Vertebral balloon kyphoplasty versus vertebral body stenting in non-osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures at the thoracolumbar junction: a comparative radiological study and finite element analysis (BONEXP study).

OBJECTIVE: To compare radiologically balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) and vertebral compression fracture (VCF) expansion and corroborate with a finite element (FE) analysis. The principle of BKP is to stabilize VCF by restoring vertebral body anatomy using bone expansion and cement filling. More recently, vertebral body stenting (VBS) has been developed to reduce the loss of vertebral height observed after balloon deflation. METHODS: A retrospective, monocentric and continuous study of 60 non-osteoporotic fractures of the thoracolumbar junction treated by vertebral bone expansion was carried out over three years. The main endpoint was radiological correction of vertebral kyphosis (VK) at 3 months. The other studied parameters were vertebral height, index of Farcy, index of Beck, cement leakages and their location. A FE model was developed to analyze effects linked to the stent during cement injection, specifically throughout the risk of cement leakage evaluation. RESULTS: After three months, average reduction of VK was 4.73° ± 4.8° after BKP, and 4.63° ± 2.7° after VBS. There was no difference between the two techniques, but cement leakage was significantly greater with BKP (41.7%) than with VBS (4.2%). FE analysis showed substantial changes of the cement flow orientation in the presence of a stent. CONCLUSION: BKP and VBS offer comparable expansion with no added value of VBS in non-osteoporotic VCF reduction. VBS technique appears to prevent cement leakage due to its mesh architecture hindering the leaking process. In counterpart, such balloon expansion is likely to require higher pressure to deploy the stent. This could be an important parameter to take into account in young patients with high bone density.

Lateral acromioplasty cannot sufficiently reduce the critical shoulder angle if preoperatively measured over 40°.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether arthroscopic lateral acromion resection can sufficiently reduce the critical shoulder angle (CSA) without damaging deltoid muscle insertion. METHODS: Ninety patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff (RC) repair were retrospectively analysed. According to the preoperative CSA, patients were categorized as Group I (CSA < 35°) and Group II (CSA ≥ 35°). Additional arthroscopic lateral acromion resection was performed in Group II. The CSA was measured 1 week postoperatively, while RC integrity and the deltoid attachment were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months via ultrasound. Deltoid function was evaluated using the Akimbo test, in which patients place their hands on the iliac crest with abduction in the coronal plane and internal rotation of the shoulder joint while simultaneously flexing the elbow joint and pronating the forearm. RESULTS: Large and massive RC tears were more prevalent in Group II (p = 0.017). In both groups, the CSA reduction was statistically significant (Group I = 1°: range 0°-3°, Group II = 3.7°: range 1°-8°; p < 0.001). When the preoperative CSA was > 40°, the respective postoperative CSA remained > 35° in 83.3% of cases (p < 0.001). Final shoulder strength was correlated with the amount of CSA reduction (rho = 0.41, p = 0.002). The postoperative CSA was higher, but not significantly different (n.s.), in patients with re-torn (36°, range 32°-40°) than with healed RC (33°, range 26°-38°). No clinical detachment or hypotrophy of the deltoid was observed with the Akimbo test and ultrasound evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic lateral acromion resection is a safe procedure without affecting deltoid muscle origin or function, and it is effective in significantly reducing the CSA. However, the CSA cannot always be reduced to < 35°, especially in patients with preoperative CSA values > 40°. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The lateralization and distalization shoulder angles are important determinants of clinical outcomes in reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) designs vary in the lateralization and distalization geometry, which may affect functional outcomes. The purpose was to determine the effect of RSA lateralization and distalization on final functional outcomes by using the "lateralization shoulder angle" (LSA) and the "distalization shoulder angle" (DSA). METHODS: Forty-six consecutive patients who underwent RSA for cuff tear arthropathy were retrospectively evaluated. Functional outcome and radiographs were evaluated at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively and compared between implants with or without glenoid lateralization and with or without humeral-sided lateralization. Anteroposterior shoulder radiographs were used to evaluate the LSA and DSA. RESULTS: Both angles showed substantial to almost perfect intrarater and inter-rater agreement. Higher LSA values were found in more lateralized RSAs (P = .027), and values between 75° and 95° were correlated with better active external rotation (quadratic regression analysis R2 = 0.553, P < .001). Postoperative active anterior elevation (R2 = 0.2, P = .008), Constant (rs = 0.29, P = .05), and Activities of Daily Living Requiring External Rotation scores (rs = 0.4 P = .007) had a positive correlation with the LSA. The quadratic regression analysis also showed that a DSA between 40° and 65° resulted in better active anterior elevation (R2 = 0.4, P < .001) and abduction (R2 = 0.4, P < .001). The negative correlation between the LSA and DSA (rs = -0.7, P < .001) revealed that, according to the implant used, the more distally the RSA is placed the less lateralization is achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The LSA and the DSA are reproducible measurements that may be used to estimate "lateralization and distalization" after RSA. These measurements are correlated with postoperative clinical outcomes.

Minimally Invasive Combined Anterior and Anterolateral Stabilization of the Knee Using Hamstring Tendons and Adjustable-Loop Suspensory Fixation Device: Surgical Technique.

Despite the numerous techniques described regarding isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, many authors have reported that residual knee rotational instability is not always eliminated. The combination of lateral extra-articular knee tenodesis and ACL reconstruction is an alternative surgical approach with very promising clinical results. The purpose of this article is to describe a reliable and reproducible technique of combined ACL reconstruction and lateral extra-articular knee tenodesis using a continuous looped hamstring tendon autograft. A 4-strand graft inside the joint and a 2-strand graft for the tenodesis are attached to 2 adjustable-loop button suspensory fixation devices.

Adjustable Button Devices for All-Arthroscopic Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using the Hamstrings Tendons and the "Forgotten" Transseptal Approach.

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) ruptures account for nearly 20% of all ligamentous knee injuries. These may be either isolated or in the setting of a more complex knee trauma. Isolated tears with moderate posterior laxity (grades I or II) are commonly treated conservatively; nevertheless, symptomatic grade III injuries frequently require surgical intervention. PCL reconstruction remains a challenging surgery for multiple reasons like the neurovascular structures' proximity, the difficult passage of the graft with the "killer turn" angle, or the risk of poor graft fixation. We describe an all-inside operative technique using hamstrings tendon autografts with tibial and femoral adjustable buttons cortical fixation and the visualization of the posterior transseptal portal.

All-Arthroscopic Suture Fixation of Patellar Osteochondritis Dissecans.

Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee, despite its cause, is characterized by the impairment of the subchondral bone. Failure of its spontaneous healing makes surgical fixation often necessary. The patella is less affected than other locations in the knee. Its surgical treatment remains a challenge due to the thickness of the lesion and the complex approach of the retropatellar cartilage. Arthroscopy has the theoretical advantage to avoid a possible arthrotomy; however, the retrograde application of fixation materials does not guarantee good fragment compression and may lead to cartilage penetration and damage. The purpose of this Technical Note is to present a reproducible, full arthroscopic suture fixation technique for patellar osteochondritis dissecans lesions. By using the posterior cruciate tibial drill guide, absorbable sutures are passed through the center and the peripheral borders of the lesion resulting in a "spider-parachute-type" fixation with direct fragment compression.