Introduction. Early clinical examination combined with MRI following a high ankle sprain allows accurate diagnosis of syndesmosis instability. However, patients often present late, and for chronic injuries clinical assessment is less reliable. Furthermore, in many centres MRI may be not be readily available. The aims of the current study were to define MRI characteristics associated with syndesmosis instability, and to determine whether MRI patterns differed according to time from injury. Methods. Retrospectively, patients with an unstable ligamentous syndesmosis injury requiring fixation were identified from the logbooks of two fellowship trained foot and ankle surgeons over a five-year period. After exclusion criteria (fibula fracture or absence of an MRI report by a consultant radiologist), 164 patients (mean age 30.7) were available. Associations between MRI characteristics and time to MRI were examined using Pearson's chi-square tests or Fisher's exact tests (significance set at p< 0.05). Results. Overall, 100% of scans detected a syndesmosis injury if performed acutely (within 6 weeks of injury), falling to 83% if performed after 12 weeks (p=0.001). In the acute group, 93.5% of patients had evidence of at least one of either PITFL injury (78.7%), posterior malleolus bone oedema (60.2%), or a posterior malleolus fracture (15.7%). In 20% of patients with a posterior malleolus bone bruise or fracture, the PITFL was reported as normal. The incidence of posterior malleolus bone bruising and fracture did not significantly differ according to time. Conclusion. For unstable ligamentous syndesmosis injuries, MRI becomes less sensitive over time. Importantly, posterior malleolus bone oedema or fracture may be the only evidence of a posterior injury. Failure to recognise instability may lead to inappropriate management of the patient, long term pain and arthritis. We therefore advocate early MRI as it becomes more difficult to ‘grade’ the injury if delayed

Aims

The outcomes following nonoperative management of minimally displaced greater tuberosity (GT) fractures, and the factors which influence patient experience, remain poorly defined. We assessed the early patient-derived outcomes following these injuries and examined the effect of a range of demographic- and injury-related variables on these outcomes.

The April 2023 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup. 360. looks at: Can you treat type IIA supracondylar humerus fractures conservatively?; Bone bruising and anterior cruciate ligament injury in paediatrics; Participation and motor abilities after treatment with the Ponseti method; Does fellowship training help with paediatric supracondylar fractures?; Supracondylar elbow fracture management (Supra Man): a national trainee collaborative evaluation of practice; Magnetically controlled growing rods in early-onset scoliosis; Weightbearing restrictions and weight gain in children with Perthes’ disease?; Injuries and child abuse increase during the pandemic over 12,942 emergency admissions

Aims

The aim of the Scaphoid Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Trauma (SMaRT) trial was to evaluate the clinical and cost implications of using immediate MRI in the acute management of patients with a suspected fracture of the scaphoid with negative radiographs.

Aims

Different methods of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction have been described for skeletally immature patients before closure of the growth plates. However, the outcome and complications following this treatment remain unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to analyse the outcome and complications of different techniques which may be used for reconstruction of the ACL in these patients.

The April 2013 Trauma Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: ankle sprains; paediatric knee haemarthroses; evidence to support a belief; ‘Moonboot’ saves the day; pamphlets and outcomes; poor gait in pilons; lactate and surgical timing; and marginal results with marginal impaction.

Bone bruising of the scaphoid is a common term reported, when MRI imaging is carried out for continued pain, within the anatomical snuff box. Is this significant? Our aim was to ascertain if bone bruising lead to continued symptoms, and resulted in delayed fracture detection- an occult fracture. This was a prospective study looking at 170 patients with scaphoid injuries. Of the 170 scaphoid injuries identified there were 120 scaphoid fractures seen on scaphoid view radiographs. The remaining 50 had no fracture on radiographs, however were clinically symptomatic and had MRI scaphoid imaging which demonstrated various grades of bone bruising. All were treated in a scaphoid plaster and re-examined at 8 weeks. There 4 were patients that remained symptomatic, MRI scan were performed which revealed 3 with resolving scaphoid bone bruising and 1 with a scaphoid fracture (p-value=0.05). Two further weeks of immobilisation resolved the symptoms of those 4 patients. Therefore occult scaphoid fractures demonstrating only bone bruising may take up to 8 weeks to declare itself as a fracture. Immobilisation in a scaphoid cast should be the mainstay of treatment for a minimum period of 8 weeks

We report a prospective analysis of clinical outcome in patients treated with medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction using an autologous semitendinosus graft. The technique includes superolateral portal arthroscopic assessment before and after graft placement to ensure correct graft tension and patellar tracking before fixation. Between October 2005 and October 2010, a total of 201 consecutive patients underwent 219 procedures. Follow-up is presented for 211 procedures in 193 patients with a mean age of 26 years (16 to 49), and mean follow-up of 16 months (6 to 42). Indications were atraumatic recurrent patellar dislocation in 141 patients, traumatic recurrent dislocation in 50, pain with subluxation in 14 and a single dislocation with persistent instability in six. There have been no recurrent dislocations/subluxations. There was a statistically significant improvement between available pre- and post-operative outcome scores for 193 patients (all p < 0.001). Female patients with a history of atraumatic recurrent dislocation and all patients with history of previous surgery had a significantly worse outcome (all p < 0.05). The indication for surgery, degree of dysplasia, associated patella alta, time from primary dislocation to surgery and evidence of associated cartilage damage at operation did not result in any significant difference in outcome.

This series adds considerably to existing evidence that MPFL reconstruction is an effective surgical procedure for selected patients with patellofemoral instability.

Follow-up radiographs are usually used as the reference standard for the diagnosis of suspected scaphoid fractures. However, these are prone to errors in interpretation. We performed a meta-analysis of 30 clinical studies on the diagnosis of suspected scaphoid fractures, in which agreement data between any of follow-up radiographs, bone scintigraphy, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, or CT could be obtained, and combined this with latent class analysis to infer the accuracy of these tests on the diagnosis of suspected scaphoid fractures in the absence of an established standard. The estimated sensitivity and specificity were respectively 91.1% and 99.8% for follow-up radiographs, 97.8% and 93.5% for bone scintigraphy, 97.7% and 99.8% for MRI, and 85.2% and 99.5% for CT. The results were generally robust in multiple sensitivity analyses. There was large between-study heterogeneity for the sensitivity of follow-up radiographs and CT, and imprecision about their sensitivity estimates.

If we acknowledge the lack of a reference standard for diagnosing suspected scaphoid fractures, MRI is the most accurate test; follow-up radiographs and CT may be less sensitive, and bone scintigraphy less specific.

Introduction. The incidence of osteochondral lesions following ankle fractures varies in the literature between 17-70%. They are commonly associated with chronic pain and swelling in patients diagnosed with such pathology. There is less evidence about the relationship between OCL and the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis, the most common type of ankle arthritis. Methods. Through the use of MRI 8 weeks following ankle fractures, we investigated the incidence of OCL in patients treated both surgically and conservatively for ankle fractures of all AO subtypes. Results. 29 patients met our inclusion criteria, 16 females: 13 males with a mean age of 36 (range 16-64). Twelve patients required surgery with seventeen treated conservatively. The majority of patients (11) were classified as 44B1 fractures with the 44C1 and 44B2 the next most common. We did not detect any OCL in any patient but 65% of patients had both a tibiotalar effusion and associated bone bruising. Conclusion. Contrary to the current literature, we did not associate ankle fractures of any subtype with the development of OCL. Future evaluation of this same cohort will be necessary to evaluate the incidence of post traumatic ankle osteoarthritis

This annotation considers the place of extra-articular reconstruction in the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency. Extra-articular reconstruction has been employed over the last century to address ACL deficiency. However, the technique has not gained favour, primarily due to residual instability and the subsequent development of degenerative changes in the lateral compartment of the knee. Thus intra-articular reconstruction has become the technique of choice. However, intra-articular reconstruction does not restore normal knee kinematics. Some authors have recommended extra-articular reconstruction in conjunction with an intra-articular technique.

The anatomy and biomechanics of the anterolateral structures of the knee remain largely undetermined. Further studies to establish the structure and function of the anterolateral structures may lead to more anatomical extra-articular reconstruction techniques that supplement intra-articular reconstruction. This might reduce residual pivot shift after an intra-articular reconstruction and thus improve the post-operative kinematics of the knee.

Lateral patellar dislocation is a common cause of acute traumatic haemarthrosis in young active patients, usually occurring during sporting activites. Patients can often be unaware it has occurred. Often magnetic resonance imaging offers the first diagnosis. Most patellar dislocations are treated conservatively with an emphasis on early return to movement. We report on a series of 80 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as having had a transient patellar dislocation by MRI from November 2001 to April 2008 as evidenced by the characteristic countercoup pattern of bone bruising seen on the lateral femoral condyle. In addition to the patellar findings, the images were reviewed with specific reference to the medial collateral ligament, a heretofore undescribed concomitant injury. During the study period, 80 patients (66 males, 14 females) were diagnosed on MRI as having had transient patellar dislocation. The mean age (mean +/− standard deviation) of the cohort was 23.9+/−7.5 years (range:11–60 years). In all but two cases, normal anatomical alignment had been restored. In addition to multiple patellar chondral findings, the condition of the MCL was commented upon in 77 cases (96.3%). Of these, 40 (51.9%) had documented damage to the MCL. These injuries were classified as grade 1 (n=20), grade 1/2 (n=2), grade 2 (n=13), grade 2/3 (n=2) and grade 3 (n=3). Male patients were more likely to have had MCL damage 54.5% vs. 28.6% (p=0.07, Chi-Square). These results serve to highlight the co-existence of MCL injuries with patellar dislocation to a relatively high incidence. This injury should be suspected and examined for in the case of prolonged symptoms after dislocation especially in male patients

Lateral patellar dislocation is a common cause of acute traumatic haemarthrosis in young active patients, usually occurring during sporting activites. However, patellar dislocation is usually transient with patients often unaware it has occurred. Often magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the first diagnosis. Most patellar dislocations are treated conservatively with an emphasis on early return to movement. We report on a series of 30 patients who were diagnosed as having had a transient patellar dislocation by MRI from December 2001 to October 2007 as evidenced by the characteristic countercoup pattern of bone bruising seen on the lateral femoral condyle. In addition to the patellar findings, the images were reviewed with specific reference to the medial collateral ligament, a heretofore undescribed concomitant injury. During the study period, 30 patients (26 males, 4 females) were diagnosed on MRI as having had transient patellar dislocation. The mean age (mean +/− standard deviation) of the cohort was 23.1+/−6.1 years (range:14 – 36 years). In all but one case, normal anatomical alignment had been restored. In addition to multiple patellar chondral findings, the condition of the MCL was commented upon in 29 cases (97%). Of these, 12 (41%) had documented damage to the MCL. These injuries were classified as grade 1 (n=7), grade 2 (n=3) and grade 2/3 as defined by incomplete detachment of the MCL from the medial femoral condyle (n=2). These results serve to highlight the co-existence of MCL injuries with patellar dislocation to a relatively high incidence. This injury should be suspected and examined for in the case of prolonged symptoms after dislocation. In addition, the current vogue for early rehabilitation needs to be regarded with some circumspection

Background: There is limited evidence on long-term outcome following ACL reconstruction. Concern has been raised that degenerative joint disease is common in the long-term and this may be associated with use of patellar tendon autograft. Methods: 162 patients underwent single-surgeon arthroscopic ACL reconstruction (1991–1993) were identified from our prospective database. Patient-centred outcome was by Lysholm and Subjective IKDC score, objective outcome measures were clinical examination, arthrometry and X-rays. Results: 13 year outcome (10–15 years) is known in 115/161 patients (71%). The median subjective scores were 94% (Lysholm) and 90% (IKDC). Ipsilateral graft rupture rate was 4%, with contralateral ACL injury in 8%. Mean manual maximum KT 1000 was 9mm in the grafted knee and 8mm in the contralateral knee. Clinical laxity scores of grade 0 or 1 were found in over 93% patients. Radiographically 66% were normal or near normal (Grade A or B). When compared to the contra-lateral uninjured knee we found no significant difference in the proportion of normal/near normal x-rays (grade A/B) versus abnormal/severe (grade C/D) for the medial, lateral nor patellofemoral compartments. There was no significant difference in the radiological IKDC grades in the medial compartment when compared to the contra-lateral uninjured knee, but there was a difference in the lateral and patellofemoral joints. Conclusions: At 13 years patellar tendon ACLR provides excellent patient satisfaction, with clinically objective knee stability and low risk of re-rupture. Radiographically degenerative change was seen in 34%. There was no significant side to side difference to the uninjured contralateral medial knee joint, but there was a small but significant difference in the lateral and patellofemoral joints. The lateral joint differences may reflect underlying bone bruising at the time of injury. We do not believe that the patellar tendon autograft is the cause of arthrosis after BTB ACLR

Scaphoid fractures are commonly seen fractures following distal radius fractures, yet its diagnosis can be difficult. The present study is to explore the diagnostic approach to suspected scaphoid fractures in a district general hospital in the UK. This is a retrospective study. 286 Suspected scaphoid injuries were seen in our Fracture clinics. 184/286 were known to have normal x-ray findings initially and repeat x-ray in 10 days time. They were all treated as a simple case of a sprained wrist. 40 Patients out of the remaining 102 patients were noted to have scaphoid fractures on follow up x-rays and accordingly treated with cast. The remaining 62 patients were considered for further imaging. 28/102 went for bone scan, which confirmed scaphoid fracture in 4/28 cases. It also picked up other degenerative pathology in 4/28 cases. The rest of the scans were normal. 22/102 Were sent for CT scan which identified the fracture in 20 cases. CT scans provided details about the configuration of fracture, level of healing etc. MRI was performed in 12/102 cases, which confirmed fracture in 2/12 cases and bone bruising in 2/12 cases. There is no consensus regarding the investigation of choice when a follow up scaphoid x-ray is inconclusive in diagnosing a possible scaphoid fracture. In this study we note that a bone scan does not offer much information. On the other hand MRI and CT investigations were useful. We recommend the use of an MRI investigation for a fresh injury, and a CT scan for fresh and old injuries

Chronic patellofemoral instability can be a disabling condition. Management of patients with this condition has improved owing to our increased knowledge of the functional anatomy of the patellofemoral joint. Accurate assessment of the underlying pathology in the unstable joint enables the formulation of appropriate treatment. The surgical technique employed in patients for whom non-operative management has failed should address the diagnosed abnormality. We have reviewed the literature on the stabilising features of the patellofemoral joint, the recommended investigations and the appropriate forms of treatment.

We used single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to determine the long-term risk of degenerative change after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Our study population was a prospective series of 31 patients with a mean age at injury of 27.8 years (18 to 47) and a mean follow-up of ten years (9 to 13) after bone-patellar tendon-bone reconstruction of the ACL. The contralateral normal knee was used as a control. All knees were clinically stable with high clinical scores (mean Lysholm score, 93; mean Tegner activity score, 6). Fifteen patients had undergone a partial meniscectomy and ACL reconstruction at or before reconstruction of their ACL.

In the group with an intact meniscus, clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) were found in only one patient (7%), who was also the only patient with marked isotope uptake on the SPECT scan compatible with OA. In the group which underwent a partial meniscectomy, clinical symptoms of OA were found in two patients (13%), who were among five (31%) with isotope uptake compatible with OA. Only one patient (7%) in this group had evidence of advanced OA on plain radiographs.

The risk of developing OA after ACL reconstruction in this series is very low and lower than published figures for untreated ACL-deficient knees. There is a significant increase (p < 0.05) in degenerative change in patients who had a reconstruction of their ACL and a partial meniscectomy compared with those who had a reconstruction of their ACL alone.