Osteochondral Allograft Transplant for Combined Medial and Lateral Patellar Cartilage Lesions: The Osteochondral Wide Lesion (OWL) Technique.

Symptomatic articular cartilage injuries are often seen in young active patients and athletes. Magnetic resonance imaging screening examinations have frequently identified such lesions in athletic patients. Patellofemoral chondral defects were previously identified as the most common knee cartilage lesion in high-level athletes. Chondral defects measuring 2 cm2 or greater and complex cartilage defects involving bone loss are ideally replaced with fresh osteochondral allograft. We describe a technique indicated for patients with symptomatic and recurrent anterior knee pain associated with osteochondral patellar defects including the lateral and medial patellar facets. Patients who have undergone previous interventions, including membrane techniques, microfracture, or autologous chondral transplantation, without clinical benefit are also eligible to undergo osteochondral allograft transplantation for combined medial and lateral patellar cartilage lesions, that is, the osteochondral wide lesion (OWL) technique.

Posterior-Medial Meniscal Root Repair Through Lateral Tibial Tunnel Combined With Medial Opening Osteotomy and Homologous Graft.

When there is a rupture in the meniscal roots or close to them, the menisci suddenly and considerably reduce their capacity to absorb the axial mechanical load that passes through the knee, quickly leading to the development of a process of chondral degeneration. The varus deformity of the lower limb (when the mechanical axis crosses the medial compartment of the knee) favors this type of injury owing to the overload in the medial compartment. When the patient has both varus deformity and medial meniscal posterior root injury, there is a clear indication for surgical realignment of the affected lower limb. There is still not a consensus regarding combining meniscal root repair with corrective osteotomy, although there is a tendency to perform both procedures aiming at long-term joint preservation. We present a safe alternative technique for simultaneous medial meniscal posterior root repair using a lateral tibial transosseous tunnel associated with a valgus-producing high tibial osteotomy with homologous bone grafting, allowing a full return to daily activities and sports.

Vertical Continuous Meniscal Suture Technique.

Meniscal injuries are common in the population, representing the major cause of functional impairment in the knee. Vertical longitudinal injuries of the meniscus can be stable or unstable. When extensive, they are commonly unstable and can lead to clinical signs of significant functional disability. Vertical longitudinal injuries have the best prognosis for repair, especially when occurring in the meniscal periphery, called the red-red zone. A recently developed type of meniscal suture device called Meniscus 4 A-II enables the surgeon to perform a meniscal suture from the inside-out continuously, reducing surgical time. Because it allows the surgeon to use a single and inexpensive device to repair the entire injury, costs are significantly reduced. Here, an approach to carry out continuous meniscal repair with vertical sutures is described. This technique warrants excellent stability to the meniscal repair, increasing the chances of a successful outcome. We believe that the popularization of the repair technique from the inside out using the Meniscus 4-All device will help many surgeons around the world save menisci that otherwise would have a great chance of being excised, since it is a cheap, reproducible, and easy-to-handle device.

Modified Lemaire Lateral Tenodesis Associated With an Intra-articular Reconstruction Technique With Bone-Tendon-Bone Graft Using an Adjustable Fixation Mechanism.

The goal of this study was to report a surgical technique used in a revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction case, consisting of an adaptation of the anterolateral iliotibial band tenodesis technique (modified Lemaire technique) combined with ACL reconstruction using an adjustable fixation mechanism. Rotational overload was one of the most likely hypotheses for failure of primary surgery, despite correct positioning and secure fixation. We performed a review of the most pertinent factors related to ACL reconstruction failure, as well as surgical strategies for its treatment. After this, we described, step by step, a combination of the 2 forms of surgical intervention that were already presented isolated with good clinical results, correcting the common anterior and rotational instabilities found in these cases. Knowing new techniques for intra- and extra-articular ligament reconstruction is imperative in the present day, when more patients are seeking a full return to their preinjury recreational, labor, and sports activities. We believe that the combination of these surgical techniques is able to achieve these goals effectively and reproducibly.

Understanding posterior meniscal roots lesions: from basic science to treatment.

The variability of symptoms and the fact that they are not easily recognized in imaging studies make the diagnosis and treatment of posterior meniscal roots lesions a challenging task to the orthopedist. In recent years, a more precise understanding of the anatomy and biomechanical impair of the knee joint in these cases has enabled great advances in therapeutic approaches. Well-documented studies have shown that the repair of these lesions presents superior functional and clinical improvement when compared with meniscectomy. However, the progression of degenerative joint changes in the long-term still exhibits conflicting results.

A variabilidade da sintomatologia e o fato de não serem facilmente reconhecidas nos exames de imagem tornam o diagnóstico e o tratamento das lesões das raízes posteriores dos meniscos tarefas desafiadoras para o ortopedista. Nos últimos anos, uma compreensão mais precisa da anatomia e do comprometimento biomecânico da articulação do joelho nessas lesões têm possibilitado grandes avanços nas abordagens terapêuticas. Estudos bem documentados demonstram que o reparo dessas lesões oferece uma melhoria clínica e funcional superior à meniscectomia. Entretanto, os resultados da progressão das alterações degenerativas articulares em longo prazo ainda são conflitantes.

Understanding posterior meniscal roots lesions: from basic science to treatment / Compreendendo as lesões das raízes posteriores dos meniscos: da ciência básica ao tratamento

ABSTRACT The variability of symptoms and the fact that they are not easily recognized in imaging studies make the diagnosis and treatment of posterior meniscal roots lesions a challenging task to the orthopedist. In recent years, a more precise understanding of the anatomy and biomechanical impair of the knee joint in these cases has enabled great advances in therapeutic approaches. Well-documented studies have shown that the repair of these lesions presents superior functional and clinical improvement when compared with meniscectomy. However, the progression of degenerative joint changes in the long-term still exhibits conflicting results.

RESUMO A variabilidade da sintomatologia e o fato de não serem facilmente reconhecidas nos exames de imagem tornam o diagnóstico e o tratamento das lesões das raízes posteriores dos meniscos tarefas desafiadoras para o ortopedista. Nos últimos anos, uma compreensão mais precisa da anatomia e do comprometimento biomecânico da articulação do joelho nessas lesões têm possibilitado grandes avanços nas abordagens terapêuticas. Estudos bem documentados demonstram que o reparo dessas lesões oferece uma melhoria clínica e funcional superior à meniscectomia. Entretanto, os resultados da progressão das alterações degenerativas articulares em longo prazo ainda são conflitantes.

An In Vitro Robotic Assessment of the Anterolateral Ligament, Part 2: Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction Combined With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Recent biomechanical studies have demonstrated that an extra-articular lateral knee structure, most recently referred to as the anterolateral ligament (ALL), contributes to overall rotational stability of the knee. However, the effect of anatomic ALL reconstruction (ALLR) in the setting of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) has not been biomechanically investigated or validated. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical function of anatomic ALLR in the setting of a combined ACL and ALL injury. More specifically, this investigation focused on the effect of ALLR on resultant rotatory stability when performed in combination with concomitant ACLR. It was hypothesized that ALLR would significantly reduce internal rotation and axial plane translation laxity during a simulated pivot-shift test compared with isolated ACLR. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were evaluated with a 6 degrees of freedom robotic system. Knee kinematics were evaluated with simulated clinical examinations including a simulated pivot-shift test consisting of coupled 10-N·m valgus and 5-N·m internal rotation torques, a 5-N·m internal rotation torque, and an 88-N anterior tibial load. Kinematic differences between ACLR with an intact ALL, ACLR with ALLR, and ACLR with a deficient ALL were compared with the intact state. Single-bundle ACLR tunnels and ALLR tunnels were placed anatomically according to previous quantitative anatomic attachment descriptions. RESULTS: Combined anatomic ALLR and ACLR significantly improved the rotatory stability of the knee compared with isolated ACLR in the face of a concurrent ALL deficiency. During a simulated pivot-shift test, ALLR significantly reduced internal rotation and axial plane tibial translation when compared with ACLR with an ALL deficiency. Isolated ACLR for the treatment of a combined ACL and ALL injury was not able to restore stability of the knee, resulting in a significant increase in residual internal rotation laxity. ALLR did not affect anterior tibial translation; no significant differences were observed between the varying ALL conditions with ACLR except between ACLR with an intact ALL and ACLR with a deficient ALL at 0° of flexion. CONCLUSION: In the face of a combined ACL and ALL deficiency, concurrent ACLR and ALLR significantly improved the rotatory stability of the knee compared with solely reconstructing the ACL. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Significant increases in residual internal rotation and laxity during the pivot-shift test may exist in both acute and chronic settings of an ACL deficiency and in patients treated with isolated ACLR for a combined ACL and ALL deficiency. For this subset of patients, surgical treatment of the ALL, in addition to ACLR, should be considered to restore knee stability.

An In Vitro Robotic Assessment of the Anterolateral Ligament, Part 1: Secondary Role of the Anterolateral Ligament in the Setting of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.

BACKGROUND: Recent investigations have described the structural and functional behavior of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee through pull-apart and isolated sectioning studies. However, the secondary stabilizing role of the ALL in the setting of a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear has not been fully defined for common simulated clinical examinations, such as the pivot-shift, anterior drawer, and internal rotation tests. HYPOTHESIS: Combined sectioning of the ALL and ACL would lead to increased internal rotation and increased axial plane translation during a pivot-shift test when compared with isolated sectioning of the ACL. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Ten fresh-frozen human cadaveric knees were subjected to a simulated pivot-shift test with coupled 10-N·m valgus and 5-N·m internal rotation torques from 0° to 60° of knee flexion and a 5-N·m internal rotation torque and an 88-N anterior tibial load, both from 0° to 120° of knee flexion via a 6 degrees of freedom robotic system. Kinematic changes were measured and compared with the intact state for isolated sectioning of the ACL and combined sectioning of the ACL and ALL. RESULTS: Combined sectioning of the ACL and ALL resulted in a significant increase in axial plane tibial translation during a simulated pivot shift at 0°, 15°, 30°, and 60° of knee flexion and a significant increase in internal rotation at 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°, and 120° when compared with the intact and ACL-deficient states. Based on the model results, ALL sectioning resulted in an additional 2.1 mm (95% CI, 1.4-2.9 mm; P < .001) of axial plane translation during the pivot shift when compared with ACL-only sectioning, when pooling evidence over all flexion angles. Likewise, when subjected to IR torque, the ACL+ALL-deficient state resulted in an additional 3.2° of internal rotation (95% CI, 2.4°-4.1°; P < .001) versus the intact state, and the additional sectioning of the ALL increased internal rotation by 2.7° (95% CI, 1.8°-3.6°; P < .001) versus the ACL-deficient state. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm the ALL as an important lateral knee structure that provides rotatory stability to the knee. Specifically, the ALL was a significant secondary stabilizer throughout flexion during an applied internal rotation torque and simulated pivot-shift test in the context of an ACL-deficient knee. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Residual internal rotation and a positive pivot shift after ACL reconstruction may be attributed to ALL injury. For these patients, surgical treatment of an ALL tear may be considered.