Intraoperative graft decontamination during ACL reconstruction surgery.

Objective To evaluate different decontaminants for tendon grafts, proposing an antiseptic protocol for contaminated grafts. Methods A total of 25 patients were tissue donors for the study. Each participant donated a 2.5-cm tendon sample, which was divided into 5 fragments with 5 mm each during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. The collected material was divided into 5 groups, totaling 125 samples. In total, four fragments of each patient were placed on the operating room floor for one minute for contamination, simulating the fall of the graft on the floor during surgery. The other fragment was immediately placed in a sterile container (group 1). One of the contaminated fragments was placed in the sterile container without being previously immersed in decontaminating solution (group 2). The remaining fragments were immersed for ten minutes in decontaminating solution: 0.5% chlorhexidine (group 3), 0.9% saline (group 4) and 0.55% ortho-phthalaldehyde (group 5), and, after this time, they were individually placed in a sterile container. The samples from the 5 groups were submitted to microbiological examination. Results Bacteria were detected in 26% of the total samples in the microbiological tests, and in group 1 there was no growth of microorganisms. In group 2, bacterial growth was observed in 16 samples. Considering the evaluation of test groups 3, 4 and 5, the percentage of decontamination was higher than the growth of microorganisms in the respective cultures. Conclusion The protocol suggested by the study showed that intraoperative graft decontamination is possible.

Intraoperative graft decontamination during ACL reconstruction surgery / Descontaminação transoperatória de enxerto durante cirurgia de reconstrução do LCA

Abstract Objective To evaluate different decontaminants for tendon grafts, proposing an antiseptic protocol for contaminated grafts. Methods A total of 25 patients were tissue donors for the study. Each participant donated a 2.5-cm tendon sample, which was divided into 5 fragments with 5 mm each during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. The collected material was divided into 5 groups, totaling 125 samples. In total, four fragments of each patient were placed on the operating room floor for one minute for contamination, simulating the fall of the graft on the floor during surgery. The other fragment was immediately placed in a sterile container (group 1). One of the contaminated fragments was placed in the sterile container without being previously immersed in decontaminating solution (group 2). The remaining fragments were immersed for ten minutes in decontaminating solution: 0.5% chlorhexidine (group 3), 0.9% saline (group 4) and 0.55% ortho-phthalaldehyde (group 5), and, after this time, they were individually placed in a sterile container. The samples from the 5 groups were submitted to microbiological examination. Results Bacteria were detected in 26% of the total samples in the microbiological tests, and in group 1 there was no growth of microorganisms. In group 2, bacterial growth was observed in 16 samples. Considering the evaluation of test groups 3, 4 and 5, the percentage of decontamination was higher than the growth of microorganisms in the respective cultures. Conclusion The protocol suggested by the study showed that intraoperative graft decontamination is possible.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar diferentes descontaminantes para enxertos de tendões, propondo um protocolo de antissepsia para o enxerto contaminado. Métodos Um total de 25 pacientes foram doadores de tecido para o estudo. Cada participante doou uma amostra de 2,5 cm de tendão, a qual foi dividida em 5 fragmentos de 5 mm durante cirurgia de reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA). O material coletado foi dividido em 5 grupos, totalizando 125 amostras. Ao todo, quatro fragmentos de cada paciente foram colocados sobre o piso da sala cirúrgica, durante um minuto, para contaminação, simulando a queda do enxerto no chão durante o ato operatório. O outro fragmento foi, imediatamente, colocado em um recipiente esterilizado (grupo 1). Um dos fragmentos contaminados foi colocado no recipiente esterilizado sem ser previamente imerso em solução descontaminante (grupo 2). Os demais fragmentos foram imersos, por dez minutos, em solução descontaminante: clorexidina 0,5% (grupo 3), soro fisiológico 0,9% (grupo 4) e ortoftaldeído 0,55% (grupo 5), e, após esse tempo, foram colocados individualmente em um recipiente esterilizado. As amostras dos 5 grupos foram submetidas a exame microbiológico. Resultados Houve detecção de bactérias em 26% do total de amostras nos testes microbiológicos, sendo que no grupo 1 não houve crescimento de micro-organismos. No grupo 2, observou-se crescimento bacteriano em 16 amostras. Avaliando-se os grupos de teste 3, 4 e 5, o percentual de descontaminação foi superior ao crescimento de micro-organismos nas respectivas culturas. Conclusão O protocolo sugerido pelo estudo mostrou que é possível a descontaminação transoperatória do enxerto.

PROXIMAL TIBIAL OSTEOTOMY: STABILIZATION OF THE MEDIAL OPENING WITH A TRICORTICAL ILIAC BONE GRAFT.

OBJECTIVE: Radiographic assessment of lower limb alignment, in the frontal and sagittal planes, after high tibial osteotomy. To stabilize the osteotomy, a tricortical iliac graft was used, along with a positioning screw. METHODS: Prospective study on 46 patients with ages ranging from 17 to 61 years. Among them, 42 patients presented genu varum secondary to knee osteoarthritis and four from other causes. Teleradiography was performed for surgical planning, using the Frank Noyes method, as modified by Fugizawa. A conventional surgical access of 3 cm was made to harvest a tricortical iliac graft. Osteotomy was performed under radioscopic control, by means of an anteromedial incision of 3 cm with release of the superficial portion of the medial collateral ligament. The graft was placed in the posterior portion of the osteotomy, to maintain an unaltered tibial slope. The screw crossed the osteotomy orthogonally to protect the lateral cortex. Pre and postoperative radiographic criteria were established to assess the results. RESULTS: There was consolidation in 100% of the cases and maintenance of the mechanical axis, obtained intraoperatively, in 94% of the cases. The posterior slope of the tibial plateau in the sagittal plane ranged from 7° to 12°. Joint mobility was restored in all the patients. Eleven patients presented temporary pain at the site of graft harvesting, but none had paresthesia. The incidence of complications was 8% (infection, loss of correction and joint fracture). CONCLUSION: The technique was shown to be reproducible, simple, biological, accurate and low-cost, and it may be an alternative to the existing techniques.

Osteotomia proximal da tíbia: estabilização da abertura medial com enxerto tricortical de ilíaco / Proximal tibial osteotomy: stabilization of the medial opening with atricortical iliac bone graft

OBJETIVO: Avaliação radiográfica do alinhamento do membro inferior, nos planos frontal e sagital, após osteotomia alta da tíbia. Para estabilização da osteotomia foi utilizado enxerto tricortical de ilíaco e parafuso de posicionamento. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo envolvendo 46 pacientes com idade entre 17 e 61 anos, sendo 42 portadores de geno varo secundário à osteoartrose e quatro por outras causas. A telerradiografia foi realizada para planejamento cirúrgico, utilizando o método de Frank Noyes modificado por Fugizawa. Foi realizado acesso cirúrgico convencional de 3cm para retirada do enxerto tricortical de ilíaco. A osteotomia foi realizada sob controle de radioscopia, por incisão anteromedial de 3cm com liberação da porção superficial do ligamento colateral medial. O enxerto foi colocado na porção posterior da osteotomia, para manter inalterado o slope tibial. O parafuso cruzou a osteotomia ortogonalmente para proteger a cortical lateral. Foram estabelecidos critérios radiográficos pré e pós-operatórios para avaliação dos resultados. RESULTADOS: Houve consolidação em 100 por cento dos casos e manutenção do eixo mecânico, obtido no intraoperatório, em 94 por cento. A inclinação posterior do platô tibial, no plano sagital, variou entre 7º e 12º. A mobilidade articular foi restabelecida em todos os pacientes operados. Onze pacientes apresentaram dor temporária no local da retirada do enxerto; no entanto, nenhum apresentou parestesia. A incidência de complicações foi de 8 por cento (infecção, perda da correção, fratura articular). CONCLUSÃO: A técnica mostrou-se reprodutível, simples, biológica, precisa e com baixos custos, podendo ser uma alternativa às técnicas já existentes.

OBJECTIVE: Roentgenographic assessment of lower limb alignment, in the frontal and sagittal planes, after a high tibial osteotomy. To stabilize the osteotomy, a tricortical iliac graft was used along with a positioning screw. METHODS: Prospective study of 46 patients with ages ranging from 17 to 61 years. Among them, 42 patients were carriers of genu varum secondary to knee osteoarthritis and four from other causes. Radiography was performed for surgical planning, using the Frank Noyes method modified by Fugizawa. Three cm conventional surgical access was performed to remove a tricortical iliac graft. The osteotomy was performed under fluoroscopic control, by 3 cm anteromedial incision with release of the superficial portion of the medial collateral ligament. The graft was placed in the posterior portion of the osteotomy to maintain an unaltered tibial slope. The screw crossed the osteotomy orthogonally to protect the lateral cortex. Radiographic criteria were established pre-and postoperatively to assess the results. RESULTS: There was consolidation in 100 percent of cases and maintenance of the mechanical axis, obtained intraoperatively in 94 percent of cases. Correction of mechanical axis occurred in 94 percent (43 patients / 47 osteotomies). The posterior slope of the tibial plateau in the sagittal plane ranged from 7º to 12º. Joint mobility was restored in all patients. Eleven patients had temporary pain at the site of graft removal, however, none had paraesthesia. The incidence of complications was 8 percent (infection, loss of correction, joint fracture). CONCLUSION: This technique is reproducible, simple, biologic, accurate, low-cost, and can be used as an alternative to existing techniques.