20-Year Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Hamstring Tendon Autograft: The Catastrophic Effect of Age and Posterior Tibial Slope.

BACKGROUND: No well-controlled studies have compared the long-term outcome of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft between adolescents and adults. Increased posterior tibial slopes (PTSs) have been reported in the ACL-injured versus controls, but the effect of PTS on the outcome after reconstruction is relatively unexplored. PURPOSE: To compare the prospective longitudinal outcome of "isolated" ACL ruptures treated with anatomic endoscopic ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft over 20 years in adolescent and adult cohorts and to examine factors for repeat ACL injury. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A single-surgeon series of 200 consecutive patients undergoing isolated primary ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft were prospectively studied. Subjects were assessed preoperatively and at 2, 7, 15, and 20 years postoperatively. Outcomes included International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Knee Evaluation, IKDC subjective scores, KT-1000 instrumented laxity testing, and radiological evaluation of degenerative change and medial tibial slope. Twenty-year outcomes were compared between those who underwent surgery at the age of 18 years or younger (adolescent group, n = 39) and those who underwent surgery when older than 18 years (adult group, n = 161). RESULTS: At 20 years, 179 of 200 subjects were reviewed (89.5%). ACL graft rupture occurred in 37 subjects and contralateral ACL injury in 22 subjects. Of those with intact ACL grafts at 20 years, outcomes were not statistically different between adolescents and adults for the variables of IKDC subjective score ( P = .29), return to preinjury activity level ( P = .84), current activity level ( P = .69), or degree of radiological degenerative change at 20 years ( P = .51). The adolescent group had a higher proportion of grade 1 ligamentous laxity testing compared with the adult group ( P = .003). Overall, ACL graft survival at 20 years was 86% for adults and 61% for adolescents (hazard ration, 3.3; P = .001). The hazard for ACL graft rupture was increased by 4.8 in adolescent males and 2.5 in adolescent females compared with adults. At 20 years, the ACL survival for adolescents with a PTS of ≥12° was 22%. The hazard for ACL graft rupture was increased by 11 in adolescents with a PTS of ≥12° ( P = .001) compared with adults with a PTS <12°. CONCLUSION: Repeat ACL injury after isolated ACL reconstruction is common, occurring in 1 in 3 over 20 years. In the absence of further injury, isolated ACL reconstruction using this technique was associated with good long-term outcomes with respect to patient-reported outcomes and return to sports, regardless of age. However, mild ligament laxity and ACL graft rupture after ACL reconstruction are significantly more common in adolescents, especially adolescent males, compared with adults. PTS of 12° or more is the strongest predictor of repeat ACL injury, and its negative effect is most pronounced in adolescents.

Midterm results of 36 mm metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Despite the many perceived benefits of metal-on-metal (MoM) articulation in total hip arthroplasty (THA), there have been growing concerns about metallosis and adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD). Analysis of size 36 mm MoM articulation THAs is presented. These patients were evaluated for patient characteristics, relationship between blood metal ions levels and the inclination as well as the version of acetabular component, cumulative survival probability at final followup and functional outcome at final followup. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 288, size 36 mm MoM THAs implanted in 269 patients at our institution from 2004 to 2010 were included in this retrospective study. These patients were assessed clinically for hip symptoms, perioperative complications and causes of revision arthroplasty were analysed. Biochemically, blood cobalt and chromium metal ions level were recorded and measurements of acetabular inclination and version were examined. Radiological evaluation utilizing Metal Artefact Reduction Sequence (MARS) MRI was undertaken and implant cumulative survivorship was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean followup was 5 years (range 2-7 years), mean age was 73 years and the mean Oxford hip score was 36.9 (range 5-48). Revision arthroplasty was executed in 20 (7.4%) patients, of which 15 patients underwent single-stage revision THA. The causes of revision arthroplasty were: ARMD changes in 6 (2.2%) patients, infection in 5 (1.9%) patients and aseptic loosening in 5 (1.9%) patients. Three (1.1%) patients had their hips revised for instability, 1 (0.3%) for raised blood metal ions levels. The implant cumulative survival rate, with revision for any reason, was 68.9% at 7 years. CONCLUSIONS: Although medium-sized MoM THA with a 36 mm head has a marginally better survivorship at midterm followup, compared to larger size head MoM articulating THA, our findings nonetheless are still worryingly poor in comparison to what has been quoted in the literature. Furthermore, ARMD-related revision remains the predominant cause of failure in this cohort with medium-sized MoM articulation. No correlation was found between blood metal ions levels and the inclination as well as the version of acetabular component.

A modified technique to extract fractured femoral stem in revision total hip arthroplasty: A report of two cases.

INTRODUCTION: The removal of well-fixed broken femoral component and cement mantle can be extremely demanding, time consuming and potentially damaging to the host bone. Different methods have been described to extract broken femoral stem yet this remains one of the most challenging prospect to the revision hip surgeon. PRESENTATION OF CASE: The authors present two cases underwent a modified sliding cortical window technique utilising a tungsten carbide drill, Charnley pin retractor and an orthopaedic mallet to aid extraction of a fractured cemented femoral stem in revision total hip arthroplasty. DISCUSSION: The modified technique offers a simple and controlled method in extracting a well fixed fractured cemented femoral stem. It has the advantage of retaining the cement mantle with subsequent good seal of the femoral cortical window secured with cable ready system. Furthermore, tungsten carbide drill bit and Charnley pin retractor are relatively readily available to aid the extraction of the broken stem. Finally, it yields the option of implanting a standard femoral stem and obviates the need for bypassing the cortical window with long revision femoral component. CONCLUSION: Fractured femoral stem is a rare yet a complex and very demanding prospect to both patients and hip surgeons. The sliding cortical window technique utilising tungsten carbide drill and Charnley pin retractor is technically easy and most importantly; preserves host bone stock with cement-in-cement revision hip arthroplasty. We believe this technique can be added to the armamentarium of revision hip surgeon when faced with the challenge of extracting a fractured cemented femoral stem.

Ankle arthroscopy in children.

INTRODUCTION: Arthroscopy of the ankle has gained acceptance as a procedure for diagnosing and treating chronic and post-traumatic ankle problems. The senior author's perception is that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under-diagnoses anterior soft tissue impingement lesions in children. The purpose of this study was retrospectively to analyse the outcome of ankle arthroscopy in the paediatric age group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March 2005 and September 2007, 23 children underwent ankle arthroscopy for post-traumatic pathology. The indications for arthroscopy were failure of non-operative treatment for at least 12 weeks or a grade 3 or 4 osteochondral defect (OCD) on imaging. RESULTS: At arthroscopy, OCDs were visualised in 12 cases and impingement lesions were seen in 17 ankles. MRI was performed in 8 of these 12 cases and only 1 suggested the possibility of an impingement lesion. Of the 17 cases of impingement seen on arthroscopy, 12 reported mechanical symptoms preoperatively and 4 were unstable on examination under anaesthetic. Eighteen of the twenty-three patients had complete relief of symptoms at 3 months. Eighteen children who were evaluated at one-year follow up had a mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score of 87. 5 (range: 49-100). CONCLUSIONS: Ankle arthroscopy has a successful outcome in paediatric patients and the results are comparable with those reported in adult series. MRI was found to be insensitive for the diagnosis of soft tissue impingement of the ankle.

Bilingual aphasia due to spontaneous acute subdural haematoma from a ruptured intracranial infectious aneurysm.

We report a case of spontaneous subdural haematoma due to ruptured intracranial infectious aneurysm, presenting with bilingual aphasia and illustrating differential language recovery. A 62-year-old right-handed bilingual gentleman, with a diagnosis of infective endocarditis, developed headache and became expressively aphasic in the English language. Three days later he was receptively and expressively aphasic in both English and Arabic. Cranial MRI scans showed a left-sided acute subdural haematoma with mass effect and midline shift. Contrast CT brain scans showed an enhancing speck adjacent to the clot and cerebral angiogram confirmed a distal middle cerebral artery aneurysm. He underwent image-guided craniotomy, evacuation of the subdural haematoma and excision of the aneurysm. Histopathological examination was consistent with an infectious intracranial aneurysm. Postoperatively his aphasia did not improve immediately. He had widened pulse pressure due to severe aortic regurgitation, confirmed on echocardiography. He underwent aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair, following which his aphasia recovered gradually. Initially the recovery of his language was limited to Arabic. About a week later he recovered his English language as well. At 3-year follow-up he is doing well and has no neurological deficits. His aphasia has recovered completely. The present case is unique because of (a) presence of pure subdural haematoma, and (b) the differential susceptibility and recovery of native (L1) and acquired language (L2) in presence of a common pathology. The neurology of language in a bilingual is analysed and possible mechanisms discussed.

Unusual cause of a pulsatile abdominal mass.

A case of pulsation in the abdomen induced by a maladjusted cardiac pacemaker-CRT (cardiac resynchronisation therapy) with an implantable defibrillator is presented. The CRT stimulated the diaphragm causing a repetitive contraction synchronised with the heart beat, giving the picture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.