Intrinsic graft laxity variation with open kinetic chain exercise after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A non-randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether quadriceps and hamstring strengthening in a rehabilitation program involving early open kinetic chain (OKC) and/or closed kinetic chain (CKC) knee joint exercises had an influence on graft laxity at 1, 3, and 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Two groups (n = 53) of ACLR patients (combination of OKC and CKC exercises group compared to a CKC exercise group) were recruited. OKC protocol was introduced at 2 weeks post-operatively without external resistance and progressed at 4 weeks with load. Comparative ACL graft laxity measurement and isokinetic strength testing were prospectively performed up to 6 months in both groups. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the knee laxity at 1 (p = 0.263), 3 (p = 0.263), and 6 months (p = 0.256) follow up between the groups. Similarly, no significant results were observed in within-group knee laxity between 1 and 6 months after ACLR in the intervention (p = 0.155) and control group (p = 0.690). CONCLUSION: The early initiation of OKC along with CKC exercises doesn't seem to increase the ACLR graft laxity as compared to a rehabilitation program with only CKC exercises.

Evaluation of Muscle Strength and Graft Laxity With Early Open Kinetic Chain Exercise After ACL Reconstruction: A Cohort Study.

Background: Open kinetic chain (OKC) exercise is an effective method to improve muscle function during rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR); however, there is controversy about its use in the early phase of rehabilitation. Purpose: To determine (1) whether the use of OKC and closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises improves quadriceps and hamstring strength in the early phase of rehabilitation after ACLR and (2) whether the early use of OKC exercise affects graft laxity at 3 and 6 months postoperatively in patients with a hamstring tendon graft. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study included an intervention group that underwent OKC + CKC exercises (n = 51) and a control group that underwent CKC exercise only (n = 52). In the intervention group, OKC exercise for the quadriceps and hamstring was started at 4 weeks after ACLR. At 3 and 6 months postoperatively, isokinetic testing was performed to calculate the limb symmetry index (LSI) and the peak torque to body weight ratio (PT/BW) for the quadriceps and hamstring. Anterior knee laxity was measured by an arthrometer. Results: At 3 and 6 months postoperatively, quadriceps strength was higher in the intervention group than in the control group for the LSI (3 months: 76.14% ± 0.22% vs 46.91% ± 0.21%, respectively; 6 months: 91.05% ± 0.18% vs 61.80% ± 0.26%, respectively; P < .001 for both) and PT/BW (3 months: 1.81 ± 0.75 vs 0.85 ± 0.50 N·m/kg, respectively; 6 months: 2.40 ± 0.73 vs 1.39 ± 0.70 N·m/kg, respectively; P < .001 for both). There were similar findings regarding hamstring strength for the LSI (3 months: 86.13% ± 0.22% vs 64.26% ± 0.26%, respectively; 6 months: 91.90% ± 0.17% vs 82.42% ± 0.24%, respectively; P < .001 at three months, P = .024 at 6 months) and PT/BW (3 months: 1.09 ± 0.36 vs 0.67 ± 0.39 N·m/kg, respectively; 6 months: 1.42 ± 0.41 vs 1.07 ± 0.39 N·m/kg, respectively; P < .001 for both). No significant difference in laxity was observed between the intervention and control groups at 3 or 6 months. Conclusion: Early use of OKC exercise for both the quadriceps and the hamstring, in addition to conventional CKC exercise, resulted in better correction of quadriceps and hamstring strength deficits without increasing graft laxity.

Minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusion for adult degenerative scoliosis with 1 or 2 dislocated levels.

OBJECT: Frequent complications of posterolateral instrumented fusion have been reported after treatment of degenerative scoliosis in elderly patients. Considering that in some cases, most of the symptomatology of adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS) is a consequence of the segmental instability at the dislocated level, the use of minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) to manage symptoms can be advocated to reduce surgical morbidity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the midterm outcomes of 1- or 2-level minimally invasive ALIFs in ADS patients with 1- or 2-level dislocations. METHODS: A total of 47 patients (average age 64 years; range 43-80 years) with 1- or 2-level ALIF performed for ADS (64 levels) in a single institution were included in the study. An independent spine surgeon retrospectively reviewed all the patients' medical records and radiographs to assess operative data and surgery-related complications. Clinical outcome was reported using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the visual analog scale (VAS) for lumbar and leg pain. Intraoperative data and complications were collected. Fusion and risk for adjacent-level degeneration were assessed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 3 years (range 1-10 years). ODI, and back and leg pain VAS scores were significantly improved at last follow-up. A majority of patients (74%) had a statistically significant improvement in their ODI score of more than 20 points at latest follow-up and 1 had a worsening of his disability. The mean operating time was 166 minutes (range 70-355 minutes). The mean estimated blood loss was 410 ml (range 50-1700 ml). Six (5 major and 1 minor) surgical complications (12.7% of patients) and 13 (2 major and 11 minor) medical complications (27.7% of patients) occurred without death or wound infection. Fusion was achieved in 46 of 47 patients. Surgery resulted in a slight but significant decrease of the Cobb angle, and improved the pelvic parameters and lumbar lordosis, but had no effect on the global sagittal balance. At latest follow-up, 9 patients (19.1%) developed adjacent-segment disease at a mean of 2 years' delay from the index surgery; 4 were symptomatic but treated medically, and none required iterative surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Single- or 2-level minimally invasive fusion through a minimally invasive anterior approach in some selected cases of ADS produced a good functional outcome with a high fusion rate. They were associated with a significantly lower rate of complications in this study than the historical control.

The risk of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty for fractures is decreased with retentive cups.

PURPOSE: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been efficacious for treating hip fractures in healthy older patients. However, in those patients with fractures a widely variable prevalence of dislocation has been reported, partly because of varying durations of follow up for this specific end-point. The purpose of the present study was to determine the cumulative risk of dislocation in these patients with fractures and to investigate if retentive cups decrease the risk of dislocation. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2005, 325 patients with neck fracture underwent primary THA using a retentive (325 hips) cup. The results of these 325 acetabular cups were compared to 180 THA without retentive cups performed for neck fractures in the same hospital between 1995 and 2000 by the same surgical team. The mean age of the 505 patients was 75 years (range 65-85). All patients were followed for a minimum of five years for radiographic evidence of implant failure. The patients were followed at routine intervals and were specifically queried about dislocation. The cumulative risk of dislocation and recurrent dislocation was calculated with use of the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: For patients without retentive cups, the cumulative risk of a first-time dislocation was 5 % at one month and 12 % at one year and then rose at a constant rate of approximately 1 % every year to 16 % at five years. For patients with retentive cups, the cumulative risk of a first-time dislocation was 1 % at one month, 2 % at one year and then did not changed at five years. There were no differences in the mortality rates or in loosening rates among the treatment groups. The rate of secondary surgery was highest in the group without retentive (10 % for recurrent dislocation) compared with 1 % in the group treated with retentive cups. In absence of retentive cups, multivariate analysis revealed that the relative risk of dislocation for female patients (as compared with male patients) was 2.1 and that the relative risk for patients who were 80 years old or more (as compared with those who were less than 80 years old) was 1.5. Two underlying diagnoses occurring during follow up-cognitively impaired patients or neurologic disease-were also associated with a significantly greater risk of dislocation in absence of retentive cup. For these patients the risk was also decreased with a retentive cup. CONCLUSION: With standard cups the incidence of dislocation is highest in the first year after arthroplasty and then continues at a relatively constant rate for the life of the arthroplasty. Patients at highest risk are old female patients and those with a diagnosis of neurologic disease. Retentive cups in these patients are an effective technique to prevent post-operative hip dislocation.