Surgical treatment of patellar tendon rupture after total knee arthroplasty with a double-row repair method using the hamstring tendons: A novel technique with functional results.

BACKGROUND: Patellar tendon rupture (PTR) is extremely rare but serious complication after primary or revision total knee arthroplasty. Due to the serious failure rates of end-to-end repair techniques, various augmentation techniques have been described. In this study, the results of patients with PTR after reconstruction using our own technique with semitendinosus (ST) and gracilis tendons taken from the affected side were evaluated retrospectively. METHODS: A total of 14 patients, whose diagnosis was made based on physical examination and clinical findings, and supported radiologically (ultrasonography), were included in the study. In these patients, reconstruction was performed using double-row repair technique with the ST and gracilis tendons. Active-passive knee joint range of motion, active knee extension loss, and the Caton-Deschamps index at preoperative and final follow-up visits were compared. Tegner-Lysholm knee score and Kujala score were used to evaluate functional results. RESULTS: In 14 patients (8 women and 6 men) with a mean age of 68.1 years, the median time between injury and surgery was 6.6 weeks. In all patients, the rupture was in the distal part of the patellar tendon. While the median preoperative Caton-Deschamps index was 1.8, the postoperative median value was found to be 1.25 after an average follow-up of 3.8 years (P = .014). The median preoperative knee extension loss decreased from 25° to 5° postoperatively. Tegner-Lysholm knee score and Kujala score of the patients at their last follow-up were significantly increased (P < .01). CONCLUSION: For PTR developing after total knee arthroplasty, the double-row reconstruction technique with ST and gracilis tendons is effective.

Volar fixed plating of distal radius fractures: optimizing plate position for enhanced clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The precise influence of plate position on clinical outcomes in the context of volar fixed-angle plating for distal radius fractures is not fully understood. This article aims to investigate the influence of plate position on clinical results, and functional outcomes in patients treated with volar fixed plating for distal radius fractures. METHODS: A total of 58 patients with 64 distal radius fractures were included in the study. Patient demographics, fracture characteristics, surgical details, and radiographic data were collected. Post-operative AP and Lat views of all patients taken on the first day after surgery were evaluated. Volar Tilt, Radial Inclination and Radial Height measurements were used as reduction criteria. In the follow-up, the patients were called for their last control, flexion and extension angles of the wrist and Mayo Wrist Scores, the distance of the plate to the joint line and the angle between the plate and the radial shaft were measured and recorded. RESULTS: A total of 64 distal radius fractures, with a mean age of 46.9 years, and the mean follow-up period 24.9 months were included in this study. There was a significant relationship between the Radial Inclination and Plate-Shaft Angle variables and the Mayo Wrist Score at a 99% confidence interval. Additionally, a relationship was observed between the Radial Height variable and the Mayo Score at a 90% confidence interval. A significant positive association was observed between radial inclination and achieving a Good-to-Excellent Mayo score (OR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.08-1.51], p = 0.004). Plate distance to joint line demonstrated a marginally significant positive association with a Good-to-Excellent Mayo score (OR = 1.31, 95% CI [0.97-1.77], p = 0.077). Univariate analysis revealed a significant negative association between plate-shaft angle and achieving a Good-to-Excellent Mayo score (OR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.52-0.99], p = 0.045). This negative association remained statistically significant in the multivariate analysis (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Radial inclination, plate distance to joint line, and angle between plate and radius shaft were identified as significant factors associated with improved Mayo Wrist Scores.

Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infections Following Fasciotomy in Patients With Acute Compartment Syndrome: A Study on the February 2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquake.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infections (SSIs) developing after fasciotomy are difficult to treat, costly, and an important source of mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to determine the risk factors affecting the development of SSI in patients who underwent fasciotomy with the diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome (ACS) within 72 hours after two consecutive earthquakes of 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude that occurred in Kahramanmaras on February 6, 2023. METHOD: A total of 116 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: those who developed SSI and those who did not. In this study, variables such as basic demographic characteristics, time of fasciotomy, center performing fasciotomy, type of wound closure, affected extremity, concomitant renal failure, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, blood creatine kinase (CK) level were examined. RESULTS: Of 116 patients, 58 (50%) had SSI. It was statistically observed that patients who underwent treatment with vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), those who underwent primary closure with the shoelace method, those who went into renal failure, and those whose fasciotomy was performed in an earthquake zone had a higher incidence of SSI (p<0.001). Blood CK level above 17.839 seemed to be a risk factor according to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis (P<0.01). Age (p=0.193), gender (p=0.125), fasciotomy time (p=0.843), lower extremity (p=0.234), upper extremity (p=0.806), and HBO treatment (p=0.56) were not associated with SSI. Infection was found to be a significant risk factor for amputation (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of VAC as a wound closure technique for SSI after fasciotomy in patients who developed ACS due to the earthquake, the presence of renal failure in the patients, and performing fasciotomy in the earthquake zone were independent risk factors. A blood CK level above 17.839 was also determined as a risk factor, but the confidence interval was found to be low.

Is the Measurement of Pedicle Axial Axes on Computed Tomography in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Also a Guide for Safer Screwing?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of pedicle angle measurement in preoperative axial computed tomography in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) on correct thoracic screw placement in free-hand technique on 3-dimensional printing AIS models. METHODS: In this study, 14 3-dimensional spine models with a scale of 1:1, including the entire spine of a patient with Lenke type 1 curve, were used. Group 1 included screwing applications with unknown pedicle axial angles, and group 2 included screwing applications with known pedicle axial angles. The number and direction of screws in malposition were recorded. In addition, medial encroachment distances of the screws were classified as 0-4 mm and greater than 4 mm, and lateral encroachment distances were classified as 0-6 mm and greater than 6 mm. Evaluation parameters were compared statistically between the groups. RESULTS: The number of screws in the correct position in group 1 was lower than that in group 2 (P < 0.05). The medial and lateral malposition rate in group 1 was greater than that in group 2 (P < 0.05). The medial encroachment rate of 4 mm and greater and lateral encroachment rate of 6 mm and greater in group 1 was greater than that in group 2 (P < 0.05). The medial encroachment rate of 0-4 mm and lateral encroachment rate of 0-6 mm were similar between groups 1 and 2 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of pedicle axial axes of preoperative thoracic vertebrae on computed tomography in patients with AIS offers more reliable screwing in free-hand technique.

Autologous osteochondral transplantation method of treatment for patellar osteochondral lesions.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the functional and clinical outcomes of the subjects with symptomatic osteochondral lesions on articular surface of patella, who were treated with autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) method. STUDY PLAN: AOT method was applied for the treatment of 14 subjects (eight men and six women; mean age 29.7 years; range 19-49 years) with symptomatic patellar osteochondral lesions between March 2008 and April 2013. After a mean follow-up period of 3.7 years (range 32-80 months), pre- and postoperative clinical and functional evaluations of the patients were performed using Visual Pain Scale (VPS), Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, and Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale. Wilcoxon test was used for statistical evaluation of pre- and postoperative outcomes. Improvement of the lesions was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at year 1 postoperatively at the earliest. RESULTS: The mean lesion size was 1.32 cm2 (range 0.8-1.8 cm2). The mean pre- and postoperative VPS values were calculated to be 75.5 ± 12.32 (range 46-92) and 17.57 ± 10.21 (range 0-40), respectively ( p < 0.01). The mean pre- and postoperative Lysholm knee scores were 44.57 ± 9.35 (range 26-65) and 80 ± 6.9 (range 70-94), respectively ( p < 0.01), and the mean pre- and postoperative Kujala anterior knee pain scores were 48.21 ± 7.78 (range 38-68) and 78.42 ± 7.06 (range 70-96), respectively ( p < 0.01). MRI taken at year 1 postoperatively showed that the autograft bone tissue was sufficiently incorporated into the recipient site in all patients; an even articular surface was formed, but the thickness of the cartilage tissue was mostly uneven between the adjacency of the recipient site and the autograft, which caused no negative effect on clinical and functional outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the difference in thickness of the cartilage tissue between the recipient and the donor site, the AOT technique for the treatment of patellar osteochondral lesions resolves the symptoms of the patient and ensures an apparent functional and clinical improvement even if an articular surface could be created.

Adhesive tooth fragment reattachment with intentional replantation: 36-month follow-up.

Crown-root fracture is one of the most challenging fracture types in dental traumatology literature. Aesthetic and functional rehabilitation is the primary goal of the treatment of crown-root-fractured tooth. For this purpose, reattachment of the fragment to its original position is a good choice. This paper reports a case of an adhesive fragment reattachment of a complicated crown-root fracture with intentional replantation in a 9-year-old girl patient and 36-month follow-up.