IC-Type Electric stimulation for delayed bone healing: monocentric evaluation over eight years of experience.

Electrostimulation is suggested to positively influence bone healing for delayed unions of both fractures and osteotomies. This monocentric series aims to retrospectively assess the outcome of electrostimulation treatment for delayed union after traumatic fractures or knee osteotomy. Patients treated with electrostimulation for delayed union (no bony union on radiographic imaging at 90 days after osteotomy or fracture treatment) over an 8-year period were screened. The delay of treatment, success rate, revision rate and demographic data (age, sex, location of fracture, presence of osteosynthesis materials) were investigated. A questionnaire assessed objective (nicotine abuse, NRS pain assessment, activity levels) and subjective (comfort, usability, cost-effectiveness) aspects. Electrostimulation delivered radiographic healing in 75% of the fracture group and 66% of the osteotomy group. No statistical significant difference (N=136) in success rate was found for age, sex, presence of osteosynthesis material, delay or fracture location. Success rate did differ significantly with pain, activity level and smoking (p<0.05). Reflective questions to patients were answered mostly positively. The use of electrostimulation for the delayed union of fractures and knee osteotomies delivers high healing rates avoiding the burden of surgical reintervention. It is generally well received by the patient. No difference in success rate was found between sex, age or fracture location, nor did the delay of therapy onset or presence of osteosynthesis material seem to affect the success rate. Smoking had a negative influence on the efficacy of bone electrostimulation.

Structural allograft impaction enables fast rehabilitation in opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy: a consecutive case series with one year follow-up.

PURPOSE: Painful and slow recovery are the presumed disadvantages after opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and play a role in favouring arthroplasty as treatment for moderate isolated medial knee arthritis. The primary study objective was to investigate the effect of press-fit structural impacted bone allograft with locking plate fixation on early ambulation, postoperative pain levels, and resumption of daily-life activities in opening-wedge HTO. METHODS: A prospective consecutive opening-wedge HTO case series was conducted, including 103 patients with final follow-up at 1 year. Weight-bearing was allowed from the day after surgery "as tolerated" by the patient. Clinical assessment included the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and Lysholm score. Additionally, the Knee Society Score (KSS) was assessed during consultation at 1, 3, and 12 months postoperatively with special attention for clinical anchor questions. Required sample size was calculated and a linear mixed-effect model was used for repeated measures over time of the clinical scores. RESULTS: The NRS decreased by 1.5 at 1 month (p < 0.01) and 2.1 at 3 months (p < 0.01), while KOOS pain significantly improved with 19.2 (p < 0.01) by this time compared to baseline. Under reduced pain levels, 98% were able to walk > 500 m without support, while all patients were able to climb up and down the stairs 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The study strongly supports the initial hypothesis that applying structural triangular bone allograft in HTO leads to low postoperative pain levels, early ambulation, and excellent short-term clinical outcomes. Study results have the potential to alter the general perception about HTO being a painful procedure with painstakingly slow recovery and consequently encourage the consideration of HTO as a highly valuable joint-preserving option, while treating unicompartmental knee arthritis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV (case series).

Etiology of knee pain in elite cyclists: A 14-month consecutive case series.

Overuse injuries of the knee are a common cause of missed training and competition days in elite cyclists, however the underlying conditions causing this knee pain are not well defined. We conducted a diagnostic study, investigating a consecutive series of 53 high level cyclists with non-traumatic knee pain over a 14 month period. Demographic data on the participants' cycling specialty and training level was noted. Clinical information concerning knee pain intensity, location and occurrence were collected using a questionnaire. Our results show 7 different overuse injuries were identified. The prepatellar friction syndrome accounted for the majority of these overuse injuries (46%), while medial plica syndrome (15%), biceps femoris tendinopathy (7.5%), patellar tendinopathy (9.4%), infrapatellar plica friction syndrome (7.5%), infrapatellar fat pad impingement (5.7%) and iliotibial band syndrome (3.7%) were other causes of knee pain in these athletes. In contrast to current belief, our results show that instead of patellofemoral cartilage overload, friction related overuse injuries are the most frequent and underestimated cause of knee pain in high level cyclists.

Prepatellar Friction Syndrome: a common cause of knee pain in the elite cyclist.

BACKGROUND: Although anterior knee pain is extremely common in high-level road cyclists, the exact etiology still remains unclear. METHODS: A group of 28 professional male elite cyclists diagnosed with Prepatellar Friction Syndrome (PPFS) were retrospectively reviewed with specific attention for the typical history, clinical findings and treatment modalities. RESULTS: A traumatic onset of the complaints was reported by 10 athletes, while the complaints were caused by chronic overuse in the remaining 18 subjects. Conservative treatment delivered poor results and all cases were eventually treated surgically. Surgery confirmed macroscopic damage to at least one prepatellar fascial layer in all patients, after which partial fasciectomy was performed through a mini incision. CONCLUSION: PPFS is a new clinical entity of the triple-layered prepatellar fascial structures. Correct diagnosis is critical and based on the typical history and clinical findings. Partial prepatellar fasciectomy is the treatment of choice in order to regain the pre-injury performance level.

Clinical and radiological outcomes of medial opening-wedge monoplanar and biplanar high tibial osteotomy using a triangular allograft impaction technique: A retrospective single centre study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to research the clinical and radiological outcomes between monoplanar and biplanar medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy. We hypothesized that there would be no differences between both techniques when using a triangular allograft impaction technique. METHODS: A single-centre, observational, retrospective study was conducted on 103 opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy patients from January 2017 to September 2019. Data collection, NRS and KOOS-PS, was performed preoperatively, 3 months and 12 months postoperatively. Radiological assessment (Kellgren-Lawrence, mechanical femoral-tibial angle, posterior tibial slope angle, lateral patellar tilt, patellar height) was performed on standing radiographs. RESULTS: In total 32 patients were included in the biplanar group and 71 patients in the monoplanar group. NRS and KOOS-PS scores improved significantly (p < 0.001) in time for both groups from baseline to 3 m PO and further to 1 year postoperatively. Our results showed no differences in radiological outcomes such as patellar height, LPT and posterior tibial slope angle. The monoplanar group did have more Takeuchi I and III fractures and a higher mFTA angle without clinical repercussion. CONCLUSIONS: Using a triangular allograft impaction technique for monoplanar and biplanar medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy gives no differences in clinical (NRS and KOOS) and radiological outcomes. Although a difference in Takeuchi fractures was found for monoplanar patients, no additional fixation was necessary, nor did clinical complications occur. We can conclude that triangular allograft impaction technique creates a stable construct and standardizes the healing procedure postoperatively for both monoplanar and biplanar medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

Impacted bone allograft personalised by a novel 3D printed customization kit produces high surgical accuracy in medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: Contemporary medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) still seems to struggle with inconsistent accuracy outcomes. Our objective was to assess surgical accuracy and short-term clinical outcomes when using 3D planning and a patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) kit to prepare customized bone allografts. METHODS: Thirty subjects (age 48y ± 13) were included in a double-center prospective case series. A low-dose CT-scan was performed to generate 3D bone models, a MOWHTO was simulated, and PSI was designed and 3D printed based on the complementary negative of the planned osteotomy gap. Clinical outcome was assessed at two, four, 12 weeks and one year using NRS, KOOS, UCLA activity score, EQ-5D and anchor questions. A linear-mixed model approach was implemented for data analysis. RESULTS: Preoperative 3D values were 175.0° ± 2.2 mechanical tibiofemoral angle (mTFA), 85.0° ± 3.0 medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), and 94.1° ± 3.4 medial posterior tibial slope (MPTS). Target planning ranged from slight varus to the lateral tibial spine (slight valgus). Postoperative 3D analysis showed an accuracy of 1.1° ± 0.7 ΔMPTA (p = 0.04) and 1.2° ± 1.2 ΔMPTS (p = 0.11). NRS decreased from baseline 6.1 ± 1.9 to 2.7 ± 1.9 at four weeks (p < 0.001) and 1.7 ± 1.9 at one year (p < 0.001). KOOS increased from 31.4 ± 17.6 to 50.6 ± 20.6 at 12 weeks (p < 0.001) and to 71.8 ± 15.6 at one year (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that 3D printed instrumentation to personalize structural bone allograft is a viable alternative method in MOWHTO that has the benefit of optimizing surgical accuracy while providing early and consistent pain relief after surgery.

Changes in knee joint line orientation after high tibial osteotomy are the result of adaptation of the lower limb to the new alignment.

BACKGROUND: Changes in knee joint line orientation (KJLO) resulting in excessive joint line obliquity are a well-known consequence of high tibial osteotomy (HTO) procedures and could lead to degenerative changes. The precise effect of the correction on final KJLO changes is poorly understood. The goal of this study was to identify radiographical parameters that could help to explain the size of KJLO changes after HTO surgery. METHODS: A total 117 HTO patients were radiographically examined preoperatively and three months postoperatively. Radiographic parameters were KJLO, medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), hip-knee angle (HKA), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), lateral distal tibial angle (LDTA), knee joint line congruence angle (KJLCA), ankle joint line congruence angle (AJLCA) and ankle joint line orientation (AJLO). Four new radiographic parameters were introduced to describe knee and foot position on long-leg X-ray: malleolar distance to midline (MDTM), intermalleolar distance (IMD), condylar distance to midline (CDTM) and intercondylar distance (ICD). Correlations of these parameters and changes in KJLO were assessed. RESULTS: Strong correlations are found between KJLO changes and MDTM (r = 0.709), IMD (r = 0.691), CDTM (r = 0.711) and ICDM (r = 0.702), in contrast to weak correlations between changes in KJLO and MPTA (r = -0.342). These results suggest an important impact of foot and knee position changes on the final alteration of KJLO after HTO. CONCLUSIONS: The final change of KJLO after HTO is the effect of adaptation of the lower limb, which is driven by the (maximum) alterations of foot and knee position rather than the size of correction of the procedure.

How accurately does high tibial osteotomy correct the mechanical axis of an arthritic varus knee? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to give an overview of the accuracy of coronal limb alignment correction after high tibial osteotomy (HTO) for the arthritic varus knee by performing a systematic review of the literature. METHODS: The databases PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library were screened for relevant articles. Only prospective clinical studies with the accuracy of alignment correction by performing HTO as primary or secondary objective were included. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included in this systematic review and were subdivided in 23 cohorts. A total of 966 procedures were considered. Nine cohorts used computer navigation during HTO and the other 14 cohorts used a conventional method. In seven computer navigation cohorts, at least 75% of the study population fell into the accepted "range of accuracy" (AR) as proposed by the different studies, but only six out of 14 conventional cohorts reached this percentage. Four out of eight conventional cohorts that provided data on under- and overcorrection, had a tendency to undercorrection. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of coronal alignment corrections using conventional HTO falls short. The number of procedures outside the proposed AR is surprising and exposes a critical concern for modern HTO. Computer navigation might improve the accuracy of correction, but its use is not widespread among orthopedic surgeons. Although HTO procedures have been shown to be successful in the treatment of unicompartmental knee arthritis when performed accurately, the results of this review stress the importance of ongoing efforts in order to improve correction accuracy in modern HTO.

Characterized chondrocyte implantation results in better structural repair when treating symptomatic cartilage defects of the knee in a randomized controlled trial versus microfracture.

BACKGROUND: As the natural healing capacity of damaged articular cartilage is poor, joint surface injuries are a prime target for regenerative medicine. Characterized chondrocyte implantation uses an autologous cartilage cell therapy product that has been optimized for its biological potency to form stable cartilage tissue in vivo. PURPOSE: To determine whether, in symptomatic cartilage defects of the femoral condyle, structural regeneration with characterized chondrocyte implantation is superior to repair with microfracture. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: Characterized chondrocyte implantation was compared with microfracture in patients with single grade III to IV symptomatic cartilage defects of the femoral condyles in a multicenter trial. Patients aged 18 to 50 years were randomized to characterized chondrocyte implantation (n = 57) or microfracture (n = 61). Structural repair was blindly assessed in biopsy specimens taken at 1 year using (1) computerized histomorphometry and (2) evaluation of overall histological components of structural repair. Clinical outcome was measured using the self administered Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. Adverse events were recorded throughout the study. RESULTS: Characterized chondrocyte implantation resulted in better structural repair, as assessed by histomorphometry (P = .003) and overall histologic evaluation (P = .012). Aspects of structural repair relating to chondrocyte phenotype and tissue structure were superior with characterized chondrocyte implantation. Clinical outcome as measured by the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score at 12 to 18 months after characterized chondrocyte implantation was comparable with microfracture at this stage. Both treatment groups had a similar mean baseline overall Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (56.30 +/- 13.61 and 59.53 +/- 14.95 for microfracture and characterized chondrocyte implantation, respectively), which increased in both groups to 70.56 +/- 12.39 and 72.63 +/- 15.55 at 6 months, 73.26 +/- 14.66 and 73.10 +/- 16.01 at 12 months, and 74.73 +/- 17.01 and 75.04 +/- 14.50 at 18 months, respectively. Both techniques were generally well tolerated; the incidence of adverse events after characterized chondrocyte implantation was not markedly increased compared with that for microfracture. CONCLUSION: One year after treatment, characterized chondrocyte implantation was associated with a tissue regenerate that was superior to that after microfracture. Short-term clinical outcome was similar for both treatments. The superior structural outcome may result in improved long-term clinical benefit with characterized chondrocyte implantation. Long-term follow-up is needed to confirm these findings.