Preoperative Risk Factors of Persistent Pain following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Despite good results of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) as a treatment of idiopathic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, significant number of patients (16-33%) complain of persistent pain of unknown origin. This phenomenon is the major cause of patient's dissatisfaction. It has been theorized that certain preoperative factors may increase the risk of persistent pain; hence, their identification should enable proper preoperative education and development of realistic expectations regarding results of TKA. This study is aimed at identifying the preoperative chronic pain predictors in patients undergoing TKA. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, patients scheduled for TKA were examined one day prior to surgery. Demographics, comorbidities, pressure pain thresholds, pain intensity and duration, radiographic OA grade, and range of motion were recorded. Questionnaires such as Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were collected. Study cohort was evaluated approximately 6 months following surgery. Patients were assigned to group A if they had no pain and to group B if they complained of any pain. Collected data was analyzed by biostatistician. Results: 64 patients were included in final analysis, 49 (76,6%) females and 15 (23,4%) males. Mean age was 67,6 yrs (48-84, ±7,42). Group A consisted of 21 patients (33%) while group B consisted of 43 patients (67%). There were no statistically significant differences regarding preoperative factors except for duration of preoperative pain, which was shorter in group A (36 (12-180) vs. 72 (24-180), p = 0,011). Every 12 months of preoperative pain were found to increase risk of persistent pain by 1,27 (p = 0,009). Conclusions: Preoperative duration of pain is a risk factor for chronic pain following TKA. Therefore, patients should be operated on as soon as indications arise. Should the surgical treatment of knee arthritis be postponed, intensive and individualized pain management is highly recommended.

Resection of Infrapatellar Fat Pad during Total Knee Arthroplasty Has No Impact on Postoperative Function, Pain and Sonographic Appearance of Patellar Tendon.

Routine resection of the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is controversial, as it may result in shortening of the patellar tendon (PT) and anterior knee pain. This prospective study examined whether IFP excision during TKA affects joint function, anterior knee pain, PT dimensions and sonographic structure. A total of 65 consecutive patients undergoing TKA for osteoarthritis were randomized into two groups: IFP was resected in one and retained in the other. Patients were examined preoperatively, at 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively: pain (Numerical Rating Scale-NRS), range of motion (ROM) and knee function (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-KOOS score) were evaluated; sonographic examination determined the length, structure and vascularity of the PTs. In both groups there were postoperative improvements in NRS and KOOS scores, although IFP resection did not influence clinical outcomes or sonographic parameters. At 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively for both groups there were no differences between NRS scores (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.511 and p = 0.579), ROM scores (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.331, p = 0.180) or all KOOS subscores. IFP excision had no effect on sonographic parameters. This study suggests that IFP resection during TKA does not influence postoperative functional outcomes, pain scores, patellar tendon length and thickness, or sonographic structure.

Smoking Has No Influence on Outcomes after Repair of the Medial Meniscus in the Hypo and Avascular Zones-A Pilot Study.

Complete loss of the meniscus inevitably leads to knee joint degeneration. Smoking is an important factor predicting poor outcome in orthopedics; however, data about its role in meniscus surgery are inconclusive. Smoking could be an important negative factor in isolated meniscus repair. The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of smoking on functional outcomes after isolated all-inside medial meniscus repair. This study included 50 consecutive patients with isolated, traumatic tear of the medial meniscus who underwent knee joint arthroscopy between 2016 and 2019. All-inside arthroscopic repair of the medial meniscus was performed in each case. All patients followed a uniform, postoperative rehabilitation protocol for 8 weeks. The follow-up examination was based on the functional scores at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. According to smoking status there were 17 smokers and 33 non-smokers. The mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was 11, for a mean of 7.4 years, and the mean pack-years index value was 4.9. There was no correlation between smoking years, number of cigarettes smoked per day, pack-years index, and functional outcomes. The arthroscopic inspection of the knee joints revealed cartilage lesions (≤IIº) in eight subjects, suggesting the secondary pathology to the meniscus tear. In this study, we found no evidence of an association between smoking indices and functional outcomes after all-inside repair of chronic medial meniscus tear. The nature of the chronic meniscal tear could be smoking-resistant owing to the poor blood supply to the sites in which these specific lesions occur.

"Slipped capital femoral epiphysis in a 25-year-old hypogonadic man with a large cranial chondroma: causality or coincidence? ".

BACKGROUND: Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a hip disorder frequently occurring in adolescence. In adults it is rare and so far very few cases have been documented. CASE PRESENTATION: This report presents a 25-year-old patient diagnosed with an anterior fossa giant chondroma, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and SCFE. The patient underwent surgical and hormonal therapy. His symptoms revealed, and he became a father. CONCLUSIONS: Every patient diagnosed with SCFE in adulthood should undergo endocrinological assessment based on physical examination and laboratory tests.

Mini-Invasive, Ultrasound Guided Repair of the Achilles Tendon Rupture-A Pilot Study.

Percutaneous acute Achilles tendon rupture suturing has become a leading treatment option in recent years. A common complication after this mini-invasive procedure is sural nerve injury, which can reduce the patients' satisfaction and final outcomes. High-resolution ultrasound is a reliable method for localizing the sural nerve, and it can be performed intra-operatively; however, the long-term results are yet unknown. The aim of the study was to retrospectively evaluate the long-term results of percutaneous Achilles tendon repair supported with real-time ultrasound imaging. We conducted 57 percutaneous sutures of acute Achilles tendon rupture between 2005 and 2015; 30 were sutured under sonographic guidance, while 27 were performed without sonographic assistance. The inclusion criteria were acute (less than 7 days) full tendon rupture, treatment with the percutaneous technique, age between 18 and 65 years, and a body mass index (BMI) below 35. The operative procedure was carried out by two surgeons, according to the surgical technique reported by Maffulli et al. In total, 35 patients were available for this retrospective assessment; 20 (16 men and 4 women) were treated with sonographic guidance, while 15 (12 men and 3 women) underwent the procedure without it. The mean follow-up was 8 years (range, 3-13 years). The sural nerve was localized 10 mm to 20 mm (mean, 15.8; SD, 3.02) laterally from the scar of the Achilles tendon tear. There was no significant difference between groups with respect to the FAOQ score (P < 0.05). High-resolution ultrasounds performed intra-operatively can minimize the risk of sural nerve injury during percutaneous Achilles tendon repair.

A 10-Year Follow-up on Arthroscopic Medial Plica Syndrome Treatments with Special Reference to Related Cartilage Injuries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors that can affect long-term results of arthroscopic resection of medial synovial plica of the knee. DESIGN: A total of 52 knees in 50 consecutive patients with medial plica syndrome (MPS) were enrolled to prospective study. Preoperatively the age, gender, level of activity, symptoms' duration, Lysholm knee scoring scale (LKSS), Q angle, range of motion (ROM), and quadriceps output torque (QOT) were recorded. The plica was then arthroscopically excised while plica morphological type and cartilage lesions (International Cartilage Repair Society [ICRS] classification) were registered. The postoperative evaluation was done after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 3 years, and 10 years. The final assessment after 10 years covered LKSS, ROM, QOT, and was enriched with functional tests: the single leg squat test (SLS), the modified Ober test (MO), and the manual palpation of the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO). RESULTS: The mean LKSS increased from 52 (15-85, SD 16.479) preoperative to 80 (48-100, SD 15.711) at final follow-up examination. A significant negative correlation was found between LKSS and the patients' age. Cartilage lesions higher than ICRS 1 significantly decreased the final LKSS. Results were significantly better in the subgroups with normal outcome of functional tests. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical results of arthroscopic plica resection are better in patients without coexisting cartilage lesions. Poor neuromuscular control may contribute to abnormal patella tracking, leading to both medial plica irritation and further cartilage deterioration.

Genetics in Cartilage Lesions: Basic Science and Therapy Approaches.

Cartilage lesions have a multifactorial nature, and genetic factors are their strongest determinants. As biochemical and genetic studies have dramatically progressed over the past decade, the molecular basis of cartilage pathologies has become clearer. Several homeostasis abnormalities within cartilaginous tissue have been found, including various structural changes, differential gene expression patterns, as well as altered epigenetic regulation. However, the efficient treatment of cartilage pathologies represents a substantial challenge. Understanding the complex genetic background pertaining to cartilage pathologies is useful primarily in the context of seeking new pathways leading to disease progression as well as in developing new targeted therapies. A technology utilizing gene transfer to deliver therapeutic genes to the site of injury is quickly becoming an emerging approach in cartilage renewal. The goal of this work is to provide an overview of the genetic basis of chondral lesions and the different approaches of the most recent systems exploiting therapeutic gene transfer in cartilage repair. The integration of tissue engineering with viral gene vectors is a novel and active area of research. However, despite promising preclinical data, this therapeutic concept needs to be supported by the growing body of clinical trials.

Ultrasound-assisted Endoscopic Evacuation of Recurrent Calf Hematoma Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Case Study.

Hematoma of the calf is a rare complication following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The golden standard method of its treatment is puncture and aspiration. More advanced procedures are needed in difficult cases, such as prolonged he-ma-tomas. Among the novel management choices is endoscopy with ultrasound guidance. The aim of the study was to present the management of a post-surgical hematoma of the calf using endoscopic and ultrasound-assisted surgery. A 48-year-old patient un-der-went arthroscopic ACLR grafted with hamstrings tendons (semitendinosus and gracilis). Due to a hematoma developing at the donor site, he experienced edema and paresthesiae of the calf and foot that enhanced over time. An open reoperation failed and symptoms recurred. A second reoperation was performed as an endoscopic and ultrasound-assisted mini-invasive procedure. Re-sults were assessed postoperatively using the IKDC 2000 and Lysholm questionnaires. An evident increase in IKDC 2000 Score (from 14.9 points after open surgery to 77.0 one week after endoscopic treatment) and Lysholm Scale (26 points after first surgery and 84 one week after endoscopic surgery) was observed after the mini-invasive procedure. Edema and paresthesiae of the affect-ed limb completely disappeared four weeks after endoscopy. No complications of the novel procedure were found. Accordingly, en-doscopic and ultrasound-assisted evacuation of a prolonged calf hematoma appears an effective minimally-invasive and tar-geted procedure.

Breakage of metal hip arthroplasty components: Retrieval and structural analysis.

BACKGROUND: Breakage of joint arthroplasty components are rare, yet during an implant retrieval program we found several cases. OBJECTIVE: In this study we examined the components to determine the causes and mechanisms of breakage of these implants. METHODS: From our collection of 849 retrievals we selected 682 cases with metal parts (503 hip, 79 knee arthroplasties) and identified fractured components: seven hip resurfacing implants, five total hip replacement stems, one monopolar femoral head, and one modular revision femoral stem from. Implants were examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy; metallographic sections were prepared and samples of periprosthetic tissues underwent microscopic examination. RESULTS: In the resurfacing components breakage occurred in small stems placed in the femoral neck due to necrosis of femoral heads, with no metal flaws detected. Fatigue breakage of femoral stems was caused by presence of material flaws in the CoCrMo alloy, and corrosion. The monopolar head failed in fatigue fracture mechanism, breakage was initiated in an undercut near the taper connection for femoral component. The modular stem from Ti alloy sustained fatigue fracture induced by corrosion caused by debris from previously revised stem; no material flaws were detected in this sample. In most cases periprosthetic tissues had a morphology typical for aseptic loosening. CONCLUSIONS: In our series failure was caused by material flaws, presence of stress raisers and localized corrosion. Our findings indicate that sharp edges and other features which can act as stress raisers should be avoided in newly designed implants. Corrosion induced fracture of the modular Ti stem indicates the need for a detailed debridement of periprosthetic tissues during revision arthroplasties.

Landing-related ankle injuries do not occur in plantarflexion as once thought: a systematic video analysis of ankle injuries in world-class volleyball.

BACKGROUND: Ankle injuries are prevalent in elite volleyball and suggested to result from player contact at the net. Traditionally, ankle sprains are thought to happen in a plantarflexed position, but case studies suggest plantarflexion may not be involved. AIM: Describe the injury situations and mechanisms of ankle injuries in world-class volleyball based on systematic video analysis of injuries reported through the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Injury Surveillance System. METHODS: Videos of 24 injuries from major FIVB tournaments were included for analysis (14 men, 10 women). Five analysts reviewed the videos to determine specific situations and mechanisms leading to injuries. RESULTS: The majority of injuries occurred during two volleyball situations, blocking (n=15) and attacking (n=6). Injuries to blockers were the result of landing on an opponent (n=11) or teammate (n=4). Attacking injuries most frequently occurred when a back-row player landed on a front-row teammate (n=4 of 6). When landing on an opponent under the net, the attacker landed into the opponent's court in 11 of 12 situations but without violating the centre line rule. Injuries mostly resulted from rapid inversion without any substantial plantarflexion. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of injuries occur while blocking, often landing on an opponent. The attacker is overwhelmingly to blame for injuries at the net secondary to crossing the centre line. Injuries while attacking often result from a back-row player landing on a front-row teammate. Landing-related injuries mostly result from rapid inversion with the absence of plantarflexion.

Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Condyles in a Patient Treated Due to Lymphoma. A Case Study.

Periarticular avascular osteonecrosis is one of the most severe joint diseases and may result in complete joint destruction. It may affect patients after chemotherapy involving regimens including steroids. The paper describes the case of a female patient who was just under 18 years old when she underwent surgery due to bilateral osteonecrosis of the femoral condyles that developed in the course of treatment of a haematological malignancy. The aim of the paper is to present clinical and imaging-based assessment of the outcome of surgical treatment by reconstruction of osteochondral joint defects with a collagen membrane and bone grafts. In this patient, radiographic and clinical improvement of the joints treated was noted in a 24-month follow-up period. The available literature indicates that this is the first example of using this technique in the treatment of articular lesions associated with osteonecrosis caused by aggressive chemotherapy. The so-called "sandwich" technique is useful in these cases and may be recommended by the present authors.

A minimal soft tissue damage approach of spondylolysis repair in athletes: preliminary report.

PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS: Both spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis come in second place in the causes of pain among athletes. Treatment options include both conservative management and different operative methods. Athletes and adolescents are groups where the priority is to protect tissues from perioperative damage. OBJECTIVE: We present our modification of the Buck's, direct pars repair method, which we believe offers maximum protection of tissues. We used the modified surgical method in young, competitive athletes, in whom non-surgical treatment was not effective. METHOD: Eight pars defects in five patients were treated using suggested method. All of them were young males (aged between 13 and 18 years), who practice soccer professionally. We use modified method of direct repair pars through the cannulated screw fixation, first proposed by Buck. Preoperative preparation consists of proper analysis of computer tomography images in multiplanar reconstruction mode: measuring screw length, measurement of inclination angle of the optimal screw trajectory in the frontal and sagittal plane. During the operation, the wire proper direction is performed by usage of the predetermined angles. Starting point for guide wire was also changed to the lower end of the facet. The fusion takes place with a screw of 3 mm diameter. After the operation patient need to use thoracolumbar spinal orthosis as a primary immobilization for 6 weeks and appropriate rehabilitation for another 6 weeks. We used these methods in eight pars fixations. RESULTS: All of the patients were painless in first week after surgery. All of them underwent total rehabilitation programme and returned to sport. CONCLUSIONS: Direct pars repair using Buck's method with proposed modification, including adequate radiographic preparation, the use of a thin cannulated screw and changing the point of screw entry, allows precise and safe screw placement, regardless of the size of the bone at the defect site.

Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis - Various Manifestations, Inconsistent Terminology and Treatment. Cases Study.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) as well as tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) are both diagnosed and described in two forms, namely a localized and diffuse type. They form a diverse group of proliferative lesions in articular synovium and tendon sheaths. The inconsistent terminology impedes communication between patients, orthopedic surgeons, radiologists and pathologists, leading to misunderstandings and delaying treatment. In this paper, we present three cases of PVNS/TGCT (involving the fourth toe extensor tendon sheath, hip joint after resurfacing and flexor hallucis longus tendon sheath) together with suggestions regarding the unification of the terminology as well as diagnosis and treatment.

Peripheral snap-fit locking mechanisms and smooth surface finish of tibial trays reduce backside wear in fixed-bearing total knee arthroplasty.

Background and purpose - Severe backside wear, observed in older generations of total knee replacements (TKRs), led to redesign of locking mechanisms to reduce micromotions between tibial tray and inlay. Since little is known about whether this effectively reduces backside wear in modern designs, we examined backside damage in retrievals of various contemporary fixed-bearing TKRs. Patients and methods - A consecutive series of 102 inlays with a peripheral (Stryker Triathlon, Stryker Scorpio, DePuy PFC Sigma, Aesculap Search Evolution) or dovetail locking mechanism (Zimmer NexGen, Smith and Nephew Genesis II) was examined. Articular and backside surface damage was evaluated using the semiquantitative Hood scale. Inlays were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine backside wear mechanisms. Results - Mean Hood scores for articular (A) and backside (B) surfaces were similar in most implants-Triathlon (A: 46, B: 22), Genesis II (A: 55, B: 24), Scorpio (A: 57, B: 24), PFC (A: 52, B: 20); Search (A: 56, B: 24)-except the NexGen knee (A: 57, B: 60), which had statistically significantly higher backside wear scores. SEM studies showed backside damage caused by abrasion related to micromotion in designs with dovetail locking mechanisms, especially in the unpolished NexGen trays. In implants with peripheral liner locking mechanism, there were no signs of micromotion or abrasion. Instead, "tray transfer" of polyethylene and flattening of machining was observed. Interpretation - Although this retrieval study may not represent well-functioning TKRs, we found that a smooth surface finish and a peripheral locking mechanism reduce backside wear in vivo, but further studies are required to determine whether this actually leads to reduced osteolysis and lower failure rates.

Ultrasound-guided arthroscopic management of hallux rigidus.

INTRODUCTION: The use of metatarso-phalangeal joint arthroscopy in the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans was first described in 1988. The technique produces good results. However, it can be difficult to enter a joint when it is deformed by degenerative disease. Sonography is a modern visualisation modality which can be used in orthopaedic surgery. AIM: To describe a method of intraoperative sonographic navigation during first metatarso-phalangeal joint arthroscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The modality was used in 3 patients. The joint was visualised in the ultrasound scanner. After confirming the intra-articular position of the guide needle, a medial portal was established. The procedure started with the removal and vaporisation of the hypertrophic synovium. Gradual resection of the osteophytes was then carried out. The procedure was terminated after the ultrasound image showed that a smooth upper surface of the metatarsal head had been achieved. RESULTS: All 3 patients were satisfied with the procedure and function of the treated feet. Average surgery time was 81 min. No complications were found. CONCLUSIONS: Mini-invasive treatment of hallux rigidus with sonography-guided arthroscopic cheilectomy appears to be a reproducible procedure leading to good clinical results. We encourage surgeons familiar with ultrasound visualisation of the joints to use the technique described in this paper in the arthroscopic treatment of hallux rigidus.

Predicting Persistent Unclear Pain Following Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Chronic post-surgical pain can be a considerable issue for patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty. According to the literature, persistent knee pain is experienced by up to 44% of patients. Most studies on total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes have mainly investigated the biomechanics or function of the operated knee, but chronic pain has never been a primary issue. In recent years several possible predictors of chronic postsurgical pain have been investigated and eventually identified. A younger age, female gender, psychological distress, preoperative pain duration and intensity were all reported to influence chronic postoperative pain rates after total knee arthroplasty. Recently, it has also been hypothesized that preoperative signs of centrally driven hyperalgesia and distorted pain modulation may predict persistent knee pain in some patients. Despite the considerable number of patients suffering from chronic postsurgical pain after TKA, available data is scarce, and well controlled prospective studies are lacking. Predictors of chronic postsurgical pain after total knee arthroplasty have yet to be identified. Thus, this article is aimed at reviewing current knowledge on persistent pain after knee arthroplasty.

Injury risk is low among world-class volleyball players: 4-year data from the FIVB Injury Surveillance System.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the rate and pattern of injuries in international volleyball competition. OBJECTIVE: To describe the risk and pattern of injuries among world-class players based on data from the The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Injury Surveillance System (ISS) (junior and senior, male and female). METHODS: The FIVB ISS is based on prospective registration of injuries by team medical staff during all major FIVB tournaments (World Championships, World Cup, World Grand Prix, World League, Olympic Games). This paper is based on 4-year data (September 2010 to November 2014) obtained through the FIVB ISS during 32 major FIVB events (23 senior and 9 junior). RESULTS: The incidence of time-loss injuries during match play was 3.8/1000 player hours (95% CI 3.0 to 4.5); this was greater for senior players than for junior players (relative risk: 2.04, 1.29 to 3.21), while there was no difference between males and females (1.04, 0.70 to 1.55). Across all age and sex groups, the ankle was the most commonly injured body part (25.9%), followed by the knee (15.2%), fingers/thumb (10.7%) and lower back (8.9%). Injury incidence was greater for centre players and lower for liberos than for other player functions; injury patterns also differed between player functions. CONCLUSIONS: Volleyball is a very safe sport, even at the highest levels of play. Preventive measures should focus on acute ankle and finger sprains, and overuse injuries in the knee, lower back and shoulder.

Knee Function and Subjective Stability Following Total Condylar Arthroplasty in Joints with Preoperative Varus or Valgus Deformity.

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty in joints with valgus or varus deformity is technically demanding. Careful soft tissue balance as well as restitution of anatomical knee axis has a profound effect on postoperative function of the joint, however little is known about differences in subjective stability following surgery between preoperative valgus and varus knees. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Studied group consisted of 60 patients who underwent total condylar knee arthroplasty with one type of implant (Stryker Triathlon). Mean follow-up was 2,9 years (1-6 years). The group included 25 patients with valgus and 35 patients with varus preoperative deformity. All patients filled Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) forms. Detailed clinical and radiological assessment was performed. RESULTS: Mean KOOS score was slightly higher in patients with varus deformity, as compared to cases with valgus deformity. At physical examination higher LCL deficiency rate was observed in varus knees. Subjective instability was reported by eight patients (5 valgus and 3 varus). In all cases instability coexisted with decreased MCL tightness and implant position was correct in those patients. No subjective instability was reported by patients with clinical LCL deficiency. Furthermore KOOS scores in these patients were higher (85,8) as compared to cases with decreased MCL tension (79,1). CONCLUSIONS: 1. In patients with proper implant alignment subjective instability is related to postoperative MCL deficiency, regardless preoperative deformity in coronal plane. 2. The post-op LCL laxity does not compromise subjective stability, nor influence subjective outcome, as demonstrated with KOOS scores.