Prospective study of functional outcomes and return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the knee.

PURPOSE: Individual factors of low rates of return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction were unclear. We evaluated the impact of various individual factors after ACL reconstruction for return to sport in athletes. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in 1274 athletes, who had undergone ACL autograft reconstruction. Individual factors survey about return to sport was performed during the second year after surgery. Athlete responses were analyzed with a multivariate logistic model adjusted for baseline patient characteristics and an adjusted Cox model. RESULTS: Younger age and involvement in higher-level sporting activities were associated with a significantly higher frequency and a significantly shorter time to return to sport (running, training, competition; p = 0.001 to 0.028). Men returned to sport more rapidly than women, for both training (p = 0.007) and competition (p = 0.042). Although there was no difference to return to sport between hamstring (HT) and patellar tendon (PT) autograft. We note that MacFL surgery (Mac Intosh modified with intra- and extra-articular autografts used the tensor fasciae latae muscle) was associated with a higher frequency (p = 0.03) and rapidity (p = 0.025) of return to training than HT. Sports people practicing no weight-bearing sports returned to training (p < 0.001) and competition (p < 0.001) more rapidly than other sports people. By contrast, the practicing pivoting sports with contact started running again sooner (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Younger age, male sex, higher level of sports, sportspeople practicing no weight-bearing sports, and MacFL surgery reduce time to return to sport after ACL reconstruction.

Re-ruptures and early outcomes after surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures: prospective, comparative multicenter study.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to compare the re-rupture rate, clinical results, and functional outcomes six months after the surgical repair of an acute Achilles tendon rupture between three different techniques (open repair, percutaneous repair with the Tenolig®, and minimally invasive repair). METHODS: A prospective, comparative, multicenter, non-randomized study was performed and included 111 patients who had an acute ruptured Achilles tendon: 74 underwent an open repair, 22 underwent a percutaneous repair using the Tenolig® and 15 had a minimally invasive repair. At six months follow-up we analyzed the number of re-ruptures, phlebitis, infections, complex regional pain syndrome, clinical outcomes (muscle atrophy, ankle dorsal flexion), functional scores (ATRS, VISA-A, EFAS, SF-12), and return to running. RESULTS: There were more re-ruptures (p=0.0001) after repair with the Tenolig® (27%) than with open repairs (1.3%) and minimally invasive repairs (0%). The rate of other complications was not different. No clinical differences were found between the three groups. Only some functional scores EFAS Total (p=0.006), and VISA-A (p=0.015) were worse in the Tenolig® group. All the other results were similar between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Despite heterogeneous studies in literature, the results of this comparative and prospective study between three surgical techniques of Achilles tendon repair confirmed that Tenolig® repair increased the rate of early re-rupture compared to open or minimally invasive techniques.

Treating osteoarticular infections in a Role 2 in Chad: a bacterial epidemiological study.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of osteoarticular infections in Africa is a medical and surgical challenge due to the difficulties in managing antibiotic therapy after the surgical procedure. The objectives of this study were to identify the types of bacteria in osteoarticular lesions in patients treated in Chad and to determine the spectrum of resistance encountered and the efficacy of available antibiotics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of all intraoperative osteoarticular and soft tissue samples taken in a French Role 2 Medical Treatment Facility of N'Djamena during surgery for chronic osteoarticular infections, in Chad, for 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 160 bacterial strains were identified, with a predominance of Gram-negative bacillus (GNB) and staphylococcus infections. Among staphylococci, 80% were methicillin-sensitive streptococci which were generally multidrug-sensitive. Enterococci were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, first-generation fluoroquinolones and gentamycin. Among GNB, there was a predominance of enterobacteria compared with non-fermenting GNB, of which 52% were multidrug-resistant and produced extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL). CONCLUSION: Staphylococcus aureus infections are most often sensitive to available antibiotics and therefore have better prognoses than infections caused by other bacteria. In contrast, in half of the cases of GNB, infections were caused by bacteria producing ESBL, thus posing the problem of multidrug-resistance, the risks of which are increased in precarious situations. Therefore, the type of bacteria appears to be a major prognostic factor in the treatment of osteoarticular infections in a Role 2 in Chad. This criterion will need to be considered before any treatment decisions are made.

[Place of preperitoneal pelvic packing in severe pelvic traumatisms: 20 cases in a French level 1 trauma center]. / Place du packing pré-péritonéal pelvien dans les traumatismes graves du bassin : étude à partir de 20 cas réalisés dans un trauma center de niveau 1 français.

BACKGROUND: The overall mortality of hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic trauma is high. Their management is controversial concerning places of arterioembolization and pelvic packing associated with pelvic stabilization. The aim of this study was to collect the pre-peritoneal pelvic packing (PPP) performed in our institution over 10years in order to propose a management algorithm. METHOD: From January 2010 to December 2020, all patients with a hemodynamically unstable pelvic fracture who had PPP combined with pelvic stabilization were included. Data were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. The main judgement criteria were early hemorrhage-induced mortality (<24h) and overall mortality (<30d). RESULTS: Twenty patients had PPP out of 287 polytrauma patients with pelvic fracture. The first-line PPP proposed in our algorithm significantly reduced the number of red blood cells (RBCs) (P=0.0231) and improved systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P<0.001) within 24hours of first-line PPP (compared with preoperative). Six patients (30%) were embolized postoperatively for active bleeding not necessarily pelvic. The overall mortality at 30days was 50% (10/20). CONCLUSION: PPP is a fast, easy, effective and safe procedure for venous, bone and sometimes arterial bleeding. PPP is part of damage control surgery and we propose it as a first-line procedure. AE remains complementary in a second step.

Tactical tourniquet: Surgical management must be within 3 hours.

Despite longstanding controversy, tourniquets are widely used in tactical combat casualty care, with undisputed benefits for recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Increased time delays are a particular issue in large areas, such as the Sahel-Saharan band. Complications associated with tourniquet use are predominantly related to acute ischemia with risk of amputation and ischaemia-reperfusion injury, as shown in the first clinical case. Often stated but poorly described, misuse of tourniquet and subsequent failure to interrupt arterial blood flow is also a clinical scenario that should be recognized. In the case of misuse of the tourniquet, more significant blood loss may be expected because of venous compression (« venous tourniquet ¼, second clinical case). Early medical re-evaluation of the tourniquet is an essential component in prolonged field care. This includes reassessment of the tourniquet's ability to achieve hemostasis, abolish the downstream pulse and the relevance of the tourniquet altogether. This combat tool requires training to be successful and complications are time dependent. Tourniquet use requires appropriate application, re-evaluation and triage of wounded personnel within 3 h towards more structured surgical management.

Does curettage-cement packing for treating giant cell tumors at the knee lead to osteoarthritis?

INTRODUCTION: Giant cell tumors (GCTs) make up 15 to 20% of bone-related tumors in adults. They are often found around the knee in the metaphysis and epiphysis area, contacting the joint cartilage. The aims of our study were to evaluate the presence of early knee osteoarthritis (OA) in patients with GCTs in the knee area treated by curettage-cement packing, and to evaluate whether replacing subchondral bone with acrylic cement has an effect on the functional outcomes and quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all patients operated between 2000 and 2010 by the same specialized surgical team. Functional outcomes and quality of life were evaluated in each patient using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome (KOOS), the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score (MSTS) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). The presence of OA was evaluated in a full radiological work-up comparing the operated knee with the healthy contralateral knee. Knee OA was defined as grade 3 or grade 4 radiographic findings based on the Kellgren and Lawrence classification, and a significant difference between the operated and contralateral knee. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were included in this study. The average follow-up was 120 months (range 60-180). Four patients (21%) had radiographic KL-3 and one patient (5%) had KL-4. Eight patients (42%) had recurrence of the GCT. The distance between the tumor and cartilage, and the area of the subchondral bone invaded by the tumor appeared to contribute to OA progression. DISCUSSION: Resection of GCTs around the knee by curettage-cement packing did not have an effect on development of OA. In the four patients who developed knee OA, the tumor was located less than 3mm from the joint cartilage and took up more than 90% of the epiphysis. Based on these observations, there seems to be a strong correlation between the development of knee OA and the small quantity of subchondral bone left after curettage. The functional outcomes and quality of life were similar no matter the knee OA grade in patients. Replacing subchondral bone by cement had no effect on quality of life in this study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV (retrospective study).

First-line management of distal humerus fracture by total elbow arthroplasty in geriatric traumatology: Results in a 21-patient series at a minimum 2years' follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is one option in distal humerus fracture in elderly osteoporotic patients. HYPOTHESIS: The study hypothesis was that, in patients aged 70years or more, TEA provides functional results and ranges of motion compatible with everyday activity, with a complications rate equal to or lower than with internal fixation, and no loss of autonomy or cognitive impairment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 21 patients receiving TEA for distal humerus fracture were included. Mean follow-up was 3.2years, with functional (Quick DASH and MEPS), cognitive (MMSE), autonomy-related (ADL) and radiological assessment (Morrey). RESULTS: Mean MEPS was 84 and QuickDASH 32.4. Mean extension deficit was 22°, and mean flexion 125°. There was no loss of autonomy or cognitive impairment. The complications rate was 9.5%. There were no revision surgeries. DISCUSSION: TEA proved reliable in comminuted distal humerus fracture in elderly patients. Functional results were comparable to those in the literature, and the complications rate was lower. Long-term implant survival needs confirmation to validate this option as a treatment of choice in these indications in geriatric traumatology. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective non-comparative, single-center. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

[Thromboelastometric profile of unwashed shed blood after primary knee arthroplasty]. / Évaluation du profil thromboélastométrique du sang épanché après arthroplastie primaire du genou.

INTRODUCTION: Knee arthroplasty causes significant blood loss. Different blood-saving measures exist like retransfusion of unwashed salvaged blood. Some studies question the quality of this blood and in particular its ability to clot. These studies use "static" coagulation tests reflecting only partially the reality, unlike viscoelastic methods. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the salvaged blood thromboelastometric profile using ROTEM® system and to compare these results with patient venous blood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed an observational, prospective, single-center study conducted over 3 months in 2013. Agreement of local ethical committee and patient consent were obtained beforehand. All adult patients who underwent a primary total knee arthroplasty were included. A thromboelastometric profile and standard laboratory tests (hemoglobin, platelets count, PT, aPTT, fibrinogen) were performed in the same time on patient venous blood and on unwashed salvaged blood in the PACU. RESULTS: Twenty patients were included. The median duration of surgery was 93 minutes. Thirteen patients (65%) received tranexamic acid during procedure. The median volume of shed blood was 225 mL. Two patients (10%) received a reinfusion. Analysis of shed blood showed a major deficiency of clotting factor in standard biology (PT<10%) and an absence of clot formation in thromboelastometric test (In-tem®, Ex-tem®, Fib-tem® or Ap-tem®). Compared to venous blood, shed blood had significantly lower hemoglobin levels: 8.8 vs 13.5 g/dL (P<0.0001). Allogenic transfusion concerned 5% of patients. DISCUSSION: In this work, we confirmed that shed blood was naturally uncoagulable probably due to a multifactorial mechanism involving a major clot factor deficiency and an activation of fibrinolysis.

[Is there pisotriquetral instability after carpal tunnel release? Retrospective study of 55 cases]. / Existe-il une instabilité piso-triquétrale après une neurolyse du nerf médian au poignet ? Étude rétrospective à propos de 55 cas.

The aim of this study was to determine if pisotriquetral instability is present after neurolysis of the median nerve in the wrist. Fifty-five patients who underwent carpal tunnel release between December 2005 and March 2009 were included in this retrospective study. The surgical procedure consisted of cutting the transverse carpal ligament under local anesthesia through an anterior approach. Instability was evaluated clinically and radiologically by measuring the pisometacarpal angle. The mean patient age was 61years and the mean follow-up 42months. Only 9% of patients complained of pain on the ulnar side of wrist. The pisometacarpal angle in all the operated wrists was the same as in the non-operated wrists. Our findings suggest there is no pisotriquetral instability after median nerve neurolysis.