Acetabular labral tears and associated intra-articular
pathology of the hip have been recognised as a source of symptoms.
However, it is now appreciated that there is a relatively high prevalence
of asymptomatic labral tears. In this study, 70 young asymptomatic
adult volunteers with a mean age of 26 years (19 to 41) were recruited
and underwent three tesla non-arthrographic MR scans. There were
47 women (67.1%) and 23 men (32.9%). Labral tears were found in 27 volunteers (38.6%); these were
an isolated finding in 16 (22.9%) and were associated with other
intra-articular pathology in the remaining 11 (15.7%) volunteers.
Furthermore, five (7.1%) had intra-articular pathology without an
associated labral tear. Given the high prevalence of labral pathology in the asymptomatic
population, it is important to confirm that a patient's symptoms
are due to the demonstrated abnormalities when considering surgery. Cite this article:
The June 2013 Knee Roundup360 looks at: iodine washout: chondrotoxic or antiseptic?; stem tip pain following revision knee replacements; metalwork removal prior to TKR; astroturf and ACL rupture; Robert Jones dressings; if thicker gloves safer; and the long leg radiograph: is it still the gold standard?
The Swansea Morriston Achilles Rupture Treatment
(SMART) programme was introduced in 2008. This paper summarises
the outcome of this programme. Patients with a rupture of the Achilles
tendon treated in our unit follow a comprehensive management protocol
that includes a dedicated Achilles clinic, ultrasound examination,
the use of functional orthoses, early weight-bearing, an accelerated
exercise regime and guidelines for return to work and sport. The
choice of conservative or surgical treatment was based on ultrasound
findings. The rate of re-rupture, the outcome using the Achilles Tendon
Total Rupture Score (ATRS) and the Achilles Tendon Repair Score,
(AS), and the complications were recorded. An elementary cost analysis
was also performed. Between 2008 and 2014 a total of 273 patients presented with
an acute rupture 211 of whom were managed conservatively and 62
had surgical repair. There were three
re-ruptures (1.1%). There were 215 men and 58 women with a mean
age of 46.5 years (20 to 86). Functional outcome was satisfactory.
Mean ATRS and AS at four months was 53.0
( The SMART programme resulted in a low rate of re-rupture, a satisfactory
outcome, a reduced rate of surgical intervention and a reduction
in healthcare costs. Cite this article:
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction
is commonly performed and has been for many years. Despite this, the
technical details related to ACL anatomy, such as tunnel placement,
are still a topic for debate. In this paper, we introduce the flat
ribbon concept of the anatomy of the ACL, and its relevance to clinical
practice. Cite this article:
The December 2012 Hip &
Pelvis Roundup360 looks at: swimming against the tide with resurfacing; hip impingement surgery; the relationship between obesity and co-morbidities and joint replacement infection; cemented hips; cross-linked polyethylene notching; whether cement is necessary in oncological arthroplasty; and how total hip replacement may result in weight gain.
Femoroacetabular impingement causes groin pain
and decreased athletic performance in active adults. This bony conflict
may result in femoroacetabular subluxation if of sufficient magnitude. The ligamentum teres has recently been reported to be capable
of withstanding tensile loads similar to that of the anterior cruciate
ligament, and patents with early subluxation of the hip may become
dependent on the secondary restraint that is potentially provided
by the ligamentum teres. Rupture of the ligamentum may thus cause
symptomatic hip instability during athletic activities. An arthroscopic reconstruction of the ligamentum teres using
iliotibial band autograft was performed in an attempt to restore
this static stabiliser in a series of four such patients. Early
clinical results have been promising. The indications, technique
and early outcomes of this procedure are discussed.
The April 2012 Knee Roundup360 looks at the torn ACL, ACL reconstruction, the risk of ACL rupture, the benefit of warm-ups before exercise, glucosamine and tibiofemoral osteoarthritis, sensitisation and sporting tendinopathy, pain relief after TKR, the long-term results of the Genesis I, the gender specific recovery times after TKR, and the accuracy of the orthopaedic eyeball
The goals of this study were: 1) to determine if high-fat diet
(HFD) feeding in female mice would negatively impact biomechanical
and histologic consequences on the Achilles tendon and quadriceps
muscle; and 2) to investigate whether exercise and branched-chain
amino acid (BCAA) supplementation would affect these parameters
or attenuate any negative consequences resulting from HFD consumption. We examined the effects of 16 weeks of 60% HFD feeding, voluntary
exercise (free choice wheel running) and BCAA administration in
female C57BL/6 mice. The Achilles tendons and quadriceps muscles
were removed at the end of the experiment and assessed histologically
and biomechanically.Objectives
Methods
This article presents a unified clinical theory
that links established facts about the physiology of bone and homeostasis,
with those involved in the healing of fractures and the development
of nonunion. The key to this theory is the concept that the tissue
that forms in and around a fracture should be considered a specific
functional entity. This ‘bone-healing unit’ produces a physiological
response to its biological and mechanical environment, which leads
to the normal healing of bone. This tissue responds to mechanical
forces and functions according to Wolff’s law, Perren’s strain theory
and Frost’s concept of the “mechanostat”. In response to the local
mechanical environment, the bone-healing unit normally changes with
time, producing different tissues that can tolerate various levels
of strain. The normal result is the formation of bone that bridges
the fracture – healing by callus. Nonunion occurs when the bone-healing
unit fails either due to mechanical or biological problems or a
combination of both. In clinical practice, the majority of nonunions
are due to mechanical problems with instability, resulting in too
much strain at the fracture site. In most nonunions, there is an
intact bone-healing unit. We suggest that this maintains its biological
potential to heal, but fails to function due to the mechanical conditions.
The theory predicts the healing pattern of multifragmentary fractures
and the observed morphological characteristics of different nonunions.
It suggests that the majority of nonunions will heal if the correct
mechanical environment is produced by surgery, without the need
for biological adjuncts such as autologous bone graft. Cite this article:
Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) is a condition
for which the aetiology remains unknown. It affects subchondral bone
and secondarily its overlying cartilage and is mostly found in the
knee. It can occur in adults, but is generally identified when growth
remains, when it is referred to as juvenile OCD. As the condition
progresses, the affected subchondral bone separates from adjacent
healthy bone, and can lead to demarcation and separation of its associated
articular cartilage. Any symptoms which arise relate to the stage
of the disease. Early disease without separation of the lesion results
in pain. Separation of the lesion leads to mechanical symptoms and
swelling and, in advanced cases, the formation of loose bodies. Early identification of OCD is essential as untreated OCD can
lead to the premature degeneration of the joint, whereas appropriate
treatment can halt the disease process and lead to healing. Establishing
the stability of the lesion is a key part of providing the correct
treatment. Stable lesions, particularly in juvenile patients, have
greater propensity to heal with non-surgical treatment, whereas
unstable or displaced lesions usually require surgical management. This article discusses the aetiology, clinical presentation and
prognosis of OCD in the knee. It presents an algorithm for treatment,
which aims to promote healing of native hyaline cartilage and to
ensure joint congruity. Take home message: Although there is no clear consensus as to
the best treatment of OCD, every attempt should be made to retain
the osteochondral fragment when possible as, with a careful surgical
technique, there is potential for healing even in chronic lesions Cite this article:
The October 2014 Knee Roundup360 looks at: microfracture equivalent to OATS; examination better than MRI in predicting hamstrings re-injury; a second view on return to play with hamstrings injuries; dislocation risks in the Oxford Unicompartmental Knee; what about the tibia?; getting on top of lateral facet pain post TKR; readmission in TKR; patient-specific instrumentation; treating infrapatellar saphenous neuralgia; and arthroscopy in the middle-aged.
To examine the rates of hamstring graft salvage with arthroscopic
debridement of infected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction
as reported in the literature and discuss functional outcomes. A search was performed without language restriction on PubMed,
EMBASE, Ovid, CINAHL and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials
(CENTRAL) databases from their inception to April 2015. We identified
147 infected hamstring grafts across 16 included studies. Meta-analysis
was performed using a random-effects model to estimate the overall
graft salvage rate, incorporating two different definitions of graft
salvage.Aims
Materials and Methods
We retrospectively assessed the value of identifying
impinging osteophytes using dynamic computer simulation of CT scans
of the elbow in assisting their arthroscopic removal in patients
with osteoarthritis of the elbow. A total of 20 patients were treated
(19 men and one woman, mean age 38 years (19 to 55)) and followed
for a mean of 25 months (24 to 29). We located the impinging osteophytes
dynamically using computerised three-dimensional models of the elbow
based on CT data in three positions of flexion of the elbow. These
were then removed arthroscopically and a capsular release was performed. The mean loss of extension improved from 23° (10° to 45°) pre-operatively
to 9° (0° to 25°) post-operatively, and the mean flexion improved
from 121° (80° to 140°) pre-operatively to 130° (110° to 145°) post-operatively.
The mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score improved from 62 (30 to 85)
to 95 (70 to 100) post-operatively. All patients had pain in the
elbow pre-operatively which disappeared or decreased post-operatively.
According to their Mayo scores, 14 patients had an excellent clinical
outcome and six a good outcome; 15 were very satisfied and five
were satisfied with their post-operative outcome. We recommend this technique in the surgical management of patients
with osteoarthritis of the elbow. Cite this article:
Matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT)
has been developed and applied in the clinical practice in the last
decade to overcome most of the disadvantages of the first generation
procedures. The purpose of this systematic review is to document
and analyse the available literature on the results of MACT in the
treatment of chondral and osteochondral lesions of the knee. All studies published in English addressing MACT procedures were
identified, including those that fulfilled the following criteria:
1) level I-IV evidence, 2) measures of functional or clinical outcome,
3) outcome related to cartilage lesions of the knee cartilage.Objectives
Methods
The technical advances in arthroscopic surgery
of the hip, including the improved ability to manage the capsule
and gain extensile exposure, have been paralleled by a growth in
the number of conditions that can be addressed. This expanding list
includes symptomatic labral tears, chondral lesions, injuries of
the ligamentum teres, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), capsular
laxity and instability, and various extra-articular disorders, including snapping
hip syndromes. With a careful diagnostic evaluation and technical
execution of well-indicated procedures, arthroscopic surgery of
the hip can achieve successful clinical outcomes, with predictable
improvements in function and pre-injury levels of physical activity
for many patients. This paper reviews the current position in relation to the use
of arthroscopy in the treatment of disorders of the hip. Cite this article: