Significant systematic bias of alpha angles measured on MRI compared to various radiographic views in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the inter-rater reproducibility and inter-method comparability of hip alpha angle measurements on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) and plain radiographs in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of patients who were diagnosed with symptomatic FAIS underwent preoperative MRI/MRA with axial oblique and/or radial plane imaging and had preoperative radiographs with anterior-posterior (AP), 45° Dunn and 90° Dunn views. Alpha angle measurements were performed independently by two musculoskeletal radiologists. Inter-rater reproducibility and inter-method comparability between MRI/MRA images and radiographic views were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were included of whom 93 (95.8%) received axial oblique plane images and 54 (55.6%) had radial plane MRI/MRA images. Inter-rater reproducibility was excellent (ICC > 0.9) for all planes on MRI/MRA and radiographs. MRI/MRA axial oblique images had poor (ICC 0.39, 95% CI [0.09, 0.59]), moderate (ICC 0.57, 95% CI [0.18, 0.75]) and moderate (ICC 0.64, 95% CI [0.20, 0.81]) comparability with AP, 45° Dunn and 90° Dunn, respectively. MRI/MRA radial plane images had equivocal (0 included in all CIs) comparability with AP (ICC 0.66), 45° Dunn (ICC 0.35) and 90° Dunn (ICC 0.14) radiographs. On average, alpha angle measurements were significantly higher with radial images and lower with axial oblique images, when compared to all radiographic views (p < 0.05), except axial oblique versus 45° Dunn views, where angles measured on axial oblique were significantly larger. CONCLUSION: Alpha angle measurements taken on axial oblique MRI/MRA images show moderate comparability to radiographic 45° Dunn and 90° Dunn views despite negative bias to measurements taken on radiographic AP and 45° Dunn view. Larger alpha angles were appreciated on MRI/MRA radial and axial oblique views compared to radiographic views supporting the inclusion of MRI/MRA alpha angle measurements to properly identify deformity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Peri-Arthroscopic Management of Immunosuppressive Medications in Patients with Rheumatic Disease A Survey of Practice Trends Among Rheumatologists and Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeons.

PURPOSE: Rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons frequently collaborate on difficult decisions regarding perioperative management of immunosuppression in rheumatic disease patients, balancing risk of postoperative infection with risk of disease flares. Current evidence-based guidelines pertain specifically to arthroplasty, thus we sought to understand the trends and common practices regarding peri-arthroscopic use of immunosuppression. METHODS: Rheumatologists and sports medicine surgeons, from a variety of New York hospitals and serving a broad range of demographics, were surveyed on immunosuppressive medication management in rheumatic disease patients undergoing arthroscopic surgeries. Physicians' preferences were elicited regarding the use of common anti-rheumatic medications with the lower risk meniscectomies and the higher risk anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions and allografts. Physicians were asked specifically about peri-arthroscopic use of conventional synthetic diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), biologics, and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. RESULTS: During the survey period, 25 rheumatologists and 19 sports medicine fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons completed the questionnaire. For lower-risk arthroscopies, rheumatologists favored continuing various csDMARDs (72% to 100%), biologics (50% to 64%) and JAK inhibitors (57%), while a majority of surgeons concurred for all three drug classes (csDMARDs 63%; biologics 53%; and JAK inhibitors 58%). For higher-risk arthroscopies, most rheumatologists preferred that patients continue csDMARDs (63% to 100%) but fewer supported the use of biologics (28% to 39%) or JAK inhibitors (22%). Surgeons were more hesitant to endorse any class of immunosuppressive antirheumatic medications (22% to 27%) around these higher risk surgeries. The rheumatologists were most concerned about surgeries taking place too soon after the last dose of rituximab, recommending these higher risk surgeries not take place for 7.7 ± 8.8 weeks following the last infusion. CONCLUSION: For lower-risk arthroscopies, most rheumatologists but only about half of orthopedic surgeons preferred patients continuing csDMARDs. Approximately half of both groups preferred patients hold biologics and JAK inhibitors. In more involved arthroscopies, most rheumatologists but few orthopedists supported the continued use of csDMARDs, and the consensus was to hold all other immunosuppression when possible. While the duration medications were held perioperatively were somewhat reflective of the current guidelines for arthroplasty, there is a need for evidencebased guidelines specifically regarding peri-arthroscopy immunosuppression in rheumatic disease patients.

The Use of Postoperative Antibiotics in Shoulder Arthroscopy Patients.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder arthroscopy and related complications like deep tissue infections have increased in the last several decades. Practice patterns have shown significant consensus among arthroscopic surgeons supporting intraoperative pre-incision antibiotic usage and against postoperative antibiotic usage. While there is consensus in practice, the absence of robust guidelines for postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis after shoulder arthroscopy warrants further research. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of infection after shoulder arthroscopy in patients treated with or without postoperative prophylactic oral antibiotics. METHODS: A retrospective review of shoulder arthroscopies was performed at an outpatient surgery center over a 10-year period. The primary outcome measured was infection following a procedure, initial encounter, or subsequent encounter as defined by International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision - Clinical Modification (ICD-10 CM) codes T81.4XXA or T814XXD. Incidence of infection was calculated for both cohorts and a chi-squared test was used to determine the statistical significance of betweengroup differences in infection incidence. A priori and post hoc power analyses were performed to determine the sample size required for statistical power and statistical power of the findings given the final study sample size, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 1,801 patients were included in the study. All patients received intraoperative pre-incision antibiotic prophylaxis. Prophylactic postoperative antibiotics were prescribed to 223 (12.38%) patients for varying durations following shoulder arthroscopy. There were zero cases of infection among patients who received antibiotics. There was one case (0.06%) of infection among the patients who did not receive antibiotics. This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.71). Power analyses showed that the study was highly powered. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative prophylactic oral antibiotics did not reduce the risk of infection in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy.

Female patients have greater improvement in pain symptoms and physical activity after fasciotomy for treatment of chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the lower leg.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify sex differences in postoperative outcomes and return-to-sport rates after fasciotomy for treatment of chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) of the lower leg. It was hypothesised that male CECS patients would have a higher rate of return to sport than female CECS patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving patients who underwent primary fasciotomy of one to four leg compartments for treatment of CECS at a single centre from 2010 to 2020. Each affected leg was treated as a separate subject. Postoperative outcomes included CECS pain frequency and severity, return to sport and Tegner activity level. Multivariable regression was used to determine if sex was an independent predictor of outcomes after adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates. p < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Eighty-one legs (44 M, 37 F) of 47 unique patients (34 of whom had bilateral symptoms) were included with a mean follow-up time of 51.5 ± 31.4 months. Male subjects were older (p < 0.001) and had higher body mass index (p < 0.001) compared to female subjects. Most subjects (84.0%) underwent two- or four-compartment fasciotomies. Female sex was found to be predictive of lower overall postoperative pain severity (p = 0.007), higher odds of return to sport (p = 0.04) and higher postoperative Tegner score (p = 0.005). However, female sex was not predictive of postoperative pain frequency, odds of reoperation or odds of return to sport to at least the presymptomatic level (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Female sex is independently predictive of reduced overall pain severity, higher odds of return to sport and higher postoperative improvement in Tegner score following fasciotomy for treatment of lower-limb CECS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Medial quadriceps tendon femoral ligament reconstruction and medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction have no significant differences in clinical outcomes for treatment of lateral patellar instability: a matched-cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of medial quadriceps tendon-femoral ligament reconstruction (MQTFLR) and medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) among patients with recurrent lateral patellar instability. METHODS: A retrospective matched-cohort study was conducted involving patients who underwent MQTFLR or MPFLR with or without tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) from 2019 to 2021. Subjects were matched 1:1 on age, concomitant osteochondral allograft (OCA), concomitant TTO, and follow-up time. Measured outcomes included 90-day complications, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) knee pain, return to sport/work, Kujala score, Tegner score, and MPFL-Return to Sport after Injury (MPFL-RSI) score. Outcomes were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variables and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. P-values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Ten MQTFLR patients (mean age 28.7 years, 80% female, mean follow-up 19.7 months) and ten MPFLR patients (mean age 29.1 years, 90% female, mean follow-up 28.3 months) were included in the study. One MQTFLR patient (10%) and three MPFLR patients (30%) underwent reoperation for postoperative arthrofibrosis. Postoperative VAS resting pain was not significantly different between the groups (MQTFLR mean 1.1, MPFLR mean 0.6, p â€‹= â€‹0.31). There were no significant differences in rates of recurrent subluxations (MQTFLR 20%, MPFLR 0%, p â€‹= â€‹0.47), return to sport (MQTFLR 50%, MPFLR 75%, p â€‹= â€‹0.61), return to work (MQTFLR 100%, MPFLR 88%, p â€‹= â€‹1.00), or MPFL-RSI pass rate (MQTFLR 75% vs. MPFLR 38%, p â€‹= â€‹0.31). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in knee pain and function, return to work, and rates of recurrent patellar instability between patients who underwent MQTFLR versus MPFLR, though these results should be interpreted with caution given the small sample size and potential selection bias. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Postoperative complications in rheumatic disease patients undergoing arthroscopy on immunosuppression.

BACKGROUND: There are currently no guidelines on peri-arthroscopic management of immunosuppressive (IS) treatment in rheumatic disease patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to characterize the rheumatic disease patient population undergoing arthroscopy, compare the incidence of postoperative complications among patients who either remained on IS perioperatively, held IS perioperatively or were not on IS at baseline, and compare the incidence of postoperative complications by rheumatic disease type, medication type, and procedure. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all arthroscopic sports medicine surgeries in patients with a rheumatic disease diagnosis at our institution over an 11-year period. Patients on IS at baseline were grouped into those who remained on IS perioperatively or held all IS before the date of their surgery. These two groups were compared to patients who were not on IS at baseline. Incidence of postoperative complications was calculated for the three cohorts and by medication class, rheumatic disease type, and procedure risk. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-squared, and Fisher's exact tests were used to determine the statistical significance of between-group differences in postoperative complication incidence. RESULTS: We identified 1,316 rheumatic disease patients undergoing arthroscopy, with 214 of them taking IS medications at baseline. In total, 8.4% (n = 110) remained on IS perioperatively, 7.9% (n = 104) held IS perioperatively, and 83.7% (n = 1102) were not on IS at baseline. In all cohorts, seven patients experienced postoperative complications; six of whom experienced infections. Two (1.82%) occurred in patients remaining on IS perioperatively, zero infections occured in patients who held all IS, and four (0.36%) occured in patients who were not on any IS at baseline. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative infections or complication rates among the three cohorts or further subgroups. CONCLUSION: The risk of postoperative complications including infectious, major, and minor complications in patients on IS at the time of arthroscopy is low and acceptable.

Patient-reported hip pain and function are worse among elite Nordic ski athletes competing in ski jumping versus Nordic combined: a cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Nordic ski athletes are at increased risk of developing hip pain and dysfunction secondary to femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), but it is unclear whether hip symptomatology differs between ski jumping (SJ) and Nordic combined (NC) athletes. The purpose of this study was to compare patient-reported hip pain and dysfunction between elite Nordic ski athletes participating in SJ versus NC. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving SJ and NC athletes who competed at the international and U.S. national levels during the 2021-2022 season. Subjects were excluded if they had hip surgery within two years prior to enrollment. Subjects were asked to undergo diagnostic workups for FAIS, including physical examination and plain radiographic imaging. Subjects were asked to complete a survey that collected information on athletic and training history and to complete the hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS). Demographics, athletic/training history, and HOOS sub-scores were compared between the SJ and NC groups using the Student's t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. p-values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Twenty-four athletes (13 SJ, 11 NC) were included in the study. There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, BMI, or age of menarche between the two groups (all p â€‹> â€‹0.05). There were also no statistically significant differences in the number of prior sports participated in, total hours of participation in prior sports, or total hours of training in Nordic specialization (all p â€‹> â€‹0.05). Among the 18 athletes who underwent physical examination (9 SJ, 9 NC), there were no statistically significant inter-group differences in hip range of motion or incidence of positive impingement tests (all p â€‹> â€‹0.05). Among the 19 athletes who underwent imaging (9 SJ, 10 NC), there were no statistically significant inter-group differences in the incidence of cam or pincer morphology in at least one hip (all p â€‹> â€‹0.05). SJ athletes had statistically significantly worse HOOS sub-scores for hip symptoms and stiffness, hip function in sports/recreational activities, and hip-related quality of life compared to NC athletes (all p â€‹< â€‹0.05). CONCLUSION: Elite SJ athletes have worse self-reported hip function compared to elite NC athletes, despite comparable demographics, athletic history, and duration of ski training. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

A Superolateral Cam Lesion Location Increases Odds of Total Hip Arthroplasty 5 Years After Hip Arthroscopy.

PURPOSE: To determine if radiographic cam location is associated with hip survivorship and postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at 5-year follow-up. METHODS: We conducted a review of prospectively collected data of patients with cam lesions who underwent hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Cam lesions were categorized into 3 locations: superolateral, anterolateral, or anterior. Conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA), revision rates, and reoperation rates were assessed. Patient-reported outcome measures, including modified Harris Hip Scores (mHHS) and Non-Arthritic Hip Scores (NAHS), were collected preoperatively and at 5-year follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 156-patients, 125 met the final criteria (80.1%). Mean age was 41.1 ± 12.7 years. Seventy-one patients (56.8%) had superolateral cam lesions, 41 (32.8%) had anterolateral lesions, and 13 (10.4%) had anterior lesions. Revision rates within 5 years were 7.7% for anterior, 24.4% for anterolateral, and 14.1% for superolateral lesions; conversions to THAs were 15.4% for anterior), 7.3% for anterolateral, and 8.5% for superolateral. Reoperations were 23.1% for anterior, 29.3% for anterolateral, and 21.1% for superolateral. The superolateral cohort was younger than the anterior and anterolateral cohorts (anterior, 46.6 ± 12.2 years; anterolateral, 44.7 ± 12.2 years; superolateral, 38.1 ± 12.3 years; P = .006). Multivariable analysis showed the anterolateral group was significantly predictive of lower odds of undergoing THA compared to the superolateral group (odds ratio, 0.01; 95% CI, <0.01-0.72; P = .03). There were no differences in the 5-year improvement in mHHS (anterior, 32.4; anterolateral, 36.8; superolateral, 33.0; P = .29) or NAHS (anterior, 34.8; anterolateral, 39.0; superolateral, 37.3; P = .65). CONCLUSIONS: A superolateral cam lesion increases the odds of conversion to THA within 5 years of hip arthroscopy compared to those with anterolateral lesions on multivariable analysis. Those with superolateral lesions were significantly younger compared to those with anterior or anterolateral lesions. Cam lesion location did not affect improvement in PROs at 5-year follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic trial.

Global Acetabular Retroversion Is Not Associated With Differences in Outcomes After Primary Hip Arthroscopy Among Patients With Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Matched Cohort Study With Minimum 5-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: To compare hip survivorship and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after primary hip arthroscopy at 5-year follow-up between patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) with radiographic signs of global acetabular retroversion and those without. METHODS: A retrospective matched-cohort study was conducted using a single-surgeon hip arthroscopy database. Patients were included if they underwent primary hip arthroscopy for treatment of FAIS, had preoperative hip x-rays, and had a minimum 5-year follow-up. Global retroversion was defined as the presence of ischial spine sign, posterior wall sign, and crossover sign on anteroposterior view. Patients with FAIS with global retroversion were matched 1:1 on age, sex, and body mass index to FAIS controls. The modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS) were administered preoperatively and at follow-up. Hip survivorship and PROMs were compared between the 2 groups using the paired t test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and/or Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test as appropriate. P values <.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients with global retroversion (mean age 40.6 ± 10.8 years, 60.5% female) were matched to 38 controls (mean age 41.3 ± 13.6 years, 60.5% female). Reoperation rates were the same in both groups (5.3%). On average, both groups reported significant pre- to postoperative improvement in mHHS (P < .001) and NAHS (P < .001), and there was no significant intergroup differences in the change in mHHS (P = .86) or NAHS (P = .90). Achievement rates for the patient acceptable symptom state on the mHHS were higher among males compared to females (P = .04) in both the global retroversion group (93.3% vs 73.9%) and the control group (93.3% vs 73.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with FAIS with and without global acetabular retroversion had no significant difference in outcomes after primary hip arthroscopy at a minimum 5-year minimum follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic trial.

Borderline Hip Dysplasia Is Not Associated With Significant Differences in Hip Survivorship or Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Primary Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To compare hip survivorship and patient-reported outcomes after primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in patients with versus without comorbid borderline hip dysplasia (BHD) at 2-year follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective matched-cohort study was conducted involving patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS with a single surgeon from 2010 to 2019. BHD was defined as lateral center edge angle (LCEA) of 20 to 25°. Subjects with BHD were matched 1:2 to controls without BHD on age, sex, body mass index, and preoperative modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS). Alpha angle, LCEA, Tönnis angle, and acetabular retroversion signs were measured on preoperative and/or postoperative hip radiographs. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the mHHS and the Non-Arthritic Hip Score. Hip survivorship, outcome scores, and achievement of the minimum clinically important difference were compared between groups using the Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher exact test, as appropriate. P values <.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Thirty-one BHD subjects (mean age 36.8 years, 71.0% female) and 62 controls (mean age 38.0 years, 71.0% female) were included. There were no significant intergroup differences in demographics or preoperative radiographic measurements besides LCEA and Tönnis angle (all P > .05). Intraoperatively, subjects with BHD were found to have significantly shorter labral tears (mean 2.6 vs 2.8 clock-face hours, P = .048), but there were no significant intergroup differences in acetabular or femoral cartilage status (all P > .05). Postoperatively, there were no significant intergroup differences in rates of revision arthroscopy (BHD 6.5% vs control 11.3%) or conversion to total hip arthroplasty (BHD 9.7% vs control 1.6%), in 2-year improvement of the mHHS and Non-Arthritic Hip Score, or in minimum clinically important difference achievement rates (all P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: BHD is not associated with a significant difference in hip survivorship or patient-reported outcomes following primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Decreased Hip Labral Width Measured on Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is Associated With Greater Revision Rate After Primary Arthroscopic Labral Repair for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome at 5-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: To examine the associations between hip labral width and patient-reported outcomes, clinical threshold achievement rates, and rate of reoperation among patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) who underwent hip arthroscopy and labral repair at minimum 5-year follow-up. METHODS: Patients were identified from a prospective database who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for treatment of labral tears and FAIS. Modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS) were recorded preoperatively and at 5-year follow-up. Achievement of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), substantial clinical benefit (SCB), and patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS) was determined using previously established values. Labral width magnetic resonance imaging measurements were performed by 2 independent readers at standardized "clockface" locations. Patients were stratified into 3 groups at each position: lower-width (<½ SD below mean), middle-width (within ½ SD of mean), and upper-width (>½ SD above mean). Multivariable regression was used to evaluate associations of labral width with patient-reported outcomes and reoperation rate. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (age: 41.0 ± 12.0 years; 68.5% female) were included. Inter-rater reliability for labral width measurements was high at all positions (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.94-0.96). There were no significant intergroup differences in mHHS/NAHS improvement (P > .05) or in achievement rates of MCID/SCB/PASS at each clockface position (P > .05). Eleven patients (15.1%) underwent arthroscopic revision and 4 patients (5.5%) converted to total hip arthroplasty. Multivariable analysis found lower-width groups at 11:30 (odds ratio 1.75, P = .02) and 3:00 (odds ratio 1.59, P = .04) positions to have increased odds of revision within 5 years; however, labral width was not associated with 5-year improvement in mHHS/NAHS, achievement of MCID/PASS/SCB, or conversion to total hip arthroplasty (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Hip labral width <½ SD below the mean measured on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging at 11:30- and 3:00-clockface positions was associated with increased odds of reoperation after arthroscopic labral repair and treatment of FAIS. Labral width was not associated with 5-year improvement of mHHS, NAHS, achievement of clinical thresholds, or conversion to arthroplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

Home ownership, full-time employment, and other markers of higher socioeconomic status are predictive of shorter time to initial evaluation, shorter time to surgery, and superior postoperative outcomes among lateral patellar instability patients undergoing medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify socioeconomic predictors of time to initial evaluation, time to surgery, and postoperative outcomes among lateral patellar instability patients undergoing medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients at our institution who underwent primary MPFLR with allograft from 2011 to 2019 and had minimum 12-month follow-up. Patients were administered an email survey in January 2022 to assess symptom history, socioeconomic status, and postoperative outcomes including VAS satisfaction and Kujala score. Predictors of time to initial evaluation, time to surgery, and postoperative outcomes were identified using multivariable linear and logistic regression with stepwise selection. RESULTS: Seventy patients were included in the cohort (mean age 24.8 years, 72.9% female, mean follow-up time 45.7 months). Mean time to evaluation was 6.4 months (range 0-221) and mean time to surgery was 73.6 months (range 0-444). Having a general health check-up in the year prior to surgery was predictive of shorter time to initial evaluation (ß = - 100.5 [- 174.5, - 26.5], p = 0.008). Home ownership was predictive of shorter time to surgery (ß = - 56.5 [- 104.7, 8.3], p = 0.02). Full-time employment was predictive of higher VAS satisfaction (ß = 14.1 [4.3, 23.9], p = 0.006) and higher Kujala score (ß = 8.7 [0.9, 16.5], p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Markers of higher socioeconomic status including having a general check-up in the year prior to surgery, home ownership, and full-time employment were predictive of shorter time to initial evaluation, shorter time to surgery, and superior postoperative outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:  IV, retrospective case series.

Postoperative flares and peri-arthroscopic management of immunosuppressive medications in patients with rheumatic disease.

PURPOSE: To determine the rate and characteristics of postoperative flares in rheumatic disease patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery, and the role of perioperative immunosuppression (IS) management in preventing or provoking these exacerbations. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of arthroscopic surgeries in patients with rheumatologic disease over 11 years. Patients taking IS at baseline and those without were matched 1:1 using propensity scores on age, sex, rheumatic disease type, and procedure complexity. Patients taking IS at baseline were sub-divided into those remaining on IS perioperatively versus those who held IS before surgery. Multivariable logistic regression identified risk factors for postoperative flares for the three IS groups, and survival analysis was used to compare the probability of remaining flare-free up to 12 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: After matching, 428 patients (214 on various types of baseline IS, 214 not on baseline IS) were included, with 110 on baseline IS remaining on it perioperatively. Rates of postoperative flares were similar for those staying on vs holding their baseline IS (9.1% vs 9.6%) but flares were less frequent in patients not on baseline IS (1.9%). Patients who remained on perioperative IS did not have significantly less flares compared to patients taken off perioperative IS (OR 0.764 [0.267, 2.181]; p = 0.61). Patients not on baseline IS had a significantly higher probability ofremaining flare-free up to 12 weeks (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Rheumatic disease patients who hold IS medication before undergoing arthroscopy, out of concern for potential infection or complications, do not significantly increase their risk of flaring their autoimmune disease whether they had been taking csDMARDs or biologic agents. Those not taking any IS at baseline have a much lower risk of post-arthroscopic flaring, though as a group they likely harbor less of an autoimmune burden.

Acceptable clinical outcomes despite high reoperation rate at minimum 12-month follow-up after concomitant arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and medial meniscal allograft transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Single-stage medial meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) with concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a technically challenging procedure for management of knee pain and instability in younger patients, but clinical and functional outcomes data are sparse. The purpose of this study was to assess surgical and patient-reported outcomes following concomitant ACLR and medial MAT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case series of patients who underwent medial MAT with concomitant primary or revision ACLR at our institution from 2010 to 2021 and had minimum 12-month follow-up. Complications, reoperations, visual analog scale (VAS) pain, satisfaction, Lysholm score, return to sport, and return to work outcomes were assessed. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference, Pain Intensity, and Physical Function Scores were used to measure patients' functional status relative to the US population. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 17 knees of 16 individual patients. The cohort was majority male (82.4%) with mean age of 31.9 years (range 19-49 years) and mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.9 kg/m2 (range 22.5-53.3 kg/m2). Mean follow-up time was 56.8 months (range 13-106 months). Most patients underwent revision ACLR (64.7%). The 1-year reoperation rate was high (23.5%), with two patients (11.8%) tearing their meniscus graft. Patient-reported outcomes indicated low VAS pain (mean 2.2), high satisfaction (mean 77.9%), and fair Lysholm score (mean 81.1). Return to work rate was high (92.9%), while return to sport rate was low (42.9%). Postoperative PROMIS scores were comparable or superior to the national average and correlated significantly with patient satisfaction (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The concomitant ACLR and MAT procedure is associated with excellent knee pain and functional outcomes and high rate of return to work after surgery, though the 1-year reoperation rate is high and rate of return to sport is low. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

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.

Hip Spine Syndrome Negatively Impacts Arthroscopic Outcomes in the Management of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the presence of spine pathology affects clinical outcomes after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in the setting of hip-spine syndrome (HSS) METHODS: A systematic review of PubMed and Cochrane was conducted. Primary research articles evaluating patient-reported outcomes (PRO) after hip arthroscopy for FAIS in the presence of concomitant spine pathology were considered RESULTS: Literature review identified 12 studies meeting criteria. In 2109 FAIS patients undergoing hip arthroscopy, 591 had concomitant spine pathology. Baseline PROs in the hip-spine (modified Harris Hip Score [mHHS]: 39.8-65.29 vs 56.9-78.8, 8 studies; non-arthritic hip score [NAHS]: 42.2-51.5 vs 68.2-75.2, 4 studies; hip outcome score-activities of daily living [HOS-ADL]: 45.9-71.1 vs 49.3-89.51, 9 studies; hip outcome score-Sport (HOS-Sport): 22.8-49.6 vs 50.6-73.1, 3 studies; international hip outcome tool-33 [iHOT-12]: 38.0 vs 66.0, 1 study; visual analog scale [VAS] Pain: 6.43-6.56 vs 1.18-3.60, 3 studies; VAS Satisfaction: 7.18-7.46 range at follow-up, 2 studies) and control (mHHS: 39.3-64.9 vs 70.2-92.6, 6 studies; NAHS: 42.8-54.2 vs 74.0-87.1, 4 studies; HOS-ADL: 59.0-76.4 vs 75.4-97.1, 4 studies; HOS-Sport: 38.1-55.1 vs 60.9-93.9, 3 studies; iHOT-12: 43.4 vs 89.8, 1 study; VAS Pain: 6.18-6.22 vs 1.82-3.44, 2 studies; VAS Satisfaction: 7.74-8.22 range at follow up, 2 studies). Minimal clinically important difference threshold rates achieved in the hip-spine (44.1-86.7, 4 studies) cohorts were significantly lower than control (79.4-88.2%; 4 studies) cohorts in 3 studies. Patient-acceptable symptomatic state threshold rates achieved in the hip-spine (42-63.5, 3 studies) cohorts were significantly lower than control (58.8-81.0, 3 studies) in 1 study. There was no statistical difference in complication and reoperation rates between cohorts CONCLUSION: FAIS patients with concomitant HSS have improved but inferior outcomes after hip arthroscopy compared to patients without HSS LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, systematic review.

Do Community-level Disadvantages Account for Racial Disparities in the Safety of Spine Surgery? A Large Database Study Based on Medicare Claims.

BACKGROUND: Racial health disparities across orthopaedic surgery subspecialties, including spine surgery, are well established. However, the underlying causes of these disparities, particularly relating to social determinants of health, are not fully understood. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Is there a racial difference in 90-day mortality, readmission, and complication rates ("safety outcomes") among Medicare beneficiaries after spine surgery? (2) To what degree does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), a community-level marker of social determinants of health, account for racial disparities in safety outcomes? METHODS: To examine racial differences in 90-day mortality, readmission, and complications after spine surgery, we retrospectively identified all 419,533 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or older who underwent inpatient spine surgery from 2015 to 2019; we excluded 181,588 patients with endstage renal disease or Social Security disability insurance entitlements, who were on Medicare HMO, or who had missing SVI data. Because of the nearly universal coverage of those age 65 or older, Medicare data offer a large cohort that is broadly generalizable, provides improved precision for relatively rare safety outcomes, and is free of confounding from differential insurance access across races. The Master Beneficiary Summary File includes enrollees' self-reported race based on a restrictive list of mutually exclusive options. Even though this does not fully capture the entirety of racial diversity, it is self-reported by patients. Identification of spine surgery was based on five Diagnosis Related Groups labeled "cervical fusion," "fusion, except cervical," "anterior-posterior combined fusion," "complex fusion," and "back or neck, except fusion." Although heterogeneous, these cohorts do not reflect inherently different biology that would lead us to expect differences in safety outcomes by race. We report specific types of complications that did and did not involve readmission. Although complications vary in severity, we report them as composite measures while being cognizant of the inherent limitations of making inferences based on aggregate measures. The SVI was chosen as the mediating variable because it aggregates important social determinants of health and has been shown to be a marker of high risk of poor public health response to external stressors. Patients were categorized into three groups based on a ranking of the four SVI themes: socioeconomic status, household composition, minority status and language, and housing and transportation. We report the "average race effects" among Black patients compared with White patients using nearest-neighbor Mahalanobis matching by age, gender, comorbidities, and spine surgery type. Mahalanobis matching provided the best balance among propensity-type matching methods. Before matching, Black patients in Medicare undergoing spine surgery were disproportionately younger with more comorbidities and were less likely to undergo cervical fusion. To estimate the contribution of the SVI on racial disparities in safety outcomes, we report the average race effect between models with and without the addition of the four SVI themes. RESULTS: After matching on age, gender, comorbidities, and spine surgery type, Black patients were on average more likely than White patients to be readmitted (difference of 1.5% [95% CI 0.9% to 2.1%]; p < 0.001) and have complications with (difference of 1.2% [95% CI 0.5% to 1.9%]; p = 0.002) or without readmission (difference of 3.6% [95% CI 2.9% to 4.3%]; p < 0.001). Adding the SVI to the model attenuated these differences, explaining 17% to 49% of the racial differences in safety, depending on the outcome. An observed higher rate of 90-day mortality among Black patients was explained entirely by matching using non-SVI patient demographics (difference of 0.00% [95% CI -0.3% to 0.3%]; p = 0.99). However, even after adjusting for the SVI, Black patients had more readmissions and complications. CONCLUSION: Social disadvantage explains up to nearly 50% of the disparities in safety outcomes between Black and White Medicare patients after spine surgery. This argument highlights an important contribution of socioeconomic circumstances and societal barriers to achieving equal outcomes. But even after accounting for the SVI, there remained persistently unequal safety outcomes among Black patients compared with White patients, suggesting that other unmeasured factors contribute to the disparities. This is consistent with evidence documenting Black patients' disadvantages within a system of seemingly equal access and resources. Research on racial health disparities in orthopaedics should account for the SVI to avoid suggesting that race causes any observed differences in complications among patients when other factors related to social deprivation are more likely to be determinative. Focused social policies aiming to rectify structural disadvantages faced by disadvantaged communities may lead to a meaningful reduction in racial health disparities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Over One-Third of Patients With Multiligament Knee Injuries and an Intact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Demonstrate Medial Meniscal Ramp Lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of ramp lesions and posteromedial tibial plateau (PMTP) bone bruising on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with multiligament knee injuries (MLKIs) and an intact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive patients surgically treated for MLKIs at 2 level I trauma centers between January 2001 and March 2021 was performed. Only MLKIs with an intact ACL that received MRI scans within 90 days of the injury were included. All MLKIs were diagnosed on MRI and confirmed with operative reports. Two musculoskeletal radiologists retrospectively rereviewed preoperative MRIs for evidence of medial meniscus ramp lesions (MMRLs) and PMTP bone bruises using previously established classification systems. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to calculate the reliability between the radiologists. The incidence of MMRLs and PMTP bone bruises was quantified using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 221 MLKIs were identified, of which 32 (14.5%) had an intact ACL (87.5% male; mean age of 29.9 ± 8.6 years) and were included. The most common MLKI pattern was combined injury to the posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner (n = 27, 84.4%). PMTP bone bruises were observed in 12 of 32 (37.5%) patients. Similarly, MMRLs were diagnosed in 12 of 32 (37.5%) patients. A total of 8 of 12 (66.7%) patients with MMRLs demonstrated evidence PMTP bone bruising. CONCLUSIONS: Over one-third of MLKI patients with an intact ACL were diagnosed with MMRLs on MRI in this series. PMTP bone bruising was observed in 66.7% of patients with MMRLs, suggesting that increased vigilance for identifying MMRLs at the time of ligament reconstruction should be practiced in patients with this bone bruising pattern. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Concomitant Cervical Spine Stenosis Negatively Affects Subpectoral Biceps Tenodesis Outcomes.

Purpose: To determine whether an association exists between the presence of cervical spine pathology and postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients undergoing open subpectoral biceps tenodesis (BT). Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing isolated BT from August 2011 to May 2019 was conducted. Cases were defined as patients with concomitant cervical spine disease (disc disease, disc herniations, neuroforaminal/central stenosis). Controls were patients without cervical spine disease. Postoperative PROs were collected from all patients with a minimum of 12-month follow-up. Cases and controls were matched 1:1 using age and body mass index. PROs were compared using the χ2 text, Fisher exact test, or analysis of variance. Results: A total of 23 cases and 23 controls were identified. Cases and controls had similar distributions of age (42.4 ± 4.4 years, 40.4 ± 4.5, P = .15), sex (83% male, 87% male, P = .68), body mass index (28.0 ± 4.0, 27.6 ± 4.3, P = .78), and percentage of athletes (65% athlete, 61% athlete. P = .76). All cases had evidence of neuroforaminal stenosis and multilevel degenerative disc disease, whereas 19 of 23 (83%) had evidence of central canal stenosis. Cases had a greater visual analog scale (VAS) score during Sport score (3.6 ± 0.7 vs 1.2 ± 0.6, P = .013) and lower Subjective Shoulder Value (69.5 ± 5.8 vs 84.1 ± 5.4, P = .070) and Shoulder Instability-Return to Sport after Injury score (60.4 ± 5.8 vs 77.4 ± 6.0, P = .046). There were no significant differences between groups' ASES, baseline VAS, overall satisfaction scores, and willingness to undergo the same operation again. No significant differences were found in postoperative rate of return to sport, time to return, and return to preoperative competitiveness. Conclusions: Patients with SLAP tears undergoing isolated BT in the presence of cervical spinal stenosis may have inferior Subjective Shoulder Value, Shoulder Instability-Return to Sport after Injury, and VAS during sport scores as compared with controls, although many PROs were similar at follow-up. Athletes undergoing BT, particularly with concomitant cervical spine pathology, should be counseled appropriately before surgery. Level of Evidence: Level III, case-control study.

Buccally Absorbed Cannabidiol Shows Significantly Superior Pain Control and Improved Satisfaction Immediately After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blinded, Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread use and sales of cannabidiol (CBD) products in the United States, there is a paucity of literature to evaluate its effectiveness, safety, or ideal route of administration for postoperative pain. PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential analgesic effects of buccally absorbed CBD in patients who have undergone arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: This was a US Food and Drug Administration-sanctioned, multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded trial conducted in patients undergoing ARCR. Patients aged from 18 to 75 years undergoing ARCR were prospectively enrolled and randomized to the control and experimental groups. The experimental group received an oral, buccally absorbed tablet containing 25 mg of CBD 3 times a day if <80 kg, or 50 mg of CBD 3 times a day if >80 kg, for 14 days postoperatively, while the control group received an identical placebo. Patients were followed up on days 1, 2, 7, and 14, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain scores, opioid consumption, and satisfaction with pain control were recorded. Additionally, liver function tests were conducted on days 7 and 14 to assess safety, and nausea was monitored. P < .05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Overall, 100 patients were recruited, with 1 patient being excluded, for a total of 99 patients. There were no significant differences in patient demographics between the 2 groups. On day 1, the VAS pain score was significantly lower in the CBD group than in the control group (4.4 ± 3.1 vs 5.7 ± 3.2, respectively; P = .04), although this difference was no longer present on day 2 (4.7 ± 2.8 vs 5.3 ± 2.6, respectively; P = .32). On both days 1 and 2, patient satisfaction with pain control was significantly higher in the CBD group than in the control group (day 1: 7.0 ± 3.0 vs 5.6 ± 3.7, respectively [P = .04]; day 2: 7.3 ± 2.5 vs 6.0 ± 3.3, respectively [P = .03]). The quantity of opioids consumed was low in both groups, and there were no statistically significant differences in opioid consumption (P > .05). On days 7 and 14, there were no statistically significant differences in VAS scores, opioid consumption, or patient satisfaction with pain control between the CBD and control groups (P > .05 for all). There were no significant differences in liver function test results postoperatively (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Buccally absorbed CBD demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and showed significant promise in the reduction of pain in the immediate perioperative period after ARCR compared with the control. Further studies are currently ongoing to confirm dosing and effectiveness in other orthopaedic conditions. REGISTRATION: NCT04672252 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).