Does radial shock wave therapy works in pseudarthrosis? Prospective analysis of forty four patients.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we analyze a new treatment option for pseudarthrosis using radial shock waves. The traditional treatment to pseudarthrosis is surgical. As an option to specific cases, focal shock waves seem to present good results with bone union without a subsequent surgical procedure. As radial shock waves reach less energy and less depth penetration than focal shock waves, they usually are not indicated for the treatment of pseudarthrosis of any bone segment. There are publications that show evidences of the action of radial shock waves stimulating bone consolidation in vitro, in animals and in humans. We will present a new option for failure of consolidation in superficial bones submitted to radial shock wave therapy. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of radial shock waves in the treatment of superficial bone pseudarthrosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2016 and 2019, we conducted a prospective study with 44 consecutive patients with pseudarthrosis. All patients had prior indication for treatment with surgery and were treated with radial shock waves as a nonsurgical treatment option. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically pre-treatment and 6 months after. Clinically, patients complained of pain and dysfunction, according to the segment affected, and radiographically, evidences of pseudarthrosis in at least two X-ray views. As the outcomes: satisfactory when there was bone union, no pain, and return function; unsatisfactory when there was no bone union and maintain pain and dysfunction. All patients were treated with the same equipment and by the same physician. The treatment consisted in 3 sessions with weekly interval; in each session, 3000 radial shock waves were applied with 4 bar of energy. RESULTS: After 6 months, clinical analysis and X-ray evidence on 77.2% of the patients presented bone union and clinical improvement classified as satisfactory result. There were no complications. CONCLUSION: Treatment of pseudarthrosis in superficial bones with radial shock waves is effective and safe.

A new technique in double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using implant-free femoral fixation.

PURPOSE: The study is a prospective case-series analysis to demonstrate a new double bundle technique for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with the use of hamstring tendons through a single tibial tunnel, a double femoral socket with implant-free femoral fixation and interference screw for tibial fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients were treated with the same technique. Hamstring tendons were not removed from the tibial side, and using a single tibial and a double femoral tunnel of 8 and 6 mm, respectively, anatomic ACL reconstruction was performed. Graft passage was performed from the tibial side to the posterolateral femoral tunnel and was looped back to the anteromedial femoral tunnel to be fixed on the tibial tunnel with an interference screw and additional extracortical fixation. Follow-up of the study group was performed for a two-year period, documenting standard clinical and radiographic parameters. RESULTS: Post-operative follow-up (mean 24 months) revealed radiological widening of tibial tunnel (mean 133.6%) in all patients and minor femoral tunnels widening (119.4% and 117.5%). Clinical evaluation showed no signs of instability, and knee evaluation using the IKDC score was performed. CONCLUSION: The manuscript describes a novel technique in ACL reconstruction, and reports the radiographic results of tunnel widening and clinical scores. Implant-free femoral fixation led to minor tunnel widening similar to previously published data. Further studies need to be performed to compare the long-term results with different published techniques of cost-effective implant-free ACL reconstruction.