Does a Lower Limb Balance Test after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Have a Significant Correlation with Postoperative Clinical Score, Stability, and Functional Performance Test?

Background@#Lower limb balance ability is reduced after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, the recovery of balance based on functional test scores after ACLR is not known because the correlation between balance and clinical scores remains unclear. We aimed to analyze the correlation between lower limb balance assessed by functional test and clinical knee test scores after ACLR. @*Methods@#We evaluated lower limb balance using the anterior-posterior stability index (APSI) of the Biodex Balance System (BBS).Patients underwent clinical tests to evaluate the knee, including the Tegner activity score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score, Lysholm score, and KT-2000 arthrometer measurement, hamstring per quadriceps muscle strength ratio at 60°/sec (HQ ratio), and functional performance tests (single-leg hop and single-leg vertical jump tests) 1 year after ACLR.We used a paired t-test to compare continuous preoperative and postoperative variables and Pearson’s correlation coefficient to determine the relationship between BBS-APSI and clinical scores. @*Results@#Forty-eight patients (35 men and 13 women; mean age, 28.9 ± 8.3 years) were included. The follow-up period and BBSAPSI were 12.4 ± 2.0 months and 0.9 ± 0.4, respectively. Tegner activity score, IKDC subjective score, Lysholm score, and KT-2000 arthrometer measurement improved significantly postoperatively (p < 0.001). BBS-APSI was correlated with the Tegner activity score (r = –0.335, p = 0.020), IKDC subjective score (r = –0.301, p = 0.037), Lysholm score (r = –0.323, p = 0.025), single-leg hop test results (r = –0.300, p = 0.038), and single-leg vertical jump test results (r = –0.336, p = 0.019). There was no correlation between KT-2000 arthrometer measurement and HQ ratio. @*Conclusions@#BBS-APSI was correlated with functional performance test scores after ACLR, rendering the BBS-APSI as a useful assessment tool to evaluate postoperative functional recovery. Continuously improving balance after ACLR could be useful for functional recovery after surgery.

Rehabilitation after Repair of Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tears: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Background@#There is no consensus established on postoperative rehabilitation after medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) repair, including when and how physicians can apply range of motion (ROM) exercise, weight-bearing (WB), brace use, and return to sports (RTS). The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature on postoperative rehabilitation characteristics of MMPRT repair regarding ROM, WB, brace use, and RTS. @*Methods@#A literature search was performed using the Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase databases. The inclusion criteria were English language, human clinical studies, and studies describing rehabilitation protocols after MMPRT repair such as ROM, WB, brace use, and RTS. Abstracts, case reports, cohort studies, controlled laboratory studies, human cadaveric or animal studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were excluded. @*Results@#Thirteen studies were included. Of the 12 ROM studies, ROM was started immediately within 1 or 2 days after operation in 6 studies and after 2 to 3 weeks of knee immobilization in the rest. Of the 13 WB studies, partial weight-bearing was initiated 1 to 4 weeks after operation in 8 studies and 6 weeks in the rest. Of the 9 brace studies, patients were immobilized by a splint for 2 weeks in 3 studies, and in the rest, a brace with full extension was applied for 3 to 6 weeks after several days of splint application.Of the 7 RTS studies, RTS was allowed at 6 months in 6 studies and 5 to 7 months in 1 study. @*Conclusions@#This systematic review revealed conservative rehabilitation protocols were more widely adapted as ROM and WB were restricted at certain degrees during postoperative periods in most protocols analyzed. However, it is impossible to identify a consensus on rehabilitation protocols as the protocols analyzed in this review were distinct each other and heterogeneous. In the future, a well-designed comparative study among different rehabilitation protocols is essential to establish a consensus.

An Increasing Trend in the Number of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Korea: A Nationwide Epidemiologic Study

Background@#Most epidemiologic studies of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) to date have been conducted in Western populations, whereas no studies have been conducted in Asian populations. In this study, the incidence and trend of ACLR in Korea were investigated through an epidemiological big data analysis. @*Methods@#The data were collected by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2008 to 2016 in Korea. Patient records with the coding of cruciate ligament reconstruction were allocated, and ACLR patients were further refined by medical diagnosis coding. The total number and incidence of ACLR procedures per 100,000 person-years were investigated and more detailed analysis was conducted according to sex and age. Furthermore, concomitant surgical procedures performed during ACLR were investigated. @*Results@#The total number and incidence of ACLR procedures rose from 10,248 and 21.8 to 14,500 and 29.1 between 2008 and 2016, respectively. The incidence of ACLR procedures increased by 33.5% over this 9-year period. Over this period, the total number and incidence increased from 8,543 and 36.4 to 11,534 and 46.4, respectively, in males and from 1,705 and 7.2 to 2,966 and 11.9, respectively, in females. ACLR was performed more frequently in males than in females; however, the increase rate was higher in females than males. ACLR was performed most frequently in patients in their 20s, followed by patients in their 30s, 40s, and 10s. The most frequent concomitant procedures performed during ACLR were meniscectomy (13.6% in 2008 and 9.8% in 2016) and meniscal repair (5.8% in 2008 and 8.8% in 2016). @*Conclusions@#The incidence of ACLR consistently rose between 2008 and 2016 in Korea. The current study will enhance our understanding of the epidemiology of ACLR, which is needed to devise cost-effective preventive measures.

National Trends of Meniscectomy and Meniscus Repair in Korea

BACKGROUND: Meniscus surgeries are frequently performed in orthopaedics. However, their current status is not well known in many countries, including Korea. This study aimed to investigate the national trends of meniscus surgery in Korea. METHODS: Information from the national database was acquired through the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2010 to 2017. All cases coded as meniscectomy or meniscus repair were included. The total number and incidence of cases of meniscus surgery per 100,000 persons were determined, and the results were stratified by age and gender. The meniscus repair ratio for the total number of meniscus surgeries was evaluated. RESULTS: The total number and incidence of meniscectomy cases were 65,752 and 137, respectively, in 2010, which increased to 74,088 and 154, respectively, in 2017. The number of meniscectomies increased by 12.67% in 8 years. The total number and incidence of meniscus repair cases were 9,055 and 18, respectively, in 2010, which increased to 14,947 and 31 in 2017. The number of meniscus repairs increased by 65.04%. The meniscus repair ratio was 12.1% in 2010, which increased to 16.8% in 2017. The highest peak was noted for patients who underwent meniscus surgeries in their 50s and 60s. Meniscectomy was performed more frequently in women (57%) than in men (43%), whereas repair was performed more frequently in men (54%) than in women (46%) over the study period. CONCLUSION: The total number and incidence of meniscus surgeries increased from 2010 to 2017; the number and incidence of meniscus repair procedures increased more rapidly than those of meniscectomy, with the peak treatment age for both surgeries being in the 50s and 60s. The current study will contribute to understanding the epidemiology of meniscus surgery, its prevention, and cost-saving measures in Korea.

Correlation between Subscapularis Tears and the Outcomes of Physical Tests and Isokinetic Muscle Strength Tests

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the type of subscapularis tendon tears diagnosed during arthroscopy and the outcomes of physical tests and of isokinetic muscle strength tests. METHODS: We preoperatively evaluated physical outcomes and isokinetic muscle strength of 60 consecutive patients who underwent an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and/or subacromial decompression. We divided the patients into five groups according to the type of subscapularis tear, which we classified using Lafosse classification system during diagnostic arthroscopic surgery. RESULTS: When we performed a trend analysis between the outcomes of the physical tests and the severity of subscapularis tendon tear, we found that both the incidence of positive sign of the collective physical tests and that of individual physical tests increased significantly as the severity of the subscapularis tear increased (p<0.001). Similarly, the deficit in isokinetic muscle strength showed a tendency to increase as the severity of subscapularis tear increased, but this positive correlation was statistically significant in only the deficit between those with Lafosse type II tears and those with Lafosse type III tears. CONCLUSIONS: Although no single diagnostic test surpasses above others in predicting the severity of a subscapularis tear, our study implies that, as a collective unit of tests, the total incidence of the positive rate of the physical tests and the extent of isokinetic strength deficit may correlate with severity of subscapularis tears.

Correlation between Subscapularis Tears and the Outcomes of Physical Tests and Isokinetic Muscle Strength Tests

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the type of subscapularis tendon tears diagnosed during arthroscopy and the outcomes of physical tests and of isokinetic muscle strength tests. METHODS: We preoperatively evaluated physical outcomes and isokinetic muscle strength of 60 consecutive patients who underwent an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and/or subacromial decompression. We divided the patients into five groups according to the type of subscapularis tear, which we classified using Lafosse classification system during diagnostic arthroscopic surgery. RESULTS: When we performed a trend analysis between the outcomes of the physical tests and the severity of subscapularis tendon tear, we found that both the incidence of positive sign of the collective physical tests and that of individual physical tests increased significantly as the severity of the subscapularis tear increased (p<0.001). Similarly, the deficit in isokinetic muscle strength showed a tendency to increase as the severity of subscapularis tear increased, but this positive correlation was statistically significant in only the deficit between those with Lafosse type II tears and those with Lafosse type III tears. CONCLUSIONS: Although no single diagnostic test surpasses above others in predicting the severity of a subscapularis tear, our study implies that, as a collective unit of tests, the total incidence of the positive rate of the physical tests and the extent of isokinetic strength deficit may correlate with severity of subscapularis tears.

Validation of Functional Performance Tests after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

PURPOSE: To validate the functional performance tests (FPTs) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty men in their third decade after ACL reconstruction at 6 month follow-up and thirty healthy subjects were selected. Lysholm knee score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score, Tegner activity score, KT-2000 arthrometer test, isokinetic strength test, functional performance tests (one leg hop test, co-contraction test, shuttle run test, carioca test) were performed in two groups. We evaluated the test-retest reliability of FPTs in healthy group and the between FPTs and other parameters in ACL reconstruction group. RESULTS: The test-retest result showed high correlation in co-contraction test (r=0.511), shuttle run test (r=0.746), carioca test (r=0.742). In the ACL reconstruction group, the IKDC score, Tegner activity score, extensor power at 60degrees/s, and one leg hop test also showed high correlation between each test. CONCLUSIONS: The three FPTs showed correlations with the established methods for determining return to sports activities after ACL reconstruction and had high test-retest reliability. Therefore we believe the three FPTs can be useful methods to assess knee function in athletes after ACL reconstruction.