The Effect of Supplementary Staple Fixation on Biomechanical Properties of Soft Tissue Graft Tibial Fixation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

This study aimed to test and compare the biomechanical properties of three tibial fixation methods of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tendon grafts under cyclic load and load-to-failure testing in the bovine proximal tibiae, comprising (1) staple fixation alone, (2) interference screw fixation alone, and (3) interference screw fixation with a supplementary staple. Twenty-four bovine tibiae used in the study were divided into three groups (eight proximal tibiae in each group) based on tibial fixation methods of ACL tendon grafts: group A (a spiked ligament staple alone), group B (a cannulated interference screw alone), and group C (a cannulated interference screw with a supplementary staple). Each graft fixation was exposed to cyclic loading conditions. Significant differences were determined in failure load among the three groups (p = 0.008). The mean failure load was significantly higher in group B (717.04 ± 218.51 N) than in group A (308.03 ± 17.22 N) (p = 0.006). No significant differences were observed among the groups regarding axial stiffness (p = 0.442). Cyclic displacement differed significantly among the three groups (p = 0.005). In pairwise comparisons, the mean cyclic displacement was significantly higher in group A (8.22 ± 3.24 mm) compared with group C (1.49 ± 0.41 mm) (p = 0.005). Failure displacement varied considerably among the groups (p = 0.037). Although group B (15.53 ± 6.43 mm) exhibited a greater mean failure displacement than both group A (4.9 ± 0.75 mm) and group C (8.84 ± 4.65 mm), these differences did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.602 and p = 0.329, respectively). Interference screw fixation alone and supplementary staple fixation have biomechanically similar characteristics in terms of initial strength and stiffness of tibial ACL soft tissue graft fixation. Regardless of staple use, an interference screw with the same diameter as the tibial tunnel can ensure sufficient tensile strength in tibial ACL graft fixation.

A biomechanical comparison of three fixation methods for unstable femoral neck fractures with medial calcar defect.

BACKGROUND: Unstable femoral neck fractures with medial calcar defects are difficult to manage. The optimal fixation methods for these fractures have been a subject of ongoing debate among orthopedic surgeons. In this study, three different fixation techniques for vertical, medial defected femoral neck fractures were compared. METHODS: In this study, a biomechanical analysis was conducted to compare three fixation methods: cannulated screws (Group 1), cannulated screws combined with a medial buttress plate (Group 2), and intramedullary nails (Group 3). Synthetic composite bone models representing vertical collum femoris fractures with medial calcar defects were used. Each group consisted of seven specimens, and, to maintain consistency, a single surgeon performed the surgical procedure. Biomechanical testing involved subjecting the specimens to axial loading until failure, and the load to failure, stiffness, and displacement values were recorded. Normality was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD post hoc test were used for comparisons. RESULTS: The difference in the load to failure values was statistically significant among the groups, with Group 2 exhibiting the highest load to failure value, followed by Group 3 and Group 1. Stiffness values were significantly higher in Group 2 than in the other groups. Displacement values were not significantly different between the groups. Fracture and displacement patterns at the point of failure varied across the groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that fixation with a medial buttress plate in combination with cannulated screws provides additional biomechanical stability for vertical femoral neck fractures with medial calcar defects. Intramedullary nail fixation also demonstrated durable stability in these fractures. These findings can be used to better understand current management strategies for these challenging fractures to promote the identification of better evidence-based recommendations.

Should valgus-impacted proximal humerus fractures necessarily be operated on? Radiological versus functional results.

Background/aim: Impacted valgus proximal humerus fracture has been known to be challenging in terms of treatment and outcomes since it was defined. Moreover, it is a type of fracture that is difficult to treat. In addition, exact limits have not yet been determined regarding which parameters affect patients' functional and reported outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiological results of patients with impacted valgus proximal humerus fractures treated conservatively and surgically and to evaluate the effect of these radiological parameters on functional outcomes. Materials and methods: A total of 79 patients who were treated between 2015 and 2021 with a diagnosis of impacted valgus fracture were evaluated retrospectively. Patients treated conservatively (Group 1) and surgically (Group 2) were evaluated in terms of radiological measurements (tubercle displacement (TD), cephalodiaphyseal angle (CDA), medial hinge (MH), cephaloglenoid angle (CGA), medial hinge impaction (MHI), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Score (ASES), Constant Shoulder Score, and functional outcomes (range of motion). The effect of radiological parameters on clinical outcomes was analyzed by a correlation test. Results: In the postoperative period, the ASES and Constant scores of the patients in Group 2 were significantly higher than those of the patients in Group 1. Additionally, Group 2 had better results in terms of passive extension, active internal rotation, and active/passive external rotation. Patients in both groups exhibited improvements in radiological parameters, and the correlation test showed that MH and MHI were mostly related to ASES and Constant scores. Conclusion: The monitoring and treatment of impacted valgus proximal humerus fractures remain controversial. Although radiological parameters are a guide for orthopedic surgeons, the limits have not been clearly defined. In this study, in addition to all parameters, the effect of MH and MHI on functional results was emphasized.

Ultrasound Guided Multisite Injection Technique in the Treatment of Frozen Shoulder.

Frozen shoulder (FS) is an elusive condition that affects patients' mental and emotional quality of their lives. Corticosteroid injection technique is one of the first-line treatment methods in the treatment of FS. Ultrasound (USG) guidance allows visualization of the shoulder anatomy and improves the accuracy of the injection site. This study describes an USG-guided injection technique for FS treatment. The aim of this technique was to affect glenohumeral joint and capsule, subacromial space, the long head of biceps tendon sheath, and the coracohumeral ligament. For this purpose, four different sites were injected by USG guidance. Patients with FS can be effectively treated through this technique that is detailed in this article.

Latissimus dorsi tendon transfers: a historical journey.

Several latissimus dorsi tendon transfer techniques for shoulder problems have been previously described and developed. These techniques involve the transfer in obstetric palsy, transfer in irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears and subscapularis tears, and transfer in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. We detail the differences in planning and surgery and the need for different approaches. This historical and technical description provided in this study will benefit surgeons wishing to use the procedure.

A Multisite Injection Is More Effective Than a Single Glenohumeral Injection of Corticosteroid in the Treatment of Primary Frozen Shoulder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible effects of multisite injection therapy around the shoulder and prospectively compare the pain relief, range of motion (ROM), and functional scores of randomly selected patients with primary frozen shoulder using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score and the University of California-Los Angeles score after the completion of a standard physiotherapy program. METHODS: Seventy-six patients with primary frozen shoulder were randomly divided into 2 groups based on the treatment: multisite injection and single injection. In the multisite-injection group, the glenohumeral joint and posteroinferior capsule, subacromial space, posterosuperior capsule, biceps long head, and coracohumeral ligament were injected with a combination of 2 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL), 4 mL of bupivacaine (0.5%), and 34 mL of saline solution. The glenohumeral joint in the single-injection group was injected with 1 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL) and 2 mL of bupivacaine (0.5%). Patients in both groups underwent physical therapy using the same protocol. Patients were evaluated for pain (visual analog scale score), functional status, and active and passive joint ROM at 1, 3, and 6 months and 1 year after the injection. RESULTS: The follow-up rate was 82.6%, and significantly lower VAS scores were recorded in all periods in the multisite-injection group compared with the single-injection group (P = .01). In terms of active and passive ROM, the follow-up results were significantly better in the multisite-injection group (P < .05). Significantly higher functional scores were recorded in the multisite-injection group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Both treatments were effective in patients with primary frozen shoulder. However, the multisite-injection technique provided better pain palliation, better ROM restoration, and better functional results than the single glenohumeral injection in patients with primary frozen shoulder who were treated with the same physiotherapy regimen. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, prognostic comparative study.