A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing conservative and surgical treatments for acute patellar dislocation in children and adolescents.

PURPOSE: This study sought to clarify treatment evidence to treat patellar dislocation by evaluating which treatment could yield better improvement of clinical outcomes for acute patellar dislocation in children and adolescents 18 years of age or younger. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials electronic databases were searched for relevant articles comparing clinical outcomes of conservative and surgical treatments for acute patellar dislocation in children and adolescents published from March 2008 to August 2022. Data searching, extraction, analysis, and quality assessment were performed on the basis of the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. The quality assessment of each study was investigated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) critical appraisal scoring system and Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale scores. To calculate the overall combined effect size for each outcome, Review Manager Version 5.3 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Software Update, Oxford) was employed. RESULTS: Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one prospective study were investigated. In terms of pain [mean difference (MD) 6.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.73-11.45, I2 0%], there were significantly better outcomes in conservative group. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in any evaluated outcomes such as redislocation [risk ratio (RR) 1.36, 95% CI 0.72-2.54, I2 65%], Kujala score (MD 3.92, 95% CI -0.17 to 8.01, I2 0%), Tegner score (MD 1.04, 95% CI -0.04 to 2.11, I2 71%), or subjective results (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.74-1.34, I2 33%) between conservative and surgical treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite better pain outcomes with conservative group, the present study revealed no significant differences in clinical outcomes between conservative treatment and surgical treatment in children and adolescents with acute patellar dislocation. Since there are no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups, routine surgical treatment is not advocated for treating acute patellar dislocation in children and adolescents.

Anterior cruciate ligament femoral-tunnel drilling through an anteromedial portal: 3-dimensional plane drilling angle affects tunnel length relative to notchplasty.

BACKGROUND: Notchplasty is a surgical technique often performed during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with widening of the intercondylar notch of the lateral distal femur to avoid graft impingement. The purpose of this study was to correlate femoral-tunnel length with 3-dimensional (3D) drilling angle through the anteromedial (AM) portal with and without notchplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computer data were collected from an anatomical study using 16 cadaveric knees. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) femoral insertion was dissected and outlined for gross anatomical observation. The dissected cadaveric knees were scanned by computed tomography (CT). Three-dimensional measurements were calculated using software (Geomagic, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA) and included the center of the ACL footprint and the size of the ACL femoral footprint. The femoral-tunnel aperture centers were measured in the anatomical posterior-to-anterior and proximal-to-distal directions using Bernard's quadrant method. The ACL tunnel was created 3-demensionally in the anatomical center of femoral foot print of ACL using software (SolidWorks®, Corp., Waltham, MA, USA). The 8-mm cylinder shaped ACL tunnel was rested upon the anatomical center of the ACL footprint and placed in three different positions: the coronal plane, the sagittal plane, and the axial plane. Finally, the effect of notchplasty on the femoral-tunnel length and center of the ACL footprint were measured. All the above-mentioned studies performed ACLR using the AM portal. RESULTS: The length of the femoral tunnels produced using the low coronal and high axial angles with 5-mm notchplasty became significantly shorter as the femoral starting position became more horizontal. The result was 30.38 ± 2.11 mm on average at 20° in the coronal plane/70° in the axial plane/45° in the sagittal plane and 31.26 ± 2.08 mm at 30° in the coronal plane/60° in the axial plane/45° in the sagittal plane, respectively, comparing the standard technique of 45° in the coronal/45° in the axial/45° in the sagittal plane of 32.98 ± 3.04 mm (P < 0.001). The tunnels made using the high coronal and low axial angles with notchplasty became longer than those made using the standard technique: 40.31 ± 3.36 mm at 60° in the coronal plane/30° in the axial plane/45° in the sagittal plane and 50.46 ± 3.13 mm at 75° in the coronal plane/15° in the axial plane/45° in the sagittal plane (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that excessive notchplasty causes the femoral tunnel to be located in the non-anatomical center of the ACL footprint and reduces the femoral-tunnel length. Therefore, care should be taken to avoid excessive notchplasty when performing this operation.

The effects of different hinge positions on posterior tibial slope in medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the standard hinge position to minimize effects from medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) on the posterior tibial slope. METHODS: Sixteen cadaveric knees underwent medial open-wedge osteotomy using either the standard or the low hinge position. To define the standard hinge position, a line 3 cm inferior to the medial tibial plateau towards the fibular head and located its intersection with a longitudinal line 1 cm medial to the fibular shaft was drawn. Low hinge position was defined as the point 1 cm inferior to the standard position. After tibial osteotomy, computed tomography scans of each knee were taken and three-dimensional models were constructed to characterize hinge position orientation and measure the osteotomy site effects on posterior tibial slope, medial proximal tibial angle, and gap ratio (the ratio of the anterior to posterior gap in the opened wedge). RESULTS: In two low hinge position specimens, the tibial lateral cortex hinge fracture occurred. Osteotomy through the low hinge position resulted in significantly greater posterior tibial slope compared to the standard hinge position (mean ± standard deviation) (11.2 ± 3.0° and 5.6 ± 2.5°, respectively; p < 0.001). Medial proximal tibial angle was also significantly greater for low compared to standard hinge position (95.4 ± 3.5° and 88.0 ± 3.5°, respectively; p < 0.001). Gap ratio was not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Hinge position significantly affects the posterior tibial slope and medial proximal tibial angle following medial open-wedge HTO. Accurate hinge position is crucial to prevent complications from changes in posterior tibial slope and medial proximal tibial angle after surgery.

Influence of the different anteromedial portal on femoral tunnel orientation during anatomic ACL reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of femoral tunnel orientation, drilled through the accessory anteromedial (AAM) portal or the high AM portal in anatomic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: In 16 cadaver knees, using o'clock method, centers of the ACL femoral footprint were drilled with an 8-mm reamer via an AAM portal (eight knees) or a high AM portal (eight knees). Computed tomography (CT) scans were taken of each knee. Three-dimensional (3D) models were constructed to identify the femoral tunnel orientation and to create femoral tunnel virtual cylinders for measuring tunnel angles and length. RESULTS: In two of the 16 specimens, we observed a posterior femoral cortex blowout (PFCB) when drilling through a high AM portal. When drilled through the high AM portal, the femoral tunnel length was significantly shorter than when using an AAM portal (30.3 ± 3.8 mm and 38.2 ± 3.1 mm, p < 0.001). The femoral tunnel length was significantly shorter in the group with PFCB compared to the group with no PFCB (25.9 ± 0.6 mm and 35.5 ± 4.5 mm, p = 0.011). The axial obliquity of the high AM portal was significantly higher than that of the AAM portal (52.2 ± 5.9° and 43.0 ± 2.3°, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In anatomic ACL reconstruction, a mal-positioned AM portal can cause abnormal tunnel orientation, which may lead to mechanical failure during ACL reconstruction. Therefore, it is important to select accurate AM portal positioning, and possibly using an AAM portal by measuring an accurate position when drilling a femoral tunnel in anatomic ACL reconstruction.

Erratum to: Betulin suppressed interleukin-1b-induced gene expression, secretion and proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase in cultured articular chondrocytes and production of matrix metalloproteinase in the knee joint of rat.

[This corrects the article on p. 19 in vol. 21, PMID: 28066137.].

Betulin suppressed interleukin-1ß-induced gene expression, secretion and proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase in cultured articular chondrocytes and production of matrix metalloproteinase in the knee joint of rat.

We investigated whether betulin affects the gene expression, secretion and proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in primary cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes, as well as in vivo production of MMP-3 in the rat knee joint to evaluate the potential chondroprotective effect of betulin. Rabbit articular chondrocytes were cultured and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß)-induced gene expression of MMP-3, MMP-1, MMP-13, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-4 (ADAMTS-4), ADAMTS-5 and type II collagen. Effect of betulin on IL-1ß-induced secretion and proteolytic activity of MMP-3 was investigated using western blot analysis and casein zymography, respectively. Effect of betulin on MMP-3 protein production was also examined in vivo. The results were as follows: (1) betulin inhibited the gene expression of MMP-3, MMP-1, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, and ADAMTS-5, but increased the gene expression of type II collagen; (2) betulin inhibited the secretion and proteolytic activity of MMP-3; (3) betulin suppressed the production of MMP-3 protein in vivo. These results suggest that betulin can regulate the gene expression, secretion, and proteolytic activity of MMP-3, by directly acting on articular chondrocytes.

Apigenin Regulates Interleukin-1ß-Induced Production of Matrix Metalloproteinase Both in the Knee Joint of Rat and in Primary Cultured Articular Chondrocytes.

We examined whether apigenin affects the gene expression, secretion and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in primary cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes, as well as in vivo production of MMP-3 in the knee joint of rat to evaluate the potential chondroprotective effects of apigenin. Rabbit articular chondrocytes were cultured in a monolayer, and reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß)-induced expression of MMP-3, MMP-1, MMP-13, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-4 (ADAMTS-4), and ADAMTS-5. In rabbit articular chondrocytes, the effects of apigenin on IL-1ß-induced secretion and proteolytic activity of MMP-3 were investigated using western blot analysis and casein zymography, respectively. The effect of apigenin on MMP-3 protein production was also examined in vivo. In rabbit articular chondrocytes, apigenin inhibited the gene expression of MMP-3, MMP-1, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, and ADAMTS-5. Furthermore, apigenin inhibited the secretion and proteolytic activity of MMP-3 in vitro, and inhibited production of MMP-3 protein in vivo. These results suggest that apigenin can regulate the gene expression, secretion, and activity of MMP-3, by directly acting on articular chondrocytes.

Chondroprotective Effects of Wogonin in Experimental Models of Osteoarthritis in vitro and in vivo.

We evaluated the chondroprotective effects of wogonin by investigating its effects on the gene expression and production of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in primary cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes, as well as on production of MMP-3 in the rat knee. Rabbit articular chondrocytes were cultured in a monolayer, and RT-PCR was used to measure interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß)-induced expression of MMP-3, MMP-1, MMP-13, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-4 (ADAMTS-4), and type II collagen. In rabbit articular chondrocytes, the effects of wogonin on IL-1ß-induced production and proteolytic activity of MMP-3 were investigated using western blot analysis and casein zymography, respectively. The effect of wogonin on MMP-3 protein production was also examined in vivo. In rabbit articular chondrocytes, wogonin inhibited the expression of MMP-3, MMP-1, MMP-13, and ADAMTS-4, but increased expression of type II collagen. Furthermore, wogonin inhibited the production and proteolytic activity of MMP-3 in vitro, and inhibited production of MMP-3 protein in vivo. These results suggest that wogonin can regulate the gene expression and production of MMP-3, by directly acting on articular chondrocytes.

Effect of anteromedial portal entrance drilling angle during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a three-dimensional computer simulation.

PURPOSE: The object of this study was to evaluate entrance angle effects on femoral tunnel length and cartilage damage during anteromedial portal drilling using three-dimensional computer simulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was obtained from an anatomic study performed using 16 cadaveric knees. The anterior cruciate ligament femoral insertion was dissected and the knees were scanned by computer tomography. Tunnels with different of three-dimensional entrance angles were identified using a computer simulation. The effects of different entrance angles on the femoral tunnel length and medial femoral cartilage damage were evaluated. Specifically, tunnel length and distance from the medial femoral condyle to a virtual cylinder of the femoral tunnel were measured. RESULTS: In tunnels drilled at a coronal angle of 45°, an axial angle of 45°, and a sagittal angle of 45°, the mean femoral tunnel length was 39.5±3.7 mm and the distance between the virtual cylinder of the femoral tunnel and the medial femoral condyle was 9.4±2.6 mm. The tunnel length at a coronal angle of 30°, an axial angle of 60°, and a sagittal angle of 45°, was 34.0±2.9 mm and the distance between the virtual cylinder of the tunnel and the medial femoral condyle was 0.7±1.3 mm, which was significantly shorter than the standard angle (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Extremely low and high entrance angles in both of axial plane and coronal plane produced inappropriate tunnel angles, lengths and higher incidence of cartilage damage. We recommend that angles in proximity to standard angles be chosen during femoral tunnel drilling through the anteromedial portal.