All-arthroscopic, Guideless Single Suture-button Fixation of Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation: A Description of the Technique and Early Treatment Results

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical and radiological results of the all-arthroscopic, suture-button fixation technique to treat acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint separations. METHODS: All patients with acute AC joint separations received all-arthroscopic, single suture-button (TightRope) procedure without a special guide. Postoperative Constant score (CS), pain level according to visual analogue scale, and range of motion (ROM) were evaluated. For radiological evaluation, coracoclavicular distances were measured bilaterally. RESULTS: Between December 2010 and June 2012, 18 consecutive patients (4 women and 14 men; mean age, 29.3 years) with acute AC joint separations underwent surgical treatment after 6.4 days (range, 2–20 days) following the initial trauma. The average postoperative follow-up was 16.9 months. The mean CS was 92.4 (range, 84–96). The mean external rotation, forward flexion, and abduction were 75.8° (range, 50°–90°), 170° (range, 150°–180°), and 163.8° (range, 140°–180°), respectively. Five patients exhibited coracoclavicular ossifications. In two patients, superficial wound infections were successfully treated with antibiotic therapy. In one patient, a coracoid fracture was observed. No significant differences were found regarding pain, ROM, or strength parameters between both sides. The coracoclavicular distance was discovered to be approximately 2.8 mm greater on the affected side; however, this minimal reduction loss did not affect the functional results. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggests that all-arthroscopic treatment of AC joint separations using the single suture-button technique without a drill guide is safe, yielding good to excellent clinical results.

Cytotoxicity of a new antimicrobial coating for surgical screws: an in vivo study

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The risk of surgery-related infection is a persistent problem in orthopaedics and infections involving implants are particularly difficult to treat. This study explored the responses of bone and soft tissue to antimicrobial-coated screws. We investigated whether such screws, which have never been used to fix bony tissues, would result in a cytotoxic effect. We hypothesised that the coated screws would not be toxic to the bone and that the likelihood of infection would be reduced since bacteria are not able to grow on these screws.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Titanium screws were inserted into the left supracondylar femoral regions of 16 rabbits. The screws were either uncoated (control group, n = 8) or coated with a polyvinylpyrrolidone-polyurethane interpolymer with tertiary amine functional groups (experimental group, n = 8). At Week 6, histological samples were obtained and examined. The presence of necrosis, fibrosis and inflammation in the bony tissue and the tissue surrounding the screws was recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Live, cellular bone marrow was present in all the rabbits from the experimental group, but was replaced with connective tissue in four rabbits from the control group. Eight rabbits from the control group and two rabbits from the experimental group had necrosis in fatty bone marrow. Inflammation was observed in one rabbit from the experimental group and five rabbits from the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Titanium surgical screws coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone-polyurethane interpolymer were associated with less necrosis than standard uncoated screws. The coated screws were also not associated with any cytotoxic side effect.</p>

All-arthroscopic, Guideless Single Suture-button Fixation of Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation: A Description of the Technique and Early Treatment Results

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical and radiological results of the all-arthroscopic, suture-button fixation technique to treat acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint separations. METHODS: All patients with acute AC joint separations received all-arthroscopic, single suture-button (TightRope) procedure without a special guide. Postoperative Constant score (CS), pain level according to visual analogue scale, and range of motion (ROM) were evaluated. For radiological evaluation, coracoclavicular distances were measured bilaterally. RESULTS: Between December 2010 and June 2012, 18 consecutive patients (4 women and 14 men; mean age, 29.3 years) with acute AC joint separations underwent surgical treatment after 6.4 days (range, 2–20 days) following the initial trauma. The average postoperative follow-up was 16.9 months. The mean CS was 92.4 (range, 84–96). The mean external rotation, forward flexion, and abduction were 75.8° (range, 50°–90°), 170° (range, 150°–180°), and 163.8° (range, 140°–180°), respectively. Five patients exhibited coracoclavicular ossifications. In two patients, superficial wound infections were successfully treated with antibiotic therapy. In one patient, a coracoid fracture was observed. No significant differences were found regarding pain, ROM, or strength parameters between both sides. The coracoclavicular distance was discovered to be approximately 2.8 mm greater on the affected side; however, this minimal reduction loss did not affect the functional results. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggests that all-arthroscopic treatment of AC joint separations using the single suture-button technique without a drill guide is safe, yielding good to excellent clinical results.