Internal tibial torsion is associated with medial meniscus posterior horn tears.

PURPOSE: Risk factors for meniscal tears play a decisive role in deciding on treatment and rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of tibial rotation on medial meniscus posterior horn tears (MMPHTs). METHODS: This study is a retrospective case-control study. Fifty patients with meniscal tears and 57 knees with intact meniscus were compared. Tibial rotation, femoral version, tibial slope and knee varus were measured in each participant. Knee osteoarthritis was classified according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification. Demographic characteristics were noted. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the mean tibial torsion angles and mean mechanical axes between the groups. The mean tibial rotation and mean mechanical axis were 26.3° ± 6.7 and 3.7° ± 2.7 in the MMPHT group and 30.3° ± 8.4 and 2.05° ± 2.7 in the control group, respectively (p = 0.008, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The current retrospective study has shown that tibial rotation is markedly reduced in patients with MMPHTs. Although the actual mechanism is not clear, the internal torsion of the tibia causes a decrease in the foot progression angle and increases the knee adduction moment, which in turn increases the medial tibial contact pressure. Internal torsion of the tibia, such as knee varus, may play a role in the aetiology of MMPHTs by this way. Whilst there was a significant difference in the mean varus and tibial torsion between the groups, there was no significant difference in the mean femoral version or tibial slope. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Intraarticular Ankaferd blood stopper application increases cartilagedegeneration: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS) is a mixture of certain ratios of 5 different plant roots (Thymus vulgaris, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Vitis vinifera, Alpinia officinarum, and Urtica dioica). The aim of this study is to evaluate the histopathological effects of ABS on articular cartilage in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one albino Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated to 3 groups: 0.1 mL of saline was injected in the first group, 0.1 mL of ABS was injected in the second group, and 0.1 mL of blood and 0.1 mL of ABS were injected in the third group. One month later all rats were sacrificed. Specimens were obtained for histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: Significant results were detected in the groups with respect to International Cartilage Repair Society and synovial proliferation scores (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). According to inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrin formation scores, there was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2 (P < 0.01), although there was significant difference between group 3 and the other groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: ABS and hemarthrosis had toxic effects on knee cartilage. The side effects were increased with the combination of hemarthrosis and ABS. As a result, ABS had unexpected effects on experimental hemarthrosis.