Quadriceps tendon autograft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: state of the art.

The ideal graft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) continues to be debated. Although first described in 1984, use of the quadriceps tendon (QT) autograft has only recently gained popularity. The biomechanical properties of the QT autograft are favourable compared to bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) and doubled hamstring (HS) grafts with a higher load to failure and a modulus of elasticity that more closely approximates the native anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The QT graft can be harvested with or without a bone plug, as either a full thickness or a partial thickness graft, and even through minimally invasive techniques. The surgeon must be aware of potential harvest risks including patellar fracture or a graft that is of insufficient length. Numerous short-term studies have shown comparable results when compared to BPTB or hamstring HS autografts with similar graft failure rates, patient-reported outcomes. A major advantage of QT ACLR is reduced donor site morbidity compared to BPTB. However, some persistent quadriceps weakness after QT ACLR has also been reported. The current literature shows that use of the QT autograft for ACLR provides equivalent clinical results compared to other autografts with less donor site morbidity. However, future studies with longer follow-up and higher level of evidence are needed to identify specific populations where the QT may have additional advantage.

Differentiation in Posterior Tibial Slope by Sex, Age, and Race: A Cadaveric Study Utilizing 3-Dimensional Computerized Tomography.

BACKGROUND: Posterior tibial slope (PTS) has recently gained increased attention for its possible role in anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament injury. The possible differences among age, sex, and ethnicity in PTS have not yet been reported. PURPOSE: To describe demographic variances of proximal tibial anatomy and to detect differences in regard to ethnicity, sex, and age. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: In total, 250 cadaveric specimens with full-body computerized tomography scans from the New Mexico Descendant Imaging Database were randomly selected (inclusion/exclusion criteria: older than 18 years, complete imaging of the knee without previous surgery or arthroplasty) and reviewed by 3 independent observers measuring medial posterior tibial slope (MPTS), lateral posterior tibial slope (LPTS), and global posterior tibial slope (PTS), which was calculated as the mean of the MPTS and LPTS. Individuals were evenly divided among male and female and ethnicities/races: African American/Black, Asian American, Hispanic, Native American, and White. Intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated for interobserver reliability and analysis of variance statistical testing to determine statistical significance between groups. Fisher exact test was also used to understand PTS differences among ethnicities when looking at clinically significant values for potential ligamentous injury. RESULTS: Measurements were obtained from 250 specimens with a mean age of 49.4 years (range, 19 to 103 years). The mean PTS was 8.92° (range, -9.4° to 14.95°). Asian Americans had a 1.7° greater mean MPTS than Whites (P = .016), and African Americans/Blacks had a 1.6° greater mean PTS than Whites (P = .022). No difference in mean PTS was seen between age and sex. When looking at clinically significant PTS, 61 (24.4%) individuals had tibial slopes <6° or >12°, 32 (12.8%) and 29 (11.6%), respectively. Statistically significant differences were seen among ethnicities with PTS <6° (P = .017) but not with PTS >12° (P = .106). No sex-based differences were seen in the percentage of specimens with a PTS of >12° or <6°. CONCLUSION: Among ethnicities, African Americans/Blacks and Asian Americans have increased PTS in comparison with Whites. Nearly 25% of individuals have clinically significant slopes of <6° or >12°, with no difference in tibial slope among sex or age groups.

Dissociation of a Medial Pivot Polyethylene in a Kinematically Aligned Total Knee Arthroplasty.

An 81-year-old male patient who underwent a Medacta GMK sphere kinematically aligned (KA) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for end-stage knee osteoarthritis presented with a dislocated medial pivot (MP) tibia polyethylene (PE) insert on routine six-week postoperative x-rays. The patient presented asymptomatic with a normal range of motion. Dissociation of a fixed-bearing (FB) PE implant is an uncommon complication after TKA. There are only a few cases reported in the literature. We report for the first time a case of non-traumatic dissociation of MP PE from the tibial baseplate in a KA TKA in an asymptomatic patient but identified on routine postoperative radiographs.

Rotating Hinge Distal Femur Replacement: A Turn for the Worse.

Preoperatively periprosthetic joint infection with a postoperative complication of 180° rotation of the press-fit femoral component is a rare event, and knowledge of this possible complication is important for arthroplasty surgeons.

A Rare Case of Metallosis Co-occurring With Chronic Prosthetic Joint Infection in Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and metallosis are known complications of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and are causes for revision surgeries. Articulating metal surfaces in total hip arthroplasty with corrosion at modular junctions can lead to the release of metal ions that can cause an immune-mediated biological reaction. There are few cases in the literature of both coinciding together. We describe a case of chronic Cutibacertium acnes PJI and metallosis co-occurring in a 64-year-old female after THA with a dual mobility construct. After undergoing uncomplicated left THA through a modified Hardinge approach, the patient dislocated anteriorly after four weeks and required revision of her acetabular component to a less anteverted position. Nine months later, she presented with hip pain and was found to have medial wall fragmentation and cystic changes around the greater trochanter on radiographs, elevated serum cobalt and chromium levels, and a benign noninfected hip aspiration. During her revision procedure, intraoperative histopathology showed over 20 neutrophils per high power field in multiple samples and fluid aspirates demonstrating Gram-positive rods. She was also found to have pseudotumor formation with the erosion of the anterior and posterior capsules with black debris on the femoral stem trunnion and the backside of the modular dual mobility liner. An antibiotic spacer was placed and her cultures grew into C. acnes. She completed six weeks of intravenous ceftriaxone and, during her "drug holiday," she dislocated her spacer and was found to have a lateral femoral diaphyseal stress fracture at the distal end of her spacer. She underwent stage II of her revision, and while the plan was to continue her antibiotics, she had an adverse reaction and was transitioned to oral antibiotics for six months. Due to delayed healing, she underwent additional irrigation and debridement with head and liner exchange. Her wound then healed, and at her one-year final follow-up, she was able to ambulate without pain, and her serum inflammatory and metal ion levels were within normal limits. Concurrent PJI and metallosis from articulating metal interfaces can occur, and a high index of suspicion is necessary to properly manage both conditions.

Silver Coatings in Reconstructive Orthopaedics: Basic Science and Clinical Rationale.

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most devastating complications that can occur following total hip and total knee arthroplasty. Despite the remarkable advances that have been made in surgical techniques and implant technology, the incidence of PJI has remained largely unchanged over the past two decades. One approach that has been described in the literature to minimize the risk of PJI has been the use of silver-coated prostheses. Silver has been reported to have antimicrobial properties when added to a variety of orthopaedic materials including bone cement, hydroxyapatite coatings and wound dressings. Silver is also being increasingly used as a surface coating for endoprostheses used for reconstruction around the hip and the knee with the specific aim of reducing the incidence of prosthetic joint infection. Despite the increasing adoption of this technology, the use of silver coatings remains controversial. The optimal method for preparation and the thickness of the coating, as well as the mechanism(s) of action in reducing the incidence of PJI, are unclear. The issue of silver toxicity is also an important consideration. This paper provides an overview of the use of silver coatings in reconstructive orthopaedics, as well as the types available and techniques used to coat endoprostheses. We also review the basic science as well as the clinical applications of silver coatings in the prevention of PJIs.

Dexamethasone and postoperative hyperglycemia in diabetics undergoing elective hip or knee arthroplasty: a case control study in 238 patients.

BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone has been routinely used in the pre-operative setting to enhance analgesia and decrease the incidence of nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing primary arthroplasty. However, dexamethasone has the potential to increase blood glucose levels postoperatively, which is a known risk factor for complications after total joint arthroplasty. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of dexamethasone administration on post-operative blood glucose levels in diabetic patients after primary hip and knee arthroplasty. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of 238 diabetic patients who underwent primary hip and knee arthroplasty between May 1, 2014 and September 30, 2016 at a single urban academic medical center. A total of 77 patients (32.4%) received dexamethasone and 161 (67.7%) did not. Oral hyperglycemic agents were held during the inpatient stay and blood glucose was controlled either with sliding scale insulin or home insulin regimens were continued. All analyses were adjusted for age, BMI, gender, type of diabetes, pre-operative diabetic medication, type of surgical procedure, and pre-operative HgbA1c level. The primary outcome was post-operative hyperglycemia within 72 h of surgery defined as any blood glucose level greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL. RESULTS: Post-operative hyperglycemia was observed in 17.1 and 20.6% of the measurements during the first 24 and 72 h respectively. After controlling for confounding variables, patients who received dexamethasone had 4.07 (95% CI: 2.46, 6.72) and 3.08 (95% CI: 2.34, 4.04) higher odds of post-operative hyperglycemia in the first 24 and 72 h respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone administration in diabetic patients undergoing primary arthroplasty increases post-operative hyperglycemia during the first 24 and 72 h. While our data did not investigate causation, dexamethasone use in this patient population should be thoughtfully considered, as post-operative hyperglycemia is a known risk factor for complications.

Probability of Undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea Does Not Correlate With Adverse Pulmonary Events nor Length of Stay in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Using Intrathecal Opioid.

BACKGROUND: Recent emphasis on bundled payments and outcomes tracking has increased the focus on preoperative optimization in patients undergoing elective lower extremity arthroplasty. Since patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have an increased risk of adverse perioperative pulmonary events, screening for undiagnosed OSA is sometimes included as part of preoperative risk assessment. However, there are limited data regarding quantification of OSA risk in lower extremity arthroplasty patients, and little is known about the utility of quantitative OSA screening and the risk of pulmonary complications in hip and knee arthroplasty patients who receive intrathecal morphine anesthetic. METHODS: A retrospective review of 990 patients at a tertiary care, urban academic medical center who underwent lower extremity arthroplasty with a multimodal pain regimen including intrathecal morphine anesthesia, comparing the rate of pulmonary complications and length of stay between patients previously diagnosed with OSA and those identified as low, moderate, and high risk of undiagnosed OSA established by screening with the STOP-BANG questionnaire in the preoperative setting. RESULTS: Using logistic regression and adjusting for age, gender, and body mass index, the results suggested the rate of complications was not different across the sleep apnea risk groups (P = .4024). In addition, linear regression suggested length of stay did not differ significantly by sleep apnea risk group (P = .2823). CONCLUSION: In patients receiving intrathecal morphine as part of a multimodal pain regimen undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty, neither risk of adverse pulmonary events nor length of stay appeared to correlate with preoperative risk of undiagnosed OSA.

Continuous versus single shot brachial plexus block and their relationship to discharge barriers and length of stay.

BACKGROUND: Brachial plexus block has been associated with improved pain control and decreased length of stay in patients undergoing upper extremity arthroplasty. Continuous delivery is associated with a shorter length of stay; however, comparisons to single-shot delivery in this setting are scarce. As the paradigm shifts to outpatient arthroplasty in the era of bundled payments, there exists a strong impetus to identify the most effective mode of analgesia associated with the least risk to patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 697 patients undergoing upper extremity arthroplasty comparing the rate of complications and incidence of potential barriers to discharge and length of stay of patients receiving continuous vs. single-shot perineural brachial plexus block. RESULTS: No difference was observed in the complication rate between indwelling (n = 63 [12%]) and single-shot groups (n = 30 [17%]; P = .137). The majority of complications were pulmonary, 72% attributable to oxygen desaturation. The indwelling catheter group had 1.61 times higher odds (95% confidence interval, 1.07-2.42; P = .023) of exhibiting any potential barrier to discharge and exhibited a longer length of stay (P = .002). CONCLUSION: There was no demonstrated disparity in the rate of complications associated with single-shot vs. continuous brachial plexus block. However, the continuous indwelling catheter was associated with an increased incidence of potential barriers to discharge and an increased length of stay compared with patients receiving single-shot regional anesthesia.