[Effect of open wedge tibial high osteotomy on patella position and joint function].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of open wedge tibial high osteotomy on patella position, anterior knee pain and joint function. METHODS: From June 2016 to June 2021, 109 patients (111 knees) with medial knee osteoarthropathy treated by open wedge tibial high osteotomy were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, including 41 males and 68 females;the age ranged from 38 to 78 years old with an average of(57.98±7.07) years;the course of disease ranged from 1 to 36 months with an average of (8.58±6.91) months. The femoral tibial angle(FTA), medial proximal tibial angle(MPTA), weight bearing line(WBL) percentage, Caton Deschamps index (CD index), lateral patella tilt angle (LPTA) and lateral patella shift (LPS) were observed and compared before and after operation. Lysholm score was used to evaluate the knee function, visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to evaluate the degree of anterior knee pain, and Kellgren Lawrence(K-L) grading system was used to evaluate the progress of patellofemoral osteoarthritis. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 6 to 38 months with an average of (12.41±2.40) months. The preoperative FTA, MPTA, WBL percentage, CD index, and LPTA were significantly different from those at the last follow-up(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between before and after LPS operation(P=0.78). Lysholm score increased from (58.79±7.90) scores to (76.05±7.36) scores (P<0.05). The VAS of anterior knee pain decreased from (3.28±1.95) scores to(1.07±1.75) scores(P<0.05). Knee patellofemoral osteoarthritis showed progressive changes, but there was no significant difference in K-L grading before and after operation (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: After open wedge tibial high osteotomy, the position of patella is lowered and the patella is tilted outward, but the knee function and anterior knee pain are significantly improved. Adverse changes in patella position caused by open wedge tibial high osteotomy may not affect clinical outcomes.

Cannabinoid Use for Pain Reduction in Spinal Cord Injuries: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) often involves multimodal pain control. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cannabinoid use for the reduction of pain in SCI patients. Methods and Findings: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the efficacy (e.g., pain relief) or safety (e.g., adverse events) of cannabinoids in patients with SCI, from inception to 25 December 2021. The study quality and the quality of evidence were evaluated by Cochrane ROB 2.0 and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations system (GRADE), respectively. We used the random-effects model to perform the meta-analysis. From a total of 9,500 records, we included five RCTs with 417 SCI patients in the systematic review and meta-analysis. We judged all five of the included RCTs as being at high risk of bias. This meta-analysis indicated no significant difference in pain relief between the cannabinoids and placebo in SCI patients (mean difference of mean differences of pain scores: -5.68; 95% CI: -13.09, 1.73; p = 0.13; quality of evidence: very low), but higher odds of adverse events were found in SCI patients receiving cannabinoids (odds ratio: 3.76; 95% CI: 1.98, 7.13; p < 0.0001; quality of evidence: moderate). Conclusion: The current best evidence suggests that cannabinoids may not be beneficial for pain relief in SCI patients, but they do increase the risks of adverse events, including dizziness, somnolence, and dysgeusia, compared to the placebo. Cannabinoids should not be regularly suggested for pain reduction in SCI patients. Updating the systematic reviews and meta-analyses by integrating future RCTs is necessary to confirm these findings.

Extra-articular migration of PEEK interference screw after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: The interference screw is the most popular device that fixes the graft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, reducing the incidence of windshield effect and bungee effect. For the screw, either metallic, "bioresorbable," or polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material is available. PEEK is popular and extensively used due to its stability, biocompatibility, radiolucency, and elastic modulus. Rare relevant complications were reported, but here, we report two cases of extra-articular migrations of PEEK interference screw from the tibial tunnel after anterior cruciate reconstruction. CASE REPORT: An 18-year-old boy and a 56-year-old woman underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a PEEK interference screw to fix the graft in the tibial tunnel. They suffered from screw extrusion from the tibial tunnel after 40 days and six months, respectively, with an incision rupture or palpable subcutaneous mass. They underwent a second operation and recovered well. CONCLUSIONS: The exact incidence of extra-articular migrations of PEEK interference screws is unknown, but it seems to be quite low; despite this and its uncertain cause, the negative effects caused by the PEEK material need to be considered.

Arthroscopic all-inside repair with suture hook for horizontal tear of the lateral meniscus at the popliteal hiatus region: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic surgery procedures vary depending on the types of meniscus tear, including meniscectomy and meniscus repair. Among the several types of meniscus tear, the horizontal tear of the lateral meniscus at the popliteal hiatus region is a common injury, and its surgical treatment is still inconsistent. METHODS: Between January 2018 and October 2018, 20 patients who underwent all-inside repair with suture hook for the horizontal tear of the lateral meniscus at the popliteal hiatus region were recruited. Any operative complication was recorded, and postoperative MRI scans were conducted at the 6 months. The clinical results were graded based on the scale of the Lysholm knee score preoperatively and at follow-up. RESULTS: No operative complications were recorded. Postoperative MRIs at the 6 months showed that there was no re-tear for all patients, though signal intensity remained high in T2-weighted MRI in the lateral meniscus for nine cases. The average preoperative Lysholm knee score was 58.6 ± 10.1, which increased significantly to 89.3 ± 7.8 (t = - 11.01, p = 0.001) at the last follow-up. Recurrence or aggravation of symptoms was not noted at the final follow-up. CONCLUSION: All-inside repair with suture hook may be a good option for the horizontal tear of the lateral meniscus at the popliteal hiatus region which preserves the meniscus; avoids iatrogenic injury on the adjacent popliteal tendon, common peroneal nerve, and inferior lateral geniculate artery.

The Posterolateral Corner-Locked Technique Is Applicable in a Chinese Population Regarding the Tibial Component Rotation Alignment in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Rotational malalignment between the femoral and tibial components in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can affect clinical outcomes, but there is no consensus on how to best determine tibia tray orientation. The posterolateral corner-locked (PLCL) technique may be a new method. This study aims to assess the applicability of this technique in a Chinese population. Forty normal Chinese volunteers were recruited and underwent computed tomography (CT) of the lower limbs. Knee model reconstructions and simulated standard tibial osteotomy were conducted digitally. The transepicondylar axis (TEA), the Akagi line, and the line connecting the medial third of the tibial tubercle with the midpoint of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) were projected to the tibial cross-section and marked. The PLCL technique was applied using either symmetrical or asymmetrical tibial tray templates, and the anteroposterior (AP) axis of the tibial tray was marked. The angles between the TEA and these lines were calculated, and the statistical differences were analyzed. The angle between the TEA and the Akagi line and between the TEA and the line connecting the medial third of the tibial tubercle with the midpoint of the PCL were 96.90 ± 5.57 and 107.31 ± 5.95 degrees, respectively. The angles between the TEA and the AP axis of the symmetrical and the asymmetrical design tibial trays were 94.01 ± 4.21 and 96.65 ± 4.70 degrees, respectively. Except for the Akagi line and AP axis of the asymmetrical tibial tray, statistical differences were found between all lines (p < 0.05). The PLCL technique is principally suitable for Chinese patients requiring TKA when using the tibial component referred to in this study, although it may result in slight external rotation.

An unusual case of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after arthroscopic meniscus surgery.

BACKGROUND: Although thrombosis complication is rare after arthroscopic meniscus surgery, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism can be fatal. The associated risk factors and whether anticoagulant prevention after arthroscopic knee surgery is necessary have not reach consensus. Here we present a case of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after a common arthroscopic meniscectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient had no risk factors except ipsilateral leg varicose veins. She present swell at knee and calf from postoperative 3 weeks, and developed dyspnea, palpitation, and nausea on 33th day, pulmonary embolism was confirmed with CT angiography at emergency department. After thrombolysis and anticoagulation therapy were administered, the patient improved well and discharged. And the intravenous ultrasound confirmed thrombosis of popliteal vein and small saphenous vein. Who don't have common risk factors for venous thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low incidence of thromboembolic complications after simple arthroscopy surgery, its life-threatening and devastating property make clinicians rethink the necessity of thromboprophylaxis and importance of preoperative relative risk factors screening.

Is the posterior cruciate ligament necessary for medial pivot knee prostheses with regard to postoperative kinematics?

PURPOSE: Excellent clinical and kinematical performance is commonly reported after medial pivot knee arthroplasty. However, there is conflicting evidence as to whether the posterior cruciate ligament should be retained. This study simulated how the posterior cruciate ligament, post-cam mechanism and medial tibial insert morphology may affect postoperative kinematics. METHODS: After the computational intact knee model was validated according to the motion of a normal knee, four TKA models were built based on a medial pivot prosthesis; PS type, modified PS type, CR type with PCL retained and CR type with PCL sacrificed. Anteroposterior translation and axial rotation of femoral condyles on the tibia during 0°-135° knee flexion were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in kinematics between the intact knee model and reported data for a normal knee. In all TKA models, normal motion was almost fully restored, except for the CR type with PCL sacrificed. Sacrificing the PCL produced paradoxical anterior femoral translation and tibial external rotation during full flexion. CONCLUSION: Either the posterior cruciate ligament or post-cam mechanism is necessary for medial pivot prostheses to regain normal kinematics after total knee arthroplasty. The morphology of medial tibial insert was also shown to produce a small but noticeable effect on knee kinematics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.