Pre-operative templating for knee arthroplasty shows low accuracy with standard X-rays.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of pre-operative templating in predicting the size of femoral and tibial components and the effect of coronal deformity on templating accuracy. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 39 pre-operative templates prepared by three different surgeons with different levels of training. The accuracy and reliability measures were evaluated by alpha and kappa coefficients of agreement. The analysis of the effect of coronal deformity on the accuracy of the template was measured by the Spearman's correlation test. RESULTS: Templating was accurate for the femoral component in 28.21% of anterposterior (AP) radiographs and 35.90% of lateral radiographs. Kappa coefficients were respectively 0.111 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: -0.19 to 0.241) and 0.200 (95%CI: -0.010 to 0.401), indicating poor agreement. Templating accuracy for the tibial component were, respectively, 37.61% and 47.01% for AP and lateral views. Kappa coefficients were 0.186 (95%CI: -0.070 to 0.379) for the AP view and 0.315 (95%CI: -0.199 to 0.431) for the lateral view, showing poor and slight agreement respectively. Considering a margin of error of ±1 sizes, the agreement level improved for all components, particularly for tibia, where agreement levels become very good. The inter-observer agreement was fair for all components, except for the lateral view of the femoral component, whose agreement was good. The Spearman correlation test showed no correlation between accuracy of templating and coronal deformity. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative templating is an unreliable and inaccurate tool. There is no relation between coronal deformity and accuracy of templating.

Viscosupplementation in patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee: six month follow-up of a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To analyze the early outcomes of viscosupplementation in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis. METHOD: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial of 143 knees divided into three groups: Group 1 - intra-articular injection of triamcinolone; Group 2 - hylan GF20; and Group 3 - triamcinolone + hylan GF20. Outcomes were evaluated using Lysholm and KSS scores before treatment and after one, three and six months. RESULTS: Within-group comparisons revealed improvements in Lysholm scores in all groups in the one month evaluation relative to pre-treatment levels (p < 0.01). This improvement was maintained in the third month after treatment (p > 0.05). Scores at six months were significantly lower than those observed in the previous follow-up assessments (p < 0.05), but still higher than pre-treatment levels (p < 0.05). KSS scores also improved after one month relative to pre-treatment levels (p < 0.01). This improvement was still present at three and six months after treatment in the corticosteroid group (p > 0.05). Patients treated with hylan GF20 showed lower scores in the last evaluation relative to month one (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the treatment groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Viscosupplementation increased functional scores in patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee, especially within three months of injection. However, it was not superior to the use of triamcinolone.

Periprosthetic Knee Infection - Part 2: Treatment.

Several treatment modalities are proposed for periprosthetic infections, with variable success rates. However, efficacy is related to the appropriate selection of cases for each type of treatment. Debridement with implant retention is indicated in acute infections with fixed implant, and its success depends on the type of infection, comorbidities of the host, and virulence of the etiological agent. One- or two-stage revision is required in cases in which biofilm is forming, or of implant loosening. The choice between performing the review in one or two stages depends on factors such as etiological agent identification, pathogen virulence, local and systemic host factors. Rescue procedures such as arthrodesis, amputation, resection arthroplasty or even antibiotic suppression are reserved for cases in which the infection has not been eradicated.

Periprosthetic Knee Infection - Part 1: Risk Factors, Classification and Diagnosis.

Infection is one of the most feared complications in the postoperative period of knee arthroplasties. With the progressive aging of the population and the increased incidence of degenerative joint diseases, there is an exponential increase in the number of arthroplasties performed and, consequently, in the number of postoperative infections. The diagnosis of these should follow a hierarchical protocol, with well-defined criteria, which lead to diagnostic conclusion, thus guiding the most appropriate treatment. The aim of the present update article is to present the main risk factors, classifications and, mainly, to guide diagnostic investigation in an organized manner.

Meniscal Root Repair Alone or Combined with Different Procedures After at Least 6 Months of Follow-Up: A Series of Cases.

Purpose: To analyze clinical and functional outcomes of patients submitted to posterior meniscal root repair of the medial or lateral meniscus in different settings, with at least 6 months of follow-up. Patients and Methods: Retrospective multicentric study assessing epidemiological characteristics and clinical-functional results of 22 patients who underwent meniscal root reinsertion (MRR) by transtibial technique. This study addressed different settings: isolated medial root repair, medial root repair associated with high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and lateral root repair associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Results: Twelve patients had an isolated tear of the posterior root of the medial meniscus and underwent MRR alone. Six patients had a varus axis >5°, undergoing MRR in addition to HTO in the same surgical procedure. Four patients underwent repair of the posterior root of the lateral meniscus associated with simultaneous reconstruction of the ACL. The main results of the study were observed in the improvement of the IKDC score from 27.7% preoperatively to 69.8% in the postoperative period (p < 0.0001) and the Lysholm score of 44.4 points preoperatively to 88.4 points in the postoperative period (p < 0.0001). Significant clinical and subjective improvements were also reported. Conclusion: Medial meniscal root repair, associated or not with valgus tibial osteotomy (when indicated) and lateral meniscal root repair associated with ACL reconstruction, improved clinical, functional, and subjective results of the patients presented in this case series in the short term.

Posterior-Medial Meniscal Root Repair Through Lateral Tibial Tunnel Combined With Medial Opening Osteotomy and Homologous Graft.

When there is a rupture in the meniscal roots or close to them, the menisci suddenly and considerably reduce their capacity to absorb the axial mechanical load that passes through the knee, quickly leading to the development of a process of chondral degeneration. The varus deformity of the lower limb (when the mechanical axis crosses the medial compartment of the knee) favors this type of injury owing to the overload in the medial compartment. When the patient has both varus deformity and medial meniscal posterior root injury, there is a clear indication for surgical realignment of the affected lower limb. There is still not a consensus regarding combining meniscal root repair with corrective osteotomy, although there is a tendency to perform both procedures aiming at long-term joint preservation. We present a safe alternative technique for simultaneous medial meniscal posterior root repair using a lateral tibial transosseous tunnel associated with a valgus-producing high tibial osteotomy with homologous bone grafting, allowing a full return to daily activities and sports.

Periprosthetic Knee Infection - Part 1: Risk Factors, Classification and Diagnosis / Infecção periprotética do joelho - Parte 1: Fatores de risco, classificação e diagnóstico

Abstract Infection is one of the most feared complications in the postoperative period of knee arthroplasties. With the progressive aging of the population and the increased incidence of degenerative joint diseases, there is an exponential increase in the number of arthroplasties performed and, consequently, in the number of postoperative infections. The diagnosis of these should follow a hierarchical protocol, with welldefined criteria, which lead to diagnostic conclusion, thus guiding the most appropriate treatment. The aim of the present update article is to present the main risk factors, classifications and, mainly, to guide diagnostic investigation in an organized manner.

Resumo A infecção é uma das complicações mais temidas no pós-operatório de artroplastias do joelho. Com o envelhecimento populacional progressivo e o aumento da incidência de doenças degenerativas articulares, observa-se um aumento exponencial do número de artroplastias realizadas e, consequentemente, do número de infecções pós-operatórias. O diagnóstico destas devem seguir um protocolo hierarquizado, com critérios bem definidos, que conduzam à conclusão diagnóstica, orientando, assim, o tratamento mais adequado. O objetivo do presente artigo de atualização é apresentar os principais fatores de risco, as classificações e, principalmente, guiar de forma organizada a investigação diagnóstica.

Periprosthetic Knee Infection - Part 2: Treatment / Infecção periprotética do joelho - Parte 2: Tratamento

Abstract Several treatment modalities are proposed for periprosthetic infections, with variable success rates. However, efficacy is related to the appropriate selection of cases for each type of treatment. Debridement with implant retention is indicated in acute infections with fixed implant, and its success depends on the type of infection, comorbidities of the host, and virulence of the etiological agent. One- or two-stage revision is required in cases in which biofilm is forming, or of implant loosening. The choice between performing the review in one or two stages depends on factors such as etiological agent identification, pathogen virulence, local and systemic host factors. Rescue procedures such as arthrodesis, amputation, resection arthroplasty or even antibioticsuppressionarereservedforcasesinwhichtheinfectionhasnotbeeneradicated.

Resumo Diversas modalidades de tratamento são propostas para as infecções periprotéticas, com índices de sucesso variáveis. No entanto, a eficácia está relacionada à seleção adequada dos casos para cada tipo de tratamento. O desbridamento com retenção do implante é indicado em infecções agudas com implante fixo, e seu sucesso depende do tipo de infecção, das comorbidades do hospedeiro e da virulência do agente etiológico. A revisão em um ou dois estágios se impõem nos casos em que haja formação de biofilme, ou nos quais se tenha afrouxamento do implante. A escolha entre realizar a revisão em um ou dois estágios depende de fatores como identificação do agente etiológico, virulência do patógeno, fatores locais e sistêmicos do hospedeiro. Os procedimentos de salvamento como artrodese, amputação, artroplastia de ressecção ou, ainda, supressão antibiótica são reservados para os casos em que não se conseguiu erradicação da infecção.

Radiographic analysis of factors predisposing toward tendon tears in the knee extensor mechanism.

OBJECTIVES: to review radiographs of patients who suffered tendon tears of the knee extensor apparatus and observe alterations that might be factors predisposing toward this type of injury. METHODS: we retrospectively analyzed 60 cases of injury to the knee extensor mechanism that were treated surgically at the Miguel Couto Municipal Hospital between March 2004 and March 2011. Four patients were excluded due to poor quality of the examination. RESULTS: of the 56 patients evaluated, 23 were considered to be normal and 33 presented radiographic alterations. Among these, eight (24.3%) presented suprapatellar osteophytes alone; seven (21.2%), infrapatellar calcification; seven (21.2%), suprapatellar calcification; six (18.2%), supra- and infrapatellar osteophytes; and five (15.1%), infrapatellar osteophytes alone. CONCLUSION: radiographic alterations were frequently observed in patients with extensor mechanism tears.

OBJETIVOS: revisar radiografias de pacientes vítimas de rupturas tendinosas do aparelho extensor do joelho e observar alterações que possam ser um fator predisponente a esse tipo de lesão. MÉTODOS: analisamos, retrospectivamente, 60 lesões do mecanismo extensor do joelho, tratadas cirurgicamente no Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto, de março de 2004 a março de 2011, e quatro pacientes foram excluídos por má qualidade do exame. RESULTADOS: dos 56 pacientes avaliados, 23 foram considerados normais e 33 apresentaram alterações radiográficas, oito (24,3%) com presença de osteófito suprapatelar isolado, sete (21,2%) com calcificação infrapatelar, sete (21,2%) com calcificação suprapatelar, seis (18,2%) com osteófitos supra e infrapatelares e cinco (15,1%) com osteófito infrapatelar isolado. CONCLUSÃO: as alterações radiográficas foram frequentes em pacientes com ruptura do mecanismo extensor.

Radiographic analysis of factors predisposing toward tendon tears in the knee extensor mechanism

Objectives: To review radiographs of patients who suffered tendon tears of the knee extensor apparatus and observe alterations that might be factors predisposing toward this type of injury. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 60 cases of injury to the knee extensor mechanism that were treated surgically at the Miguel Couto Municipal Hospital between March 2004 and March 2011. Four patients were excluded due to poor quality of the examination. Results: Of the 56 patients evaluated, 23 were considered to be normal and 33 presented radiographic alterations. Among these, eight (24.3%) presented suprapatellar osteophytes alone; seven (21.2%), infrapatellar calcification; seven (21.2%), suprapatellar calcification; six (18.2%), supra- and infrapatellar osteophytes; and five (15.1%), infrapatellar osteophytes alone. Conclusion: Radiographic alterations were frequently observed in patients with extensor mechanism tears...

Objetivos: Revisar radiografias de pacientes vítimas de rupturas tendinosas do aparelho extensor do joelho e observar alterações que possam ser um fator predisponente a esse tipo de lesão. Métodos: Analisamos, retrospectivamente, 60 lesões do mecanismo extensor do joelho, tratadas cirurgicamente no Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto, de março de 2004 a março de 2011, e quatro pacientes foram excluídos por má qualidade do exame. Resultados: Dos 56 pacientes avaliados, 23 foram considerados normais e 33 apresentaram alterações radiográficas, oito (24,3%) com presença de osteófito suprapatelar isolado, sete (21,2%) com calcificação infrapatelar, sete (21,2%) com calcificação suprapatelar, seis (18,2%) com osteófitos supra e infrapatelares e cinco (15,1%) com osteófito infrapatelar isolado. Conclusão: As alterações radiográficas foram frequentes em pacientes com ruptura do mecanismo extensor...