The Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee (CPAK) classification has been developed to predict individual variations in inherent knee alignment. The impact of preoperative and postoperative CPAK classification phenotype on the postoperative clinical outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains elusive. This study aimed to examine the effect of postoperative CPAK classification phenotypes (I to IX), and their pre- to postoperative changes on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). A questionnaire was administered to 340 patients (422 knees) who underwent primary TKA for osteoarthritis (OA) between September 2013 and June 2019. A total of 231 patients (284 knees) responded. The Knee Society Score 2011 (KSS 2011), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-12 (KOOS-12), and Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12) were used to assess clinical outcomes. Using preoperative and postoperative anteroposterior full-leg radiographs, the arithmetic hip-knee-ankle angle (aHKA) and joint line obliquity (JLO) were calculated and classified based on the CPAK classification. To investigate the impact on PROMs, multivariable regression analyses using stepwise selection were conducted, considering factors such as age at surgery, time since surgery, BMI, sex, implant use, postoperative aHKA classification, JLO classification, and changes in aHKA and JLO classifications from preoperative to postoperative.Aims
Methods
The aim of this study was to estimate the incremental use of resources, costs, and quality of life outcomes associated with surgical reconstruction compared to rehabilitation for long-standing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the NHS, and to estimate its cost-effectiveness. A total of 316 patients were recruited and randomly assigned to either surgical reconstruction or rehabilitation (physiotherapy but with subsequent reconstruction permitted if instability persisted after treatment). Healthcare resource use and health-related quality of life data (EuroQol five-dimension five-level health questionnaire) were collected in the trial at six, 12, and 18 months using self-reported questionnaires and medical records. Using intention-to-treat analysis, differences in costs, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) between treatment arms were estimated adjusting for baseline differences and following multiple imputation of missing data. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was estimated as the difference in costs divided by the difference in QALYs between reconstruction and rehabilitation.Aims
Methods
To compare rates of serious adverse events in patients undergoing revision knee arthroplasty with consideration of the indication for revision (urgent versus elective indications), and compare these with primary arthroplasty and re-revision arthroplasty. Patients undergoing primary knee arthroplasty were identified in the national Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) between 1 April 1997 to 31 March 2017. Subsequent revision and re-revision arthroplasty procedures in the same patients and same knee were identified. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality and a logistic regression model was used to investigate factors associated with 90-day mortality and secondary adverse outcomes, including infection (undergoing surgery), pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Urgent indications for revision arthroplasty were defined as infection or fracture, and all other indications (e.g. loosening, instability, wear) were included in the elective indications cohort.Aims
Methods
The Oswestry-Bristol Classification (OBC) is an MRI-specific assessment tool to grade trochlear dysplasia. The aim of this study is to validate clinically the OBC by demonstrating its use in selecting treatments that are safe and effective. The OBC and the patellotrochlear index were used as part of the Oswestry Patellotrochlear Algorithm (OPTA) to guide the surgical treatment of patients with patellar instability. Patients were assigned to one of four treatment groups: medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLr); MPFLr + tibial tubercle distalization (TTD); trochleoplasty; or trochleoplasty + TTD. A prospective analysis of a longitudinal patellofemoral database was performed. Between 2012 and 2018, 202 patients (233 knees) with a mean age of 24.2 years (SD 8.1), with recurrent patellar instability were treated by two fellowship-trained consultant sports/knee surgeons at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital. Clinical efficacy of each treatment group was assessed by Kujala, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D) scores at baseline, and up to 60 months postoperatively. Their safety was assessed by complication rate and requirement for further surgery. The pattern of clinical outcome over time was analyzed using mixed regression modelling.Aims
Methods
Meniscal injuries are common and often induce knee pain requiring surgical intervention. To develop effective strategies for meniscus regeneration, we hypothesized that a minced meniscus embedded in an atelocollagen gel, a firm gel-like material, may enhance meniscus regeneration through cell migration and proliferation in the gel. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate cell migration and proliferation in atelocollagen gels seeded with autologous meniscus fragments in vitro and examine the therapeutic potential of this combination in an in vivo rabbit model of massive meniscus defect. A total of 34 Japanese white rabbits (divided into defect and atelocollagen groups) were used to produce the massive meniscus defect model through a medial patellar approach. Cell migration and proliferation were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, histological evaluation of the sections was performed, and a modified Pauli’s scoring system was used for the quantitative evaluation of the regenerated meniscus.Aims
Methods
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is known to have a poor wound healing capacity, whereas other ligaments outside of the knee joint capsule such as the medial collateral ligament (MCL) apparently heal more easily. Plasmin has been identified as a major component in the synovial fluid that varies among patients. The aim of this study was to test whether plasmin, a component of synovial fluid, could be a main factor responsible for the poor wound healing capacity of the ACL. The effects of increasing concentrations of plasmin (0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 50 µg/ml) onto the wound closing speed (WCS) of primary ACL-derived ligamentocytes (ACL-LCs) were tested using wound scratch assay and time-lapse phase-contrast microscopy. Additionally, relative expression changes (quantitative PCR (qPCR)) of major LC-relevant genes and catabolic genes were investigated. The positive controls were 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).Aims
Methods
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have several properties that may support their use as an early treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA). This study investigated the role of multiple injections of allogeneic bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) to alleviate the progression of osteoarthritic changes in the various structures of the mature rabbit knee in an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient OA model. Two months after bilateral section of the ACL of Japanese white rabbits aged nine months or more, either phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or 1 x 106 MSCs were injected into the knee joint in single or three consecutive doses. After two months, the articular cartilage and meniscus were assessed macroscopically, histologically, and immunohistochemically using collagen I and II.Aim
Materials and Methods
The aim of this study was to report the outcome of femoral condylar fresh osteochondral allografts (FOCA) with concomitant realignment osteotomy with a focus on graft survivorship, complications, reoperation, and function. We identified 60 patients (16 women, 44 men) who underwent unipolar femoral condylar FOCA with concomitant realignment between 1972 and 2012. The mean age of the patients was 28.9 years (10 to 62) and the mean follow-up was 11.4 years (2 to 35). Failure was defined as conversion to total knee arthroplasty, revision allograft, or graft removal. Clinical outcome was evaluated using the modified Hospital for Special Surgery (mHSS) score.Aims
Patients and Methods
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. We performed a systematic review of the literature according
to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
guidelines. This involved a comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline,
CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase and Google Scholar databases using the
following combinations of keywords, “knee”, “anterior cruciate ligament”,
“reconstruction”, “injury”, “children”, “adolescent”, “skeletally
immature”, “open physis” and “surgery”.Aims
Materials and Methods
The lack of effective treatment for cartilage defects has prompted investigations using tissue engineering techniques for their regeneration and repair. The success of tissue-engineered repair of cartilage may depend on the rapid and efficient adhesion of transplanted cells to a scaffold. Our aim in this study was to repair full-thickness defects in articular cartilage in the weight-bearing area of a porcine model, and to investigate whether the CD44 monoclonal antibody biotin-avidin (CBA) binding technique could provide satisfactory tissue-engineered cartilage. Cartilage defects were created in the load-bearing region of the lateral femoral condyle of mini-type pigs. The defects were repaired with traditional tissue-engineered cartilage, tissue-engineered cartilage constructed with the biotin-avidin (BA) technique, tissue-engineered cartilage constructed with the CBA technique and with autologous cartilage. The biomechanical properties, Western blot assay, histological findings and immunohistochemical staining were explored.Objectives
Methods
Aims . To investigate whether pre-operative functional mobility is a
determinant of delayed inpatient recovery of activities (IRoA) after
total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in three periods that coincided with
changes in the clinical pathway. Patients and Methods. All patients (n = 682, 73% women, mean age 70 years, standard
deviation 9) scheduled for TKA between 2009 and 2015 were pre-operatively
screened for functional mobility by the Timed-up-and-Go test (TUG)
and De Morton mobility index (DEMMI). The cut-off point for delayed
IRoA was set on the day that 70% of the patients were recovered,
according to the
Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee commonly have degenerative
meniscal tears. Arthroscopic meniscectomy is frequently performed,
although the benefits are debatable. Recent studies have concluded
that there is no role for arthroscopic washout in osteoarthritis
of the knee. Our aim was to perform a systematic review to assess
the evidence for the efficacy of arthroscopic meniscectomy in patients
with meniscal tears and degenerative changes in the knee. A literature search was performed, using the PubMed/MEDLINE database,
for relevant articles published between 1975 and 2015. A total of
six studies, including five randomised controlled trials and one
cross-sectional study of a prospective cohort, met the inclusion
criteria. Relevant information including study design, operations,
the characteristics of the patients, outcomes, adverse events and
further operations were extracted.Aims
Patients and Methods
The management of failed autologous chondrocyte
implantation (ACI) and matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte implantation
(MACI) for the treatment of symptomatic osteochondral defects in
the knee represents a major challenge. Patients are young, active
and usually unsuitable for prosthetic replacement. This study reports
the results in patients who underwent revision cartilage transplantation
of their original ACI/MACI graft for clinical or graft-related failure.
We assessed 22 patients (12 men and 10 women) with a mean age of
37.4 years (18 to 48) at a mean of 5.4 years (1.3 to 10.9). The
mean period between primary and revision grafting was 46.1 months
(7 to 89). The mean defect size was 446.6 mm2 (150 to
875) and they were located on 11 medial and two lateral femoral condyles,
eight patellae and one trochlea. The mean modified Cincinnati knee score improved from 40.5 (16
to 77) pre-operatively to 64.9 (8 to 94) at their most recent review
(p <
0.001). The visual analogue pain score improved from 6.1
(3 to 9) to 4.7 (0 to 10) (p = 0.042). A total of 14 patients (63%)
reported an ‘excellent’ (n = 6) or ‘good’ (n = 8) clinical outcome,
5 ‘fair’ and one ‘poor’ outcome. Two patients underwent patellofemoral
joint replacement. This study demonstrates that revision cartilage
transplantation after primary ACI and MACI can yield acceptable
functional results and continue to preserve the joint. Cite this article:
We analysed whether a high body mass index (BMI)
had a deleterious effect on outcome following autologous chondrocyte
implantation (ACI) or matrix-carried autologous chondrocyte implantation
(MACI) for the treatment of full-thickness chondral defects of the
knee from a subset of patients enrolled in the ACI vs MACI trial
at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The mean
Radiological assessment of total and unicompartmental
knee replacement remains an essential part of routine care and follow-up.
Appreciation of the various measurements that can be identified
radiologically is important. It is likely that routine plain radiographs
will continue to be used, although there has been a trend towards
using newer technologies such as CT, especially in a failing knee,
where it provides more detailed information, albeit with a higher
radiation exposure. The purpose of this paper is to outline the radiological parameters
used to evaluate knee replacements, describe how these are measured
or classified, and review the current literature to determine their
efficacy where possible.
To assess the effectiveness of a modified tibial tubercle osteotomy
as a treatment for arthroscopically diagnosed chondromalacia patellae. A total of 47 consecutive patients (51 knees) with arthroscopically
proven chondromalacia, who had failed conservative management, underwent
a modified Fulkerson tibial tubercle osteotomy. The mean age was
34.4 years (19.6 to 52.2). Pre-operatively, none of the patients
exhibited signs of patellar maltracking or instability in association
with their anterior knee pain. The minimum follow-up for the study
was five years (mean 72.6 months (62 to 118)), with only one patient
lost to follow-up.Objectives
Methods
We investigated the extent to which improved
balance relative to pain relief correlates with the success of total knee
replacement (TKR). A total of 81 patients were recruited to the
study: 16 men (19.8%) and 65 women (80.2%). Of these, 62 patients
(10 men, 52 women) with a mean age of 73 (57 to 83) underwent static
and dynamic assessment of balance pre-operatively and one year post-operatively.
The parameters of balance were quantified using commercially available
and validated equipment. Motor function and self-reported outcome
were also assessed. There was a significant improvement in dynamic balance (p <
0.001) one year after TKR, and better balance correlated with improved
mobility, functional balance and increased health-related quality
of life. As it seems that balance, and not only pain relief, influences
the success of TKR, balance skills should be better addressed during
the post-operative rehabilitation of patients who undergo TKR.
Smoking is known to have an adverse effect on wound healing and musculoskeletal conditions. This case-controlled study looked at whether smoking has a deleterious effect in the outcome of autologous chondrocyte implantation for the treatment of full thickness chondral defects of the knee. The mean
The effect of weight-bearing on the height of the patellar using four radiological indices was studied in 25 healthy men using lateral radiographs of the knee in 30° of flexion non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing. The position of the patella was quantified using the Insall-Salvati, the modified Insall-Salvati, the Blackburne-Peel and the Caton indices. The contraction of the quadriceps on weight-bearing resulted in statistically significant proximal displacement of the patella with all four indices studied. The mean Insall-Salvati index was 0.919 ( The effect of quadriceps contraction should be considered in clinical studies where the patellar position indices are reported.
The Unispacer knee system is a cobalt-chrome self-centring tibial hemiarthroplasty device for use in the treatment of isolated medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee. The indications for use are similar to those for high tibial osteotomy, but insertion does not require bone cuts or component fixation, and does not compromise future knee replacement surgery. A prospective study of a consecutive series of 18 patients treated with the Unispacer between June 2003 and August 2004 was carried out to determine the early clinical results of this device. The mean age of the patients was 49 years (40 to 57). A total of eight patients (44%) required revision within two years. In two patients revision to a larger spacer was required, and in six conversion to either a unicompartmental or total knee replacement was needed. At the most recent review 12 patients (66.7%) had a Unispacer remaining This study demonstrates that use of the Unispacer in isolated medial compartment osteoarthritis is associated with a high rate of revision surgery and provides unpredictable relief of pain.
