Clinical outcomes following transtibial medial meniscal root repair are maintained at long-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term outcomes of patients treated with posterior medial meniscal root tear (PMMRT) repair through assessment of functional outcome scores and to identify patient surgical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics associated with improved outcomes. METHODS: This was a single-centre, retrospective study evaluating patients who had undergone a PMMR repair using a transtibial suture pullout technique with two locking cinch sutures. This was performed as a follow-up to previously published 2-year and 5-year outcome studies, using the same cohort. All patients from the prior short-term and midterm studies were invited to participate. Patient-reported outcome (PROs) scores, including the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm scores, were collected. Previously collected demographic data were updated based on review of the electronic medical record. Patient outcomes were assessed preoperatively, as well as at 2-year, 5-year and 8-year postoperatively. MRI outcome measurements were assessed at 2-year and 5-year follow-ups. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. RESULTS: Seventeen patients of the original 18 patients (94.4%) were included in the final analysis. Additionally, three patients who had additional ipsilateral surgery were excluded from the analysis of PROs. The IKDC score significantly increased from 44.7 ± 11.6 at preoperative baseline to 71.2 ± 21.3 at 8-year post-operation (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in IKDC score between 2-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.) or 5-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.). The Lysholm score significantly increased from 49.6 ± 7.3 at preoperative baseline to 76.4 ± 17.2 at 8-year follow-up (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in Lysholm scores between 2-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.) or 5-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.). A linear regression analysis found that 5-year IKDC scores were significantly correlated with 8-year IKDC scores (ß = 0.681, p = 0.038). At 8-year follow-up, four (23.5%) patients required additional procedures on their operative knee (one total knee arthroplasty conversion). CONCLUSION: Patients treated with repair of PMMRT had maintenance of clinical outcome improvements at long-term follow-up despite worsening MRI outcomes at short-term and medium-term follow-ups. While a high proportion of patients required additional procedures on their operative knee at 8-year follow-up, few of these patient's additional procedures were related to failure of their primary surgery. Providers and patients may expect durable clinical outcomes following the repair of PMMRT, irrespective of radiographic appearance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Versus Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation of the Knee A Retrospective Comparison.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the short-term clinical outcomes of matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) to those seen following traditional autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in the management of symptomatic cartilage lesions of the knee. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent either ACI or MACI from January 2011 to March 2018. Patients with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 18 months were contacted. Demographic information, intraoperative findings, and patient-reported functional outcomes scores were collected. Comparisons were made between the two cell-based cartilage repair techniques. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were included in the study (39 ACI, 17 MACI). Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain scores improved significantly in both groups, with MACI patients demonstrating significantly lower postoperative pain scores compared to those treated with ACI. In the ACI group, there was a decrease in the Tegner Activity score compared to the preoperative baseline, while no significant difference was seen between pre- and postoperative activity levels in the MACI group. Patients were generally satisfied with the outcome of their procedures, and there was no significant difference in satisfaction between groups. No patients re-quired additional surgery during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Both ACI and MACI demonstrated good short-term postoperative clinical results with improved pain and activity levels compared to the preoperative baseline. Patients treated with the MACI technique demonstrated greater reductions in pain scores compared to ACI, and while ACI resulted in a decrease in levels of postoperative activity, activity levels for MACI remained stable.

Utility of MRI for Patients 45 Years Old and Older With Hip or Knee Pain: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND. MRI utility for patients 45 years old and older with hip or knee pain is not well established. OBJECTIVE. We performed this systematic review to assess whether MRI-diagnosed hip or knee pathology in patients 45 years old and older correlates with symptoms or benefits from arthroscopic surgery. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION. A literature search (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase) of articles published before October 3, 2022, was performed to identify original research pertaining to the study question. Publication information, study design, cohort size, osteoarthritis severity, age (range, mean), measured outcomes, minimum follow-up length, and MRI field strength were extracted. Study methods were appraised with NIH's study quality assessment tools. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS. The search yielded 1125 potential studies, of which 31 met the inclusion criteria (18 knee, 13 hip). Knee studies (10 prospective, eight retrospective) included 5907 patients (age range, 45-90 years). Bone marrow edema-like lesions, joint effusions, and synovitis on MRI were associated with symptoms. In patients with osteoarthritis, meniscal tears were less likely to be symptom generators and were less likely to respond to arthroscopic surgery with osteoarthritis progression. Hip studies (11 retrospective, two prospective) included 6385 patients (age range, 50 to ≥ 85 years). Patients with Tönnis grade 2 osteoarthritis and lower with and without femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) showed improved outcomes after arthroscopy, suggesting a role for MRI in the diagnosis of labral tears, chondral lesions, and FAI. Although this group benefited from arthroscopic surgery, outcomes were inferior to those in younger patients. Variability in study characteristics, follow-up, and outcome measures precluded a meta-analysis. CONCLUSION. In patients 45 years old and older, several knee structural lesions on MRI correlated with symptoms, representing potential imaging biomarkers. Meniscal tear identification on MRI likely has diminished clinical value as osteoarthritis progresses. For the hip, MRI can play a role in the diagnosis of labral tears, chondral lesions, and FAI in patients without advanced osteoarthritis. CLINICAL IMPACT. Several structural lesions on knee MRI correlating with symptoms may represent imaging biomarkers used as treatment targets. Osteoarthritis, not age, may play the greatest role in determining the utility of MRI for patients 45 years old and older with hip or knee pain.

Common treatment strategies for calcium hydroxyapatite deposition disease: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost-effectiveness of rotator cuff hydroxyapatite deposition disease (HADD) treatments. METHOD: A 1-year time horizon decision analytic model was created from the US healthcare system perspective for a 52-year-old female with shoulder HADD failing conservative management. The model evaluated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and net monetary benefit (NMB) of standard strategies, including conservative management, ultrasound-guided barbotage (UGB), high- and low-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ECSW), and surgery. The primary effectiveness outcome was quality-adjusted life years (QALY). Costs were estimated in 2022 US dollars. The willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold was $100,000. RESULTS: For the base case, UGB was the preferred strategy (0.9725 QALY, total cost, $2199.35, NMB, $95,048.45, and ICER, $33,992.99), with conservative management (0.9670 QALY, NMB $94,688.83) a reasonable alternative. High-energy ECSW (0.9837 QALY, NMB $94,805.72), though most effective, had an ICER of $121, 558.90, surpassing the WTP threshold. Surgery (0.9532 QALY, NMB $92,092.46) and low-energy ECSW (0.9287 QALY, NMB $87,881.20) were each dominated. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that high-energy ECSW would become the favored strategy when its cost was < $2905.66, and conservative management was favored when the cost was < $990.34. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis supported the base case results, with UGB preferred in 43% of simulations, high-energy ECSW in 36%, conservative management in 20%, and low-energy ECSW and surgery in < 1%. CONCLUSION: UGB appears to be the most cost-effective strategy for patients with HADD, while surgery and low-energy ECSW are the least cost-effective. Conservative management may be considered a reasonable alternative treatment strategy in the appropriate clinical setting.

Variability of MRI reporting in proximal hamstring avulsion injuries: Are musculoskeletal radiologists and orthopedic surgeons utilizing similar landmarks?

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an integral component of the treatment algorithm for proximal hamstring avulsion injuries. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to survey orthopedic surgeons and musculoskeletal radiologists on the reporting and analysis of proximal hamstring avulsions on MRI. METHODS: Two online surveys were developed to evaluate musculoskeletal radiologists' and orthopedic surgeons' perceptions of MRI-reporting for proximal hamstring avulsion injuries. Each survey was designed to provide information on physicians' best practices with respect to four primary questions (1) ischial tuberosity landmark determination (2) difficulties associated with measuring tendon retraction, (3) important ancillary findings, and (4) perceived clinical impact of measured retraction. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all categorical variables, which were reported as frequencies with percentages. Chi-squared test was utilized to compare rates of responses between surgeons and radiologists. Statistically significant differences were analyzed with post-hoc Fisher's exact tests; p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 218-Musculoskeletal radiologists and 33-orthopedic surgeons responded to their respective surveys. There were statistically significant differences with responses to two of the questions asked in both surveys; (1) in cases of complete hamstring avulsion (avulsion of both the semimembranosus and conjoint tendon), which arrow represents the tendon gap measurement used for planning surgery? p = 0.028; (2) in cases of avulsion of only the conjoint tendon, which arrow represents the tendon gap measurement used for planning surgery? p = 0.013. Post-hoc testing demonstrated that for either partial or complete hamstring avulsions, more surgeons use the conjoint tendon origin to measure tendon retraction than radiologists (p < 0.05 for both). Significantly more radiologists use the semimembranosus origin to measure hamstring retraction for partial or complete hamstring tears (p < 0.05 for both). However, for each of these questions, both radiologists and surgeons most frequently stated that the conjoint tendon landmark should be used for surgical planning. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal radiologists and orthopedists frequently utilize the conjoint tendon origin as an anatomic landmark for measuring complete and partial proximal hamstring avulsion injuries; though, orthopedists are more likely to utilize this landmark. Additionally, the broad surface area of the ischial tuberosity may lead to variability in measurement. CLINICAL IMPACT: Standard landmarks at the ischial tuberosity and/or detailed descriptions of tendon retractions would improve communication between radiologists and surgeons for proximal hamstring avulsions.

Poorer functional Outcomes in Patients with Multi-Ligamentous Knee Injury with Concomitant Patellar Tendon Ruptures at 5 years Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: Multi-ligamentous knee injuries (MLKIs) are high-energy injuries that may infrequently present with concomitant patellar tendon rupture. There is limited information in the literature regarding these rare presentations, with even less information regarding clinical outcomes. Using propensity-score matching, the purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of MLKIs with and without patellar tendon ruptures and to investigate the overall predictors of these outcomes. METHODS: Twelve patients who underwent surgical repair for combined MLKI and patellar tendon rupture from 2011 to 2020 with minimum 1-year follow-up data were identified from two separate institutions. Patients were propensity-score matched with a 1:1 ratio with controls based on age, body mass index (BMI), gender, and time from surgery. Patient-reported outcomes included International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form, Lysholm and Tegner scores. RESULTS: Twelve MLKIs with concomitant patellar tendon injuries were identified out of a multicenter cohort of 237 (5%) patients sustaining MLKI and were case matched 1:1 with 12 MLKIs without extensor mechanism injuries. The average follow-up was 5.5 ± 2.6 years. There were no differences in Schenck Classification injury patterns. There were significant differences found across IKDC (Patellar Tendon mean: 53.1 ± 24.3, MLKI mean 79.3 ± 19.6, P < 0.001) and Lysholm scores (Patellar Tendon mean: 63.6 ± 22.3, MLKI mean 86.3 ± 10.7, P < 0.001) between the two, illustrating poorer outcomes for patients with concomitant patellar tendon ruptures. CONCLUSION: In the setting of MLKI, patients who have a concomitant patellar tendon rupture have worse functional outcomes compared to those without. This information will be important for patient counseling and might be considered to be added to Schenck classification, reflecting its prognostic value. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Distal posterolateral corner injury in the setting of multiligament knee injury increases risk of common peroneal palsy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify if the location of posterolateral corner (PLC) injury was predictive of clinical common peroneal nerve (CPN) palsy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients presenting to our institution with operative PLC injuries. Assessment of concomitant injuries and presence of neurologic injury was completed via chart review and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) review. A fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologist reviewed the PLC injury and categorized it into distal, middle and proximal injuries with or without a biceps femoral avulsion. The CPN was evaluated for signs of displacement or neuritis. RESULTS: Forty-seven operatively managed patients between 2014 and 2019 (mean age-at-injury 29.5 ± 10.7 years) were included in this study. Eleven (23.4%) total patients presented with a clinical CPN palsy. Distal PLC injuries were significantly associated with CPN palsy [9 (81.8%) patients, (P = 0.041)]. Nine of 11 (81.8%) patients with CPN palsy had biceps femoral avulsion (P = 0.041). Of the patients presenting with CPN palsy, only four (36.4%) patients experienced complete neurologic recovery. Three of 7 patients (43%) with an intact CPN had full resolution of their clinically complete CPN palsy at the time of follow-up (482 ± 357 days). All patients presenting with a CPN palsy also had a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in addition to a PLC injury (P = 0.009), with or without a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury. No patient presenting with an isolated pattern of PCL-PLC injury (those without ACL tears) had a clinical CPN palsy. CONCLUSION: Distal PLC injuries have a strong association with clinical CPN palsy, with suboptimal resolution in the initial post-operative period. Specifically, the presence of a biceps femoris avulsion injury was highly associated with a clinical CPN palsy. Additionally, CPN palsy in the context of PLC injury has a strong association with concomitant ACL injury. Furthermore, the relative rates of involvement of the ACL vs. PCL suggest that specific injury mechanism may have an important role in CPN palsy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

ICRS scores worsen between 2-year short term and 5-year mid-term follow-up after transtibial medial meniscus root repair despite maintained functional outcomes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mid-term results of posterior medial meniscal root tear (PMMRT) repair through assessment of functional outcome scores and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective study evaluating patients that had undergone a PMMRT. This was a follow-up to a previously published 2-year outcome study (all original patients were invited to participate). Clinical outcomes included pre- and postoperative International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm scores. Root healing, meniscal extrusion, and cartilage degeneration via International Cartilage Repair Society Scale (ICRS) grades were assessed on MRI by two musculoskeletal fellowship-trained radiologists. RESULTS: 10 of the original study's 18 patients were able to participate. Mean age and BMI was 48.4 ± 12.0 years and 29.5 ± 4.5, respectively, with mean follow-up 65.5 ± 8.3 months (range 52.0-75.8) (60% female). The IKDC significantly increased from 43 ± 13 preoperatively to 75 ± 16 at 5-year follow-up (p < 0.001). There was no significant change in IKDC score between 2-year and 5-year follow-up [75 ± 16 vs 73 ± 20, (n.s)]. The Lysholm also significantly increased between preoperative and 5-year follow-up (49 ± 7 vs 84 ± 11, p < 0.001). There was no significant change between Lysholm score at 2-year and 5-year follow-up [84.0 ± 11 vs 82 ± 13, (n.s)]. Mean extrusion did not significantly change from the preoperative state to 5-year follow-up [4.80 mm ± 1.9 vs 5.0 mm ± 2.5, (n.s.)]. Extrusion also did not significantly change between 2-and 5-year follow-up [6.1 ± 3.2 mm vs 5.0 mm ± 2.5, (n.s.)]. No patients with > 3 mm of extrusion on preoperative MRI had < 3 mm of extrusion on postoperative MRI. Both medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau ICRS grades significantly increased from preoperative to 2-year follow-up (p = 0.038, p = 0.023, respectively). Medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau ICRS grades again significantly increased between 2-year and 5-year follow-up (p = 0.014, p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Patients treated with the transtibial suture pullout technique with two locking cinch sutures had maintenance of clinical outcome improvements at 5-year follow-up. However, extrusion was widely prevalent, with worsening progression of femoral and tibial chondral disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.

Imaging Spectrum of Calvarial Abnormalities.

Calvarial abnormalities are usually discovered incidentally on radiologic studies or less commonly manifest with symptoms. This narrative review describes the imaging spectrum of the abnormal calvaria. The extent, multiplicity, and other imaging features of calvarial abnormalities can be combined with the clinical information to establish a final diagnosis or at least narrow the differential considerations. Prior trauma (congenital depression, leptomeningeal cysts, posttraumatic osteolysis), surgical intervention (flap osteonecrosis and burr holes), infection, and inflammatory processes (sarcoidosis) can result in focal bone loss, which may also be seen with idiopathic disorders without (bilateral parietal thinning and Gorham disease) or with (Parry-Romberg syndrome) atrophy of the overlying soft tissues. Anatomic variants (arachnoid granulations, venous lakes, parietal foramina) and certain congenital lesions (epidermoid and dermoid cysts, atretic encephalocele, sinus pericranii, and aplasia cutis congenita) manifest as solitary lytic lesions. Other congenital entities (lacunar skull and dysplasia) display a diffuse pattern of skull involvement. Several benign and malignant primary bone tumors involve the calvaria and manifest as lytic, sclerotic, mixed lytic and sclerotic, or thinning lesions, whereas multifocal disease is mainly due to hematologic or secondary malignancies. Metabolic disorders such as rickets, hyperparathyroidism, renal osteodystrophy, acromegaly, and Paget disease involve the calvaria in a more diffuse pattern. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2021.

No Difference in Outcomes Following Osteochondral Allograft with Fresh Precut Cores Compared to Hemi-Condylar Allografts.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes at early to midterm follow-up between fresh precut cores versus hemi-condylar osteochondral allograft (OCAs) in the treatment of symptomatic osteochondral lesions. DESIGN: A retrospective review of patients who underwent an OCA was performed. Patient matching between those with OCA harvested from an allograft condyle/patella or a fresh precut allograft core was performed to generate 2 comparable groups. The cartilage at the graft site was assessed with use of a modified Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) scoring system and patient-reported outcomes were collected. RESULTS: Overall, 52 total patients who underwent OCA with either fresh precut OCA cores (n = 26) and hemi-condylar OCA (n = 26) were pair matched at a mean follow-up of 34.0 months (range 12 months to 99 months). The mean ages were 31.5 ± 10.7 for fresh precut cores and 30.9 ± 9.8 for hemi-condylar (P = 0.673). Males accounted for 36.4% of the overall cohort, and the mean lesion size for fresh precut OCA core was 19.6 mm2 compared to 21.2 mm2 for whole condyle (P = 0.178). There was no significant difference in patient-reported outcomes including Visual Analogue Scale, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement, and Tegner (P > 0.5 for each), or in MOCART score (69.2 vs. 68.3, P = 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that there was no difference in patient-reported clinical outcomes or MOCART scores following OCA implantation using fresh precut OCA cores or size matched condylar grafts at early to midterm follow-up.

Does Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Diagnostic Ultrasound for Soft Tissue Masses Change Clinical Management?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan performed after initial ultrasound (US) to evaluate soft tissue mass (STM) lesions of the musculoskeletal system provides additional radiologic diagnostic information and alters clinical management. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients undergoing initial US evaluations of STMs of the axial or appendicular skeleton between November 2012 and March 2019. Patients who underwent US examinations followed by MRI for the evaluation of STM lesions were identified. For inclusion, the subsequent pathologic correlation was required from either a surgical or image-guided biopsy. Imaging studies with pathologic correlations were then reviewed by 3 musculoskeletal radiologists, who were blinded to the pathologic diagnoses. The diagnostic utility of MRI was then assessed on the basis of a 5-point grading scale, and inter-reader agreements were determined by the Fleiss κ statistic. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients underwent MRI after US for STM evaluations. Final pathologic results were available in 42 cases. Samples were obtained by surgical excision or open biopsy (n = 34) or US-guided core biopsy (n = 8). The most common pathologic diagnoses were nerve sheath tumors (n = 9), lipomas (n = 5), and leiomyomas (n = 5). Imaging review showed that the subsequent MRI did not change the working diagnosis in 73% of cases, and the subsequent MRI was not considered to narrow the differential diagnosis in 68% of cases. There was slight inter-reader agreement for the diagnostic utility of MRI among individual cases (κ = 0.10) between the 3 readers. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendation of MRI to further evaluate STM lesions seen with US frequently fails to change the working diagnosis or provide significant diagnostic utility.

Prevalence, Predictors, and Disease Activity of Sacroiliitis Among Patients with Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Sacroiliitis is an inflammatory arthritis of the sacroiliac joints and is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Yet, sacroiliitis often goes undiagnosed in IBD, and the clinical association between IBD disease activity and sacroiliitis is not well established. Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) often receive magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) to assess disease activity, affording clinicians the opportunity to evaluate for the presence of sacroiliitis. We aimed to identify the prevalence and disease characteristics associated with sacroiliitis in CD patients undergoing MRE. METHODS: All CD patients undergoing MRE for any indication between 2014 and 2018 at an IBD referral center were identified. The MREs were reviewed for the presence of sacroiliitis based on bone marrow edema (BME) and structural lesions. We analyzed demographics, IBD characteristics, clinical and endoscopic disease activity, and management between CD patients with and without sacroiliitis. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-eight patients with CD underwent MRE during the study period. Overall, 17% of patients had MR evidence of sacroiliitis, of whom 73% demonstrated bone marrow edema. Female gender, back pain, and later age of CD diagnosis were associated with sacroiliitis (P = 0.05, P < 0.001, P = 0.04, respectively). Disease location and CD therapy were not associated with sacroiliitis on MRE. Clinical, endoscopic, and radiographic disease activity were not associated with sacroiliitis on MRE. CONCLUSION: Sacroiliitis is a common comorbid condition in CD. With limited clinical clues and disease characteristics to suggest sacroiliitis, physicians may utilize MRE to identify sacroiliitis, especially in CD patients with back pain.

Radiographic features and complications following coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To report radiographic features and complications of coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction and the association of radiographic features with symptomatology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective picture archiving and communication system query (1/2012-8/2018) identified subjects with prior coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction. Post-operative radiographs were reviewed with attention to the following: (1) acromioclavicular alignment, (2) coracoclavicular width, (3) distal clavicular osteolysis, (4) osseous tunnel widening, and (5) hardware complication or fracture. Medical records were reviewed to determine purpose of imaging follow-up (symptomatic versus routine). Statistical analysis determined associations between binary features and outcomes, and inter-reader agreement. RESULT: Review of 55 charts identified 32 subjects (23 male, 9 females; age range 24-64; imaged 1-34 months following surgery) meeting inclusion criteria. Loss of acromioclavicular reduction was the most common imaging finding (n = 25, 78%), with 76% progressing to coracoclavicular interval widening. Distal clavicular osteolysis was seen in 21 cases (66%) and was significantly associated with loss of acromioclavicular joint reduction (p = 0.032). Tunnel widening occurred in 23 patients (82%) with more than one follow-up radiograph. Six (19%) had hardware complication or fracture. No radiographic feature or complication had significant correlation with symptomatology (p values 0.071-0.721). Inter-reader agreement was moderate to substantial for coracoclavicular interval widening and hardware complication, fair to substantial for tunnel widening, and fair to moderate for loss of acromioclavicular reduction and distal clavicular osteolysis. CONCLUSION: Loss of acromioclavicular joint reduction, coracoclavicular interval widening, distal clavicular osteolysis, and tunnel widening are common radiographic features after coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction; however, they do not necessarily correlate with symptomatology.

MRI-Arthroscopy Correlation of Knee Anatomy and Pathologic Findings: A Teaching Guide.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to familiarize the radiologist with knee arthroscopy, including the setup, equipment, and standard procedure used. This is followed by a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of knee MRI and arthroscopy and presentation of images showing normal knee anatomy and pathologic findings. CONCLUSION: By having an understanding of basic arthroscopic principles as well as the strengths and limitations of MRI and arthroscopy in the diagnosis of knee abnormalities, radiologists will improve image interpretation and add value to interactions with the consulting orthopedic surgeon.

Imaging features of glenoid bare spot in a pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE: The bare spot (BaS) is a central, well-circumscribed focal defect in the glenoid articular surface, with reported adult incidence of 1-2%. We aimed to reassess MRI features of BaS in the pediatric population and determine its etiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective search of our database from June 2014 to October 2015 was performed for shoulder MRI in patients between 5 and 25 years and then subdivided into four groups: group 1, 5-10 years; group 2, 10-15 years; group 3, 15-18 years; group 4, 20-25 years. BaS was defined as a well-marginated, central defect of increased signal in the articular surface of the glenoid, seen on at least two planes, without evidence of underlying glenoid pathology. Presence, location and size along with clinical indications were documented. RESULTS: A final cohort of 253 patients revealed 23 BaS, 3.5% in group 1, 20% in group 2, 5% in group 3 and 4% in group 4. There was a significantly higher incidence in group 2 (p = 0.007) compared to group 3 and p = 0.002 compared to group 4. Location was mainly central. Mean size was significantly bigger in group 2 compared to group 3 and 4. Distribution showed the highest number at 14-15 years of age. Instability was higher in groups 3 and 4. CONCLUSION: Incidence of BaS in group 2 was significantly higher than in other age groups and higher than in adults. BaS was also larger compared to other populations. These findings support a developmental theory, explained by the centripetal ossification of the glenoid.

Increased extrusion and ICRS grades at 2-year follow-up following transtibial medial meniscal root repair evaluated by MRI.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the short-term results of meniscal root repair surgery, assessing clinical and radiographic outcomes, utilizing MRI to assess root healing and extent of post-operative extrusion. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective study evaluating patients who had undergone a medial meniscus posterior root repair using a transtibial pullout technique with two locking cinch sutures. Demographic data were collected from patient charts. Clinical outcomes were assessed with pre- and post-operative IKDC and Lysholm scores. Pre-op scores were taken at the patients' initial clinical visit, mean 1.55 months prior to surgery (± 1.8 months, min 0.3, max 7.3). Radiographic outcomes were assessed with MRI evaluation of root healing, meniscal extrusion, and cartilage degeneration using ICRS criteria. Tunnel placement was evaluated and compared to the anatomic footprint. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (47.2 years ± 11.9) were evaluated at mean follow-up of 24.9 months (± 7.2, min 18.4, max 35.6). The IKDC score significantly increased from 45.9 (± 12.6) pre-operatively to 76.8 (± 14.7) post-operatively (p < 0.001). Lysholm scores also increased from 50.9 (± 7.11) to 87.1 (± 9.8) (p < 0.001). Mean tunnel placement was 5.3 mm (± 3.5, range 0-11.8) away from the anatomic footprint. Mean extrusion increased from 4.74 mm (± 1.7) pre-operatively to 5.98 (± 2.8) post-operatively (p < 0.02). No patients with > 3 mm of extrusion on pre-operative MRI had < 3 mm of extrusion on post-operative MRI. Both medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau ICRS grades worsened significantly (p < 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively). On MRI, one root appeared completely healed, 16 partially healed, and one not healed. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with the transtibial suture pull-out technique with two locking cinch sutures had improved clinical outcomes, but only partial healing in the majority of cases, increased extrusion, and progression of medial compartment cartilage defect grade on follow-up MRI. Patients should be counseled that although clinical outcomes in the short term may be optimistic, long-term outcomes regarding progression to degenerative arthritis may not be as predictable. CLINICAL LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.