Intra-operative four-stranded hamstring tendon graft diameter evaluation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether clinical factors enable prediction of the diameter of hamstring tendons harvested for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: Eighty patients were submitted for reconstruction of the ACL with hamstring tendons in a quadruple manner. During surgery the diameter of the graft was measured. The variables analyzed were: age, gender, weight, height, operated side, dominant side, leg length, thigh length, thigh diameter, body mass index (BMI), and sports activity. The data was collected pre-operatively and correlated with the diameter of the graft. RESULTS: The diameter of the graft was strongly related to gender, height, leg length, thigh length, weight, and thigh diameter. Women presented significantly smaller graft diameter than men; as well as weight, height, leg length, and thigh length. Men with height equal to or greater than 1.80 m showed average graft diameter greater than the total group, and greater percentage of 9 mm grafts. CONCLUSION: The diameter of the hamstring graft is significantly associated to weight, height, leg length, thigh length, thigh diameter, and gender. The variable that had most influence was height, followed by gender and leg length. The variables BMI, age, sports activity, and dominant side did not present correlation. Tendon diameter was larger in men than in women. Men with a height equal to or greater than 1.80 m had a higher prevalence of 9 mm grafts and had a larger average tendon diameter. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prospective cross sectional collection of data, Level IV.

Estudo comparativo funcional e radiográfico preliminar da artroplastia total do joelho com componente tibial metal-backed e all-polyethylene / A functional and roentgenographic preliminary comparative study using metal-backed and all-polyethylene tibial components in total knee arthroplasty

OBJETIVO: Descrever e comparar clínica e radiograficamente pacientes submetidos a artroplastia total do joelho (ATJ) com implantes tibiais tipo all-polyethylene (ALP) e metal-backed (MTB). MÉTODOS: Pacientes submetidos a ATJ realizadas entre janeiro de 1998 e dezembro de 2004 foram agrupados de acordo com o tipo de implante recebido: all-polyethylene ou metal-backed. Sessenta pacientes compareceram para a avaliação, totalizando 82 joelhos operados. Destes, 22 pacientes haviam sido submetidos a ATJ apenas com ALP (12 unilaterais e 10 bilaterais), 33 pacientes apenas com MTB (26 unilaterais e sete bilaterais) e cinco pacientes foram submetidos a ATJ com ALP em um joelho e MTB em outro joelho, assim divididos: Grupo 1-37 joelhos com ALP e Grupo 2 - 45 joelhos com MTB. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença na avaliação clínica e funcional entre os grupos. A média de radioluscência no fêmur foi de 0,838mm para os pacientes do grupo 1 e 0,356mm para os pacientes do grupo 2 (p = 0,049). Para a tíbia, na incidência AP, houve um valor médio de 2,703mm para o grupo 1 e de 0,733mm para o grupo 2 (p = 0,000). Na incidência em perfil, o valor médio de osteólise foi de 0,405mm para o grupo 1 e de 0,200mm para o grupo 2 (p = 0,074). CONCLUSÕES: Não houve diferença entre os grupos na avaliação clínica e funcional. Houve aumento da radioluscência nas artroplastias com ALP, tanto no fêmur na incidência em perfil quanto na tíbia na incidência em AP. Nível de evidência IV - Estudo tipo série de caso.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and clinically and roentgenographically compare two populations who had undergone total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with all-polyethylene (ALP) and metal-backed (MTB) tibial components. METHODS: Two groups of 40 patients underwent TKA between January 1988 and December 2004. Sixty patients showed up for evaluation, totaling 82 operated knees. From these, 22 patients had undergone TKA with only ALP (12 unilateral and 10 bilateral), 33 patients with only MTB (26 unilateral and 7 bilateral) and 5 patients had undergone both implants. The 82 operated knees were divided into two groups according to the type of tibial implant: Group 1 - 37 knees with ALP and Group 2 - 45 knees with MTB. RESULTS: There was no clinical or functional difference in outcome between the studied groups. The measurement of radioluscent line in the femoral component averaged 0.838 mm in Group 1 and 0.356 mm in Group 2 (p=0.049). For the tibial component, in the AP view radioluscent line measurement averaged 2.703 mm in Group 1 and 0.733 mm in Group 2 (p=0.000); and in the lateral view, the average values were 0.405 mm in Group 1 and 0.200 mm in Group 2 (p=0.074). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in the functional or clinical outcomes between the groups. However, radioluscent line was observed more frequently in the ALP arthroplasty group, in the lateral view in the femoral component as well as the AP view of the tibial component. Level of evidence IV - case series study.

A FUNCTIONAL AND ROENTGENOGRAPHIC PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE STUDY USING METAL-BACKED AND ALL-POLYETHYLENE TIBIAL COMPONENTS IN TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and clinically and radiographically compare patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with all-polyethylene (ALP) and metal-backed (MTB) tibial implants. METHODS: Patients who underwent TKA between January 1988 and December 2004 were grouped according to the type of implant received: all-polyethylene or metal-backed. Sixty patients came for evaluations, totaling 82 operated knees. Among these, 22 patients had undergone TKA only with ALP (12 unilateral and 10 bilateral cases), 33 patients only with MTB (26 unilateral and 7 bilateral cases) and five patients underwent TKA with ALP in one knee and MTB in the other. The knees were divided thus: group 1, 37 knees with ALP; and group 2, 45 knees with MTB. RESULTS: There were no differences in clinical or functional evaluations between the groups. The mean radiolucency in the femur was 0.838 mm for the patients in group 1 and 0.356 mm for the patients in group 2 (p = 0.049). For the tibia, in the AP view, there was a mean value of 2.703 mm for group 1 and 0.733 mm for group 2 (p = 0.000). In the lateral view, the mean values for osteolysis was 0.405 mm for group 1 and 0.200 mm for group 2 (p = 0.074). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences between the groups in the functional and clinical evaluations. However, greater radiolucency was observed in the arthroplasties with ALP, both in the femur in the lateral view and in the tibia in the AP view. Level of evidence IV - case series study.