Effectiveness of exercise-based sports injury prevention programmes in reducing injury rates in adolescents and their implementation in the community: a mixed-methods systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Despite evidence supporting the efficacy of sport injury prevention programmes (SIPPs) in adolescents, implementation of SIPPs in community settings is low. This review aims to synthesise and integrate evidence on the efficacy of exercise-based SIPPs in reducing injury rates in adolescents with implementation strategies for such programmes in the community. DESIGN: A systematic review with meta-analysis, narrative synthesis and meta-aggregation was conducted, followed by a convergent segregated approach to integrate the findings. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted. Study appraisal was performed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. DATA SOURCES: Literature search of nine databases was carried out to identify studies in English from January 2012 to December 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Included were randomised controlled trials (RCTs), qualitative or mixed-methods studies. Population included adolescents (10-19 years). Interventions included SIPPs. Outcomes were injury rate and rate ratio (IRR). Phenomena of interest were facilitators and barriers to the implementation of SIPPs. RESULTS: 23 studies were included for analysis. Meta-analysis for 16 RCTs showed a protective effect of SIPP (IRR 0.63, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.74, p<0.00001) in adolescents. Meta-aggregation of seven qualitative/mixed-method studies revealed four sets of synthesised findings that impact implementation namely players' perceptions and beliefs, coaches as key facilitators, organisational support and characteristics of the SIPP. CONCLUSION: Implementation of SIPPs provides a 37% risk reduction in adolescents but requires targeting key stakeholders through a top-down multifaceted approach for its efficacy to be translated. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of SIPPs and implementation strategies in adolescents in community settings.

Post-operative Patellar Tilt More than 10° Can Affect Certain Components of Knee Society Score After Total Knee Arthroplasty at 2-Year Follow-Up.

Introduction: The effect of post-operative patella tilt on functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty remains unclear. Our study aimed to analyze the relationship of post-operative patellar tilt with functional outcome scores after total knee arthroplasty. Materials and Methods: Patient data were retrieved from our institution's prospectively maintained total knee arthroplasty. Three hundred three patients who underwent unilateral TKA from Jan 2012 to March 2017 were included in the study. After excluding patients with incomplete and lost follow-up data, 213 patients were analyzed. Radiographs of pre-operative and post-operative skyline views were used for patella tilt and patella displacement measurement at pre-op, post-op 1 year, and post-op 2 years. Three functional outcome scoring systems, SF-36, KSS, and WOMAC, were applied for function evaluation at different post-operative time points. Patients were divided into three subgroups according to the patella tilt, which includes less than 5°, 5.1-10°, and more than 10°. Statistical analysis was done to identify the relationship between patella tilt and functional outcomes. Results: Mean post-operative patella tilt was significantly lower than the mean pre-operative patella tilt (3.35 ± 3.91 vs. 5.65 ± 4.41, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in patella displacement among pre- and post-operative status. KSS functional score was significantly poor at post-op 1 year and KSS objective score at post-op 2 years in patients with more than 10° patella tilt. SF-36 and WOMAC were not significantly different among the groups. There was no significant difference in post-operative function between non-resurfaced and resurfaced patella patients evaluated with three scoring systems. Conclusion: We have found significantly less post-operative patella tilt after TKA than pre-operative patella tilt with or without patella resurfacing. Increased post-operative patella tilt of more than 10° can affect specific functional outcomes. Patella resurfacing does not affect the post-operative functional outcome compared to non-resurfacing of the patella post-op 2 years. Level of Evidence: III. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-023-01077-0.

Magnetic field therapy enhances muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics and attenuates systemic ceramide levels following ACL reconstruction: Southeast Asian randomized-controlled pilot trial.

Background: Metabolic disruption commonly follows Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. Brief exposure to low amplitude and frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) has been shown to promote in vitro and in vivo murine myogeneses via the activation of a calcium-mitochondrial axis conferring systemic metabolic adaptations. This randomized-controlled pilot trial sought to detect local changes in muscle structure and function using MRI, and systemic changes in metabolism using plasma biomarker analyses resulting from ACLR, with or without accompanying PEMF therapy. Methods: 20 patients requiring ACLR were randomized into two groups either undergoing PEMF or sham exposure for 16 weeks following surgery. The operated thighs of 10 patients were exposed weekly to PEMFs (1 â€‹mT for 10 â€‹min) for 4 months following surgery. Another 10 patients were subjected to sham exposure and served as controls to allow assessment of the metabolic repercussions of ACLR and PEMF therapy. Blood samples were collected prior to surgery and at 16 weeks for plasma analyses. Magnetic resonance data were acquired at 1 and 16 weeks post-surgery using a Siemens 3T Tim Trio system. Phosphorus (31P) Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) was utilized to monitor changes in high-energy phosphate metabolism (inorganic phosphate (Pi), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine (PCr)) as well as markers of membrane synthesis and breakdown (phosphomonoesters (PME) and phosphodiester (PDE)). Quantitative Magnetization Transfer (qMT) imaging was used to elucidate changes in the underlying tissue structure, with T1-weighted and 2-point Dixon imaging used to calculate muscle volumes and muscle fat content. Results: Improvements in markers of high-energy phosphate metabolism including reductions in ΔPi/ATP, Pi/PCr and (Pi â€‹+ â€‹PCr)/ATP, and membrane kinetics, including reductions in PDE/ATP were detected in the PEMF-treated cohort relative to the control cohort at study termination. These were associated with reductions in the plasma levels of certain ceramides and lysophosphatidylcholine species. The plasma levels of biomarkers predictive of muscle regeneration and degeneration, including osteopontin and TNNT1, respectively, were improved, whilst changes in follistatin failed to achieve statistical significance. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry revealed reductions in small molecule biomarkers of metabolic disruption, including cysteine, homocysteine, and methionine in the PEMF-treated cohort relative to the control cohort at study termination. Differences in measurements of force, muscle and fat volumes did not achieve statistical significance between the cohorts after 16 weeks post-ACLR. Conclusion: The detected changes suggest improvements in systemic metabolism in the post-surgical PEMF-treated cohort that accords with previous preclinical murine studies. PEMF-based therapies may potentially serve as a manner to ameliorate post-surgery metabolic disruptions and warrant future examination in more adequately powered clinical trials. The Translational Potential of this Article: Some degree of physical immobilisation must inevitably follow orthopaedic surgical intervention. The clinical paradox of such a scenario is that the regenerative potential of the muscle mitochondrial pool is silenced. The unmet need was hence a manner to maintain mitochondrial activation when movement is restricted and without producing potentially damaging mechanical stress. PEMF-based therapies may satisfy the requirement of non-invasively activating the requisite mitochondrial respiration when mobility is restricted for improved metabolic and regenerative recovery.

Risk Factors for New Meniscal Tears following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

This study aims to compare the rate of meniscal tears after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in patients who have undergone concomitant meniscal repair during the index procedure with that in patients who have not undergone such surgery. It also evaluates other risk factors, such as age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), site of concomitant meniscal surgery, and ACL graft failure. This is a retrospective study conducted at a large tertiary public hospital. Patients who underwent primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery with or without concomitant meniscal repair from 2011 to 2016 were identified. Patients with old meniscal tears and previous meniscal surgeries were excluded. The aforementioned demographical, injury, and surgical details were obtained and analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Our study cohort included 754 patients. Primary ACLR surgery was performed with meniscal repair in 172 (22.8%) of the patients, with meniscectomy in 202 (26.8%) of the patients, and without concomitant meniscal surgery in 380 (50.4%) of the patients. A total of 81 (10.7%) patients developed meniscal tears after the index procedure. Such tears occurred in 12.2% (21 of 172) of the patients who had undergone concomitant meniscal repair during the index ACLR, and in 10.3% (60 of 582) of the patients who had not undergone concomitant meniscal repair (p = 0.30). On multivariate analysis, only ACL graft failure was significantly associated with new meniscal tears (p < 0.001, odds ratio 18.69, 95% confidence interval 9.18-38.05). ACL graft failure is the only independent risk factor for meniscal tears after ACLR surgery in our large cohort of patients. Concomitant meniscal repair was not an associated risk factor.

Tear Rates of the Ipsilateral ACL Graft and the Contralateral Native ACL Are Similar following ACL Reconstruction.

The aim of the study is to compare the tear rates of ipsilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts and the contralateral native ACL as well as to investigate the correlation of gender, age at time of surgery, and body mass index (BMI) with the occurrence of these injuries. The medical records of 751 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery with follow-up periods of 2 to 7 years were retrospectively analyzed. Survival analyses of ipsilateral ACL grafts and contralateral native ACL were performed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors that were associated with these injuries. The tear rates of the ipsilateral ACL graft and contralateral ACL were 5.86 and 6.66%, respectively with no significant difference between groups (p = 0.998). The mean time of tears of the ipsilateral ACL and contralateral ACL was also similar (p = 0.977) at 2.64 and 2.78 years, respectively after surgery. Both the odds of sustaining an ipsilateral ACL graft and contralateral ACL tear were also significantly decreased by 0.10 (p = 0.003) and 0.14 (p = 0.000), respectively, for every 1-year increase in age at which the reconstruction was performed. However, graft type, gender, and BMI were not associated with an increased risk of these injuries. There was no difference between tear rates of ipsilateral ACL graft and contralateral ACL following ACL reconstruction. Patients who undergo ACL reconstruction at a young age are at an increased risk of both ipsilateral graft and contralateral ACL rupture after an ACL reconstruction. Patients who are young and more likely to return to competitive sports should be counselled of the risks and advised to not neglect the rehabilitation of the contralateral knee during the immediate and back to sports period of recovery. This is a Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Epidemiology of patients with anterior cruciate ligament injuries undergoing reconstruction surgery in a multi-ethnic Asian population.

We conducted an epidemiological study to identify the demographics and pre-operative characteristics of patients undergoing primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in a multi-ethnic Asian population. A retrospective study was performed on 696 patients who registered in our ACL reconstruction registry from January 2013 to August 2016. Important inter-ethnic differences were found. Indian patients were significantly older compared to Malay and Chinese patients. Malay and Indian patients were more likely to be male, overweight, and obese compared to Chinese patients. Soccer was the predominant sport involved, although ethnic predominance in specific sports exists. Novel findings from this study include increased prevalence of concomitant chondral injuries in the Chinese population compared to Malays and Indians, and significantly higher rates of concomitant intra-articular injuries in soccer and basketball compared to netball. Identification of these high-risk subgroups would serve useful in guiding the formulation of prevention strategies within our multi-ethnic community.

Five-Strand Versus Four-Strand Hamstring Autografts in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction-A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical outcomes of the routine use of 5-strand hamstring grafts (where possible) with those of 4-strand grafts in primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: A total of 64 patients were enrolled in a prospective randomized controlled study comparing the use of 5-strand and 4-strand semitendinosus-gracilis autografts in single bundle ACL reconstruction (n = 32 in each group). Four participants in each group were lost to follow-up and were excluded from the outcome analysis. The outcomes of 28 patients in the 5-strand group and 28 patients in the 4-strand group were analyzed. The diameters of all grafts were measured intraoperatively. Patients were assessed postoperatively at 2 years with objective assessments (anterior knee laxity using the KT-2000 arthrometer, Lachman test, pivot-shift test, hop test) and patient-reported outcome scores (Lysholm knee score, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee score, SF-36 physical and mental components, Tegner activity scale). Postoperative graft ruptures were also noted. RESULTS: There were improvements in all outcome measures postoperatively regardless of the number of graft strands. When we compared the study and control groups, there were no significant differences in all subjective and objective outcome measures except the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score symptoms score (5-strand group 93.3 ± 9.2 vs 4-strand group 86.2 ± 14.7, P = .04). The KT-2000 side-to-side difference was 2.79 ± 2.11 mm in the 5-strand group and 2.54 ± 1.75 mm in the 4-strand group (P = .63). The 5-strand study group had 2 graft ruptures at 1 year, whereas the 4-strand control group had one partial graft rupture at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: At 2-year follow-up, the routine use of the 5-strand hamstring tendon autograft was not superior to that of the quadrupled or 4-strand graft in primary ACL reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, prospective randomized controlled trial.

Perioperative pregabalin does not reduce opioid requirements in total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was to determine if pregabalin, when given perioperatively in addition to patient-controlled analgesia morphine, paracetamol and etoricoxib, is effective in reducing morphine requirements and moderating pain scores after primary total knee arthroplasty. We hypothesize that there would be no difference in postoperative opioid requirements, postoperative pain scores, and functional scores with the use of perioperative pregabalin. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty were randomised and allocated to two groups. One group received capsules containing pregabalin 75 mg, and the other a placebo-one capsule before surgery and one capsule once per night up till postoperative day 2. Multimodal analgesia provided for all patients in this study included femoral nerve block, intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (morphine), paracetamol and etoricoxib. The primary outcome of patient's pain control was based on the measurement of cumulative morphine consumption during the first 72 h postoperatively. RESULTS: Pregabalin did not reduce the cumulative or effective morphine consumption at 48 h and 72 h post-operation. There were also no significant differences noted in pain scores at 48 h and 72 h after surgery, functional range of motion of the operated knee at 72 h post-op, or outcomes recorded on the Knee Society Score (KSS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) questionnaires at 3 and 6 months post-op. None of the patients demonstrated common adverse reactions to pregabalin. CONCLUSION: This study showed no reduction in postoperative opioid requirements, or improvement in early postoperative pain scores or functional outcomes at 6 months, with perioperative use of pregabalin. Orthopaedic surgeons may consider this when selecting an analgesic regimen for their patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Five-Strand Hamstring Autograft in Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

The purpose of this study was to describe our surgical technique of using five-strand hamstring autograft with interference screw fixation in primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and to report the early postoperative outcomes of this technique. Patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction using five-strand hamstring autografts with interference screw fixation between December 2014 and June 2016 were included in this study. The five-strand configuration was used in these patients because the four-strand configuration produced a graft diameter of less than 8 mm. Subjective questionnaires, including the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the Lysholm Score, were administered preoperatively, as well as at 1- and 2-year follow-ups. Paired t-test was used to compare the pre- and postoperative outcome scores. The study group comprised 25 patients. There were no intraoperative complications. The mean follow-up period was 17.8 months (12-24). There were 19 males and 6 females. The median age was 24 years (16-41), and median body mass index was 23.9 (18.5-30.2). The median diameter of the five-strand graft was 9 mm (8-10 mm), with a mean of 9.06 ± 0.60 mm. This was associated with a median graft length of 90 mm (80-100 mm). The postoperative Lysholm, KOOS symptoms, KOOS Pain, KOOS daily function, KOOS sports function, KOOS quality of life, and Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary scores improved significantly compared with the preoperative scores. The use of the five-strand hamstring graft with interference screw fixation in primary ACL reconstruction is associated with significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes in the early postoperative period. The five-strand graft technique is a useful means of increasing graft diameter when faced with an undersized hamstring graft.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction performed within 12 months of the index injury is associated with a lower rate of medial meniscus tears.

PURPOSE: To verify the correlation of time to surgery with the prevalence of concomitant intra-articular injuries detected on arthroscopy during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: The medical records of 653 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors that were associated with the presence of at least one intra-articular injury, medial meniscus tears, lateral meniscus tears and chondral injuries at the time of surgery. Further univariate analysis was conducted to determine the earliest time-point for surgery, after which the rate of concomitant injuries was significantly higher. RESULTS: Longer time to surgery (OR 1.019 95% CI 1.010, 1.028, p = 0.000), male sex (OR 1.695 95% CI 1.074, 2.675 p = 0.023), and higher BMI (OR 1.050 95% CI 1.006, 1.097 p = 0.025) were correlated with a higher prevalence of medial meniscus tears. There was an increased prevalence of medial meniscus tears when surgery was carried out more than 12 months after the index injury (OR 2.274 95% CI 1.469, 3.522, p = 0.000). The correlation between longer time to surgery and chondral injuries approached statistical significance (OR 1.006 95% CI 0.999, 1.012, p = 0.073). However, a longer time to surgery was not associated with an increased prevalence of lateral meniscus tears (OR 1.003 95% CI 0.998, 1.009, p = n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: Longer time to surgery is associated with an increased prevalence of medial meniscus tears in ACL reconstruction. Surgery performed within 12 months of the index injury reduces the prevalence of medial meniscus tears. Prioritizing males and overweight patients for counselling and early intervention can be considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic level III retrospective cohort study.

Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Meta-Analysis Comparing Semitendinosus Alone and Semitendinosus with Gracilis Tendon Autografts.

The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to compare patient-reported outcomes and functional knee parameters of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery with semitendinosus (ST) and ST-gracilis (G) grafts. This study was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. All studies in PubMed and Embase that reported functional knee parameters and patient-reported outcomes after ACL reconstruction with ST and ST-G grafts independently were included in the review. Selected end points for random effects, pairwise meta-analysis included side-to-side deficit (%) in isokinetic peak torque, peak torque ratio (%), side-to-side difference (mm) in anterior laxity, and patient-reported outcome scores at minimum 2-year follow-up. A total of 15 primary references comprising 1,109 participants were identified. The ST group had decreased side-to-side deficit in isokinetic peak torque when compared with the ST-G group for flexion at 60 degrees/s (p = 0.02) and 180 degrees/s (p = 0.01) at 2-year follow-up. There were no significant differences in side-to-side difference in anterior laxity (p = 0.81), hamstring/quadriceps peak torque ratios at 60 degrees/s (p = 0.83) and 180 degrees/s (p = 0.36), and patient-reported outcomes in the International Knee Documentation Committee score (p = 0.06) and Lysholm score (p = 0.67). The addition of the gracilis tendon to the hamstring autograft in ACL reconstruction results in increased side-to-side deficits in isokinetic peak flexion torque. However, patient-reported outcome scores and knee laxity measurements are comparable with those of ST grafts.

Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Females Using Patellar-Tendon-Bone versus Hamstring Autografts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The current review aims to compare the outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the female population after patellar-tendon-bone and hamstring grafts. The review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. All original randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies that compared clinical outcomes after female ACL reconstruction using hamstring versus patellar-tendon-bone grafts were included. All clinical outcomes reported by three or more studies were included. Fifteen publications, with 948 female patients, were included. Most outcomes were reported to have no significant graft differences by all studies that reported the outcome. These included all the outcomes for objective knee scores (International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC] objective knee score), neuromuscular testing (quadriceps strength, hamstring strength, and single hop test), graft rupture or failure, and subjective knee scores (Lysholm score and IKDC subjective knee score). The pivot shift test, flexion deficit, and presence of crepitus were also reported to have no significant graft differences by all studies. Some studies reported a significant difference in anteroposterior laxity (Lachman's test and instrumented laxity), range of motion deficits (extension deficit), and sports and activity level (Tegner score). However, these statistically significant differences were noted to be clinically insignificant due to the normal population variation or standard error of measurement of these tools of evaluation. Patients reconstructed with patellar-tendon-bone grafts have a higher risk of kneeling pain. There was no significant difference in the incidence of crepitus. Most of the outcomes following female ACL reconstructions showed no clinically and statistically significant difference when either patellar-tendon-bone or hamstring autograft was used. These included outcomes for anteroposterior laxity, objective knee scores, neuromuscular testing, graft rupture or failure, subjective knee scores, sports and activity level, and crepitus. This a level II study.

The presence of concomitant intra-articular injuries and bone bruise does not affect pre-operative knee pain and symptoms in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Increased knee pain at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction may predict increased pain post-operatively, a prolonged recovery and a more difficult rehabilitation. The main objective of our study was to identify preoperative factors, such as concomitant intra-articular injuries and bone bruises, that may be associated with increased knee pain and symptoms in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. METHODS: Patient data was queried from our institution's prospectively maintained ACL reconstruction registry. Two-hundred and seventy patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction within 3 months of injury were included in the study. Predictors such as demographic characteristics (age, body mass index and gender) and injury characteristics (mechanism of injury, meniscal injury, chondral injury and bone bruise) were recorded. The association between the pre-operative knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain and symptom subscales and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) bodily pain subscale, and the predictors were assessed using logistic regression for categorical variables and linear regression for continuous variables. RESULTS: The mean age of our patient group was 25.4 years with 211 out of 270 (78%) being males. Bone bruise was present in 243 patients (90%), meniscal injury in 165 (61%) patients and chondral injury in 40 (15%) patients. The presence of bone bruise, meniscal injury or chondral injury was not significantly associated with worse preoperative KOOS pain and symptom and SF-36 bodily pain scores. Other factors that were not associated were demographic characteristics (age, BMI and gender) and mechanism of injury. CONCLUSION: The presence of bone bruise and concomitant intra-articular injuries does not affect pre-operative knee pain and symptoms in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction within 3 months of injury. This knowledge would aid the surgeon in pre-operative counselling, and prognostication of post-operative pain and rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction.

Gender Differences in Intra-articular and Extra-articular Injuries Associated with Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Ruptures.

Females are well known to have a two to nine times increase in relative risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture as compared with males. However, there is limited literature available regarding the rates of associated intra-articular and extra-articular injuries associated with ACL ruptures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the gender differences in intra-articular and extra-articular injuries associated with ACL ruptures in an acute setting. Therefore, in the cross-sectional study of consecutive patients, all patients who underwent ACL reconstruction in a single institution were identified if they had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done within 6 weeks of sustaining the injury and if their injury was sustained during sports activities. Patients were excluded if they had prior surgery in the affected knee, including revision ACL reconstructions. A musculoskeletal MRI radiologist blinded to the study's purpose then reported the incidence of ligamentous injuries, meniscal tears, chondral injuries, and bone contusions. Correlations were then performed between the patient's gender and the prevalence of these associated injuries. A total of 304 patients were included in the study. Comparison between males and females revealed no gender differences for the associated intra-articular and extra-articular injuries of acute ACL rupture. These include the prevalence of medial collateral ligament injuries (p = 0.118), lateral collateral ligament injuries (p = 0.445), medial meniscus injuries (p = 0.874), lateral meniscus injuries (p = 0.612), chondral injuries (p = 0.331), medial (p = 0.143) and lateral femoral condyle bone contusions (p = 0.246), and medial (p = 0.787) and lateral tibial plateau bone contusions (p = 0.765). In conclusion, males and females have similar rates of associated intra-articular and extra-articular injuries after ACL rupture in the acute setting. These include associated collateral ligament injuries, meniscal injuries, chondral injuries, and bone contusions. The level of evidence is Level II.

Use of the 5-Strand Hamstring Autograft Technique in Increasing Graft Size in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: To determine the extent to which a strategy of routinely preparing a 5-strand hamstring autograft would increase graft size in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: A total of 64 patients were enrolled in a prospective randomized controlled study comparing 5-strand and quadrupled semitendinosus-gracilis autografts in single-bundle ACL reconstruction (5-strand group, n = 32; 4-strand group, n = 32). In the 5-strand group, the diameter of the 4-strand construct and the subsequent 5-strand graft used were measured, whereas in the 4-strand group, the diameter of the quadrupled graft used was measured. Quadrupled graft diameter and hamstring tendon lengths were correlated with patient gender, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: The mean diameter of the final graft used in the 5-strand group was 8.8 ± 0.8 mm, whereas that in the 4-strand group was 7.8 ± 0.7 mm (P < .001). The mean increase in graft size achieved with the use of the 5-strand technique was 1.4 ± 0.3 mm. In the 5-strand group, 24 of 32 (75%) patients had graft diameters exceeding 8 mm compared with 9 of 32 (28%) patients in the 4-strand group (P < .001). Quadrupled graft diameter was significantly correlated with patient height and BMI, whereas the gracilis and semitendinosus lengths were significantly correlated with patient height. CONCLUSIONS: The 5-strand hamstring autograft provides a significantly larger diameter graft compared with the quadrupled hamstring autograft in ACL reconstruction. Graft sizes exceeding 8 mm are achievable in 75% of patients with the routine application of this technique. This is significantly more than that obtained with the standard quadrupled hamstring graft. Hamstring tendon length and quadrupled hamstring graft diameter are also significantly correlated with patient height. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1, prospective randomized controlled trial.

Association of Compartmental Bone Bruise Distribution With Concomitant Intra-articular and Extra-articular Injuries in Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears After Noncontact Sports Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are frequently associated with bone bruises, and their presence may be associated with concomitant intra- and extra-articular injuries. PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence and pattern of distribution of bone bruises in patients with acute ACL tears from noncontact sports trauma and their association with specific intra- and extra-articular injuries. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 168 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 6 weeks of sustaining an ACL tear. Information regarding their demographics as well as MRI evidence of bone bruise patterns and associated injuries was carefully documented. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between bone bruises and concomitant intra- and extra-articular injuries seen on MRI. RESULTS: Bone bruises were observed in 155 (92.3%) of 168 patients. The prevalence of bone bruises was 83.9%, 78.6%, 56.5%, and 29.8% on the lateral tibial plateau, lateral femoral condyle, medial tibial plateau, and medial femoral condyle, respectively. A total of 110 (65.5%) patients had bone bruises in both the medial and lateral compartments of the knee, 41 (24.4%) had isolated lateral compartment bone bruises, 4 (2.4%) had isolated medial compartment bone bruises, and 13 (7.7%) did not have any bone bruises. None of the demographic factors were significantly associated with the presence or absence of bone bruises. The presence of bone bruises was significantly associated with lateral meniscal injuries (P = .05). Lateral compartment bone bruises were significantly associated with lateral meniscal injuries (P = .034), while bone bruises affecting both the lateral and medial compartments were significantly associated with medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries (P = .044) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injuries (P = .038) in addition to lateral meniscal injuries (P = .022). CONCLUSION: Bone bruises are common in patients with acute ACL tears after noncontact sports injuries. The compartmental distribution of bone bruises is associated with concomitant intra- and extra-articular injuries. Bone bruises involving the lateral compartment of the knee are associated with lateral meniscal injuries, while bone bruises involving both the lateral and medial compartments of the knee are associated with MCL and LCL injuries in addition to lateral meniscal injuries.

A 5-Strand Hamstring Autograft Achieves Outcomes Comparable to Those of a 4-Strand Hamstring Autograft With a Graft Diameter of 8 mm or More in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Quadrupled (4-strand) hamstring tendon autografts are commonly used in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, but there is significant variability in their diameter. The 5-strand hamstring autograft has been used as a means of increasing the graft diameter in patients with undersized hamstring grafts. PURPOSE: To report the outcomes of primary ACL reconstruction using 5-strand hamstring autografts in patients in whom the 4-strand configuration produced a graft diameter of <8 mm and to compare these outcomes with those of ACL reconstruction using 4-strand semitendinosus-gracilis autografts with a graft diameter of ≥8 mm. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: The primary study group comprised 25 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using a 5-strand hamstring autograft. The comparison group comprised 20 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using a 4-strand hamstring autograft with a graft diameter of ≥8 mm. Interference screw fixation was used at the tibial and femoral ends for both groups of patients. Subjective questionnaires, including the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the Lysholm score, and the Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary of the Short Form-36 (SF-36), were administered preoperatively as well as at 1- and 2-year follow-up visits. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the patient demographics and preoperative scores between the 2 groups. The mean graft diameter was 9.06 ± 0.60 mm in the 5-strand group and 8.13 ± 0.32 mm in the 4-strand group (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference between groups on postoperative Lysholm, KOOS Pain, KOOS Symptoms, KOOS Activities of Daily Living, KOOS Sports, KOOS Quality of Life, and SF-36 Physical Component Summary scores. CONCLUSION: In primary ACL reconstruction, the 5-strand hamstring autograft achieves clinical outcomes that are comparable to those of the 4-strand hamstring autograft with a graft diameter of ≥8 mm. The 5-strand graft technique is therefore a useful means of increasing the graft diameter when faced with an undersized hamstring graft.