Graft isometry during anatomical ACL reconstruction has little effect on surgical outcomes.

PURPOSE: To investigate the surgical outcomes of anatomical anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction according to the graft isometry measured during surgery. METHODS: Electrical medical records of patients who underwent an arthroscopic ACL reconstruction through the transportal technique using hamstring tendon autograft between 2012 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified into two groups based on the graft length change throughout the knee range of motion measured just before graft fixation (Group 1, graft length change ≤ 2 mm; Group 2, graft length change > 2 mm). Comparative analyses, including a non-inferiority trial, were performed regarding the clinical scores, knee laxity, and radiographic parameters between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients were included in the study. The total change in the length of ACL graft throughout the knee range of motion was 1.4 ± 0.4 mm in Group 1 (range, 0.2-2.0 mm), and 3.0 ± 0.7 mm in Group 2 (range, 2.2-5.0 mm). Group 1 showed a relatively high (proximal) femoral tunnel and shallow (anterior) tibial tunnel compared to Group 2 (P < 0.001 and P = 0.028, respectively), but there were no apparent differences in the macroscopic view. There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical outcomes between groups at 2 years after surgery, which satisfied the non-inferiority criterion of Group 1 in terms of clinical scores and knee laxity compared to Group 2. CONCLUSION: The surgical outcomes of anatomical ACL reconstruction in patients with non-isometric ACL graft were not inferior in terms of clinical scores and knee laxity, compared to those with nearly-isometric ACL graft. The graft tunnel placement in the isometric position during anatomical ACL reconstruction, which is technically challenging in the clinical setting, is not a crucial factor in terms of clinical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Femoral trochlear morphology is associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury in skeletally immature patients.

PURPOSE: Knee joint morphology is a known contributor to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and the shape of the distal femur condyle is one of the associated factors. However, the relationship between femoral trochlear morphology and ACL injury is unclear, especially in pediatric patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of femoral trochlear morphology on ACL injury in pediatric patients and investigate the possibility of gender differences. METHODS: In total, 116 skeletally immature children aged 3-18 years with primary ACL injuries were matched with a control group of 116 skeletally immature children. Lateral trochlear inclination, trochlear facet asymmetry, trochlear depth, and sulcus angle were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Differences between patient groups and gender were investigated. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to obtain the sensitivity and specificity of all parameters. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed in the sulcus angle and trochlear inclination between the ACL injury and control groups (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the ACL injury and control groups with respect to the anatomic patellar instability risk factors. All parameters showed an area under the curve of 0.6 in the ROC analysis, indicative of failure of the diagnostic test. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between femoral trochlear morphology and increased risk of ACL injury in pediatric patients. No gender difference was found except in the trochlear depth. It was showed that the difference in trochlear morphology should be considered between normal children and pediatric patients with ACL injury to increase the awareness regarding ACL injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Evaluation of lateral and anterior center-edge angles according to sex and anterior pelvic plane tilt angle: a three-dimensional quantitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate lateral center-edge angle (LCEA) and anterior center-edge angle (ACEA) according to sex and the anterior pelvic plane (APP) tilt angle and analyze the correlation between these measurements and acetabular coverage. METHODS: Computed tomography scans of 71 adults (38 men and 33 women) with normal hip joints were obtained. LCEA, anterior ACEA, and acetabular coverage were measured with APP tilt every 5° from - 30° to + 30° and were compared between the sexes. The correlation between acetabular coverage and LCEA/ACEA was also analyzed. RESULTS: (1) LCEA, ACEA, and acetabular coverage were statistically larger in men than in women at all APP tilt angles (with the exception of acetabular coverage ≥ 25°). (2) LCEA, ACEA, and acetabular coverage differed according to APP tilt angle. LCEA and acetabular coverage showed maximum values at 10°. ACEA showed a tendency to increase by an average of 3.6° for every 5° increase in the APP tilt angle. LCEA demonstrated strong and very strong associations across all APP tilting angles, whereas ACEA showed a moderate association at angles ≥ 15° in men and ≥ 30° in women. CONCLUSIONS: The LCEA and ACEA are adequate measurement methods that reflect actual acetabular coverage unless the pelvis is tilted excessively anteriorly. While pelvic tilting does not need to be considered for LCEA within the physiologic range, it should always be taken into account for ACEA, as it increases by an average of 3.6° for every 5° increase in APP tilt angle. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: retrospective cohort study.

The effect of levodopa on bilateral coordination and gait asymmetry in Parkinson's disease using inertial sensor.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of levodopa on the phase coordination index (PCI) and gait asymmetry (GA) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and to investigate correlations between the severity of motor symptoms and gait parameters measured using an inertial sensor. Twenty-six patients with mild-to-moderate-stage PD who were taking levodopa participated in this study. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS III) was used to assess the severity of motor impairment. The Postural Instability and Gait Difficulty (PIGD) subscore was calculated from UPDRS III. Patients were assessed while walking a 20-m corridor in both "OFF" and "ON" levodopa medication states, and gait analysis was performed using inertial sensors. We investigated the changes in gait parameters after taking levodopa and the correlations between UPDRS III, PIGD, and gait parameters. There was a significant improvement in PCI after taking levodopa. No significant effect of levodopa on GA was found. In "OFF" state, PCI and GA were not correlated with UPDRS III and PIGD. However, in "ON" state, PCI was the only gait parameter correlating with UPDRS III, and it was also highly correlated with PIGD compared to other gait parameters. Significant improvement in bilateral-phase coordination was identified in patients with PD after taking levodopa, without significant change in gait symmetricity. Considering the high correlation with UDPRS III and PIGD in "ON" states, PCI may be a useful and quantitative parameter to measure the severity of motor symptoms in PD patients who are on medication.

Is Computed Tomography Necessary for Diagnostic Workup in Displaced Pediatric Medial Epicondyle Fractures?

This study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes and complications between operatively and nonoperatively treated medial epicondyle fractures with displacement of >5 mm as accurately measured on three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT). We retrospectively reviewed 77 patients who had isolated medial epicondylar fractures with displacement of >5 mm. The mean age at injury was 11.4 years. Patients were assigned to one of two groups: 21 patients treated nonoperatively and 56 patients treated surgically. Additionally, patients treated operatively were divided into two subgroups according to fixation method; 31 patients underwent internal fixation with K-wires and 25 patients underwent internal fixation with a screw. Radiological and functional outcomes were compared among the three groups. Although the bony union rate was significantly higher in patients treated operatively compared to patients treated non-operatively (96.4% vs. 23.8%, p < 0.001), there were no significant differences in functional outcomes between the two groups. In the nonoperative group, three patients underwent osteosynthesis for symptomatic nonunion. There were no significant differences in radiological and functional outcomes between the two subgroups divided by fixation method. In a pediatric medial epicondylar fracture with a displacement of >5 mm as accurately measured on 3D CT, despite the difference in union rate, there was no difference in functional outcomes between operative and nonoperative treatment. Performing CT only to measure the fracture displacement in obviously displaced medial epicondylar fracture is not considered as a part of the "necessary" diagnostic workups.

One-Stage Extension Shortening Osteotomy for Syndromic Camptodactyly.

Syndromic camptodactyly often affects multiple fingers, and severe deformities are common compared to idiopathic camptodactyly. This study aimed to evaluate the use of a one-stage extension shortening osteotomy of the proximal phalanx for patients with syndromic camptodactyly without tendon surgery. Forty-nine cases of syndromic camptodactyly were included. Forty fingers (81.6%) were associated with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, and nine (18.4%) with other syndromes. Six fingers presented with a moderate form (30° to 60°) of camptodactyly, whereas 43 fingers manifested the severe form (>60°). The mean age at the time of surgery was 8.5 years, and the patients were followed for a mean of 3.9 years. The mean length of the shortening of the proximal phalanx was 4.9 mm, which averaged 17.8% of the proximal phalanx's original preoperative length. The mean operative time was 25.8 min, and the PIP joint was fixed using Kirschner wires with an average flexion position of 7.6°. The mean flexion contracture improved from 76° preoperatively to 41° postoperatively. The mean preoperative active arc of motion was 23°, which improved to 49° postoperatively. A one-stage extension shortening osteotomy is a straightforward and effective technique for the improvement of finger function through the indirect lengthening of volar structures without the flexor tendon lengthening. The osteotomy could simultaneously correct bony abnormalities. This simple procedure is especially suitable for surgery on multiple fingers in patients with syndromic camptodactyly.