Evaluation of free vascularized medial femoral condyle bone grafts in the treatment of avascular scaphoid waist nonunion.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the medial femoral condyle (MFC) bone graft procedure for scaphoid waist nonunion with avascular necrosis on magnetic resonance imaging or prior surgery failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2015 and December 2018, a total of 17 patients (16 males, 1 female; mean age: 29±8.2 years; range, 16 to 40 years) with scaphoid waist nonunion who were treated with vascularized MFC bone grafting were retrospectively analyzed. Pre- and postoperative carpal indices, grip strengths for both hands, range of motion, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QDASH) score, and Mayo Wrist Score (MWS) were evaluated. RESULTS: After vascularized MFC bone graft surgery, 15 patients healed and returned to work without any limitations. Ten patients of left scaphoid nonunion and seven cases of right scaphoid nonunion were treated; for eight of these patients, the operation was on the dominant side. Eight of these patients were smokers. The mean follow-up was 22.4±5.8 months. The mean hand grip strength was increased from 74.5 to 84% on the contralateral side (p<0.05). The average revised carpal height ratio improved from 1.57 to 1.59 (p<0.05) and the scapholunate angle changed from 56.9° to 51.6° (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The MFC bone grafting is one of the best surgical procedures for small defects such as scaphoid waist nonunion with high union rates, good functional outcomes, and minimal donor site morbidity.

Total Infrapatellar Fat Pad Excision Leads to Worse Isokinetic Performance in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

There are concerns that total infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) excision in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) results in patellar tendon shortening due to ischemic contracture, but individual preference of the surgeon is still the main determinant between total or partial excision. The aim of this randomized controlled study was to compare isokinetic performance and clinical outcome of TKAs with total and partial excision of the IPFP. Seventy-two patients scheduled to undergo TKA for primary knee osteoarthritis by a single surgeon were randomly assigned to either total or partial excision group. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at postoperative 1 year, with Knee Society Score (KSS) and isokinetic measurements. The physiatrist performing isokinetic tests and patients were blinded to the study. There were no significant differences between the groups in respect of age, body mass index, gender, and preoperative KSS and isokinetic performance. Postoperatively, both groups had improved KSS knee and KSS function scores, with no difference determined. Knee extension peak torque was significantly higher postoperatively in the partial excision group at postoperative 1 year (p = 0.036). However, there were no significant differences in knee flexion peak torque following TKA (p = 0.649). The results of this study demonstrated that total excision of the IPFP during TKA is associated with worse isokinetic performance, which is most likely due to changes in the knee biomechanics with the development of patella baja. Partial excision of the IPFP appears to be a valid alternative to overcome this potential detrimental effect without impeding exposure to the lateral compartment. This is a Level I, therapeutic study.

Medium-term clinical and radiological results of surgically treated stage 3A Kienböck's disease.

The purpose of this study was to compare the methods of distal radial shortening osteotomy (RSO), lateral closing distal radial wedge osteotomy (RWO), and scaphotrapeziotrapezoid (STT) fusion in the treatment of stage 3A Kienböck's disease (KD). The research was planned as a single-center and retrospective study for the period 2008-2018. Patients were allocated to three groups according to surgical method: group 1, patients with negative ulnar variance, undergoing RSO; group 2, patients with non-negative (neutral or positive) ulnar variance, undergoing RWO; and group 3, patients with non-negative ulnar variance, undergoing STT fusion. Radiological measurements were compared: pre- and postoperative Stahl index, radioscaphoid angle, and carpal height ratio. Clinical comparison used QuickDASH and modified Mayo wrist scores. Fifty-one patients, with a mean age of 34 ± 12 years (range; 16-69 years), were included. Mean follow-up was 4.47 ± 1.8 (range 2-9) years. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of change in carpal height ratio or Stahl index (respectively; P = 0.08, P = 0.065). A significant difference was observed in change in radioscaphoid angle between patients undergoing STT fusion versus RWO (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative functional scores between groups, and similar postoperative functional scores were achieved with STT fusion and with RWO in the surgical treatment of stage 3A KD with positive or neutral ulnar variance. Good medium-term radiological and clinical results were obtained with RSO in patients with stage 3A KD with negative ulnar variance.