The aim of this study was to determine if patient reported outcome scores for arthroscopic meniscectomy are adversely affected by the degree of knee osteoarthritis or patient body mass index (BMI). All patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy within the NHS in Scotland between 6th February and 29th April 2012 were audited as part of the Scottish Government Musculoskeletal Knee Arthroscopy Audit and were eligible for inclusion within this study. A total of 270 patients returned both their pre-operative and post-operative EuroQol 5Q5D5L descriptive questionnaire and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Scores. Patients were stratified according to BMI, degree of osteoarthritis, history of injury, and duration of knee symptoms. Pre-operative to post-operative EuroQol index scores [0.642±0.253 to 0.735±0.277, median±SD] and Knee injury and Osteoarthrtis Outcome Scores [44.63±18.78 to 62.28±24.94, median±SD] improved across all patients (p<0.0001). This was irrespective of degree of BMI, history of injury, or duration of symptoms. There was no such improvement in patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis. Those patients with a BMI >35 kg/m2 had lower post-operative scores than the pre-operative scores of those of BMI <30 kg/m2. Arthroscopic meniscectomy is beneficial regardless of patient BMI, duration of symptoms, history of injury, or in the presence of mild arthritis

Introduction. Knee arthroscopy can be used for ligamentous repair, reconstruction and to reduce burden of infection. Understanding and feeling confident with knee arthroscopy is therefore a highly important skillset for the orthopaedic surgeon. However, with limited training or experience, furthered by reduced practical education due to COVID-19, this skill can be under-developed amongst trainee surgeons. Methods. At a single institution, ten junior doctors (FY1 to CT2), were recruited as a part of a five, two-hour session, training programme utilising the Simbionix® ARTHRO Mentor knee arthroscopy simulator, supplemented alongside educational guidance with a consultant orthopaedic knee surgeon. All students had minimal to no levels of prior arthroscopic experience. Exercises completed included maintaining steadiness, image centring and orientation, probe triangulation, arthroscopic knee examination, removal of loose bodies and meniscectomy. Pre and post experience questionnaires and quantitative repeat analysis on simulation exercises were undertaken to identify levels of improvement. Results. Comparing pre and post experience questionnaires significant improvements in levels of confidence were noted in the following domains: naming arthroscopic instruments, port positioning and insertion, recognising normal anatomy arthroscopically, holding and using arthroscopic instruments and assisting in a live theatre setting (p<0.05). Significant improvements were also noted in time taken to complete and distance covered in metres, of the simulated exercises on repeat performance (p<0.05). Conclusion. Overall, with only five sessions under senior guidance, using a simulator such as the ARTHRO Mentor, significant improvements in both levels of confidence and skill can be developed even among individuals with no prior experience

Multiligament knee injuries (MLKI) are associated with significant morbidity and healthcare requirements. The primary aim of this study is to report the patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs) after reconstructive surgery. Patients undergoing surgery for MLKI between 2014 and 2018 in the single large-volume trauma centre were included. Electronic patient records were reviewed for demographic data, details of surgery and complications. PROMs collected were EQ-5D-5L, Lysholm Knee Score (LKS), UCLA Activity and Sport and patient satisfaction. Thirty-five patients were included. Mean age was 31 years (range 16-66), and 71% were male. The most common mechanism of injury was sports-related (71%). Obesity was present in eight (23%) patients. No vascular injuries were recorded and four patients sustained nerve injuries. PROMs were available for 18 patients (51%) with a median follow up of 4.5 years. Median EQ-5D-5L was 0.78 (IQR 0.14). Median LKS was 84.5 (IQR 21) and there was no correlation with time to surgery (p=0.43). Grade of MLKI did not impact LKS (p=0.09). Fifteen patients (83%) saw a reduction in their activity level. All patients were satisfied with their surgical treatment. Recurrent instability was noted in four patients (11%). Three patients (8%) required further surgery (one revision reconstruction, one meniscectomy, one conversion to a hinged knee replacement. This study demonstrates two groups of patients who sustain MLKI: the sporting population and obese patients. Health related quality of life, functional outcomes and satisfaction are high after surgery. Time to surgery did not impact on functional outcomes

Introduction. It has been contentious whether an anatomic double-bundle technique for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR)is superior to that of a single-bundle technique. It has been hypothesized in the literature that the double-bundle technique could provide function closer to that of the anatomical knee joint. The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term clinical outcomes after single-bundle ACLR versus double-bundle ACLR. We hypothesized that the double-bundle technique would not be superior to the single-bundle technique. Methods. A retrospective, non-randomized, matched-paired comparative study was performed. Patients undergoing primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, using either a double-bundle or single-bundle technique, between 2003 and 2008 were included and matched 1:1. Matching included age, sex, BMI, time from injury to surgery, side of injury and type of sport. Patients who underwent revision procedures, multiligament reconstruction or other ACLR techniques were excluded. Patients were subsequently followed up, noting occurrence of graft rupture and any other complications. Results. A total of 1377 ACLRs were performed during the study period. Seven hundred and fifty-six patients were excluded, leaving 396patients to be included in the matching (198 matched pairs). Mean follow-up time was 176.7 +/− 7.7 months (range, 166–211 months). Overall, 40 patients (10.1%) suffered from a graft rupture which consisted of 22 patients (11.1%) in the single-bundle group and 18patients (9.1%) in the double-bundle group. A multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox model and demonstrated that graft failure had no significant association with the surgical technique (hazard ratio (HR), 0.857(0.457;1.609), p=0.6313). (Figure 1) Five patients (2.5%) in the single-bundle group and 7 patients (3.5%) in the double-bundle group underwent secondary surgery for cyclops syndrome(p=0.5637). Three patients (1.5%) in the single-bundle group and 2 patients (1.0%) in the double-bundle group underwent arthrolysis(p=0.6547). Seven patients (3.5%) in the single-bundle group underwent secondary meniscectomy compared to 6 patients (3.0%) in the double-bundle group (p=0.7630). Conclusion. Double-bundle ACLR is not superior to single-bundle ACLR at long-term follow up. Therefore, orthopaedic surgeons do not need to use a double-bundle technique when performing ACL reconstruction. For any figures or tables, please contact authors directly

Background. The mechanical disadvantage and detrimental effect to articular cartilage following meniscectomy has been well documented in the literature. Meniscal repair in the avascular (white on white zone) is controversial and would be deemed inappropriate by many. Methods. Prospective data collection on all meniscal repairs between 1999 and 2008. 423 patients underwent meniscal repair at our unit during this time. We identified 88 patients who underwent a meniscal repair of a non peripheral tear (white on white zone) where there was no co-existent ACL injury or instability. There were 74 males and 14 females with a mean age of 26 years (13-54). There were 50 medial meniscal tears and 38 lateral tears, all in the non peripheral area of the meniscus. The criterion for failure was any reoperation on the same meniscus requiring excision or re fixation. Results. The mean follow up was 44 months (5–106). Twenty nine patients required further surgery on their repaired meniscus. There were nine re-repairs and twenty partial menisectomies. Of the nine re-repairs only one has gone on to have a further procedure with meniscectomy. This represents a success rate of 67% (59/88). The mean pre-operative Lysholm score was 61 (4-88) which rose to 75 (12-100) postoperatively, (p=0.002). The mean pre-operative Tegner score was 6 (3-10) and this did not change significantly post operatively, mean 6 (0-10) (p=0.4). Conclusions. Isolated white on white avascular meniscal tears can be successfully repaired in the majority of cases with a good clinical and functional result

Risk of revision following total knee replacement is relatively high in patients under 55 years of age, but little is reported regarding non-revision outcomes. This study aims to identify predictors of dissatisfaction following TKR in patients younger than 55 years of age. We assessed 177 TKRs (157 consecutive patients) from 2008 to 2013. Data was collected on age, sex, implant, indication, BMI, social deprivation, range of motion, and prior knee surgery in addition to Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and SF-12 score. Postoperative data included knee range of motion, complications, and OKS, SF-12 score and satisfaction measures at one year. Overall, 24.9% of patients (44/177) were unsure or dissatisfied with their TKR. Significant predictors of dissatisfaction on univariable analysis (p<0.05) included: Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1/2 osteoarthritis; indication; poor preoperative OKS; postoperative complications; and poor improvements in OKS and pain component score (PCS) of the SF-12. Odds ratios for dissatisfaction by indication compared to primary OA: OA with previous meniscectomy 2.86; OA in multiply operated knee 2.94; OA with other knee surgery 1.7; OA with BMI>40kgm-2 2; OA post-fracture 3.3; and inflammatory arthropathy 0.23. Multivariable analysis showed poor preoperative OKS, poor improvement in OKS and postoperative stiffness, particularly flexion of <90°, independently predicted dissatisfaction (p<0.005). Patients coming to TKR when under 55 years of age differ from the ‘average’ arthroplasty population, often having complex knee histories and indications for surgery, and an elevated risk of dissatisfaction

Purpouse. We hypothesized that patients receiving a medial collagen meniscus implant (MCMI) would show better clinical, radiograpich and Magnetic Resonanace Imaging (MRI) outcomes than patients treated with partial medial meniscectomy (PMM) at minimum 10 year FU. Material and Methods. Thirty-three non-randomized patients (males, mean age 40 years) were enrolled in the study to receive a MCMI (17 patients) or as control treated with a PMM (16 patients). All of them were clinically evaluated at time zero, 5 and minimum 10 years after surgery (mean FU 133 months, range 120–145) by Lysholm, VAS for pain, objective IKDC knee form and Tegner activity level. SF-36 score was performed pre-operatively and at final FU. Bilateral weight-bearing XRays were executed at time zero and at final FU. Minimum 10 years FU MRI images were compared with collected pre-operative MRI images by means of Yulish score. Genovese score was also used to evalute MCMI MRI survivorship. Results. MCMI group showed significantly lower VAS for pain (p = 0.0091), higher objective IKDC (p = 0.0026), Teger index (p = 0.0259) and SF-36 (p = 0.0259 for PHI and p = 0.0036 for MHI) scores compared with PMM group at minimum 10 year FU. Radiographic evaluation showed a significantly lower medial joint line height (p = 0.0002) and side-to-side difference (p = 0.0003) narrowing in MCMI group respect to PMM group at final FU. Discussion. Improvements in pain relief, activity level, objective IKDC score and joint-line preservation are detectable with the use of MCMI at a minimum 10 year FU. On the authors knowledge this is the first long-term controlled trial regarding this device, and our findings confirmed the mid-term good results achieved by Rodkey et al (1). Conclusions. This data support the use of meniscal scaffolds to treat irreparable partial meniscal lesions. Long-term prospective randomized controlled trials on a larger population are necessary to determine the extent and duration of the benefits observed

Aims

Tibial plateau fractures are serious injuries about the knee that have the potential to affect patients’ long-term function. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with a musculoskeletal focus to assess the long-term outcome, as compared to a short-term outcome baseline, of tibial plateau fractures treated using modern techniques.

We retrospectively analysed the clinical results of 30 patients with injuries of the sternoclavicular joint at a minimum of 12 months’ follow-up. A closed reduction was attempted in 14 cases. It was successful in only five of ten dislocations, and failed in all four epiphyseal disruptions. A total of 25 patients underwent surgical reduction, in 18 cases in conjunction with a stabilisation procedure.

At a mean follow-up of 60 months, four patients were lost to follow-up. The functional results in the remainder were satisfactory, and 18 patients were able to resume their usual sports activity at the same level. There was no statistically significant difference between epiphyseal disruption and sternoclavicular dislocation (p > 0.05), but the functional scores (Simple Shoulder Test, Disability of Arm, Shoulder, Hand, and Constant scores) were better when an associated stabilisation procedure had been performed rather than reduction alone (p = 0.05, p = 0.04 and p = 0.07, respectively).

We recommend meticulous pre-operative clinical assessment with CT scans. In sternoclavicular dislocation managed within the first 48 hours and with no sign of mediastinal complication, a closed reduction can be attempted, although this was unsuccessful in half of our cases. A control CT scan is mandatory. In all other cases, and particularly if epiphyseal disruption is suspected, we recommend open reduction with a stabilisation procedure by costaclavicular cerclage or tenodesis. The use of a Kirschner wire should be avoided.