Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using the Transphyseal Technique in Prepubescent Athletes: Midterm, Prospective Evaluation of Results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy, results, and complications of transphyseal technique of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in prepubertal patients and to assess a possible influence of children's growth on the outcome. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2009, 22 (16 boys and 6 girls) prepubescent patients, Tanner stage 1 and 2, underwent ACL reconstruction and the follow-up 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery and after growth plate closure. The average age of the girls was 11.2 years, and of the boys, 12.3 years. The average follow-up period was 77.2 months. Clinical outcome was evaluated by Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) objective and subjective knee scores. Standard radiograms were performed for potential axial growing disturbance. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 77.2 months (range, 54 to 102 months), and IKDC subjective scores changed from 58 (range, 44 to 69) before surgery to 87 (range, 86 to 87; P = .00) at 6 months, 93 (range, 88 to 97; P = .00) at 12 months, and 95 (range, 92 to -98; P = .5) at final examination. Lysholm score increased from 58 (range, 53 to 64) before surgery to 89 (range, 85 to 92; P = .00) at 6 months and 96 (range, 94 to 100; P = .00) at 12 months, 24 months (P = .9), and final examination (P = .8). Before injury, all patients were graded 7 on the Tegner scale. Nineteen athletes reached at least grade 7 and returned to the level of activity a mean of 9 months after the surgery. No patient had deformity or growth disturbances observed clinically. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic-assisted transphyseal ACL reconstruction in prepubescent patient is a promising technique, provided that all technical details are respected. It gives excellent subjective and objective knee scores and provides a very good function of the knee joint in the midterm period with no or only minor effect on the leg length. The rate of growth after surgery did not influence the results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Histological changes of the acetabular labrum in coxarthrosis: labral degeneration and repair.

INTRODUCTION: The current study was designed to describe types of histological changes within the acetabular labrum in the advanced stages of coxarthrosis, in patients requiring total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: 77 consecutive patients without systemic disorders or prior hip surgery, scheduled for THA with 3 types of coxarthrosis: avascular necrosis (AVN), idiopathic, and dysplastic coxarthrosis were analysed. Patient's data: age, gender, side of the involvement, duration of the symptoms were recorded, and standard anteroposterior (AP) radiographic views of the pelvis were obtained. During THA procedure the acetabular labrum was harvested and examined histologically and immunohistochemically. The mean chondrocytes number and density were calculated using morphometric techniques. RESULTS: In 77 analysed acetabular labra the following histological changes were found: heterogenic matrix, foci of granular matrix breakdown, pseudocysts, intralabral c alcifications, chondrocyte apoptosis, inflammatory reaction with lymphocytes infiltration and macrophages infiltration and vascular proliferation with 2 stages of maturation: endothelial cell formation and fully formed blood vessels. The average chondrocytes density was 478 cells in 1 mm2 and significantly decreased with age. CONCLUSIONS: The acetabular labrum is an important part of the process of degeneration of the hip in osteoarthritis (OA). Vascular formation and cellular infiltration found in the damaged fibrocartilage may represent a labral response to degenerative changes.