Athletes and Nonathletes Show No Difference in Symptoms or Function Prior to Knee Surgery, but Those With Chronic Symptoms Show Increased Pain Catastrophizing and Kinesiophobia.

PURPOSE: To determine whether preoperative psychological status before outpatient knee surgery is influenced by athletic status, symptom chronicity, or prior surgical history. METHODS: International Knee Documentation Committee subjective scores (IKDC-S), Tegner Activity Scale scores, and Marx Activity Rating Scale scores were collected. Psychological and pain surveys included the McGill pain scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia 11, Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Perceived Stress Scale, New General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Life Orientation Test-Revised for optimism. Linear regression was used to determine the effects of athlete status, symptom chronicity (>6 months or ≤6 months), and history of prior surgery on preoperative knee function, pain, and psychological status after matching for age, sex, and surgical procedure. RESULTS: In total, 497 knee surgery patients (247 athletes, 250 nonathletes) completed a preoperative electronic survey. All patients were age 14 years and older and had knee pathology requiring surgical treatment. Athletes were younger than nonathletes on average (mean [SD], 27.7 [11.4] vs 41.6 [13.5] years; P < .001). The most frequently reported level of play among athletes was intramural or recreational (n = 110, 44.5%). Athletes had higher preoperative IKDC-S scores (mean [SE], 2.5 [1.0] points higher; P = .015) and lower McGill pain scores compared to nonathletes (mean [SE] 2.0 [0.85] points lower; P = .017). After matching for age, sex, athlete status, prior surgery, and procedure type, having chronic symptoms resulted in higher preoperative IKDC-S (P < .001), pain catastrophizing (P < .001), and kinesiophobia scores (P = .044). CONCLUSIONS: Athletes demonstrate no difference in symptom/pain and function scores preoperatively when compared to nonathletes of similar age, sex, and knee pathology, as well as no difference in multiple psychological distress outcomes measures. Patients with chronic symptoms have more pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia, while those who have had prior knee surgeries have slightly higher preoperative McGill pain score. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, cross-sectional analysis of prospective cohort study data.

Hyaluronic acid as an adjunct to microfracture in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are common after ankle trauma. Studies have shown that bioactive substances, such as hyaluronic acid (HA), alone, or in combination, with surgical treatment could improve cartilage regeneration and repair, but the effect of HA on patient reported outcomes is unclear. METHODS: Literature searches were performed across four databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and The Cochrane Library) for randomized controlled trials in which at least one treatment arm involved use of HA as an adjunct to microfracture to treat patients with OLT. Primary outcomes included the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores (AOFAS), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain. The level of evidence and methodological quality were evaluated using the Modified Coleman Methodology Score (MCMS). RESULTS: Three randomized studies were eligible for review with a total of 132 patients (35, 40, 57 patients, respectively) and follow-up ranged from 10.5 to 25 months. Utilization of HA at the time of microfracture resulted in greater improvement in AOFAS scores compared to microfracture alone. The pooled effect size was moderate (Standardized Mean Difference [SMD] 0.45, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.06, 0.84; P = .02) and between-study heterogeneity was low (I-squared = 0%). Utilization of HA during microfracture also led to greater improvement in VAS-pain scores compared to microfracture alone. The pooled effect size was very large (SMD -3.86, 95% CI -4.75, - 2.97; P < .001) and heterogeneity was moderate (I-squared = 69%). CONCLUSION: Hyaluronic acid injection as an adjunct to arthroscopic MF in OLT provides clinically important improvements in function and pain at short-term follow-up compared to MF alone. Future longer-term follow-up studies are warranted to investigate the durability of MF with HA for treatment of OLT.

Superior Capsular Reconstruction: A Salvage Option for Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears with Pseudoparalysis or Subscapularis Insufficiency.

PURPOSE: We sought to examine superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) outcomes after minimum 2-year follow-up and determine risk factors that were predictive of outcomes. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients (mean age 57.3 years, 87.5% male) who underwent SCR for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCT) met the inclusion criteria. Minimum 2-year follow-up was obtained for 32 patients (80% follow-up). Patient demographics and preoperative clinical findings were collected. Postoperative data, including complications, patient satisfaction, strength and range-of-motion (ROM), and patient-reported outcomes were collected. RESULTS: The Hamada score was ≤2 in 88% with average acromiohumeral interval distance of 6.8 mm. Preoperatively, 6 patients had external rotation lag (19%) and 6 had pseudoparalysis (19%). Intraoperative assessment of the subscapularis demonstrated true insufficiency in 38%. There was significant improvement in forward elevation (FE) (31° increase; P = .007) and strength in all planes (all P < .05). Patient-reported outcomes significantly improved (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon [ASES] 34-point increase; visual analog scale [VAS] 2.9-point decrease; single alpha-numeric evaluation [SANE] 48-point increase; all P < .05). Twenty-six patients (81%) were completely or somewhat satisfied with surgery. At time of final follow-up, 3/32 patients (9%) failed SCR and converted to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. There were 4 (13%) reported complications (2 patients had postoperative falls; 1 patient had persistent severe pain; 1 had persistent stiffness). One patient was deceased. Patients with pseudoparalysis (n = 6) had significant improvement in post-operative FE (28 vs 154°; P < .0001) and SANE score (P = .016) with 66% patient satisfaction. However, outcome scores overall remained lower than SCR without pseudoparalysis. Regarding subscapularis insufficiency (n = 12), significant improvement was seen in postoperative FE (108 vs 158°; P = .019) and patient-reported outcome scores (P < .005). In patients converted from SCR to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (n = 3), there were no distinguishing characteristics present. CONCLUSION: Superior capsular reconstruction is an effective salvage operation for massive irreparable RCT. Patients with pseudoparalysis or subscapularis insufficiency demonstrate significant postoperative improvement in FE and patient-reported outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective cohort.

Smaller Iatrogenic Defects Created by Inside-Out Compared With All-Inside Meniscus Repair Devices in Human Cadaveric Model.

PURPOSE: (1) To investigate the pattern and diameter of the iatrogenic defect that meniscal repair devices impose on meniscal tissue and (2) to determine whether repair-induced defect patterns or diameters differ across devices. METHODS: Sixty-one fresh frozen human cadaveric menisci were used (n = 9; eliminated). All-inside devices (n = 9) included ULTRA FAST-FIX, FAST-FIX 360, Depuy Mitek 0° and 12° TRUESPAN, ConMed Sequent, Zimmer Biomet JuggerStitch, Stryker IvyAIR, Arthrex FiberStitch and Meniscal Cinch II. Inside-out needles (n = 4) included ConMed HiFi, Depuy Mitek ORTHOCORD, Arthrex-2-0 FiberWire, and Stryker SharpShooter. Following India Ink staining, implant devices were inserted into cadaveric menisci. Samples were fixed in formalin solution and imaged with a high-resolution camera. Defects were classified by qualitative evaluation. Defect and needle diameter were quantified with software assistance. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance testing. RESULTS: We analyzed 644 iatrogenic defects with mean defect diameter of 1.96 mm (standard deviation 0.86). For all-inside devices, defect patterns (n = 436) were 15.6% linear, 38.1% semilunar, 46.3% stellate, while inside-out devices (n = 208) were 95.7% stellate, 4.3% linear, and 0.0% semilunar. All-inside devices had mean defect diameter of 2.46 mm, while inside-out meniscus needles had mean 0.90 mm defect diameter (P < .001). FasT-FIX 360, ULTRA-FAST-FIX, and Arthrex Meniscal Cinch II induced smaller diameter defects than other all-inside devices (F = 20.2, P < .05). Strong positive correlation was found comparing outer needle diameter and mean defect diameters across all devices (R2 = 0.9447). CONCLUSIONS: Needles utilized in meniscal implant systems produce the following basic defect patterns: stellate (62.3%), semilunar (25.8%), and linear (11.9%). A strong positive correlation was found between mean defect size and outer needle diameter across all devices. Inside-out double-armed flexible needles produced significantly smaller defects than all-inside devices. Of the all-inside devices, ULTRA FAST-FIX, FAST-FIX 360, and Arthrex Meniscal Cinch II produced smaller defects on average. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: While the true clinical impact of these findings cannot be drawn from the present study, this investigation provides necessary context to better understand reported similarities and differences in healing rates and outcomes between inside-out and all-inside repair techniques.

Editorial Commentary: Suspensory Fixation of Displaced Tibial Posterior Cruciate Ligament Avulsions: A Novel Application of a Familiar Technique.

Isolated tibial posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures, although rare, are becoming increasingly common in regions of the world with frequent 2-wheel motor vehicle accidents. Arthroscopic-assisted suture fixation has become a popular fixation method for these injuries. Suspensory metal button fixation of tibial posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures, although commonly used for other applications, has until recently been limited to isolated reports of a few patients.

Editorial Commentary: The Pediatric Knee: Ultrasound Could Replace Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Evaluating a Discoid Lateral Meniscus.

Magnetic resonance imaging has been referred to as the gold standard diagnostic modality for meniscal pathology in the adult knee. However, there are multiple issues with reliance on magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating the meniscus in children. Diagnostic accuracy for meniscus pathology in children is not as high as with adults. Additionally, young children often cannot tolerate lying still for the study and require sedation, with a small but non-zero risk of anesthetic complication and risk motion artifact even with sedation. Ultrasound can be used to reliably diagnose a discoid lateral meniscus in a testing environment that is well tolerated by young children.

Subjective Knee Function and Risk of Failure Are Equivalent for Men and Women at 5 Years After Meniscus Repair.

PURPOSE: To determine whether subjective knee function or risk of repair failure differ between men and women at mean 5 years following meniscal repair with or without concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. METHODS: A total of 235 patients (97 women, 138 men; mean age, 29.1 years; standard deviation, 11.3) were assessed for meniscus repair failure and postoperative knee function at mean 5.8 years follow-up. Knee symptoms were assessed with International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective (IKDC-S) scores. Postoperative activity scores were assessed with Marx activity score. Independent effects of patient age and activity level on meniscus failure risk and patient-reported outcomes were determined by multivariate analysis with adjustment for age, body mass index, anterior cruciate ligament status, tear pattern, and number of implants used at the time of surgery. RESULTS: Failures occurred in 18.9% of men and 21.0% of women with no difference in mean time to failure (P = .75) or risk of failure for men vs women (P = .57) in the univariate analysis. Male sex was not an independent risk factor for failure after adjustment for patient age, body mass index, concomitant anterior cruciate ligament status, tear pattern, or number of implants used (P = .16). Marx activity scores at follow-up were higher among men in multivariate analysis (P = .009). Men and women had similar IKDC-S scores at follow-up in the unadjusted (P = .25) and multivariate analyses (P = .21). CONCLUSIONS: Following meniscus repair, both sexes report similar subjective knee function, though men have higher self-reported activity scores. Meniscus repair failure risk does not differ between men or women at mid-term follow up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective case-control study.

Femoral nerve block at time of ACL reconstruction causes lasting quadriceps strength deficits and may increase short-term risk of re-injury.

PURPOSE: To determine whether femoral nerve blockade (FNB) at the time of primary ACL reconstruction is associated with meeting isokinetic extension strength return to sport criteria near completion of physical therapy and whether FNB affects 1-year or 2-year risk of ipsilateral ACL graft rupture or contralateral native ACL injury. METHODS: Three-hundred and sixty patients (n = 244 with FNB, n = 116 no FNB) underwent primary ACL reconstruction. All patients completed rehabilitation and underwent functional strength testing towards the end of knee rehabilitation (mean 5.6 months post-surgery). Association between FNB and isokinetic extension strength limb symmetry index (LSI) (goal LSI ≥ 90% for return to sport) as well as risk of recurrent ACL injury within first or second year after surgery was evaluated. RESULTS: Ipsilateral or contralateral ACL injury within 2 years occurred in 11.2% of patients with FNB and 5.7% without FNB (p = 0.01). Patients with FNB had higher incidence of ipsilateral graft rupture within the first year after surgery but no difference in graft rupture during the second. Two-year risk of contralateral ACL injury was similar in both groups. At the time of initial testing, patients who received FNB had lower fast isokinetic extension LSI versus patients without FNB and were less likely achieve a goal ≥ 90% LSI; slow extension LSI was unaffected. CONCLUSION: Use of FNB at the time of primary ACL reconstruction can negatively affect achievement of isokinetic extension strength return to sport criteria. FNB increases risk of graft rupture within the first year after surgery but does not affect re-injury risk during the second. FNB may not be appropriate for use in patients already at high risk of ACL re-injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Meniscal allograft transplantation: a review of indications, techniques, and outcomes.

When compared to meniscectomy, meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) may provide superior long-term benefits to young, active patient populations who have lost meniscal function because of irreparable damage, such as, an avascular tear, previous repair failure, and unsalvageable tear types. Positive outcomes are most likely to be achieved when meniscus allograft transplantation is performed in appropriately selected patients. Indications include patients younger than 50 years of age, with a history of subtotal or total meniscectomy without concomitant articular cartilage defects, uncorrectable joint malalignment, and/or knee instability. Outcomes for meniscal allograft transplantation are promising with studies reporting long-term graft survivorship as high as 89% at 10 years and significant improvements in multiple patient reported outcome measures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.

Cartilage damage at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is associated with weaker quadriceps function and lower risk of future ACL injury.

PURPOSE: To determine whether articular cartilage damage noted at the time of primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) affects the likelihood of achieving ≥ 90% symmetry for isokinetic extension strength at 6 months after surgery or risk of recurrent ACL injury. METHODS: Five hundred and eight patients underwent primary ACLR and diagnostic arthroscopy. All identified cartilage lesions were graded using the Outerbridge system. All patients underwent isokinetic strength testing. The association between cartilage Outerbridge grade and a ≥ 90% Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) and recurrent ACL injury risk at mean 38.7 month follow-up (SD 31.8) was evaluated via multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Grade 2 or higher damage was present in 394 (77.5%) of patients, grade 3 or higher in 143 (28.1%) and grade 4 in 83 (16.4%) at time of ACLR. Ipsilateral ACLR graft rupture occurred in 31 (6.1%) of patients. Contralateral ACL injury occurred in 19 (3.7%). Patients with grade 2 or higher damage were significantly less likely to meet an LSI goal of ≥ 90% for fast (300°/s) isokinetic extension. There was no association with slow isokinetic extension. Cartilage lesion severity at or beyond grade 2 had a similar effect on isokinetic testing results regardless of compartment involvement or performance of microfracture. Patients with grade 2-4 cartilage damage were less likely to sustain a second ipsilateral ACL injury or a contralateral native ACL injury. CONCLUSIONS: Cartilage damage seen at time of ACL reconstruction is common and associated with lower likelihood of achieving ≥ 90% symmetry for isokinetic extension strength at 6 months after surgery. However, lower recurrent ACL injury rates are seen in patients with concurrent cartilage damage. These data may inform future clinical decisions regarding operative managment of recurrent ACL injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The effect of perioperative platelet-rich plasma injections on postoperative failure rates following rotator cuff repair: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained significant interest in recent years to potentially add biological augmentation of healing to surgical repairs of soft-tissue injuries. We sought to determine whether perioperative PRP injection influences the risk of failure following rotator cuff repair. METHODS: A systematic search was performed in the Embase and PubMed databases and identified 16 randomized controlled trials or prospective cohort studies (1045 participants) reporting rates of failure, defined as a subsequent tear on postoperative imaging, after rotator cuff repair with or without perioperative PRP administration. A random-effects meta-analysis of the included studies was performed to determine the pooled effect of PRP administration on the postoperative failure risk. RESULTS: Among the 16 studies investigating rotator cuff repairs, PRP augmentation resulted in a 25% reduction in the risk of repair failure, with low heterogeneity among the included studies. A significant protective effect was seen for studies of only small to medium tears (7 studies) (P = .007) and studies including large or massive tears (9 studies) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative PRP reduces the failure risk following rotator cuff repair and has a consistent effect regardless of tear size. However, because of the variability in PRP preparations, a specific recommendation cannot be made.

High prevalence of outpatient falls following elective shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: This study characterized the prevalence and risk factors of inpatient and outpatient postoperative falls in patients undergoing elective shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 198 patients undergoing anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasties at one institution between 2015 and 2017 was reviewed to determine the prevalence of inpatient and outpatient falls up to 90 days after discharge. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess potential risk factors for postoperative falls including demographics, indication for surgery, surgical procedure, medical history, length of hospital stay, perioperative hemoglobin, need for transfusion, and discharge disposition. RESULTS: There were 23 falls in 22 patients within a 90-day postoperative period. The inpatient fall rate was 1.0% (2 of 198). The outpatient fall rate was 10.6% (21 of 198). Outpatient falls resulted in emergency department evaluation in 23.8% of cases (5 of 21), readmission in 19.0% (4 of 21), injury to an anatomic site other than the shoulder in 19.0% (4 of 21), and injury at the surgical site (eg, periprosthetic humeral fracture) in 4.8% (1 of 21). No significant risk factors were identified for inpatient falls. Independent risk factors for an outpatient fall were female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32, 17.4; P = .007), increased length of hospital stay (aOR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.45; P = .02), and history of a movement disorder (aOR = 7.20; 95% CI: 1.22, 42.6; P = .03). CONCLUSION: A high outpatient fall rate of 10.6% within 90 days after discharge raises the concern that falls after shoulder arthroplasty are significantly higher than previously reported.

Psychological Assessment Tools Utilized in Sports Injury Treatment Outcomes Research: A Review.

The use of self-report psychological assessment tools in outcomes research has become increasingly frequent, though many sports medicine providers and researchers are unfamiliar with these instruments. We conducted a systematic search of the sports medicine literature in PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Google Scholar of studies published on or before November 1st, 2019. Included psychological self-assessment tools were limited to those in a written self-assessment format and were used in musculoskeletal sports injury or concussion treatment outcome studies. Both pre- or post-treatment psychological assessments were included. Thirty-four assessment scales of psychological factors were utilized across 152 sports injury treatment outcomes studies. Six assessment tools were utilized in 5 or more studies and the remaining 28 were utilized in 4 or fewer studies. Many of the utilized scales have adequate assessment and reporting of internal consistency reliability, supporting further reliability and validation studies for use in sports injury treatment outcomes research.

Age of 40 Years or Older Does Not Affect Meniscal Repair Failure Risk at 5 Years.

PURPOSE: To compare meniscal repair failure rates in patients aged 40 years or older versus patients younger than 40 years. METHODS: A total of 276 patients underwent meniscal repair surgery by a single sports medicine fellowship-trained surgeon between 2006 and 2012 and were eligible for study inclusion. Patients were followed up for meniscal repair failure, defined as meniscectomy, repeated meniscal repair, or total knee arthroplasty. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk of failure while controlling for potential confounding variables including body mass index, sex, anterior cruciate ligament status, time from injury to surgery, number of implants used, tear pattern, and chondral status at the time of the repair. RESULTS: Among the 276 eligible patients, 221 (80%) were successfully contacted for follow-up at an average of 5 years after surgery. Of these patients, 56 were aged 40 years or older (mean, 47.2 years; standard deviation [SD], 5.3 years) and 165 were younger than 40 years (mean, 24.7 years; SD, 6.7 years). The overall meniscal repair failure rate over a 5-year period was 20%. Among patients aged 40 years or older, the failure risk was 18% versus 21% in patients younger than 40 years. After adjustment for confounding variables, age of 40 years or older was not associated with increased failure risk (adjusted odds ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-1.81; P = .65). The mean time to failure tended to be shorter in older patients, at 16.9 months (SD, 10.2 months) versus 28.5 months in the group younger than 40 years (SD, 23.3 months) (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Age of 40 years or older is not associated with an increased risk of meniscal repair failure at 5 years, although a shorter time to failure was noted in this age cohort. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Biomechanical Properties of Posterior Meniscal Root Repairs: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To systematically review the literature regarding the biomechanical properties of various meniscal root repair techniques. METHODS: A systematic review of multiple databases was performed. The inclusion criteria included English language, studies relevant to meniscal root repairs, studies comparing 2 or more different discrete techniques, posterior root repairs, controlled laboratory studies, and human cadaveric or animal studies. Abstracts, case reports, cohort studies, case-control studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and studies of meniscal body repairs were excluded. RESULTS: Seventeen controlled laboratory studies were included for final analysis. There is no consensus on biomechanical superiority between transtibial pullout repair (TPR) and suture anchor repair. For TPR, there is no significant difference between 1 and 2 tibial tunnels. Nonanatomic repairs result in significantly lower joint surface contact areas and higher contact pressures, but suture placement farther from the root results in higher maximum load to failure. Two-suture repair has a greater maximum load to failure than 1-suture repair. Use of more than 2 sutures has diminishing returns. The modified Mason-Allen suture configuration is superior to a simple suture configuration, but there is no consensus regarding the superiority or feasibility of more complex sutures. There is no consensus on the superiority of a single suture material or shape. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomic meniscal root repairs with either TPR or suture anchor repair have better joint surface contact pressures and contact surface areas than nonanatomic repairs. The use of 2 sutures results in better fixation than 1 suture. There is evidence that the modified Mason-Allen suture configuration is superior to a simple suture configuration in a TPR, although the benefits of more complicated configurations are unclear. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study suggests that, in general, more complex sutures exhibit higher maximum loads. Increasing the number of sutures to up to 2 of the same configuration also increases the maximum load.

Medial compartment defects progress at a more rapid rate than lateral cartilage defects in older adults with minimal to moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA): data from the OA initiative.

PURPOSE: To determine: (1) rates and risk factors for progression of lateral and medial full-thickness cartilage defect size in older adults without severe knee osteoarthritis (OA), and (2) whether risk factors for defect progression differ for knees with Kellgren-Lawrence OA grade 3 (moderate) OA versus grades 0-2 (none to mild) OA. METHODS: Three-hundred and eighty adults enrolled in the Osteoarthritis Initiative were included (43% male, mean age 63.0 SD 9.2 years). Ethical approval was obtained at all study sites prior to enrollment. All participants had full-thickness tibial or weight-bearing femoral condylar cartilage defects on baseline knee MRIs. Baseline OA grade was KL grade 3 in 71.3% and grades 0-2 in 21.7% of participants. Repeat MRIs were obtained at a minimum 2-year follow-up. Independent risk of progression in defect size due to demographic factors, knee alignment, OA grade, knee injury and surgery history, and baseline knee symptoms was determined by multivariate Cox proportional hazards and linear regression modeling. RESULTS: The average increase in defect size over 2 years for lateral defects was 0.18 cm2 (SD 0.60) and for medial defects was 0.49 cm2 (SD 1.09). Independent predictors of medical defect size progression were bipolar defects (beta 0.47 SE 0.08; p < 0.001), knee varus (per degree, beta 0.08 SE 0.03; p = 0.02) and increased weight (per kg, beta = 0.01 SE 0.004; p = 0.01). Independent predictors for lateral defect progression were larger baseline defect size (per 1.0 cm2, beta 0.14 SE 0.03; p < 0.001) and tibial sided defects (beta 0.12 SE 0.04) and degrees valgus (per degree, beta 0.04 SE 0.01; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Medial compartment full-thickness defects progress at a more rapid rate than lateral defects in older adults with minimal to moderate OA. Medial defect progression was greatest for bipolar defects in heavier adults with varus knees. Lateral defect progression was greatest for large tibial-sided defects in adults with valgus knees. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Bacterial DNA is associated with tunnel widening in failed ACL reconstructions.

PURPOSE: To determine if tunnel widening, defined as change in maximal tunnel diameter from the time of initial bone tunnel drilling to revision surgery is associated with bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) presence and concentration in torn graft tissue from failed anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (ACLRs). METHODS: Thirty-four consecutive revision ACLRs were included (mean age 27.3 years SD 10.9; median time to failure 4.9 years range 105 days-20 years). Graft selection of the failed reconstruction was 68% autograft, 26% allograft, and 6% autograft/allograft hybrid with a mean drilled tunnel diameter of 8.4 mm SD 0.8. Maximal tunnel diameters prior to revision were measured on pre-operative three-dimensional imaging and compared to drilled tunnel diameters at the time of the previous reconstruction. Tissue biopsies of the failed graft were obtained from tibial, femoral, and intraarticular segments. Sterile water left open to air during revision ACLRs and tissue from primary ACLRs were used as negative controls. Clinical cultures were obtained on all revision ACLRs and PCR with universal bacterial primer on all cases and negative controls. Fluorescence microscopy was used to confirm the presence and location of biofilms in two patients with retrieved torn graft tissue and fixation material. Amount of tunnel widening was compared to bacterial DNA presence as well as bacterial DNA concentration via Welch ANOVA. RESULTS: Bacterial DNA was present in 29/34 (85%) revision ACLRs, 1/5 (20%) of primary ACLR controls and 0/3 (0%) sterile water controls. Cultures were positive (coagulase negative Staphylococcus sp.) in one case, which also had the greatest degree of tunnel widening. Femoral widening was greater in cases with detectable bacterial DNA (mean widening 2.6 mm SD 3.0) versus without (mean 0.3 mm SD 0.6) (p = 0.003) but was unaffected by bacterial DNA concentration (p = 0.44). Tibial widening was not associated with the presence of bacterial DNA (n.s.); however, higher bacterial DNA concentrations were observed in cases with tibial widening ≥ 3.0 mm (median 2.47 ng bacterial DNA/µg total DNA) versus widening < 3.0 mm (median 0.97 ng bacterial DNA/µg total DNA) (p = 0.046). Tunnel widening was not associated with time to failure, graft selection, or number of prior surgeries (n.s., all comparisons). Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the presence of biofilms on ruptured tendon graft as well as fixation material in 2/2 cases. CONCLUSION: Bacterial DNA is commonly encountered on failed ACLR grafts and can form biofilms. Bacterial DNA does not cause clinically apparent infection symptoms but is associated with tunnel widening. Further research is needed to determine whether graft decontamination protocols can reduce graft bacterial colonization rates, ACLR tunnel widening or ACLR failure risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic III.

Reduction of Opioid Use After Upper-Extremity Surgery through a Predictive Pain Calculator and Comprehensive Pain Plan.

PURPOSE: For outpatient hand and upper-extremity surgeries, opioid prescriptions may exceed the actual need for adequate pain control. The purposes of this study were to (1) determine rates of opioid wasting and consumption after these procedures and (2) create and implement a patient-specific calculator for opioid requirements with a detailed multimodal analgesic plan to guide postoperative prescriptions. METHODS: Patients undergoing hand and upper-extremity surgery at a single ambulatory surgery center were recruited before (n = 305) and after (n = 221) implementation of a postoperative pain control program. On the first postoperative visit, patients were given a questionnaire regarding opioid use and pain control satisfaction. Demographic and procedural data were collected via chart review. With these data from the first cohort, we developed a patient-specific opioid calculator and pain plan that was implemented for the second cohort of patients. Bivariate analysis and multivariable regression analysis were used to determine the effect of the intervention. RESULTS: Pre-intervention data suggested that younger age; baseline opioid use; use of regional block; unemployment; procedures involving bony, tendinous, or ligamentous work (as opposed to soft tissue alone); and longer procedure time were predictive of higher opioid consumption. Pre- and post-intervention cohorts had similar age and sex distributions as well as procedure length. After the intervention, opioids prescribed decreased 63% from a mean of 32.0 ± 15.0 pills/surgery or 194.5 ± 120.2 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) to 11.7 ± 8.9 pills/surgery or 86.4 ± 67.2 MMEs. Opioid consumption decreased 58% from a mean of 21.7 ± 25.0 pills/surgery (137.7 ± 176.4 MMEs) to 9.3 ± 16.7 (64.4 ± 113.4 MMEs). Opioid wastage decreased 62% from 13.8 ± 13.5 pills/surgery (62.8 ± 138.0 MMEs) to 5.2 ± 10.3 (24.8 ± 89.9 MMEs). Implementation of the pain plan and calculator did not affect the odds of unsatisfactory patient-rated pain control or unplanned opioid refills. CONCLUSIONS: With implementation of a comprehensive pain plan for ambulatory upper-extremity surgery, it is possible to reduce opioid prescription, consumption, and wastage rates without compromising patient satisfaction with pain control or increasing rates of unplanned pain medication refills. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic II.

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty provides stability and better function than hemiarthroplasty following resection of proximal humerus tumors.

BACKGROUND: Tumors may necessitate resection of a substantial portion of the proximal humerus and surrounding soft tissues, making reconstruction challenging. We evaluated outcomes in patients undergoing treatment of tumors of the proximal humerus with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) or shoulder hemiarthroplasty. METHODS: Patients who underwent rTSA (n = 10) or shoulder hemiarthroplasty (n = 37) for tumors of the proximal humerus in 2009 to 2017 were reviewed. Of these patients, 27 had died, leaving 20 for review. The mean follow-up period of the survivors was 27.1 months. They were evaluated clinically and contacted to determine the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Simple Shoulder Test score, and visual analog scale score. RESULTS: Postoperative complications occurred in 13 hemiarthroplasty patients (34%). Tumor recurrence occurred in 3 hemiarthroplasty patients (7.9%), whereas in the rTSA group, 1 patient (10%) had a postoperative complication, with no recurrences. One hemiarthroplasty patient required revision surgery with rTSA to improve shoulder function. Six dislocations and two subluxations occurred in the hemiarthroplasty group, whereas no subluxations occurred in the rTSA group (P = .14). Mean range of motion was 85° of forward flexion for rTSA patients (n = 10) compared with 28° for hemiarthroplasty patients (P < .001). The mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was 63 for hemiarthroplasty patients (n = 5) and 59 for rTSA patients (n = 4). The mean Simple Shoulder Test scores were 3.8 and 2.4, respectively. The mean visual analog scale pain scores were 2.4 and 2.5, respectively. CONCLUSION: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty can reproducibly reconstruct the shoulder in patients requiring oncologic proximal humerus resection. Patients have good outcomes, better range of motion, and no increase in instability rates compared with hemiarthroplasty.

Patient-Reported Outcomes of Achilles Tendon Repair Using the Modified Gift-Box Technique With Nonabsorbable Suture Loop: A Consecutive Case Series.

We sought to determine the early range of motion, complication rates, and 1-year patient-reported outcomes following Achilles tendon repair, using a modified gift-box suture loop technique. Sixty consecutive patients (49 males, mean age 36.2 ± 9.9 years) who underwent Achilles tendon repair with a modified gift-box suture loop technique performed by a single surgeon were prospectively enrolled. The range of motion at the final follow-up visit (mean 6 months) and the Achilles tendon rupture score (ATRS) and the complication rates at 1 year were obtained with 83% follow-up. The predictors of complications and ATRS were assessed. The mean operative time was 63.1 ± 10.8 minutes, which decreased throughout the case series (r = 0.46, p < .001). The mean plantarflexion at the final office evaluation was 31.7° ± 6.2°, dorsiflexion was 11.7° ± 6.3°, and total ankle arc of motion was 43.6° ± 9.7°; longer length of follow-up was associated with greater dorsiflexion (p = .008) and the total arc of motion (p = .008) but not with plantarflexion (p = .16). The overall rerupture rate was 1.7% (1 patient), wound complication rate was 1.7% (1 patient), and the overall complication rate was 6.7% (4 patients). No predictors of complications were identified. Complication rates did not differ between the first 30 (6.7%) cases and second 30 (6.7%) cases. The mean ATRS at 1 year was 81.8 ± 16.8 points. The rerupture and overall complication rates by 1 year were low. The range of motion, particularly dorsiflexion, improved through at least 6 months. Diabetic patients had lower 1-year ATRS than nondiabetic patients using this technique.