Microfracture: State of the Art in Cartilage Surgery?

Objective This study is a literature review from 2010 to 2014 concerning the quality of evidence in clinical trials about microfracture in attempt to repair articular cartilage. We have decided to focus on microfracturing, since this seems to be the best documented technique. Interest in evaluation of publication quality has risen in orthopaedic sports medicine recently. Therefore, we think it is necessary to evaluate recent clinical trials being rated for their evidence-based medicine (EBM) quality. We also compared the mean impact factor of the journals publishing the different studies as an indicator of the study's citation and evaluated for a change over the studied time frame. Design To measure the EBM level, we applied the modified Coleman Methodology Score (CMS) introduced by Jakobsen. The impact factor, which is a measurement of the yearly average number of citations of articles recently published in that journal, was evaluated according to self-reported values on the corresponding journal's website. Results We found that the mean CMS has not changed between 2010 and 2014. The mean impact factor has also not changed between 2010 and 2014. The CMS variance was high, pointing to different qualities in the evaluated studies. There is no evidence that microfracturing is superior compared to other cartilage repair procedures. Conclusion Microfracture cannot be seen as an evidence based procedure. Further research needs to be done and a standardization of the operating method is desirable. There need to be more substantial studies on microfracturing alone without additional therapies.

Nanofractured autologous matrix induced chondrogenesis (NAMIC©)--Further development of collagen membrane aided chondrogenesis combined with subchondral needling: A technical note.

PURPOSE: This technical note introduces a further development of the autologous matrix induced chondrogenesis (AMIC©) technology for regenerative surgery of cartilage defects considering latest data in the literature. The potential of subchondral mesenchymal stem cell stimulation for cartilage repair is combined with a membrane technique to enhance efficiency of cartilage regeneration. The nanofractured autologous matrixinduced chondrogenesis (NAMIC©) procedure is suitable for the knee, hip, ankle, shoulder and elbow joints. METHODS: A standardized subchondral needling procedure (nanofracturing) is combined with fixation of a collagen I/III membrane to regenerate cartilage defects. Its advantages over microfracturing are smaller holes, deeper perforation into the subchondral space, a standardized procedure and earlier rehabilitation of the patient. The collagen membrane protects the blood clot forming after nanofracturing. The NAMIC© procedure may be performed arthroscopically alone, or in a combined arthroscopic setting with a mini-arthrotomy. RESULTS: This is a further development of the AMIC© technology which allows earlier rehabilitation of the patient. The procedure is standardized. Early clinical results are encouraging. Nevertheless, caution is advised in the evaluation of this method as in that of any cartilage regenerating method. CONCLUSION: The development of standardized subchondral regenerative procedures is important as only reliable clinical studies will give non-biased results. The NAMIC© procedure and the nanofracturing associated with it could be a promising step. As the rehabilitation period may be significantly shortened there is an earlier re-integration of the patient into the working life as compared to the AMIC© procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Efficacy of continuous catheter analgesia of the sciatic nerve after total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: This study investigated and compared the outcomes after continuous femoral nerve block alone, continuous femoral nerve analgesia combined with single-shot sciatic nerve analgesia, and continuous femoral and sciatic nerve analgesia in patients with total knee replacement. METHODS: The retrospective study evaluated three groups: continuous femoral nerve analgesia alone, continuous femoral nerve analgesia combined with single-shot sciatic nerve analgesia and continuous femoral nerve analgesia combined with continuous sciatic nerve analgesia. All patients had a hemi- or total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which were performed by a single surgeon. The postoperative analgesia was managed by the same team. A total of 362 patient charts were evaluated from the years 2005-2012. Pain scored with a visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded 8 hours and 24 hours postoperatively on a standardised form. The amount of opioids required with and without additional sciatic nerve analgesia was documented by monitoring the VAS. RESULTS: Overall, 364 patient files could be assessed. The VAS scores after 8 and 24 hours of patients with an additional continuous sciatic nerve catheter were lower (mean values 1.8 and 4.0, respectively) than those of patients with a continuous femoral catheter alone (mean values 2.7 and 4.9). After 8 and 24 hours, patients with a continuous sciatic nerve catheter had lower VAS scores than those with additional single-shot sciatic nerve anaesthesia (mean values 1.9 and 4.5). Pethidine consumption in the continuous sciatic nerve catheter group was lower (32% of patients) as compared with the two other groups (65%). The side effects of opioids per group consequently were also lower: 24% patients with side effects in the continuous sciatic nerve block group, 52% in the additional single shot sciatic nerve group, 44% in the femoral nerve block group. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these results, which correspond well to other studies of a topic that is under discussion in the literature, we adapted our postoperative pain regimen to continuous sciatic and femoral nerve analgesia for at least 24 hours after hemi- and total knee replacement.

Early failure of a non-cemented femoral stem after minimal-invasive total hip arthroplasty: cause analysis and classification.

In this paper, we present a 77-year-old female patient with an early failure of a non-cemented femoral stem 6 months after implantation. We evaluate possible reasons for the implant failure in our case against the literature. Risk factors for stem failure include a BMI >30, varus implantation, a high femoral canal cortex ratio, and a small implant. It should be distinguished between modular and non-modular stems as well as cemented and non-cemented. Early failure would be <1 year postoperatively, late failure >1 year postoperatively. A classification of stem failure differentiating time and cause is suggested as this seems to be missing in the literature.

Reviewing subchondral cartilage surgery: considerations for standardised and outcome predictable cartilage remodelling: a technical note.

PURPOSE: The potential of subchondral mesenchymal stem cell stimulation (MSS) for cartilage repair has led to the widespread use of microfracture as a first line treatment for full thickness articular cartilage defects. Recent focus on the effects of subchondral bone during cartilage injury and repair has expanded the understanding of the strengths and limitations in MSS and opened new pathways for potential improvement. Comparative studies have shown that bone marrow access has positive implications for pluripotential cell recruitment, repair quality and quantity, i.e. deeper channels elicited better cartilage fill, more hyaline cartilage character with higher type II collagen content and lower type I collagen content compared to shallow marrow access. METHODS: A subchondral needling procedure using standardised and thin subchondral perforations deep into the subarticular bone marrow making the MSS more consistent with the latest developments in subchondral cartilage remodelling is proposed. RESULTS: As this is a novel method clinical studies have been initiated to evaluate the procedure especially compared to microfracturing. However, the first case studies and follow-ups indicate that specific drills facilitate reaching the subchondral bone marrow while the needle size makes perforation of the subchondral bone easier and more predictable. Clinical results of the first group of patients seem to compare well to microfracturing. CONCLUSION: The authors suggest a new method for a standardised procedure using a new perforating device. Advances in MSS by subchondral bone marrow perforation are discussed. It remains to be determined by clinical studies how this method compares to microfracturing. The subchondral needling offers the surgeon and the investigator a method that facilitates comparison studies because of its defined depth of subchondral penetration and needle size.

We do not have evidence based methods for the treatment of cartilage defects in the knee.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of studies concerning current treatment of chondral defects of the knee. METHODS: The relevance for evidence based data and for successful surgical treatment of cartilage defects was evaluated. From 56,098 evaluated studies, 133 studies could be further pursued. These supplied data concerning microfracturing, the osteochondral autograft transplantation system (OATS), the autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) and the matrix induced chondrocyte implantation (MACI). The modified Coleman Methodical Score (CMS) and the Level of Evidence (LOE) were applied to evaluate the quality. RESULTS: In these studies, a total of 6,920 patients were reviewed with a median of 32 patients per study and a mean follow-up of 24 months. The mean CMS was 58 of 100 points. No study reached 100 points in the CMS. Three studies reached a level above 90. Ten studies were Level I, five studies reached Level II. Seven studies reached Level III, 111 studies Level IV. MRI scans to verify the clinical data were used by only 72 studies. The means in the modified CMS were for the different procedures as follows: ACI 58 points, MACI 57 points, microfracturing 68 points and OATS 50 points. 24 studies applied the Lysholm Score (LS) for clinical evaluation of cartilage surgery. All operative procedures yielded comparable improvements of the LS (n.s.) meaning that no operative procedure proved superior. CONCLUSION: As the majority of studies evaluated by this review is insufficient for EBM purposes more coherent studies with LOE of I or II are needed. Co-relating the systems of CMS and LOE and validating the applied scores seems desirable.