Analysis of factors influencing improvement of idiopathic flatfoot.

ABSTRACT: Idiopathic flatfoot is common in infants and children, and patients with this condition are frequently referred to pediatric orthopedic clinics. Flatfoot is a physiologic process, and that the arch of the foot elevates spontaneously in most children during the first decade of life. To achieve a consensus as the rate of spontaneous improvement of flatfoot, the present study aimed to estimate the rate of spontaneous improvement of flatfoot and to analyze correlating factors.We reviewed the records of patients examined between May 2013 and May 2019 so as to identify those factors associated with idiopathic flatfoot below 12 years of age. We included patients with who had been followed for >6 months, and those for whom ≥2 (anteroposterior and lateral) weight-bearing bilateral radiographs of the foot had been obtained. The progression rates of the anteroposterior (AP) talo-first metatarsal angle, talonavicular coverage angle, lateral talo-first metatarsal angle, and calcaneal pitch angle were adjusted by multiple factors using a linear mixed model, with sex, body mass index, and Achilles tendon contracture as the fixed effects and age and each subject as the random effects.We found that 4 of the radiographic measurements improved as patients grew older. The AP talo-first metatarsal angle, talonavicular coverage angle, and the lateral talo-first metatarsal angle decreased, while the calcaneal pitch angle increased. The AP talo-first metatarsal angle (P < .001), talonavicular coverage angle (P < .001), and lateral talo-first metatarsal angle (P < .001) improved significantly; however, the calcaneal pitch angle (P = .367) did not show any significant difference. In general, the flatfeet showed an improving trend; after analyzing the factors, no sex difference was observed (P = .117), while body mass index (P < .001) and Achilles tendon contracture (P < .001) showed a negative correlation.The study demonstrated that children's flatfeet spontaneously improved at the age of 12 years. It would be more beneficial if the clinician shows the predicted appearance of the foot at the completion of growth by calculating the radiographic indices and identifying the correlating factors in addition to explaining that flatfoot may gradually improve. This will prevent unnecessary medical expenses and the psychological adverse effects to the children caused by unnecessary treatment.

Comparison of functional outcomes between single-radius and multi-radius femoral components in primary total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: Our purpose in the current meta-analysis was to compare the functional outcomes in patients who have received single-radius (SR) or multi-radius (MR) femoral components in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The hypothesis was that there would be no statistically significant difference between two groups in terms of functional outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the international electronic databases PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to February 2020 for RCTs that compared functional outcomes of SR and MR femoral component designs after primary TKA. We performed a meta-analysis of nine RCTs using the Knee Society Score for the knee (KSS-knee), KSS-function, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), degree of knee flexion, extension, and complications, including postoperative infection and revision surgery. RESULTS: The meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in all the analyzed variables, including KSS-knee, KSS-function, KOOS, OKS, knee flexion, and knee extension. For postoperative complications, no statistically significant differences were detected for femoral component designs in postoperative infection or incidence of revision surgery between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The current meta-analysis of RCTs did not show any statistically significant differences between SR and MR femoral component designs in terms of postoperative functional outcomes. Evaluated outcomes included functional outcome scores, degree of knee flexion, extension, and complications. However, because of the limited clinical evidence of this study owing to the heterogeneity between the included RCTs, a careful approach should be made in order not to arrive at definite conclusions.

Outcome Differences of Remnant- Preserving versus Non-Preserving Methods in Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Meta-analysis with Subgroup analysis.

PURPOSE: To analyze differences in clinical outcomes of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction between remnant-preserving and non-preserving methods. METHODS: International electronical databases PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane central database from January 1966 to December 2017 were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies that compared differences of clinical outcomes of ACL reconstruction with and without remnant preservation. A meta-analysis of these studies was performed to compare clinical outcomes. Subgroup analyses were conducted to evaluate the role of methodological quality in primary meta-analysis estimates. RESULTS: Five RCTs and six observational studies were included in this meta-analysis and subgroup analysis. The remnant-preserving method in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction showed a statistically significant difference compared to the non-preserving method regarding arthrometric evaluation (side-to-side difference). Lachman test, Lysholm scores, and IKDC subjective scores showed statistically minor difference in meta-analysis, but showed no significant difference in subgroup analysis. Remained parameters including pivot shift test, IKDC grades, incidence of cyclops lesion showed no statistically differences in meta-analysis or subgroup analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis with subgroup analysis showed that arthroscopic remnant-preserving ACL reconstruction provided statistically significant but limited clinical relevance in terms of arthrometric evaluation. Results of Lachman test, Lysholm scores, and IKDC subjective scores demonstrated statistically minor differences.

Preservation of the Tibial Remnant in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction May Improve Postoperative Proprioceptive Function.

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare clinical results, including proprioceptive function, after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction between 2 groups using techniques that preserve and eliminate the tibial remnant. Forty-eight patients who were followed for at least 24 months after ACL reconstruction with 4-strand hamstring tendon autografts were enrolled in this study. They were then divided into 2 groups: the remnant-preserving group (group A, 26 patients), in whom more than 7 mm of the remnant tibial stump (approximately 20% of the mean length of the ACL) was preserved; and the remnant-eliminating group (group B, 22 patients), in whom the tibial remnant was eliminated during ACL reconstruction. The average duration of follow-up was 25.5 months. At last follow-up, patients were evaluated using the International Knee Documentation Committee scale, Hospital for Special Surgery score, Lachman test, arthrometer, reproduction of passive positioning (RPP) test, threshold to detection of passive motion (TTDPM) test, one-leg hop test, and single-limb standing test. The clinical results between the 2 groups were statistically compared. Group A showed significantly better results on the RPP test at 15° (P=.040) and 30° (P=.010), one-leg hop test (P=.017), and single-limb standing test (P=.007) compared with group B. The other results showed no significant differences. The remnant-preserving technique in ACL reconstruction yields better proprioceptive and functional outcomes and may help achieve postoperative patient satisfaction. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(4):e231-e236.].

Comparison of medial and lateral tibial tunnel in pullout repair of posterior root tear of medial meniscus: Radiologic, clinical, and arthroscopic outcomes.

PURPOSE: Medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) should be repaired to the correct position as possible to maintain hoop tension of the meniscus. In this study, we propose a comparison of the outcome between the medial tunnel and the lateral tunnel in the pullout suture technique using the tibial tunnel for anatomical repair of posterior root tear of medial meniscus. METHODS: From April 2010, of patients who underwent pullout suture, 51 cases (24 medial tunnel group (MTG) and 27 lateral tunnel group (LTG)) were able to follow-up with second look arthroscopy. Original Coronal Ratio of Root Attachment (CRORA) was defined as the ratio of the distance from the medial edge of the tibial plateau to the root attach site divided by the entire tibial medial-lateral width on preoperative computed tomography. Error between postoperative CRORA and original CRORA was calculated. We compared this error, clinical outcome, and arthroscopic finding between MTG and LTG. RESULTS: The mean error ratio of postoperative CRORA divided by original CRORA was 0.86 ± 0.11 in MTG, which was significantly (p = 0.001) lower than that (1.02 ± 0.06) in LTG. The mean value of the root attach point in the MTG with a post/original CRORA value of 0.86 ± 0.11 means statistically significant medialization after the operation. There was no statistically significant difference in changes of International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholom score between MTG and LTG. The difference between the two groups of arthritis progression was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In patients with MMPRT, CRORA may provide a basis for coronal assessment of root repair position before and after surgery, and lateral tibial tunnel technique can help anatomical repair by reducing technical error due to guide pin slip medially compared to medial tibial tunnel technique.

Physeal fracture in the wrist and hand due to stress injury in a child climber: A case report.

RATIONALE: In competitive athletes, the upper extremity is subject to tremendous torsional forces with axial loading due to repetitive weight bearing. Approximately 25% of injuries in sports are related to the hand or wrist. Skeletal deformity on the wrist physis is common in athletes due to repetitive loading and presents at early ages between 6 and 13 years. Additionally, it is more common in female than in male athletes. PATIENT CONCERNS: An 11-year-old girl who was a climber complained of pain on her left wrist without direct trauma. She had participated in climbing exercise for several years and had no medical history. Thorough radiological evaluation, we diagnosed physeal injury of the left radius. After healing of the physeal injury of the radius, she complained of pain on fourth finger of right hand and radiographs revealed physeal injury of the right fourth finger. DIAGNOSIS: Radiographs revealed physeal injury of the left radius. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed epiphyseal widening of the radial aspect of the wrist and bone marrow signal increase on T2-weighted imaging. Likewise, radiographs showed physeal injury of the right fourth finger INTERVENTIONS:: No surgery was performed and we applied wrist brace and finger splint for conservative treatment. OUTCOMES: The patient's pain was immediately relieved. The patient had no complications or recurrence of symptoms and was undergoing regular check-ups every 6 months. LESSONS: During climbing exercise, repeated high pressure causes damage of the hand and wrist joints in young patients. Chronic pain in this group must be carefully evaluated, and radiographs should be obtained for diagnosis and early treatment. Conservative treatment of these injuries has good results, and avoiding intensive power training avoids the risk of this injury.

Does the tibial remnant of the anterior cruciate ligament promote ligamentization?

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to clarify the difference in ligamentization between the remnant-preserving (RP) and remnant-sacrificing (RS) techniques in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: A retrospective comparative study was carried out on 98 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction using either an RP (n=56) or RS (n=42) technique. MRI was performed at one of four time points postoperatively, and the signal intensity of the ACL graft was analyzed using the signal to noise quotient (SNQ) ratio and inter-bundle high signal intensity, along with an analysis of the survival rate of remnant tissue. RESULTS: The mean SNQ ratio of grafted tendons in the RP group was significantly higher than that seen in the RS group in the proximal and middle regions two to four months after surgery (P<0.05) and was significantly lower than that seen in the RS group in all regions at 12 -18months (P<0.05). The inter-bundle high signal intensity was observed more frequently in the RP group (73.7%) at two to four months. Tibial remnants were observed on postoperative MRI regardless of when MRI was conducted. CONCLUSION: The ACL graft of the RP group showed higher signal intensity in the early stage and lower signal intensity in the late stage compared to that of the RS group. The ligamentization of grafts in the RP group proceeded more quickly. Preserving the remnant in ACL reconstruction appears to have a positive effect on ligamentization.

Revision Arthroplasty Using a MUTARS® Prosthesis in Comminuted Periprosthetic Fracture of the Distal Femur.

Periprosthetic fractures after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are gradually increasing, reflecting extended lifespan, osteoporosis, and the increasing proportion of the elderly during the past decade. Supracondylar periprosthetic femoral fracture is a potential complication after TKA. Generally, open reduction and internal fixation are the conventional option for periprosthetic fracture after TKA. However, the presence of severe comminution with component loosening can cause failure of internal fixation. Although the current concept for periprosthetic fracture is open reduction and internal fixation, we introduce an unusual case of revision arthroplasty using a MUTARS® prosthesis for a comminuted periprosthetic fracture in the distal femur after TKA, with technical tips.

Anatomic Single-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Remnant Preservation Using Outside-In Technique.

This report describes a modified anatomic single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction technique using the FlipCutter guide pin (Arthrex, Naples, FL) as a retrograde drill and a cortical suspensory fixation device (TightRope; Arthrex) with an adjustable graft loop length. Preservation of the ACL remnant as a biological sleeve for the graft is an important issue from the viewpoints of acceleration of revascularization and ligamentization, preservation of the proprioceptive nerve fibers, enhancement of the biological environment for healing, and maintenance of the anchor point at the native tibial attachment, in addition to yielding a lower incidence of tibial bone tunnel enlargement. The goal of our technique is to obtain some advantages of the remnant-preserving technique through an anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction, which is performed to minimize damage to the ACL tibial remnant.

A pulled sutures technique for bony Bankart lesion.

In an attempt to present a new surgical technique for arthroscopic bony Bankart fixation, the authors developed the pulled sutures technique. In executing the new method, the authors first passed several non-absorbable sutures through labroligamentous tissue with displaced articular fragment by mimicking transglenoid suture technique. Aimed at achieving a safe and stable fixation, using a knotless anchor rather than transglenoid suture, was deployed. Overall, this pulled sutures technique was shown to be effective with the result of direct reduction, stable, and safe fixation for bony Bankart's lesion.

Immunohistochemical study of mechanoreceptors in the tibial remnant of the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in human knees.

This study was performed to identify the mechanoreceptors in the tibial remnants of ruptured human anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) by immunohistochemical staining. Thirty-six specimens of tibial ACL remnants were obtained from patients with ACL ruptures during arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. As control, two normal ACL specimens were taken from healthy knee amputated at thigh level due to trauma. The specimen was serially sectioned at 40 mum. In control group, the average number of sections per specimen was 132, and a total of 264 slices were available. In remnant group, the average number of sections per specimen was 90, and a total of 3,251 slices were available. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the neural element of mechanoreceptors. Histologic examinations were performed under a light microscope and interpreted by a pathologist. Nineteen (8 Ruffini, 11 Golgi) mechanoreceptors were identified in the two normal ACLs, which were evenly distributed at both tibial and femoral attachments. In the remnant group, mechanoreceptors were observed in 12 out of 36 cases (33%), and a total of 17 (6 Ruffini and 11 Golgi) mechanoreceptors observed. No significant differences in the harvest volume, number of sections, age, or time between injury to surgery was observed between the 12 mechanoreceptor-present and the 24 mechanoreceptor-absent ones. The presence of mechanoreceptor at the tibial remnants of torn ACLs was verified. The immunohistochemical staining methodology proved useful, but requires further refinement. Although the mechanoreceptors were detected relatively less frequently than expected, the authors consider that it does not negate the necessity of remnant-preserving ACL reconstruction.

Comparison of clinical results according to amount of preserved remnant in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using quadrupled hamstring graft.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical results of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with the remnant-preserving technique by use of a hamstring graft and looped sutures according to the amount of the tibial remnant of the ACL. METHODS: Sixteen subjects had undergone ACL reconstruction with the remnant-preserving technique by use of 4 strands of a hamstring tendon and a looped suture technique and were followed up for at least 12 months. The mean follow-up was 35.1 months. At the last follow-up examination, the patients were evaluated with the International Knee Documentation Committee scale and Hospital for Special Surgery score as subjective tests; stress radiographs, Lachman test, and anterior drawer test by use of the KT-2000 arthrometer (MEDmetric, San Diego, CA) as objective tests; and single-legged hop test, reproduction of passive positioning, threshold to detection of passive motion, and single-limb standing test as functional tests. On the basis of the extent of ACL remnant, patients were then divided into 2 groups. Group I comprised patients with more than 20%, and group II comprised those with less than 20%. For each of the 2 groups, a statistical comparison of the final results was made. RESULTS: The mean Hospital for Special Surgery score improved from 65.8 (preoperatively) to 95.2 (at last follow-up). Functional evaluation revealed that the difference was not significant in terms of mechanical stability, but a significant difference was detected in functional outcome and proprioception. Regarding the threshold to detection of passive motion at 30 degrees (P = .030) and reproduction of passive positioning at 15 degrees (P = .032) and 30 degrees (P = .024), group I (> 20%) showed better results than group II (< 20%). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that the remnant-preserving technique described showed good proprioceptive and functional outcomes with statistical significance. Therefore it may be expected that the more the tibial remnant is kept intact, the better the preservation of proprioceptive function will be. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prognostic case series.

Bilateral symptomatic discoid medial meniscus: report of three cases.

Discoid medial meniscus is very rare and bilateral discoid medial meniscus is extremely rare. We report symptomatic bilateral discoid meniscus with abnormal attachment to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in three patients and we think that our report is a combination of very rare conditions. The patients had symptoms in both sides and we performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and operated five knees. The operation methods were different by the condition of menisci.