Ten pairs of fresh frozen cadaveric specimens were divided into 2 groups. In group 1 (7 pairs), each left extremity underwent the placement, and subsequent removal, of a 4.5-mm transsyndesmotic screw in a tricortical fashion. The matching right extremity underwent the same procedure but with the addition of a one-third tubular plate, which remained in situ after screw removal. In group 2 (3 pairs), the left specimens had a screw placed and removed while the right limbs remained intact. All specimens were tested under an axial preload and a torsional load until failure. RESULTS: In group 1, the results demonstrated an increase in torsional stiffness in 5 of 7 specimens with supplemental fixation of a one-third tubular plate. In group 2, the presence of the screw hole alone reduced the torsional stiffness in all specimens tested when compared with intact specimens. However, neither of these differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: From this study, we can conclude that the use of supplementary one-third tubular plate fixation demonstrated a trend toward increasing the torsional stiffness following transsyndesmotic screw removal. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: We believe the trend toward improved stiffness justifies the continued use of our technique, although further studies are necessary to confirm it.

Complications after tendon transfers in the foot and ankle using bioabsorbable screws.

BACKGROUND: Tendon transfers are commonly used for correction of pathology or deformity of the foot and ankle. Bioabsorbable implants have been developed as an alternative to metal interference screws. The purpose of this study was to document complications following tendon transfers of the foot and ankle using bioabsorbable poly-L-lactide interference screws. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was used to identify patients in whom either of the 2 senior authors had performed a tendon transfer of the foot and ankle using a bioabsorbable interference screw between 1999 and 2005. A minimum of 6 months of follow-up was required for inclusion in the study. In all, 31 patients were identified who met the inclusion criteria with an average follow-up of 75 weeks. All screws were made of poly-L-lactide (PLLA). RESULTS: Complications were identified in 12 (39%) of patients. All of the complications reported were known complications of the tendon transfer procedure itself, and were not directly related to the bioabsorbable screw. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these early results, PLLA implants appear safe and effective for tendon transfers of the foot and ankle. However, until long-term outcomes are available, judicious use of these implants is recommended.

Outcomes Following Repair of Achilles Midsubstance Tears: Percutaneous Knotless Repair vs Open Repair.

BACKGROUND: Optimum treatment for acute Achilles tendon rupture results in high mechanical strength, low risk of complications, and return to preinjury activity level. Percutaneous knotless repair is a minimally invasive technique with promising results in biomechanical studies, but few comparison clinical studies exist. Our study purpose was to compare functional outcomes and revision rates following acute Achilles tendon rupture treated between percutaneous knotless repair and open repair techniques. METHODS: Patients 18 years or older with an acute Achilles tendon rupture, treated by a single surgeon with either open repair or percutaneous knotless repair, and more than 2 years after surgery were assessed for eligibility. Prospective clinical data were obtained from the data registry and standard electronic medical record. Additionally, the patients were contacted to obtain current follow-up questionnaires. Primary outcome measure was Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) activities of daily living (ADL). Secondary outcome measures were FAAM sports, 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Tegner activity scale, patient satisfaction with outcome, complications, and revisions. Postoperative follow-up closest to 5 years was used in this study. RESULTS: In total, 61 patients were included in the study. Twenty-four of 29 patients (83%) in the open repair group and 28 of 32 patients (88%) in the percutaneous knotless repair group completed the questionnaires with average follow-up of 5.8 years and 4.2 years, respectively. We found no significant differences in patient-reported outcomes or patient satisfaction between groups (FAAM ADL: 99 vs 99 points, P = .99). Operative time was slightly longer in the percutaneous knotless repair group (46 vs 52 minutes, P = .02). Two patients in the open group required revision surgery compared to no patients in the percutaneous group. CONCLUSION: In our study, we did not find significant differences in patient-reported outcomes or patient satisfaction by treating Achilles tendon midsubstance ruptures with percutaneous knotless vs open repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IlI, retrospective cohort study.

Syndesmotic Suture Button Fixation Results in Higher Tegner Activity Scale Scores When Compared to Screw Fixation: A Multicenter Investigation.

BACKGROUND: Suture buttons and metal screws have been used and compared in biomechanical, radiographic, and clinical outcome studies for syndesmotic injuries, with neither implant demonstrating clear superiority. The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of both implants. METHODS: Patients who underwent syndesmosis fixation at 2 separate academic centers from 2010 through 2017 were compared. Thirty-one patients treated with a suture button and 21 patients treated with screws were included. Patients in each group were matched by age, sex, and Orthopaedic Trauma Association fracture classification. Tegner Activity Scale (TAS), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), patient satisfaction score, surgical failure, and reoperation rates were compared. RESULTS: Patients who underwent suture button fixation had significantly higher TAS scores than those who underwent screw fixation (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in FAAM ADL scores between cohorts (p = 0.08). Symptomatic hardware removal rates were similar (3.2% suture button cohort vs 9.0% in screw cohort). One patient (4.5%) underwent revision surgery secondary to syndesmotic malreduction after screw fixation, for a reoperation rate of 13.5%. CONCLUSION: Patients with unstable syndesmotic injuries treated with suture button fixation had higher mean TAS scores compared to patients treated with screws. Foot and Ankle Ability Measure and ADL scores in these cohorts were similar.Level of Evidence: Level 3 Retrospective Matched Case-Cohort.

Outcomes and revision rate after bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft versus autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients aged 18 years or younger with closed physes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare revision rates and outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autografts versus BPTB allografts in patients aged 18 years or younger with closed physes. METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained for this study. This study included 90 consecutive patients aged 18 years or younger with closed physes who underwent primary ACL reconstruction by a single surgeon between 1998 and 2009, with either BPTB autograft (n = 70) or BPTB allograft (n = 20). Patients who had concomitant ligament injuries were excluded. Outcome measures included the Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale, and patient satisfaction (0, very unsatisfied; 10, very satisfied). Failures were defined as cases requiring ACL revision surgery. RESULTS: Of the 90 patients, 79 (88%) were contacted (20 of 20 with allografts and 59 of 70 with autografts). Of these 79 patients, 9 (11%) required revision ACL reconstruction. In the autograft group, 3% (2 of 59) required revision ACL reconstruction at a mean of 15.4 months (range, 13.0 to 17.7 months) after the index procedure. In the allograft group, 35% (7 of 20) required revision ACL reconstruction at a mean of 9.1 months (range, 5.3 to 12.0 months) after the index procedure. The allograft group was 15 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2 to 123) times more likely to require revision reconstruction than the autograft group (P = .001). The mean Lysholm score at follow-up was 85 (95% CI, 80.4 to 90.3) for the autograft group and 91 (95% CI, 88.1 to 97.3) for the allograft group (P = .46). The median Tegner activity scale was 7.0 (95% CI, 6.9 to 8.0) for autograft group and 6.5 (95% CI, 4.9 to 8.4) for the allograft group (P = .27). Median patient satisfaction score was 10 of 10 in both cohorts. No failures were seen in either group at 2 years postoperatively. Five of seven allograft failures occurred because of a premature return to sports. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in function, activity, or satisfaction were found between allograft and autograft reconstructions in this patient population. The allograft group had a failure rate 15 times greater than that in the autograft group, with all failures occurring within the first year after reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Improvement in quality of life with use of an unloader knee brace in active patients with OA: a prospective cohort study.

The purpose of this study was to determine if short form (SF)-12 physical component would increase with unloader brace use. Patient expectations and predictors of significant improvement were determined. Our hypothesis was that patients with unloader braces will have increases in general physical health (SF-12) and function (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index [WOMAC]). Patients were enrolled in institutional review board-approved prospective cohort study. They completed a self-administered questionnaire (SF-12; WOMAC, Tegner activity scale, expectations) at enrollment, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 6 months. In this study, 39 patients, 23 males and 16 females (average age = 61 years [range 44 to 87]), were prescribed an unloader brace. Patients had significant improvement in quality of life (SF-12) (p < 0.05). There was significant improvement in pain, stiffness, and function (WOMAC) (p < 0.05). Patients who reported Tegner of 3 or greater at final follow-up had significantly higher SF-12 physical component (48 vs. 37; p = 0.023). Return to recreational sports was very important in 83% and somewhat important in 17%. Improving ability to walk was very important in 89%. Pain relief was very important in 69%, somewhat important in 17%. Of these, 39% expected most pain to be relieved and 57% expected all pain to be relieved. The most important expectations were to have confidence in knee (97% very important), avoid future knee degeneration (90% very important), and improve ability to maintain general health (93% very important). Patients demonstrated a significant decrease in pain and disability. Patients saw improvement in SF-12 physical component. Braces specifically designed to unload the degenerative compartment of the knee can be an effective treatment to decrease pain and maintain activity level to increase overall physical health.

Outcomes following healing response in older, active patients: a primary anterior cruciate ligament repair technique.

The purpose of this study was to document outcomes following the healing response procedure for treatment of complete, proximal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in a mature, active population. Healing response is an all-arthroscopic procedure that preserves the native ACL and makes use of an arthroscopic awl with a 45-degree angle to make holes in the femoral attachment of the ACL and in the body of the ACL. Patients were included in this IRB-approved study if they were > or =40 years old, had a complete proximal ACL tear, and who had healing response within 6 weeks of initial injury. In this study 48 patients (35 females, 13 males) with an average age of 51 years (range: 41 to 68 years) underwent the healing response procedure. Of these four female patients (8.9%) required subsequent ACL reconstruction. Mean time to ACL reconstruction was 34.5 months (range, 14.3 to 61.2 months). Of the 44, 41 patients (93%) had minimum of 2-year follow-up at an average of 7.6 years (range, 2.2 to 13.4 years). Average preoperative Lysholm score was 54 (range, 10 to 82) and improved to an average of 90 postoperatively (p = 0.001). Median Tegner activity scale at follow-up was 5 (range, 2 to 9). Median patient satisfaction was 10 (range, 4 to 10). Higher patient satisfaction was correlated with increased Lysholm score at follow-up (rho = 0.39, p = 0.02). Tegner activity scale was associated with postoperative Lysholm score (rho = 0.35, p = 0.04). This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the healing response procedure to allow patients to return to high levels of recreational activity and to restore knee function to normal levels. In a select group of mature patients with acute proximal ACL tears, the healing response procedure is an effective treatment technique.

Relationship Between Tibiotalar Joint Space and Ankle Function Following Ankle Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Joint-preserving procedures of the ankle may postpone the need for ankle arthrodesis (AA) or total ankle replacement (TAR). The challenge for the surgeon is to determine which patients may benefit from these joint-preserving procedures. We hypothesized that patents with less than 2 mm of ankle joint space on preoperative radiographs would report inferior outcomes following joint-preserving surgery compared with those with 2 mm or greater joint space. METHODS: Patients 18 years of age or older treated with joint-preserving ankle surgery with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were considered for study inclusion. The ankle joint space was measured on standardized weightbearing preoperative radiographs. At follow-up, patients completed questionnaires including the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Sports subscales, the Short Form-12 (SF-12) Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary, the Tegner Activity Scale, and satisfaction with outcome. RESULTS: A total of 251 patients were included in the study. Forty-three patients had an ankle joint space of less than 2 mm. Compared with the 208 patients with an ankle joint space of 2 mm or greater, they had inferior FAAM ADL, FAAM Sports, and SF-12 Physical Component Summary scores (P = .001, P = .001, and P = .006, respectively). Additionally, a statistically significant positive correlation between joint space distance and the FAAM ADL (P = .012, r = 0.158), FAAM Sports (P < .001, r = 0.301), and SF-12 Physical Component Summary (P < .010, r = 0.163) scores was found. CONCLUSION: Patients with a preoperatively narrowed ankle joint space of less than 2 mm had significantly lower outcome scores following joint-preserving ankle surgery compared with patients with preserved ankle joint space. These results may assist clinicians in selecting patients who may benefit from ankle joint-preserving procedures, as well as counseling patients with a narrowed ankle joint space regarding expected outcome after joint-preserving ankle surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prognostic comparative study.

Accessibility and Thickness of Medial and Lateral Talar Body Cartilage for Treatment of Ankle and Foot Osteochondral Lesions.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to determine (1) if cartilage thicknesses on the talar dome and medial/lateral surfaces of the talus were similar, (2) whether there was sufficient donor cartilage surface area on the medial and lateral talar surfaces to repair talar dome cartilage injuries of the talus, and (3) whether the cartilage surface could be increased following anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and sectioning of the tibionavicular and tibiospring portion of the anterior deltoid. METHODS: Medial and lateral approaches were utilized in 8 cadaveric ankles to identify the accessible medial, lateral, and talar dome cartilage surfaces in 3 conditions: (1) intact, (2) ATFL release, and (3) superficial anterior deltoid ligament release. The talus was explanted, and the cartilage areas were digitized with a coordinate measuring machine. Cartilage thickness was quantified using a laser scanner. RESULTS: The mean cartilage thickness was 1.0 ± 0.1 mm in all areas tested. In intact ankles, the medial side of the talus showed a larger total area of available cartilage than the lateral side (152 mm2 vs 133 mm2). ATFL release increased the available cartilage area on the medial and lateral sides to 167 mm2 and 194 mm2, respectively. However, only the lateral talar surface had sufficient circular graft donor cartilage available for autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) procedures of the talus. After ATFL and deltoid sectioning, there was an increase in available graft donor cartilage available for AOT procedures. CONCLUSION: The thickness of the medial and lateral talar cartilage surfaces is very similar to that of the talar dome cartilage surface, which provides evidence that the medial and lateral surfaces may serve as acceptable AOT donor cartilage. The surface area available for AOT donor site grafting was sufficient in the intact state; however, sectioning the ATFL and superficial anterior deltoid ligament increased the overall lateral talar surface area available for circular grafting for an AOT procedure that requires a larger graft. These results support the idea that lateral surfaces of the talus may be used as donor cartilage for an AOT procedure since donor and recipient sites are similar in cartilage thickness, and there is sufficient cartilage surface area available for common lesion sizes in the foot and ankle. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This anatomical study investigates the feasibility of talar osteochondral autografts from the medial or lateral talar surfaces exposed with standard approaches. It confirms the similar cartilage thickness of the talar dome and the ability to access up to an 8- to 10-mm donor graft from the lateral side of the talus after ligament release. This knowledge may allow better operative planning for use of these surfaces for osteochondral lesions within the foot and ankle, particularly in certain circumstances of a revision microfracture.

Rasch Analysis of Reliability and Validity of Scores From the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of scores from the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Sports scales in patients who have a variety of ankle injuries. METHODS: All patients who underwent surgical treatment for an ankle injury and completed the FAAM ADL and Sport scales were included in this study (n = 456; 192 females, 264 males). The average age was 47.6 years (range, 18-79 years). The average time to follow-up was 3.8 years (range, 2.0-7.7 years). All data were collected prospectively and reviewed retrospectively. A reliability and validity analysis, utilizing the Rasch measurement model, a special case of item response theory (IRT), was conducted. RESULTS: Reliability was very good. For FAAM ADL, person reliability was 0.87 and item reliability was 0.99. For FAAM Sport, person reliability was 0.89 and item reliability was 1.0. Infit mean square (MNSQ) values, which assess internal scale validity, were examined. For FAAM ADL, items 11 (coming up on your toes) and 10 (squatting) were high (2.27 and 2.08, respectively). All other infit values were within the acceptable range of 0.5 to 1.7. For FAAM Sport, all infit values were within the acceptable range. Outfit MNSQ values, which assess the FAAM ADL and Sport rating scale function, were examined. Three items from FAAM ADL were beyond the acceptable range. Items 10 and 11 from FAAM ADL had high outfit MNSQ values (2.15 and 1.98, respectively). Item 19 (light to moderate work) item had a marginally low outfit MNSQ of 0.48. For FAAM Sport, all outfit values were within the acceptable range. CONCLUSION: There was very good evidence of the reliability and validity of FAAM ADL and FAAM Sport scores. Two FAAM ADL items may indicate the need for further scale development for use in a diverse surgical ankle population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, comparative series.