Return to Sport After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Tears Treated with Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections is Influenced by Length of Rehabilitation and Leukocyte Content of Injections: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To analyze the current literature assessing return to sport (RTS) outcomes after platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for the nonoperative treatment of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries. METHODS: A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted in June 2023 to identify studies assessing RTS after PRP injections for UCL injuries. Tear severity, leukocyte content of PRP, rehabilitation protocol, and RTS outcomes were collected. Heterogeneity was assessed through proportional random-effects models for RTS and return to preinjury level of play (RTLP) with subgroup analysis by rehabilitation length, leukocyte content of PRP, and tear severity. RESULTS: Eight studies with 278 partial-thickness and 44 full-thickness tears were identified. The mean age of patients ranged from 17.3 to 26 years. The mean RTS time after injection ranged from 5.2 to 25.4 weeks. High heterogeneity was observed among studies, with RTS rates ranging from 46% to 100% (I2 = 83%) and RTLP rates ranging from 34% to 100% (I2 = 83%). Studies with the longest rehabilitation programs (12-14 weeks) had RTS rates of 87% to 100% (I2 = 0%). RTS rates among athletes treated with leukocyte-poor and leukocyte-rich PRP ranged from 73% to 100% (I2 = 30%) and 52% to 88% (I2 = 84%), respectively. Subanalysis of RTS by tear severity demonstrated high variability, with partial-thickness rates ranging from 59% to 100% (I2 = 55%) and full-thickness rates ranging from 27% to 100% (I2 = 63.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Studies assessing RTS after PRP injections are highly heterogeneous; however, current data suggest nonoperative RTS and RTLP rates ranging from 46% to 100% and 34% to 100%, respectively. Studies with at least 12 weeks of rehabilitation and studies using leukocyte-poor PRP demonstrated low heterogeneity and greater RTS rates. Alternatively, high heterogeneity was observed among both partial- and full-thickness tears. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level III-IV studies.

Reverse Fragility Index Comparing Rates of Rerupture After Open Achilles Tendon Repair Versus Early Functional Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Despite similar published rates of rerupture among patients treated with early functional rehabilitation and open repair for acute Achilles tendon rupture, uncertainty still exists regarding the optimal treatment modality. The reverse fragility index (RFI) is a statistical tool that provides an objective measure of the study's neutrality by determining the number of events that need to change for a nonsignificant result to be significant. PURPOSE: The purpose was to utilize the RFI to appraise the strength of neutrality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the rerupture rates of acute Achilles tendon ruptures treated with open repair versus early functional rehabilitation. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: A systematic review was performed including all RCTs comparing the rerupture rates after operative repair and early functional rehabilitation for acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Studies were included that explicitly used early functional rehabilitation, defined as weightbearing and exercise-based interventions initiated within 2 weeks, as compared with open repair and reported a nonsignificant difference in rerupture rates. The RFI, with rerupture as the primary outcome, was calculated for each study (significance threshold, P < .05). The RFI quantifies a study's strength of neutrality and is defined as the minimum number of event reversals necessary to change a nonsignificant result to statistically significant. RESULTS: Nine RCTs were included, with 713 patients and 46 reruptures. The median (interquartile range) rerupture rate was 7.69% (6.38%-9.64%) overall, 4.00% (2.33%-7.14%) in the operative group, and 10.00% (5.26%-12.20%) in the nonoperative group. The median RFI was 3, indicating that an outcome reversal of 3 patients was necessary to change the results from nonsignificant to statistically significant. The median number of patients lost to follow-up was 6 (3-7). Of 9 studies, 7 (77.8%) had a loss to follow-up greater than or equal to its RFI. CONCLUSION: The statistical nonsignificance of studies reporting equivalent rerupture rates in the management of acute Achilles tendon ruptures with open repair versus nonoperative management with early functional rehabilitation can be reversed by changing the outcome status of only a few patients.

Predictors of Hardware Removal in Orthopaedic Trauma Patients Undergoing Syndesmotic Ankle Fixation With Screws.

Background: Indications for removal of syndesmotic screws are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to determine factors related to elective syndesmotic screw removal. Methods: Patients who underwent fixation of ankle syndesmotic injuries were included. Screw removal was offered after a minimum of 12 weeks after surgery for pain, stiffness or patient desire to remove painful or broken hardware. Patient demographics, surgical data, distance of the syndesmotic screw from the joint, location of the screw at the physeal scar, and number of syndesmotic screws placed were collected for all patients. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the relationship between patient characteristics and screw removal and independent predictors of hardware removal. Results: Of 160 patients, 60 patients (38%) with an average age of 36.1 (range: 18-84) years underwent elective syndesmotic screw removal at a mean of 7 (range, 3-47) months after initial fixation. The most common reason for screw removal (50/60 patients) was ankle stiffness and pain (83%). Patients who underwent screw removal were more likely to be younger (36.1 years ± 13.0 vs 46.6 years ± 18.2, P < .001) and have a lower ASA score (2 ± 0.8 vs 2.1 ± 0.7, P = .003) by bivariate analysis. Of patients who underwent screw removal, 21.7% (13/60) had a broken screw at the time of removal. Whether the screw was placed at the physeal scar was not significantly associated with patient decision for hardware removal (P = .80). Conclusion: Younger and healthier patients were more likely to undergo elective removal of syndesmotic hardware. Screw distance from joint and screw placement at the physeal scar were not significantly associated with hardware removal. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Subjective Outcomes After Allograft Reconstruction and Nonoperative Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Ruptures Are Similar in Patients Aged 40 Years and Older: A 2:1 Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Purpose: To compare subjective outcomes and rates of subsequent operations for patients aged 40 years and older with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures who elected nonoperative management or allograft ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Methods: This was a retrospective study comparing 2-year minimum results of nonoperative treatment and primary allograft ACLR among patients aged 40 years and older presenting to a single institution between the years 2005 and 2016. Patients who elected nonoperative management were 2:1 propensity score (PS)-matched to patients who elected ACLR based on age, sex, body mass index, sports-related mechanism of injury, Outerbridge grade III or IV chondral lesions, and medial or lateral meniscus tears. Univariate analysis was performed to compare subjective outcome measures of International Knee Documentation Committee and Marx activity level scores, subsequent operations, and satisfaction rates. Results: After 2:1 PS matching, 40 ACLR and 20 nonoperative patients with mean ages of 52.2 years and 54.5 years, respectively, were included with a mean follow-up of 5.7 years (SD 2.1 years, range 2.3-10.6 years). There were no significant differences between the groups in any of the matching variables. There were no significant differences in International Knee Documentation Committee scores (81.9 ± 14.1, CI 77.4-86.5 vs 84.3 ± 12.8, CI 78.3-90.3, P = .53), Marx activity level scores (5.8 ± 4.8, CI 4.2-7.3 vs 5.7 ± 5.1, CI 3.3-8.1, P = .96), or satisfaction rates (100% vs 90%, P = .11) between the ACLR and nonoperative groups. Four (10%) patients who underwent ACLR sustained a graft treated with revision ACLR. 7 (17.5%) ACLR and 0 nonoperative patients subsequently received further ipsilateral knee surgeries (P = .08), including 2 total knee arthroplasties. Conclusions: In this PS-matched analysis of patients aged 40 years and older with ACL ruptures, patients who elected nonoperative management had similar subjective outcomes compared with those who elected allograft ACLR. Patients who elected allograft ACLR did not have fewer subsequent operations than those who elected nonoperative treatment. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Is Patellar Instability a Contraindication to Semiextended Tibial Nailing?: A Case Report.

CASE: We report a 40-year-old woman with undiagnosed patellofemoral instability that worsened 8 months after intramedullary nailing of a distal left tibia fracture in the semiextended position through a partial medial parapatellar approach. Patella stability and asymptomatic knee function were restored after IM nail removal, medial patellofemoral ligament repair, and left tibial tubercle transposition. CONCLUSION: The optimal surgical approach for tibial IM nailing in patients with chronic patellar instability has not been described. Clinicians should be cognizant of the potential for worsening patellofemoral instability in these patients when using the medial parapatellar approach in the semiextended position.

Intrasubstance Patellar Tendon Repair with the Addition of a Bio-inductive Implant.

Intrasubstance patellar tendon ruptures are an uncommon injury that can have devastating long-term effects for patients. Operative intervention to repair the ruptured tendon is the gold standard treatment for these injuries and can be performed using a variety of techniques. Unlike the more common patellar tendon ruptures at the level of the patella, repairs of intrasubstance ruptures are often challenging because of the poor quality of the remaining tendon fibers. Tendon repair with augmentation via bio-inductive implants has gained popularity in upper extremity literature, as it has demonstrated improved tendon strength and patient outcomes. However, there remains a sparsity of reports regarding tendon augmentation in the lower extremity literature. Here, we describe repair of an intrasubstance patellar tendon rupture using a modified SpeedBridge repair and augmentation with a bio-inductive implant.

Preoperative factors associated with failure to reach the patient acceptable symptom state after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients aged 40 and older.

PURPOSE: To perform a predictive analysis to identify preoperative patient factors associated with failure to achieve a newly defined patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) for the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Score after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in patients aged ≥ 40 years with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a retrospective review of all patients aged 40 years or older receiving a primary allograft ACLR at a single institution between the years of 2005 and 2016, with 2-year minimum follow-up. Using an updated PASS threshold of 66.7 for the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score previously established for this patient cohort, a univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify preoperative patient characteristics predictive of failure to achieve PASS. RESULTS: A total of 197 patients with a mean follow-up of 6.2 ± 2.1 years (range 2.7 - 11.2) were included in the analysis (48.5 ± 5.6 years, 51.8% female, Body Mass Index (BMI) 25.9 ± 4.4). PASS was achieved by 162 patients (82.2%). Patients who failed to achieve PASS more often had lateral compartment cartilage defects (P = 0.001) and lateral meniscus tears (P = 0.004), higher BMIs (P = 0.004), and Workers' Compensation status (P = 0.043) on univariable analysis. Factors predictive of failure to achieve PASS on multivariable analysis included BMI and lateral compartment cartilage defect (OR 1.12 [1.03-1.23], P = 0.013; OR 5.1 [1.87-13.9], P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Among patients ≥ 40 years who receive a primary allograft ACLR, patients who fail to achieve PASS more often had lateral compartment cartilage defects and higher BMIs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Preoperative allergy testing for patients reporting penicillin and cephalosporin allergies is economically justified in preventing infection after total shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The use of alternative antibiotics to cefazolin has been associated with increased risk of infection after shoulder arthroplasty. Routine preoperative allergy testing in patients reporting penicillin and cephalosporin allergies increases the number able to receive cefazolin and may reduce the occurrence of infection after shoulder arthroplasty, but the financial viability of this practice is unclear. We used break-even modeling to determine the economic viability of routine preoperative allergy testing for infection prevention in total shoulder arthroplasty patients reporting penicillin and cephalosporin allergies. METHODS: Allergy testing cost ($248.24), infection rates after shoulder arthroplasty following use of noncefazolin antibiotics (3.09%), and infection-related care costs ($55,243) were derived from the literature. A break-even equation using these variables was developed to determine the absolute risk reduction (ARR) in the infection rate that would economically justify the routine implementation of preoperative allergy testing. The number needed to treat was calculated from the ARR. RESULTS: Preoperative allergy testing is considered economically justified if it prevents at least 1 infection out of 223 shoulder arthroplasties (ARR = 0.45%). These protocols remained economically viable at varying allergy testing costs, initial infection rates, and infection-related care costs. CONCLUSIONS: Routine preoperative penicillin allergy testing is an economically justified infection prevention strategy among patients reporting penicillin and cephalosporin allergies in the setting of elective shoulder arthroplasty. Widespread implementation of this practice may considerably reduce the economic and societal burden associated with prosthetic infections.

Heterotopic Ossification After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Quadriceps Tendon Autograft: A Case Report.

CASE: A 32-year-old healthy woman tore her right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and underwent reconstruction with quadriceps tendon autograft. Twelve weeks postoperatively, she had anterior thigh pain limiting knee flexion and a palpable mass in the anterior thigh. Imaging revealed a calcified mass near the graft site, concerning for heterotopic ossification (HO). After maturation of the heterotopic bone, she underwent debridement and HO removal. CONCLUSION: This is a case of HO at the quadriceps tendon autograft site after ACL reconstruction. When counseling patients, clinicians should be mindful of this possible complication and its treatment.

Incidence of Deep Venous Thrombosis Associated With Proximal Hamstring Rupture.

BACKGROUND: Rates of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) have been studied for most common orthopaedic injuries. However, rates and risk factors have not been published for proximal hamstring injuries. PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of symptomatic DVT associated with proximal hamstring rupture and associations with prophylactic anticoagulation. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Inclusion criteria included all complete and, in a separate cohort, partial proximal hamstring ruptures treated by the senior author from 2007 through 2018 with at least 8 weeks of follow-up. Tendinopathy without tear was excluded. No DVT screening was performed. Charts of patients with symptomatic DVT were reviewed for the treatment method, the presence of imaging-confirmed DVT or pulmonary embolism, and risk factors for DVT. No patients received postinjury DVT prophylaxis. Surgical patients were routinely instructed to take aspirin (325 mg bid) or apixaban (2.5 mg bid) for 4 weeks. Patients with risk factors for DVT received enoxaparin (40 mg daily) for 2 weeks followed by aspirin (325 mg bid) for 2 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 144 complete proximal hamstring ruptures were included: 132 treated operatively and 12 treated nonoperatively. There were 10 DVTs associated with the injury, for an overall rate of 6.9%. Five of the DVTs were diagnosed preoperatively in patients who had not received DVT prophylaxis; the other 5 were diagnosed postoperatively in patients on DVT prophylaxis. Six of the 10 DVTs had identifiable risk factors. All patients with postoperatively diagnosed DVTs were on prophylactic aspirin or enoxaparin. In the partial proximal hamstring rupture cohort of 114 ruptures, there were no DVTs. CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of DVT associated with complete proximal hamstring ruptures (6.9%) despite many patients receiving DVT prophylaxis. This is substantially higher than that in other lower extremity injuries. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for DVT after these injuries, and postinjury DVT prophylaxis may be warranted.

Esterified Trehalose Analogues Protect Mammalian Cells from Heat Shock.

Trehalose is a disaccharide produced by many organisms to better enable them to survive environmental stresses, including heat, cold, desiccation, and reactive oxygen species. Mammalian cells do not naturally biosynthesize trehalose; however, when introduced into mammalian cells, trehalose provides protection from damage associated with freezing and drying. One of the major difficulties in using trehalose as a cellular protectant for mammalian cells is the delivery of this disaccharide into the intracellular environment; mammalian cell membranes are impermeable to the hydrophilic sugar trehalose. A panel of cell-permeable trehalose analogues, in which the hydrophilic hydroxyl groups of trehalose are masked as esters, have been synthesized and the ability of these analogues to load trehalose into mammalian cells has been evaluated. Two of these analogues deliver millimolar concentrations of free trehalose into a variety of mammalian cells. Critically, Jurkat cells incubated with these analogues show improved survival after heat shock, relative to untreated Jurkat cells. The method reported herein thus paves the way for the use of esterified analogues of trehalose as a facile means to deliver high concentrations of trehalose into mammalian cells for use as a cellular protectant.