A comparative analysis of suture-augmented and standard hamstring autograft single-bundle ACL reconstruction outcomes: short-term functional benefits without long-term impact.

BACKGROUND: Augmentation of the biologic graft with nonabsorbable suture material during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a relatively new technique to enhance its biomechanical properties and add additional support to the critical process of healing. We aimed to compare the short-term functional patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and complication rates of patients treated with either standard single-bundle four-strand hamstring ACLR or added suture augmentation (SA). METHODS: Patients undergoing arthroscopic ACLR between February 2015-January 2017 and in the standard ACLR group, and between February 2017-September 2019 in the SA-ACLR group operated by adding a no.5 FiberWire® (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA) braided suture to the hamstring autograft, were retrospectively reviewed and the PROMs were compared. Patients were followed up for a 24-month period and PROMs were assessed by the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form and Tegner-Lysholm knee score. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, and postoperative complications including graft retear requiring revision surgery, deep vein thrombois, and surgical site infection were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: We included 79 patients with mean age of 31.6 ± 8.3 years in the standard ACLR group, and 90 patients with mean oge of 30.5 ± 7.6 in the SA-ACLR group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, sex, body mass index, and medical comorbidities. The values of the IKDC scores increased to 75.8 ± 18.9 in the standard ACLR group, and 85.6 ± 12.6 in the SA-ACLR group, 24 months after the operation (P < 0.05). The 24-month postoperative Tegner-Lysholm scores escalated to 79.3 ± 21.0 in the standard ACLR group and 91.0 ± 13.7 in the SA-ACLR group (P < 0.05). Four (5.1%) patients in the standard ACLR group and 4 (4.4%) in the SA-ACLR group experienced graft retear requiring revision surgery (P > 0.05). Incidence of surgical site infection and deep vein thrombosis showed no significant differences between the two groups, 24 months after ACLR. CONCLUSION: SA-ACLR is associated with improved short-term functional PROMs compared to the standard hamstring ACLR. Although SA did not reduce the retear rate, and infection and DVT rates did not differ between study groups, superior improvement of PROMs in SA approach, leverages this method for ACLR.

Masson's Tumor of the Distal Phalanx May Present Like a Felon, Report of a Rare Case.

Also known as intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia, Masson's tumor is a relatively rare soft-tissue vascular tumor that usually arises in the hand. Felon is an abscess formation in the distal phalanx that usually occurs following a penetrating microtrauma. We present a 30-year-old patient who was referred to our clinic with a palpable mass in the distal phalanx of the index finger after a needle stick injury. At first, the lesion was treated as a felon but finally and after treatment failure, a complete reevaluation revealed the lesion to be a Masson's tumor of the distal phalanx.

Fixed-Bearing Posterior-Stabilized Implant versus Constrained Condylar Knee in One-Stage Bilateral Primary Arthroplasty of the Varus Knee: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Minimum 2-year Follow-Up.

Background: Severe varus deformity of the knee poses a technical challenge in balancing the flexion-extension gaps. The use of a varus-valgus constrained prosthesis is a solution to achieve coronal plane stability. The results of constrained condylar knee (CCK) implants in primary total knee arthroplasty are not well known. This study aims to compare the functional outcomes of posterior-stabilized (PS) and CCK implants for primary arthroplasty of the varus knee. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with bilateral severe osteoarthritis and genu varum of more than 10° were enrolled in this study. One knee was randomly implanted with a fixed-bearing PS implant, whereas the other was implanted with a CCK prosthesis. Pre- and postoperative Knee Society Score (KSS) and Oxford Knee Score (OKS) questionnaires were completed, and knee flexion was measured and compared. Results: The patients were followed for 32 months on average (24-36 months). On the KSS and OKS, both the groups improved significantly, but the difference between them was not statistically significant. Postoperative knee flexion was also not different between the two groups. Furthermore, 18 patients could not distinguish the difference between the two prostheses, whereas two patients preferred the PS one. Conclusion: We demonstrated that a PS prosthesis can achieve comparable functional results to the CCK one in the short term.

Intraoperative Chertsey Test, is it a Reliable Alternative to Computed Tomography Scan for Diagnosing Syndesmotic Injuries of the Ankle?

Background: The present study aims to evaluate the diagnostic exactitude of the intraoperative Chertsey test in tibiofibular syndesmotic injuries in patients with malleolar fractures, in comparison with a computed tomography (CT) scan. Materials and Methods: In this study, patients with malleolar fractures operated between 2018 and 2020 were examined. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled in the study. A three-dimensional preoperative CT scan was obtained. The opposite unfractured ankle was also scanned and considered as the control group. The Chertsey test was performed during the operation to assess the syndesmosis injury. Then, patients were partitioned into two distinct groups, considering the condition of their ankle, namely the Chertsey positive (unstable syndesmosis) group and the Chertsey negative (stable syndesmosis) group. Results: The outcomes of the present survey illustrated that the Chertsey test was positive in 16 patients (41.03%) and negative in 23 patients (59.07%). The median of all CT scan parameters (anterior tibiofibular distances (TFD), middle TFD, posterior TFD, and maximal TFD and volume) before surgery in the group of patients with a positive Chertsey test was significantly higher, measured against the unfractured control group (P < 0.001 for all parameters). Furthermore, a comparison of CT scan parameters and syndesmosis space volume before surgery between the two groups of patients with positive and negative Chertsey test results showed that the measurement of parameters in Chertsey-positive patients was significantly higher than the Chertsey-negative patients (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Chertsey test could be used to diagnose syndesmosis injuries in patients with malleolar fractures due to its high importance in the outcome of patients.

An Uncommon Complication of Streptokinase: Large Spontaneous Iliopsoas Hematoma.

Streptokinase is a fibrinolytic agent that enhances plasmin activation and is used in selected patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Similar to the other thrombolytics, a common side effect is bleeding, especially from venous puncture sites. Here, we present a case of acute anterior wall STEMI complicated by large spontaneous iliopsoas hematoma after streptokinase administration. With conservative management, the course of the disease was uneventful, and the patient was discharged with no symptom and no clinically important sequel.