Low Femoral Tunnel Widening Incidence Rate After ACL Reconstruction Using Patellar Tendon Graft with Press-Fit Fixation.

Background: Femoral tunnel widening after ACL reconstruction is a common phenomenon. We hypothesized that using a patellar tendon graft with a press-fit fixation technique without any fixation device reduces the incidence of femoral tunnel widening. Methods: This study was conducted on 467 patients with ACL surgery between 2003 and 2015. Two hundred and nineteen of them had an ACL surgery with patellar tendon (PT) graft, and two hundred and forty-eight of them with hamstring tendon (HS). Exclusion criteria were history of previous ACL reconstruction of either knee, multiple ligament injury, or evidence of osteoarthritis on radiographs. The femoral tunnels were measured on the anteroposterior (ap) and lateral radiographs 6 months after the operation. Two independent orthopedic surgeons measured all radiographs twice and recorded the tunnel widenings. We hypothesized that using an implant-free press-fit technique with PT graft can reduce the femoral tunnel widening incidence rate. Results: The mean incidence rate of the tunnel widening in the HS group was, on the AP and the lateral femoral views, 88% (n = 217) and 83% (n = 205), while in the PT group, 17% (n = 37) and 2% (n = 4), respectively. There was a significant difference both on AP and lateral radiographs (HS vs. PT: fem. AP: 89% vs. 17% p < 0.001; HS vs. PT: fem. lat: 84% vs. 2% p < 0.001). Conclusion: The femoral tunnel widening incidence rate during an ACL reconstruction is significantly less when using PT tendon with femoral press-fit fixation than when using HT tendon with suspensory fixation method.

Reduction of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury via glutamine pretreatment.

BACKGROUND: Surgical methods that reduce bleeding during major hepatic resections lead to warm ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury of the liver. This is well known to have a considerable impact on the postoperative outcome. Much research work has been done to develop possible protective techniques. We aimed to investigate the effectivity of L-alanyl-L-glutamine dipeptide pretreatment in an animal model of hepatic I-R injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats underwent normothermic, 60 min segmental liver ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion. The animals (n=30) were divided into three experimental groups: sham operated, I-R, and glutamine (Gln) pretreated. Twenty-four h prior to I-R injury, rats in the Gln group received 500 mg/kg Dipeptiven infusion as glutamine pretreatment. Hepatic microcirculation during the first hour of reperfusion was monitored by noninvasive laser Doppler flowmeter. After a 24-h reperfusion period, liver tissue was analyzed by histologic and immunohistochemical assessments. Serum necroenzyme and antioxidant levels were measured. RESULTS: In the Gln group, the integral of the reperfusion curve (RA) and the plateau maximum (PM(10)) of the flow graph showed improving tendency (RA: P=0.096; PM(10): P=0.084). Severity of histologic damage was reduced. Serum necroenzymes (ALT: P=0.042, AST: P=0.044) were significantly lower. Chemiluminescent intensity of liver and plasma was significantly decreased (P=0.0003 and P=0.0496). Further spectrophotometric analysis of liver homogenate samples also showed significant improvement of the redox homeostasis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that L-alanyl-L-glutamine dipeptide pretreatment given 24 h prior to I-R injury could be an effective method to reduce liver damage caused by hepatic inflow occlusion.

Outcomes After Arthroscopic Anterior Shoulder Stabilization in Professional Handball Players.

BACKGROUND: Although numerous studies have reported on the redislocation rate and functional results of arthroscopic treatment for anterior shoulder instability in athletes, they have not disclosed outcomes in the high-risk group of elite handball players. PURPOSE: To investigate the postoperative outcomes of arthroscopic treatment for anterior shoulder instability as well as the return-to-sport (RTS) rate in professional handball players. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Involved in this study were 44 competitive handball players (47 shoulders) who underwent arthroscopic anterior capsulolabral reconstruction between 2010 and 2018 and had a minimum follow-up of 24 months. After surgery, patients completed a questionnaire that collected Rowe and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores and RTS data, and we compared these results with their preoperative scores. We also compared results according to the following subgroups: true dislocations versus recurrent subluxations, younger (<20 years) versus older (≥20 years) age, male versus female sex, and shorter versus longer duration of instability. Statistical analysis included the paired-samples t test and nonparametric Fisher exact test. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 52.2 ± 21.4 months. There were 4 shoulders (9%) with recurrent instability. There were significant preoperative to postoperative improvements in the mean Rowe score (from 45.2 to 91.8) and mean ASES score (from 70.6 to 95.7) (P < .001 for both). Overall, the RTS rate was 83%, and 64% (30/47 shoulders) were able to return to their preinjury level. The RTS rate was significantly lower in the younger players than in the older players (46% vs 86%, respectively; P = .005). CONCLUSION: The study results indicated that handball players with anterior shoulder instability can be treated using arthroscopic labral reconstruction successfully and 83% of the athletes were able to RTS activity. The handball players aged ≥20 years returned to their preinjury level of sport at a higher rate than did those aged <20 years.

Return to Sport After Arthroscopic Treatment of Posterior Shoulder Instability.

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic treatment of posterior shoulder instability has become more popular and effective in recent years, but few data are available concerning the rate of return to sport. PURPOSE: To present our experiences with arthroscopic posterior labral reconstruction in athletes and review our results, with a particular focus on the rate of return to sport. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Included in the study were 40 arthroscopic stabilizations performed because of posterior shoulder instability in 37 athletes at a single institution. During follow-up, the athletes' rate of return to sport was calculated. Shoulder function was evaluated based on a pre- versus postoperative comparison of the Rowe instability score and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score. Additionally, the return-to-sport rate was compared among different subgroups: traumatic versus atraumatic origin of injury, competitive versus recreational athletes, high-risk versus low-risk sport, and posterior-only versus anterior and posterior stabilization. Data were statistically analyzed using paired-samples t test and nonparametric Fisher exact test. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 54.4 months (range, 24-112 months). Three shoulders (7.5%) continued to have posterior subluxations postoperatively. There were 34 excellent, 3 good, and 3 fair results based on the Rowe score (average postoperative score, 92.9), and patients achieved an average postoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score of 92.7. The pre- to postoperative improvement was statistically significant in both scoring systems (P < .001). Of the 37 patients, 36 (98.2%) were able to return to sport activity: 27 of them (72.9%) to their original sport and 19 (51.4%) at their preinjury level. A significantly higher rate of return to the same sport occurred in athletes who had traumatic injury compared with a subgroup of athletes without a traumatic event (P < .02). CONCLUSION: More than half of the athletes were able to return to their preinjury level of sport after arthroscopic posterior labral reconstruction. In addition, low recurrence rates and good functional outcomes were seen in >90% of the patients, and 98% returned to sport activity. The athletes had a significantly higher rate of return to sport if their posterior shoulder instability had a clear traumatic origin.

[Effect of postconditioning in major vascular operations on rats]. / Posztkondicionálás kísérletes alkalmazása aortakirekesztés kapcsán.

BACKGROUND: Postconditioning - using alternating brief cycles of reperfusion/reocclusion applied just at the very beginning of reperfusion - has recently been described as a potent therapeutic technique, attenuating ischaemia-reperfusion injury. In vascular surgery, certain elective interventions involve cross-clamping of major arteries, resulting in temporary ischaemia in large peripheral organs, which thus suffer ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Patients undergoing these operations may develop also serious systemic complications such as multiple distant organ dysfunctions, SIRS, detrimental redistribution of the circulation or even shock, a phenomenon called reperfusion-syndrome. We studied the effects of postconditioning on reperfusion-syndrome in a rodent experimental model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Anaesthetized male Wistar rats underwent 180 minutes of bilateral lower limb ischaemia and 4 hours of reperfusion using an infrarenal cross-clamping of the abdominal aorta. Control animals underwent no additional intervention. Postconditioning consisted of 6 cycles of 10-second aortic occlusion/10-second declamping starting at the beginning of reperfusion. Haemodynamic parameters were observed with invasive arterial manometer, microcirculation of the lower limb was detected with laser-Doppler-flowmeter. After 4 hours of reperfusion serum, urine, and histological samples were collected. RESULTS: 180-minute ischaemia resulted in significant haemodynamic changes after reperfusion. Postconditioning affected the character of the microcirculatory flow curves, the limb circulation stabilized with hyperaemia after reperfusion. Postconditioning caused a significant reduction in systemic inflammatory response (TNF-alpha, oxygen-derived free radicals). The laboratory and histological samples implied a significant decrease in remote organ (lung and renal) dysfunctions after postconditioning. CONCLUSION: Postconditioning proves to be capable in conferring protection against different organ injuries caused by longer circulatory occlusions during elective major vascular surgeries.