No difference between single and staged posterolateral corner surgical procedures in the multiligament injured/dislocated knee.

PURPOSE: Posterolateral corner (PLC) injuries commonly occur in the setting of a dislocated knee and often require multiple procedures due to concomitant vascular, nerve, and soft tissue involvement. Debate persists regarding single vs staged surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare knee function after single and staged surgery for PLC injury. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for a PLC injury (KD I, IIIL, IV) with minimum follow-up of 2 years were included. Patients treated with staged and single surgery were matched according to age, sex, and KD grade. Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective scores were obtained. Risk factors for poor knee function were assessed, including age, nerve, vascular, meniscal and articular cartilage injuries. RESULTS: Twenty single-surgery patients with a median age of 24 years (median follow-up 5.3 years, range 2-18.3) and 20 staged surgery patients with a median age of 26 years (median follow-up 4.3 years, range 2-19.8) were studied. The mean Lysholm score was 78.7 (± 20.3) in the single surgery and 84.2 (± 17.8) in the staged surgery cohort (n.s.). The mean IKDC score was 80.8 (± 21.1) in the single and 74.9 (± 18.9) in the staged surgery cohort (n.s.). Age at injury, peroneal, vascular, meniscal or cartilage injury were not associated with poor knee outcome. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates similar knee function among patients with PLC injuries treated with single or staged surgical procedures. The need for staged surgery for the dislocated knee with PLC involvement should be individualized based on specific knee and patient-related factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

High rate of recurrent patellar dislocation in skeletally immature patients: a long-term population-based study.

PURPOSE: Patellar dislocation can occur in isolation or be associated with chronic instability. The goals of this study are to describe the rate and factors associated with additional patellar instability events (ipsilateral recurrence and contralateral dislocation), as well as the development of patellofemoral arthritis in patients who are skeletally immature at the time of first patellar dislocation. METHODS: The study included a population-based cohort of 232 skeletally immature patients who experienced a first-time lateral patellar dislocation between 1990 and 2010. A chart review was performed to collect information related to the initial injury, treatment, and outcomes. Subjects were followed for a mean of 12.1 years to determine the rate of subsequent patellar dislocation (ipsilateral recurrence or contralateral dislocation) as well as clinically significant patellofemoral arthritis. RESULTS: 104 patients had ipsilateral recurrent patellar dislocation. The cumulative incidence of recurrent dislocation was 11% at 1 year, 21.1% at 2 years, 37.0% at 5 years, 45.1% at 10 years, 54.0% at 15 years, and 54.0% at 20 years. Patella alta (HR 10.6, 95% CI 3.6, 36.1), TT-TG ≥ 20 mm (HR 18.7, 95% CI 1.7, 228.2), and trochlear dysplasia (HR 23.7, 95% CI 1.0, 105.2) were associated with recurrence. Similarly, 18 patients (7.8%) had contralateral patellar dislocation. The cumulative incidence of patellofemoral arthritis was 0% at 2 years, 1.0% at 5 years, 2.0% at 10 years, 10.1% at 15 years, 17% at 20 years, and 39.0% at 25 years. Osteochondral injury was associated with arthritis (HR 25.7, 95% CI 6.2, 143.8). There was no association with trochler dysplasia (HR 1.2, 95% CI 0.2, 5.0), recurrent patellar instability (HR 1.2, 95% CI 0.2, 7.2), gender (HR 1.3, 95% CI 0.3, 5.6), or patellar-stabilizing surgery (HR 0.7, 95% CI 0.2, 3.5) and arthritis. CONCLUSION: Skeletally immature patients had a high rate of recurrent patellar instability that was associated with structural abnormalities such as patella alta,TT-TG ≥ 20 mm, and trochlear dysplasia. Approximately 10% of patients experienced a contralateral dislocation and 20% of patients developed arthritis by 20 years following initial dislocation. Osteochondral injury was associated with arthritis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective case series, Level IV.

Satisfactory knee function after single-stage posterolateral corner reconstruction in the multi-ligament injured/dislocated knee using the anatomic single-graft technique.

PURPOSE: Increasing importance has been placed on the posterolateral corner (PLC) in maintaining varus and rotational stability of the knee. The goal of this study was to evaluate knee function and clinical stability following a single-graft PLC reconstruction technique and identify factors associated with poor knee function. METHODS: This study identified patients with a multi-ligament knee injury between 2006 and 2013. Patients who received a single-graft fibular collateral ligament and PLC reconstruction with a single-stage surgery during the study period and had a minimum follow-up of 2 years after surgery were included. Functional outcomes were assessed using Lysholm and IKDC scores. Varus and rotational knee laxity and range of motion were assessed using physical examination. RESULTS: The final study cohort included 61 patients who underwent PLC reconstruction using a single-graft technique. The mean IKDC score was 74.1 (± 22.3) and the mean Lysholm score was 80.3 (± 21.8) at mean follow-up of 3.8 years (range 2-9 years). Mean range of motion at final follow-up measured from 0° to 126° [range flexion: 95-145, range extension: 0-5]. Fifty-eight patients (95%) had grade 0 varus laxity in full knee extension, and 54 patients (88.5%) had grade 0 varus laxity at 30° of knee flexion. Female gender was associated with a lower postoperative IKDC score (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of the PLC using a single-graft technique can result in satisfactory knee function and stable physical examination findings at minimum 2 years after surgery. Female gender was predictive of poor knee function after PLC reconstruction. Surgical treatment of PLC injuries should be individualized based on the timing of surgery, specific injured knee structures, and physical examination findings. This study helps validate the use of a single-graft technique for PLC reconstruction and can be used to help counsel patients about expected knee function after surgical treatment of PLC injuries. Level of evidence IV.

Individualizing the tibial tubercle to trochlear groove distance to patient specific anatomy improves sensitivity for recurrent instability.

PURPOSE: An initial episode of patellar instability poses a treatment challenge given the absence of a valid, reproducible, and universally applicable predictor of recurrence. Recently, a series of patellar instability ratios (PIRs) were described. Each ratio consisted of the traditional tibial tubercle to trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance normalized to patient-specific measures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of these novel measures. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients experiencing a first-time lateral patellar dislocation were identified in a retrospective manner. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies obtained at the time of injury were reviewed. The TT-TG distance, patellar width (PW), trochlear width (TW), patellar length (PL), and trochlear length (TL) were obtained by two observers in a blinded, randomized fashion. Measurement reliability was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs). Patients were divided into those having a single dislocation (Group 1) and those experiencing recurrent instability (Group 2). The ability of the TT-TG distance and each PIR to predict recurrent instability was assessed by calculating odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity and specificity were also calculated for each measure. RESULTS: Excellent inter-rater agreement was observed with ICCs > 0.75 for all patellofemoral joint measurements obtained on MRI. The TT-TG distance alone was predictive of recurrent patellar instability with an OR of 8.9 (p < 0.001). However, the isolated TT-TG distance had the lowest sensitivity at 25.6%. Among ratios, a TT-TG/PL ≥ 0.5 was the most predictive of recurrent instability with an ORs of 6.1 (p = < 0.001). A TT-TG/TL ≥ 0.8 was also predictive of recurrence (OR 4.9, p = 0.027) and had the highest sensitivity of any measure at 94.9%. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study support the reproducibility and predictive ability of PIRs. While a TT-TG ≥ 20 mm was the strongest predictor of recurrent patellar instability, it was a relatively insensitive measure. Sensitivity may be improved by normalizing the TT-TG distance to patient-specific axial and sagittal plane patellofemoral measurements on MRI. Ultimately, PIRs are reproducible measures that may serve as an additional tool when clinically assessing the unstable patellofemoral joint. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Influence of Injection Volume on Rate of Subsequent Intervention in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Over 1-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: The optimal volume and dose of corticosteroid injections for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) have not yet been established. It is unknown whether the volume of injectate influences the outcome of carpal tunnel injection. The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is an association between the volume of injectate and subsequent intervention in the treatment of CTS. METHODS: This study evaluated residents of Olmsted County, MN, who were treated with a corticosteroid injection for CTS between 2001 and 2010. Failure of treatment was the primary outcome, defined as a subsequent intervention: either a second injection or carpal tunnel release within 1 year of initial injection. General estimating equations logistic regression was used to assess the association between injectate volume and rate of treatment failure, adjusting for age, sex, effective dose of steroid, type of steroid injected, electrodiagnostic severity, and the presence of comorbidities such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and radiculopathy. RESULTS: There were 856 affected hands in 651 patients. A total of 56% (n = 484) of treated hands received subsequent treatment within 1 year. Multivariable analysis showed that a larger injectate volume was significantly associated with reduced rate of treatment failure within 1 year. Rheumatoid arthritis and ultrasound-guided procedures were also associated with a reduced rate of treatment failure, whereas severe electrodiagnostic results were associated with an increased rate of failure. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a larger volume of corticosteroid injection is associated with reduced odds of subsequent intervention after a single corticosteroid injection in CTS. Further research is needed to determine the optimal volume for steroid injections in the treatment of CTS. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic IV.

Arthroscopic treatment of global pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement.

PURPOSE: Few studies have evaluated the role of hip arthroscopy in patients with coxa profunda. The purposes of this study are to (1) report functional hip outcomes after arthroscopic treatment of patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) associated with radiographic coxa profunda and (2) evaluate factors associated with poor hip function at minimum 2 years following surgery in this specific cohort. METHODS: This retrospective review included patients with radiographic sign of coxa profunda who underwent hip arthroscopy to treat FAI. Preoperative and post-operative radiographs were reviewed to determine changes in lateral centre-edge angle (CEA), the presence and correction of Cam deformity, and Tönnis grade of osteoarthritis. Hip functional scores, including modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score, and IHOT score, were obtained at a minimum of 2 years following surgery. RESULTS: The study cohort included 46 patients with a mean preoperative CEA of 39.9 (±2.4)° which decreased to a mean of 30.8 (±1.8)° post-operatively. At a mean follow-up of 2.5 years (±0.5), the mean mHHS and IHOT scores were 79.5 (±20.2) and of 69.7 (±28.3), respectively. Increased preoperative (p = 0.02) and post-operative (p = 0.001) Tönnis Osteoarthritis Grade was associated with a lower mHHS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with coxa profunda can achieve similar functional scores to more traditional FAI cohorts after arthroscopic treatment. Baseline osteoarthritis is predictive of lower hip function after hip arthroscopy. This study demonstrates that patients with global over-coverage can benefit from hip arthroscopy and may influence surgeons to treat these patients with less invasive arthroscopic techniques which avoid the morbidity of open surgical procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective case series, Level IV.

Procedural intervention for arthrofibrosis after ACL reconstruction: trends over two decades.

PURPOSE: Arthrofibrosis is a rare complication after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to (1) report a population-based incidence of arthrofibrosis (as defined by manipulation under anaesthesia or surgical lysis of adhesions) following ACL injury and reconstruction, (2) identify risk factors associated with development of arthrofibrosis, and (3) report outcomes of intervention for arthrofibrosis. METHODS: This was a historical cohort study performed in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) was used to identify a population-based cohort of individuals with new-onset, isolated ACL tears between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2010. The REP database provides access to all medical records for each resident of Olmsted County, regardless of the facility where the care was delivered. A total of 1841 individuals were identified with new-onset, isolated ACL tears and were confirmed with chart review. The intervention incidence for arthrofibrosis was then calculated, and various predictive factors including age, sex, calendar year, and meniscal injury were investigated. RESULTS: During follow-up, 5 patients (1.0 %) in the non-operative cohort and 23 patients (1.7 %) in the ACL reconstruction cohort received intervention for arthrofibrosis, corresponding to an incidence of 0.7 per 1000 person-years in the non-operative cohort and 1.9 per 1000 person-years in the ACL reconstruction cohort. Female patients were 2.5 times more likely to have arthrofibrosis than males. The mean preoperative range of motion was -8° to 83° and improved to a mean of -2° to 127° post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: Arthrofibrosis remains a rare but potentially devastating complication after ACL reconstruction, and roughly 2 % of patients had post-operative stiffness that required intervention. Female patients are at higher risk of arthrofibrosis. However, when patients develop severe motion complications after ACL injury, interventions are generally effective in preventing permanent arthrofibrosis.

Incidence and long-term follow-up of isolated posterior cruciate ligament tears.

PURPOSE: Isolated posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears are an uncommon injury. The goals of this study are to (1) determine the population-based incidence of isolated PCL tears, (2) compare the occurrence of secondary meniscal tears or arthritis in patients with PCL deficiency to patients without PCL tears, and (3) evaluate factors associated with long-term sequelae among patients with PCL deficiency. METHODS: This retrospective study included a population-based incidence cohort of 48 patients with new-onset, isolated PCL tears between 1990 and 2010, as well as an age and sex-matched cohort of individuals without PCL tears. A chart review was performed to collect information related to the initial injury, treatment, and outcomes. Subjects were retrospectively followed to determine the development of subsequent meniscal tears, arthritis, or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). RESULTS: The age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence of isolated, complete PCL tears was 1.8 (95 % CI 1.3, 2.3) per 100,000. During a mean 12.2-year follow-up, patients with isolated PCL tears had a significantly higher likelihood (HR 6.2, 95 % CI 1.8, 21.2) of symptomatic arthritis compared to individuals without PCL tears. The likelihood of subsequent meniscal tears (HR 2.1, 95 % CI 0.4, 10.7) and TKA (HR 3.2, 95 % CI 0.5, 19.6) was more frequent among patients with PCL tears compared to subjects without PCL tears. Older age at injury was significantly associated with future arthritis (P = 0.003) and TKA (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Isolated PCL tears remain a rare injury with an estimated annual incidence of 2 per 100,000 persons. Patients with isolated PCL tears have a significantly higher risk of symptomatic arthritis than patients without PCL tears. Older age at injury is associated with a higher risk of arthritis and the need for TKA. The results of this study can be used to educate patients about the natural history of isolated PCL tears and provide a baseline of expectations for the future development of arthritis and subsequent meniscal injury following isolated PCL injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective comparative study, Level III.

Long-term rate of graft failure after ACL reconstruction: a geographic population cohort analysis.

PURPOSE: Graft failure following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a devastating injury among patients returning to activity. The goals of this study were to define the long-term rate of graft failure after ACLR in the general population and evaluate factors associated with graft failure. METHODS: This long-term observational study included a population-based incidence cohort of patients who underwent primary ACLR after diagnosis with new-onset, isolated ACL tears between 1990 and 2010. For all patients, a chart review was performed to collect information related to the initial injury, treatment, and outcomes. Patients were retrospectively followed to determine the incidence of graft failure following ACLR. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 1355 patients with new-onset, isolated ACL tears treated with ACLR. At a mean follow-up of 10.0 years (±6.4 years) following ACLR, a total of 72 patients (5.3 %) sustained ipsilateral graft failure. The graft survival following ACLR was 99.7 % at 1 year, 96 % at 5 years, 94 % at 10 years, 93 % at 15 years, 92 % at 20 years and 91 % at 25 years. Among patients 22 years or younger (n = 571), the rate of graft failure was significantly higher compared to patients older than 22 years (6.3 vs. 4.6 %, p = 0.04). The rate of graft failure decreased significantly over the 21-year observation period of this study (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Among all patients receiving primary ACLR, graft failure remains an uncommon but functionally devastating outcome with an estimated graft survival rate of 91 % at 25 years following surgery. Patients aged 22 or younger had a significantly higher rate of graft failure than older patients. The rate of graft failure decreased over the 21-year span of this study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective case series, Level IV.

Long-term follow-up of isolated ACL tears treated without ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The incidence of subsequent meniscal tears and arthritis among patients with isolated ACL tears treated without ligament reconstruction has not been clearly established. The purpose of this study was to (1) compare the risk of subsequent meniscal tears and osteoarthritis (OA) between patients with isolated ACL tears treated without ligament reconstruction and a matched cohort of individuals without ACL tears and (2) examine factors predictive of long-term sequelae after non-operative treatment of isolated ACL tears. METHODS: This study compared a population-based incidence cohort of 364 patients with new-onset, isolated ACL tears between 1990 and 2000, to an age and sex-matched cohort of 364 individuals without ACL tears. A chart review was performed to collect information related to the initial injury, treatment, and outcomes. Subjects were retrospectively followed for mean follow-up of 14.3 years (±7.4 years) to determine the development of subsequent meniscal injury, arthritis, or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). RESULTS: Patients treated without ligament reconstruction after ACL tears had a significantly higher risk of secondary meniscal tears (HR 18.0, 95 % CI 9.7, 33.3), arthritis (HR 14.2, 95 % CI 8.0, 25.2), and need of TKA (HR 5.0, 95 % CI 2.1, 12.2) than individuals without ACL tears. Lateral meniscal tear at diagnosis was associated with a higher risk of arthritis (HR 2.7, 95 % CI 1.4, 5.7) and TKA (HR 4.3, 95 % CI 1.3, 13.7). Treatment with meniscectomy was associated with an increased risk of additional meniscal tears (HR 51.5, 95 % CI 10.3, 936.8). CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated non-operatively after isolated ACL tears are at a significantly higher risk of secondary meniscal tears, arthritis, and TKA when compared to age and sex-matched subjects without ACL tears. Additionally, baseline lateral meniscal tears were significantly associated with an increased probability of developing arthritis and the need for TKA. This information may be helpful when counselling patients about the natural history of ACL tears treated without ligament reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Arthroscopic Identification of the Knee Posterolateral Corner Structures and Anatomic Arthroscopic Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction: Technical Note - Part 1.

Arthroscopic assessment of posterior compartments of the knee and the posterior aspect of the proximal tibial and fibula is challenging because of the relative proximity of the neurovascular bundle. This Technical Note describes a reproducible arthroscopic surgical approach in a cadaveric model that aims to identify and expose the popliteus tendon, posterior fibular head, fibular collateral ligament popliteal fibular ligament, biceps femoris tendon, and peroneal nerve.

Arthroscopic Identification of the Knee Posterolateral Corner Structures and Anatomic Arthroscopic Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction: Technical Note - Part 2.

Posterolateral corner injuries are complex injuries, and their therapeutic management varies from one individual to another. Biomechanical studies demonstrate that anatomic posterolateral corner reconstruction restores knee kinematics better than nonanatomic reconstruction. The purpose of this report is to describe an all-arthroscopic procedure for anatomic posterolateral corner reconstruction.

Osteochondritis Dissecans in the Knee of Skeletally Immature Patients: Rates of Persistent Pain, Osteoarthritis, and Arthroplasty at Mean 14-Years' Follow-Up.

OBJECTIVE: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a knee disorder of predominately pediatric populations. Because of low incidence, it has traditionally been difficult to study OCD. The purpose of this study was to report long-term outcomes of skeletally immature OCD lesions and determine risk factors for persistent knee pain at final follow-up. DESIGN: A geographic database of more than 500,000 patients was reviewed to identify patients with knee OCD. Clinical course including operative management, persistent knee pain, and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were analyzed through review of radiographs, magnetic resonance images, and physician notes. RESULTS: A total of 95 skeletally immature patients (70 male, 25 female, mean age 12.5 ± 2.0 years) were followed for a mean of 14 years (range, 2-40 years). Fifty-three patients were treated operatively and 42 were treated nonoperatively. At final follow-up, 13 patients noted persistent knee pain, 8 treated operatively versus 5 treated nonoperatively. Risk factors for knee pain were female gender, patellar lesions, and unstable lesions. Four patients (8%) treated operatively and 2 patients (5%) treated nonoperatively developed symptomatic osteoarthritis at a mean of 28.6 years following diagnosis. Three patients underwent TKA at a mean age of 52 years, significantly younger than that observed for primary TKA at our institution (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Skeletally immature OCD patients have promising histories, with an estimated 14% risk of persistent knee pain, 6% symptomatic osteoarthritis, and 3% conversion to TKA at 14 years' mean follow-up. Females, patellar lesions, and unstable lesions demonstrated increased persistent knee pain risk. Patients with OCD undergo TKA at a significantly younger age than the general population.

All-inside Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Surgical Technique and Outcome.

Several reconstructive techniques exist to treat posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) deficiency. The purpose of this study is to report knee function and clinical stability after PCL reconstruction (PCLR) using an all-inside technique. Thirty-two patients with isolated or combined PCL injuries treated with all-inside PCLR using soft tissue allograft were included. Documented physical examination findings including ligamentous stability examination were recorded. All-inside, single-bundle PCLR demonstrated satisfactory clinical and functional outcomes comparable with previous other PCLR techniques. The advantages of this technique include bone preservation, minimizing risk of tunnel convergence, and allowing for sequential graft tensioning.

High Rate of Recurrent Meniscal Tear and Lateral Compartment Osteoarthritis in Patients Treated for Symptomatic Lateral Discoid Meniscus: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the natural history of a surgically treated symptomatic lateral discoid meniscus. The goals of this study were to describe the rate and factors associated with recurrent lateral meniscal tears and progression to symptomatic lateral compartment osteoarthritis (OA) in patients surgically treated for a symptomatic lateral discoid meniscus. HYPOTHESIS: Patients with surgically treated lateral discoid meniscus have a high incidence of meniscal retear and progression to lateral compartment OA. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A large geographic database was reviewed to identify and confirm patients presenting with symptomatic lateral discoid meniscus between 1998 and 2015. Charts were reviewed to document treatment and outcomes at a minimum clinical follow-up of 2 years. RESULTS: A total of 59 patients (27 females, 32 males) with a mean age of 25.7 years (range, 4.0-66.0 years) underwent surgical management of a discoid lateral meniscus and were evaluated for a mean of 5.6 years (range, 2.0-23.7 years). Of these, 48 (82%) patients underwent partial lateral meniscectomy, with 24 patients undergoing concurrent saucerization. Eleven (18%) underwent meniscal repair. Tear-free survival following surgery was 41% at 8 years. Progression to symptomatic lateral compartment OA was 50% at 8 years. Young age (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.99; P = .01) and open growth plates (hazard ratio, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.15-8.88; P = .03) were associated with increased incidence of postoperative retear. Older age at diagnosis and body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 were associated with increased risk of progression to lateral compartment OA on final radiographs. CONCLUSION: Patients with a surgically treated lateral discoid meniscal tear had a high rate of recurrent meniscal tear (59% at 8 years). Approximately 50% of surgically treated patients developed symptomatic lateral compartment OA at 8 years from diagnosis.

Secondary Meniscal Tears in Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Relationship Among Operative Management, Osteoarthritis, and Arthroplasty at 18-Year Mean Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most frequent orthopaedic injuries and reasons for time loss in sports and carries significant implications, including posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA). Instability associated with ACL injury has been linked to the development of secondary meniscal tears (defined as tears that develop after the initial ACL injury). To date, no study has examined secondary meniscal tears after ACL injury and their effect on OA and arthroplasty risk. PURPOSE: To describe the rates and natural history of secondary meniscal tears after ACL injury and to determine the effect of meniscal tear treatment on the development of OA and conversion to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A geographic database of >500,000 patients was reviewed to identify patients with primary ACL injuries between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2005. Information was collected with regard to ACL injury treatment, rates/characteristics of the secondary meniscal tears, and outcomes, including development of OA and conversion to TKA. Kaplan-Meier and adjusted multivariate survival analyses were performed to test for the effect of meniscal treatment on survivorship free of OA and TKA. RESULTS: Of 1398 primary ACL injuries, the overall rate of secondary meniscal tears was 16%. Significantly lower rates of secondary meniscal tears were noted among patients undergoing acute ACL reconstruction within 6 months (7%) as compared with patients with delayed ACL reconstruction (33%, P < .01) and nonoperative ACL management (19%, P < .01). Of the 235 secondary meniscal tears identified (196 patients), 11.5% underwent repair, 73% partial meniscectomy, and 16% were treated nonoperatively. Tears were most often medial in location (77%) and complex in morphology (56% of medial tears, 54% of lateral tears). At the time of final follow-up, no patient undergoing repair of a secondary meniscal tear (0%) underwent TKA, as opposed to 10.9% undergoing meniscectomy and 6.1% receiving nonoperative treatment ( P = .28). CONCLUSION: Secondary meniscal tears after ACL injury are most common among patients undergoing delayed surgical or nonoperative treatment of their primary ACL injuries. Secondary tears often present as complex tears of the medial meniscus and result in high rates of partial meniscectomy.

Incidence of First-Time Lateral Patellar Dislocation: A 21-Year Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: First-time lateral patellar dislocation is a common orthopaedic injury. The purposes of this study were to (1) evaluate the incidence of first-time lateral patellar dislocation in a geographically-determined population, (2) report trends over time in the incidence of dislocation, and (3) describe the rate of surgical treatment. HYPOTHESIS: The rate of patellar dislocation is highest among adolescent patients. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. METHODS: The study population included 609 individuals identified through a multidisciplinary geographic cohort county database who were diagnosed with first-episode lateral patellar dislocation between 1990 and 2010. The complete medical records were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and to evaluate details of injury and treatment. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates were calculated and adjusted to the 2010 US population. Poisson regression analyses were performed to examine incidence trends by age, sex, and calendar period. RESULTS: The overall age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence of patellar dislocation was 23.2 (95% CI, 21.2-24.9) per 100,000 person-years. The annual incidence was similar between male and female patients and highest among adolescents aged 14 to 18 years (147.7/100,000 person-years). The mean age at dislocation was 21.4 ± 9.9 years, and 331 patients (54.4%) were female. During the study period, there was a significant decline in the incidence of patellar dislocation among men aged 19 to 25 years ( P = 0.002) and girls aged 14 to 18 years ( P = 0.025). Eighty patients received surgical treatment during the study period, including 66 patients (10.8%) for recurrent instability and 14 patients (2.3%) for acute osteochondral injury. CONCLUSION: With an annual incidence of 23.2 per 100,000 person-years, lateral patellar dislocation is a frequently encountered orthopaedic injury. The incidence of dislocation among adolescent patients in this cohort is higher than previously reported. Despite a decrease in the annual incidence of dislocation in adolescent girls, the overall incidence of patellar dislocation remained relatively constant over a 21-year observation period. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study demonstrates that the incidence of patellar dislocation in adolescents is greater than previously reported.

Incidence and Treatment Trends of Symptomatic Discoid Lateral Menisci: An 18-Year Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: A symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus is an uncommon orthopaedic abnormality, and the majority of information in the literature is limited to small case series. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of symptomatic discoid menisci in a geographically determined population and to describe treatment trends over time. The hypothesis was that the incidence of symptomatic discoid menisci would be highest among adolescent patients, and thus, the rate of surgical treatment would be high compared with nonoperative treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS: The study population included 79 patients in Olmsted County, Minnesota, identified through a geographic database, who were diagnosed with a symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus between 1998 and 2015. The complete medical records were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate the details of injury and treatment. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates were calculated and adjusted to the 2010 United States population. RESULTS: The overall annual incidence of symptomatic discoid lateral menisci was 3.2 (95% CI, 2.5-3.9) per 100,000 person-years; 12.6% of the patients in the cohort had bilateral symptomatic discoid lateral menisci. The overall annual incidence was similar between male (3.5 per 100,000 person-years) and female patients (2.8 per 100,000 person-years). The highest incidence of symptomatic discoid lateral menisci was noted in adolescent male patients aged 15-18 years (18.8 per 100,000 person-years). A majority (72.2%) of patients presented with a symptomatic tear of the discoid meniscus. The remaining patients presented with mechanical symptoms, including catching/locking or effusion, with no demonstrable meniscus tear on imaging or diagnostic arthroscopic surgery. Additionally, 20.0% of patients were observed to have peripheral instability of the meniscus at the time of diagnostic arthroscopic surgery. The mean age of those with peripheral instability was significantly younger than of those who did not have peripheral instability. Sixty patients (75.9%) received surgical treatment during the study period, including 49 (81.7%) patients who underwent partial lateral meniscectomy and 11 (18.3%) patients who underwent lateral meniscus repair in addition to saucerization. CONCLUSION: With an overall annual incidence of 3.2 per 100,000 person-years, a symptomatic discoid meniscus is an uncommonly encountered orthopaedic abnormality. However, the incidence of symptomatic discoid lateral menisci is highest in adolescent male patients. Because of the high rate of meniscus tears in patients presenting with symptoms, the majority are treated surgically.

Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction Using the Anatomical Two-Tailed Graft Technique: Clinical Outcomes in the Multiligament Injured Knee.

Injury to the posterolateral corner (PLC) of the knee can lead to both varus and rotational instability. Multiple PLC reconstruction techniques have been described, including one-tailed graft (fibula-based constructs) or two-tailed graft (combined fibula- and tibia-based constructs). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of anatomical two-tailed graft reconstruction of the PLC in the setting of multiligament knee injuries (MKLIs) with grade III varus instability. Patients were identified through a prospective MLKI database between 2004 and 2013. Patients who received fibular collateral ligament and PLC reconstructions using a two-tailed graft and had a minimum follow-up of 2 years were included. Patients were assessed for clinical laxity grade, range of motion, and functional outcomes using Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores. Twenty patients (16 male, 4 female) with a mean age of 30.7 (range: 16-52) and a mean follow-up of 52.2 months (range: 24-93 months) were included. Knee dislocation (KD) grades included: 4 KD-1, 10 KD 3-L, 5 KD-4, and 1 KD-5. No patients had isolated PLC injuries. Mean IKDC and Lysholm score were 73.1 ± 25.8 and 78 ± 26, respectively. Mean range of motion was -1.1 to 122.8. In full extension, two patients (10%) had grade 1 laxity to varus stress. In 30 degrees of knee flexion, five (25%) patients had grade 1 laxity, and two (10%) had grade 2 laxity. Anatomical two-tailed PLC reconstruction can reliably restore varus stability when performed on patients with MLKIs and type C posterolateral instability with hyperextension external rotation recurvatum deformity. Satisfactory functional outcome scores were achieved in the majority of patients. This study supports the use of an anatomical two-tailed PLC reconstruction in the multiligament injured knee. The level of evidence is IV, case series.

Low Accuracy of Diagnostic Codes to Identify Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear in Orthopaedic Database Research.

BACKGROUND: Database research is being used in orthopaedic literature with increased regularity. The main limitation of database research is the absence of diagnosis and treatment verification afforded by medical chart review. This absence may limit the accuracy of some conclusions and recommendations produced by database research. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose was to describe the accuracy of 1 database (Rochester Epidemiology Project) used in orthopaedic research to detect isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and to discuss the limitations of database research. It was hypothesized that diagnostic codes alone are unlikely to be accurate in identifying patients with ACL tears. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: A population-based historical cohort study was performed with the Rochester Epidemiology Project database. All subjects had International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, diagnosis codes consistent with ACL tears between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2010. The medical records of all subjects were reviewed in detail to confirm the accuracy of diagnosis and gather data on injury type, laterality, associated meniscal injuries, magnetic resonance imaging findings, and treatment details. RESULTS: A total of 3494 patients had codes consistent with ACL tears, and 2288 of them were confirmed through chart review to have an isolated ACL tear (65.5%). Among these were 1841 patients (52.7%) with an ACL tear within 1 year of injury and an additional 447 (12.8%) with an ACL tear >1 year from injury. Thirty-nine patients (1.1%) had a partial ACL tear diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging, 48 (1.4%) had an isolated posterior cruciate ligament tear, and 22 (0.6%) had a combined ACL-posterior cruciate ligament injury. Twenty-four patients (0.7%) had ACL reconstruction before the study period. The remaining 1073 patients (30.7%) had diagnostic codes consistent with an ACL tear but did not have a cruciate ligament injury. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates low accuracy with the use of diagnostic codes alone to identify an ACL tear. Database studies offer unique benefits to the medical literature, but the inherent limitations should be taken into account when these data are used to counsel patients, dictate clinical management, or make health care policy decisions. Information from a health care database is most accurate when accompanied by verification of diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes with medical chart review.