It is possible to release the plantaris tendon under ultrasound guidance: a technical description of ultrasound guided plantaris tendon release (UPTR) in the treatment of non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

PURPOSE: Open plantaris tendon excision and ventral paratendinous stripping is a recognised treatment option in selected patients with non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy. The aim of this study was to develop a minimally invasive outpatient technique of ultrasound guided plantaris tendon release (UPTR). METHODS: A 19 gauge needle, 15 gauge scalpel blade, hook knife (Smith and Nephew, Boston, MA, USA) and a beaver blade (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA), were used under ultrasound guidance to identify and divide the plantaris tendon in 12 cadaveric legs. Specimens were dissected to identify whether division of the plantaris tendon had been successful. UPTR was subsequently performed on patients. RESULTS: The 15 gauge scalpel blade, hook knife (Smith and Nephew, Boston, MA, USA) and beaver blade (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA) were all able to cut the plantaris tendon. However, on dissection the hook knife (Smith and Nephew, Boston MA) caused less damage to surrounding structures. Subsequently, the plantaris tendon was successfully divided in three patients using UPTR technique without complication. CONCLUSION: UPTR is a viable technique for treating plantaris related non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

It is safe and effective to use all inside meniscal repair devices for posteromedial meniscal 'ramp' lesions.

PURPOSE: Recently, it has been recognized that meniscocapsular ('ramp') lesions of the posterior one-third of the medial meniscus frequently occur during injuries causing ACL rupture, and that these lesions are easily missed at arthroscopy. Furthermore, it is clear that these lesions are biomechanically significant, adding to the deficits caused by ACL rupture, and that their repair can reverse this. The efficacy of an all inside repair technique has been questioned by some authors and by those who advocate a suture shuttle technique via an accessory posteromedial portal. The use of Ultra FastFix and FastFix 360 meniscal repair devices to repair posteromedial meniscocapsular separations was investigated in terms of safe deployment and the effectiveness. METHODS: Twenty cadaveric fresh frozen knees were used-ten in each of two groups. A ramp lesion was created using a Beaver knife. The lesion was then repaired with either 4 Ultra FastFix (Smith and Nephew) or 4 FastFix 360 (Smith and Nephew) meniscal repair devices. The knees were put through a standardized loading cycle consisting of 10 Lachman's tests and ten maximum loading manual anterior drawer tests at 90° of flexion. Each knee was then flexed and extended fully ten times. The specimens were sectioned just proximal to the menisci and each suture anchor identified and its position recorded and photographed. RESULTS: In the Ultra FastFix group, a single anchor was found to be in an intra-articular position-a failure rate of 2.5%. In the FastFix 360 group, 5 anchors failed-a 12.5% failure rate. In all cases, the anchors were attached to their suture and so not truly loose within the joint. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the safe and effective deployment of an all inside repair device for repair of medial meniscal 'ramp' lesions, and therefore its use is advocated in treating these difficult lesions. Ultra FastFix had the lower failure rate of 2.5%, which the authors believe is acceptable, and makes this device preferable to the FastFix360.

The scientific rationale for lateral tenodesis augmentation of intra-articular ACL reconstruction using a modified 'Lemaire' procedure.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to develop the rationale for adding a lateral extra-articular tenodesis to an ACL reconstruction in a knee with an injury that included both the ACL and anterolateral structures, and to show the early clinical picture. METHODS: The paper includes a review of recent anatomical and biomechanical studies of the anterolateral aspect of the knee. It then provides a detailed description of a modified Lemaire tenodesis technique. A short-term clinical follow-up of a case and control group was performed, with two sequential groups of patients treated by isolated ACL reconstruction, and by combined ACL plus lateral tenodesis. RESULTS: The anatomical and biomechanical literature guide the surgeon towards a procedure based on the ilio-tibial band. The clinical study found a reduction in pivot-shift instability in the group of patients with the combined procedure. CONCLUSION: The evidence suggests that it should be appropriate to add a lateral extra-articular procedure to an ACL reconstruction in selected cases, but it was concluded that further data are required before definitive guidelines on the use of a lateral tenodesis can be established. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

A non-invasive technique for standing surgical repair of urinary bladder rupture in a post-partum mare: a case report.

An 11-year-old mare presented 36 hours after foaling with a ruptured bladder. Uroperitoneum was diagnosed on ultrasound and from the creatinine concentration of the peritoneal fluid. Bladder endoscopy demonstrated tissue necrosis and a rent in the dorsocranial aspect of the bladder. Following stabilisation, including abdominal drainage and lavage, the mare was taken to standing surgery. Under continuous sedation and epidural anaesthesia, and after surgical preparation, a Balfour retractor was placed in the vagina. Using sterile lubricant and moderate force, it was possible to insert a hand into the bladder. The tear was easily palpable on the dorsal portion of the bladder. Two fingers were inserted through the tear and used to provide traction to evert the bladder completely into the vagina where it could grasped with the surgeons other hand to prevent further trauma. A second surgeon could then visualise the entire tear and repaired this using a single layer of size zero PDS suture in a single continuous pattern. As soon as the bladder was repaired, it was replaced via the urethra. The mare did well after surgery and was discharged after 48 hours, apparently normal.This report is the first describing repair of the bladder without an abdominal incision or incision into the urethral sphincter. This greatly reduces the chance of possible complications such as urine pooling after surgery with the previously described standing technique or bladder trauma due to traction with abdominal surgery.