Correction to: Factors associated with poorer outcomes in the surgical treatment of multiligament knee injuries.

The author would like to correct the following errors in the publication of the original article.

Factors predictive of poorer outcomes in the surgical repair of multiligament knee injuries.

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of injury and treatment factors on clinical/functional outcomes in multiligament knee injuries (MLKI). METHODS: Thirty-nine consecutive patients with confirmed and surgically treated MLKI who met inclusion criteria were scheduled for a follow-up visit to obtain: SF-12 and subjective feeling of normalcy between the operated and healthy knee, and IKDC, active range of motion (ROM), and stability exam (Lachman test, posterior drawer, and dial test at 30°). A chart review was used to obtain data on injury and treatment factors. RESULTS: The postoperative mean (SD) outcomes were: IKDC score 62.7 (25.9), flexion-extension ROM 125° (29°), and percentage of normalcy 74% (20%). The postoperative normal/nearly normal stability exam was: Lachman test 36 (95%) patients, posterior drawer at 90° 38 (97%) patients, and dial test of 39 (100%) patients. There were 24 (61.5%) and 23 (59%) patients with complications and reoperations, respectively. The presence of bicruciate injuries was associated with worse Lachman (p = 0.03) and posterior drawer tests (p = 0.03). Presence of injury to meniscal structures was associated with worse Lachman test (p = 0.03), lower percentage of normalcy (p = 0.02) and extension lag (p = 0.04). Injury to cartilage structures was associated with worse IKDC scores (p = 0.04). IKDC was lower in cases of posterolateral corner reconstruction (p = 0.03) and use of allograft tendons for reconstruction (p = 0.02); ROM was lower in allograft reconstruction (p = 0.02) and need for meniscal repair (p = 0.01). Bicruciate reconstruction led to worst posterior drawer test (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of MLKI might be negatively influenced by bicruciate ligament, meniscal, and cartilage injuries; with regards to treatment characteristics, need for posterolateral corner or bicruciate ligament reconstruction, use of allografts, or need for meniscal repair may similarly diminish outcomes. While surgical treatment provides good overall function, ROM and stability, it rarely results in a "normal" knee and the chances of complications and reoperations are high. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Cross-sectional comparative study, Level III.

Rotator cuff tears in young patients: a different disease than rotator cuff tears in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the characteristics of injury and treatment outcomes of rotator cuff tears in young patients. METHODS: A systematic electronic search was performed for clinical studies evaluating rotator cuff tears in patients younger than 40 years with special emphasis on reporting of injury characteristics and treatment outcomes with a minimum 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Twelve studies (involving 336 patients) met inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patients was 28 years (range, 16-40 years), with a mean follow-up of 39 months. There were 2 distinct subgroups. The majority of studies (7 of 10) showed that patients typically had a full-thickness tear with an acute traumatic etiology. However, within the subgroup of elite throwers, 5 of 6 studies demonstrated a majority of tears that were partial thickness stemming from chronic overuse. Rotator cuff repair improved pain and strength in almost all studies reporting on these parameters. Eighty-seven percent of patients reported they were satisfied. However, all studies examining elite throwers showed significant difficulty in returning to play (25%-97%). CONCLUSIONS: In young patients with rotator cuff tears, there are 2 primary groups. (1) A majority group with rotator cuff tears of traumatic origin responded well to both arthroscopic and open rotator cuff repair in terms of pain relief and self-reported outcomes postoperatively. These patients reported high levels of satisfaction and return to preinjury level of play. (2) A unique subpopulation composed of elite throwers had improved outcomes but suboptimal return to play.

A systematic approach: optimization of healthcare operations with knowledge management.

Effective decision making is vital in all healthcare activities. While this decision making is typically complex and unstructured, it requires the decision maker to gather multispectral data and information in order to make an effective choice when faced with numerous options. Unstructured decision making in dynamic and complex environments is challenging and in almost every situation the decision maker is undoubtedly faced with information inferiority. The need for germane knowledge, pertinent information and relevant data are critical and hence the value of harnessing knowledge and embracing the tools, techniques, technologies and tactics of knowledge management are essential to ensuring efficiency and efficacy in the decision making process. The systematic approach and application of knowledge management (KM) principles and tools can provide the necessary foundation for improving the decision making processes in healthcare. A combination of Boyd's OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) and the Intelligence Continuum provide an integrated, systematic and dynamic model for ensuring that the healthcare decision maker is always provided with the appropriate and necessary knowledge elements that will help to ensure that healthcare decision making process outcomes are optimized for maximal patient benefit. The example of orthopaedic operating room processes will illustrate the application of the integrated model to support effective decision making in the clinical environment.

Inside-Out or Outside-In Suturing Should Not Be Considered the Standard Repair Method for Radial Tears of the Midbody of the Lateral Meniscus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Biomechanical Studies.

The purpose was to evaluate which meniscal repair technique for radial tears of the midbody of the lateral meniscus demonstrates the best biomechanical properties. An electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and ScienceDirect databases. Biomechanical studies investigating the repair characteristics of radial tears in the midbody of the lateral meniscus were included. After appropriate screening, a total of 54 studies were reviewed in detail (full text), and 6 met inclusion criteria. The most common cause of exclusion was the investigation of longitudinal tears. Only two studies could be meta-analyzed. Stiffness was significantly higher for all-inside compared with inside-out repair techniques (p = 0.0009). No significant differences were observed between both suture methods for load to failure (p = 0.45). However, both studies used different all-inside devices and suture constructs. No clear conclusions can be drawn from the comparison of both types of repairs for displacement, site of failure, or contact pressure changes. Overall, there are no conclusive data to suggest that inside-out or outside-in suture repair has better load to failure or stiffness, less displacement, or different site of failure compared with all-inside repair. According to biomechanical data, it is under surgeon's preference to elect one repair technique over the other.

Inside-Out Antegrade Tibial Tunnel Drilling Through the Posterolateral Portal Using a Flexible Reamer in Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction using the transtibial drilling or arthroscopic tibial-inlay technique has a risk of injury to the popliteal neurovascular bundle because a pin is drilled anterior to posterior. Intraoperative fluoroscopy is used to decrease the risk of neurovascular injury. In addition, graft passage in the transtibial technique may be problematic because of a sharp turn when placing the graft into the tibial tunnel, which may damage graft fibers. In the surgical technique described in this report, the posteromedial portal is used for visualization and the posterolateral portal is used for debridement of the PCL tibial footprint and the synovial fold closest to the PCL. A curved guide is placed from the posterolateral portal to the tibial footprint, and a flexible pin is drilled across the tibia. The tibial tunnel is then created using a flexible reamer under direct visualization up to the desired length, and a graft can be positioned in the tibial tunnel through the posterolateral portal. This technique has the potential advantages of decreasing the risk of injury to the popliteal neurovascular bundle (use of anteriorly directed, inside-out drilling), avoiding a sharp turn during graft passage, and allowing accurate and anatomic tibial tunnel placement without intraoperative fluoroscopy.

Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction Alone Using a Fibular-Based Technique in a Patient with Persistent Unstable Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Posterolateral rotatory instability is a relatively uncommon cause of unstable total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In most cases, surgical treatment requires revision TKA into a more constrained design or thicker polyethylene liner. We present a case of a patient with unstable TKA who remained unstable after increasing thickness of the polyethylene liner and undergoing more constrained TKA. After several revision surgeries, the patient was still unstable. Posterolateral corner reconstruction with a fibular-based technique using a tibialis anterior allograft was performed. At 1-year follow-up, the patient was stable and asymptomatic and with excellent function. A soft-tissue procedure only (fibular-based posterolateral corner reconstruction) can be effective at restoring posterolateral rotatory stability in a patient with persistent instability after revision TKA.