Knee Joint Line Obliquity With Adaptational Hip and Ankle Joint Orientation After Medial Open Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy.

BACKGROUND: Time-dependent postoperative changes in knee joint line obliquity (KJLO) and subsequent adaptational changes in the hip and ankle joints have not been fully proven after medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO). PURPOSE: To investigate the serial postoperative changes in KJLO and subsequent adaptational changes in the hip and ankle joints over time after MOWHTO. STUDY DESIGN: Case series, Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A total of 92 patients who underwent MOWHTO between April 2015 and December 2020 were evaluated. Radiographic parameters, including KJLO, ankle joint line obliquity (ALO), hip abduction angle (HAA), joint line convergence angle, weightbearing line ratio, and hip-knee-ankle angle, were analyzed in time sequence (preoperatively and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively). Repeated-measures analysis of variance and post hoc analysis were used to demonstrate alterations and the statistical significance of KJLO and other related radiographic parameters over time. RESULTS: The mean KJLO values were -1.9°, -2.1°, -2.7°, and -3.2° at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively, respectively, indicating that there was consistent increase in valgus tilting of KJLO from 6 to 24 months (P < .001 for both 6-12 months and 12-24 months). ALO and HAA showed significant changes from 6 to 12 months (ALO, P < .001; HAA, P = .002), but not between 12 and 24 months (ALO: -3.0°, -2.7°, -1.9°, and -1.6°; HAA: -0.8°, -0.9°, -1.5°, and -1.8° at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively). The mean joint line convergence angle, weightbearing line ratio, and hip-knee-ankle angle did not change significantly from 3 months to 24 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: There was a consistent increase in valgus tilting of the postoperative KJLO from 6 to 24 months after MOWHTO. The adaptive ALO and HAA significantly changed between 6 and 12 months and were maintained until 24 months after MOWHTO. It is necessary to consider the adaptive change when hip or ankle surgery is planned within this period.

Changes in ankle and hip joints following medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy affect knee joint line obliquity.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to measure the change in knee joint line obliquity (KJLO) and the changes in radiologic parameters of the ankle and hip joints after medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO), and to evaluate the correlation and causal relationship between these parameters. METHODS: This study evaluated 109 patients who underwent MOWHTO between April 2015 and December 2021. Radiologic parameters, including KJLO, medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), ankle joint line obliquity (AJLO), and hip abduction angle (HAA), were analysed before and 1 year after MOWHTO. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify independent variables that significantly affected the change in KJLO after MOWHTO. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the cutoff value for a change in KJLO that exceeded 5° postoperatively, and the predicting values of radiologic parameters. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analysis showed that changes in MPTA, AJLO, and HAA (ß = 0.440, P < 0.001; ß = - 0.310, P < 0.001; ß = 0.164, P = 0.035, respectively) were predictors of the change in KJLO after MOWHTO. ROC analysis showed that the threshold value for a change in KJLO which exceeded 5° postoperatively was 4.6° (66.7% sensitivity, 63.8% specificity, P = 0.025). Moreover, ROC curves for predicting a change in KJLO of > 4.6° showed that the AUC was significantly higher for the change in MPTA than that of the other two parameters (P = 0.011 for AJLO and P < 0.001 for HAA). CONCLUSION: MOWHTO increases the KJLO by valgization of the proximal tibia and causes hip adduction and ankle valgization. The postoperative ankle valgization after MOWHTO could reduce the increase in KJLO, counteracting the effects of proximal tibial valgization and hip adduction. Therefore, the effects of the hip and ankle joints should be considered to achieve an optimal KJLO and satisfactory clinical outcomes after MOWHTO. LEVEL OF STUDY: Cohort study, IV.

Comparison of Time to Operation and Efficacies of Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Block and General Anesthesia in Emergency External Fixation of Lower Leg Fractures (AO 42, 43, 44).

The present randomized controlled trial evaluated the usefulness of ultrasound (US)-guided nerve block (NB) for emergency external fixation of lower leg fractures, by investigating the time required before surgery and the clinical results stratified by the anesthesia method (US-guided NB or general anesthesia [GA]). From June 2014 to April 2016, 40 patients who had undergone emergency surgery for external fixator application were enrolled in the present study. We measured the lead time before the start of surgery after the decision to perform emergency surgery in both groups. The US-guided NB group included 17 males (85%) and 3 females (15%), with a mean age of 55.6 (range 33 to 77) years. Of these 20 patients, 12 (60%) had comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and kidney-related disease. Fracture type 42, 43, and 44 in the AO classification were observed in 3 (15%), 12 (60%), and 5 (25%) cases, respectively. The mean interval before emergency surgery was 4.3 (range 2 to 6.25) hours in the US-guided NB group. In the GA group (n = 20 patients), the mean interval before emergency surgery was 9.4 (range 3 to 14) hours, and this difference was statistically significant (p < .001). In the US-guided NB group, no cases of anesthesia failure or unstable vital signs occurred during surgery. Also, no postoperative complications related to the anesthesia method, such as aggravation of the general condition, developed. In contrast, 1 case of postoperative atelectasis occurred in the GA group. Emergency external fixation with US-guided NB in patients with lower extremity trauma can be implemented in less time, regardless of the preoperative preparation, which is a requirement for GA.

Bilateral sternoclavicular joint dislocation due to sternal fracture: Is it a dislocation or a separation?

Traumatic bilateral sternoclavicular joint dislocation is very rare injury. In shoulder girdle injuries, anterior dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint accounts for 3 % and posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation is lesser. Previous reported cases about bilateral sternoclavicular joint dislocation were result from proximal clavicle fracture with intact connection between sternum and ribs. But, the sternoclavicular joint dislocation secondary to fracture and angulation of the sternum with intact relationship between ribs and clavicle has not been reported. Authors experienced patient who has a bilateral anterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation caused by sternum fracture and anterior angulation, but intact relationship between ribs and clavicle. We report this case with satisfactory result.