Shear wave elastography of the healing human patellar tendon following ACL reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures are common and are frequently reconstructed using a patellar tendon (PT) autograft. Unfortunately, the time course of PT healing after ACL reconstruction is not particularly well understood. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to use shear wave elastography (SWE) to evaluate the extent to which shear wave speed (SWS) is associated with time after ACL reconstruction. METHODS: Longitudinal SWE images were acquired from lateral, central, and medial regions of the PT from two groups: 30 patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction with a PT autograft within the preceding 40 months, and 30 age-matched asymptomatic control subjects. SWE images were acquired at 20° and 90° of passive flexion from both knees. In each subject group, statistical analyses assessed changes in mean SWS with time post-surgery, as well as differences in mean SWS between PT regions and limbs. RESULTS: In the ACL reconstruction patients, mean SWS increased with time post-surgery in the lateral region of the involved knee (p = 0.025) and decreased with time post-surgery in the central region of the contralateral knee (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that there is an association between the mechanical properties of the PT and time post-surgery in both the involved and contralateral limbs after ACL reconstruction. These changes are likely due to maturation of the donor site tissue and changes in gait/loading patterns following ACL rupture and reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II - Prospective Cohort.

Factors Affecting the Cost and Profitability of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

PURPOSE: To examine the cost metrics and profitability of rotator cuff repairs (RCRs) in a large health care system. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using value analysis team data from 2 hospitals within a large metropolitan health system from 2010 to 2014. Cost and profit metrics were collected and compared against surgeon volume, surgeon subspecialty training, implant costs, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding, length of stay, and hospital site. RESULTS: A total of 5,899 RCRs were identified with a mean contribution margin of $2,133. Surgical supplies were the largest contributor to direct costs. Hospital site also significantly affected contribution margin ($1,912 at hospital 1 vs $3,129 at hospital 2, P < .001). The number of billed CPT codes was not significantly correlated to contribution margin; however, significant differences were noted in contribution margin and direct cost associated with different CPT code combinations, with arthroscopic RCR with subacromial decompression and distal clavicle excision being the most profitable, at an average contribution margin of $2,147. There was no correlation between surgeon volume and contribution margin or direct cost. CONCLUSIONS: Our overall findings show that improvement in the profitability of arthroscopic RCR for hospital systems is possible, both by examining institutions' direct costs and by providing individual surgeons with cost breakdowns and contribution margin information to improve the profitability of their practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, economic and decision analysis.