Association of Grit With Postoperative Knee Outcomes and Physical Function After ACL Reconstruction in Adolescent Athletes.

BACKGROUND: Grit is the disposition to strive for long-term goals despite setbacks and challenges. Given the lengthy, arduous process of rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), an athlete's grit may predict postoperative outcomes across time. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the relationships between baseline (preoperative) grit and postoperative knee outcomes across the year after ACLR among adolescents. We hypothesized that athletes with more grit would achieve better postoperative outcomes over time than less gritty athletes. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: All participants completed the Short Grit Scale, the Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (Pedi-IKDC) Scale, the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pediatric scale for pain interference and mobility, the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS), and the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (NeuroQoL) Lower Extremity Function Short Form at a preoperative appointment and then again at approximately 3, 6, and 12 months after ACLR. We constructed linear mixed models to assess the relationships between baseline grit, time, age, sex, and postoperative outcome measures (statistical significance of α = .05). RESULTS: We included 137 participants (mean age 15.8 ± 2.74 years, 70% female) from a prospective registry of athletes undergoing ACLR by 1 surgeon at a single institution. There were no statistically significant changes in grit over time or differences in grit between age and sex. Higher baseline grit was significantly associated with greater postoperative HSS Pedi-FABS scores (ß = 3.72 ± 1.46; P = .01; 95% CI, 0.85-6.59) and NeuroQoL scores across time (ß = 3.37 ± 0.93; P < .001; 95% CI, 1.55-5.20). There were no significant associations between baseline grit and Pedi-IKDC, Lysholm, and PROMIS pain interference or mobility scores. CONCLUSION: Athletes with higher baseline grit reported superior postoperative physical function and activity level over the course of 1 year after ACLR compared with less gritty athletes. Grit may be a useful measure in predicting success in regaining physical function across time after ACLR in adolescent athletes.

High healing rate of stable femoral condyle osteochondritis dissecans in young patients placed in a hinged knee brace locked in extension: a retrospective study.

We report the rate of stable femoral condyle osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion healing in adolescents using a locked hinged knee brace for a minimum of 6 weeks or until pain free, followed by physical therapy. Patients aged 5-18 at the time of a primary diagnosis of femoral condyle OCD were reviewed. Patients who presented with an unstable lesion necessitating surgery, lacked follow-up >6 months after diagnosis or before symptoms resolution, or were noncompliant were excluded. We assessed progression to surgery, association between surgery and lesion size, lesion grade, symptoms, laterality, and patient factors. Lesion width and depth and condyle size were measured on X-ray and MRI, and the scaled size of the lesion relative to the condyle was calculated. Sixty-four patients were included: 12.5% (n = 8; 50% female; mean age = 12.5 ± 1.0 years) progressed to surgery and 87.5% (n = 56; 20% female; mean age=11.5 ± 1.9 years) healed. No significant effects were identified between groups. The surgical group compared to the non-surgical group was braced for a similar amount of time (72.6 ± 51.4 vs. 54.9 ± 23.2 days; P = 0.09), presented initially with a similar lesion size (322.5 ± 298.7 vs. 211.2 ± 178.4 mm2; P = 0.14), and had a similar proportion of Grade 1 lesions (63% vs. 85%; P = 0.11). Female sex (P = 0.04) and longer time in the brace (P = 0.04) were associated with progression to surgery.

How Do We Best Educate Our Patients' Caregivers? Comparing the Efficacy of Print Versus Media-based Education Materials in Peripheral Nerve Catheter and Pain Pump Education.

BACKGROUND: Media-based educational materials (EMs) are becoming prominent. The purpose of this study was to compare print versus media-based EMs given to caregivers of pediatric and young adult patients undergoing surgery. We aimed to see whether print or media-based EMs lead to greater caregiver satisfaction, comfort, and preparedness for outpatient peripheral nerve catheter and pain pump management. We also assessed caregiver preference for EM modality. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that media-based EMs would demonstrate greater overall efficacy and thus generate higher caregiver preference. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized control trial. METHODS: After IRB approval, clinicaltrials.gov registration (17-0638), and informed consent, caregivers were randomized to either media or print-based EM groups. Caregivers reviewed their assigned EM and completed a standardized assessment of their comprehension. We assessed caregiver satisfaction, preparedness, and comfort level with the content on a 5-point Likert scale. On postoperative days 1 to 2, caregivers reported satisfaction, comfort, and preference for EM modality. An intent-to-treat analysis was used to compare the 2 groups. RESULTS: From our final cohort of 135 caregivers, we found no difference [P>0.05] in satisfaction, comfort level, level of preparedness, or discharge readiness scores between groups. After the caregivers were given both EMs, they were evenly split in their preference for print (49.6%) versus video (50.4%) based methods. CONCLUSIONS: We did not detect a significant difference in caregiver preference or feelings of preparedness between groups. Interestingly, a significant proportion of caregivers (25%) did not feel comfortable managing the peripheral nerve catheter and its pain pump at home. Future studies should work to improve caregiver comfort with educational content before patient discharge. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Providers and institutions should feel comfortable providing both print and media-based patient and caregiver education. Caregiver education may be best suited based on caregiver preference of one EM modality versus the other. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I.

Prediction of quadriceps tendon-patellar bone autograft diameter in adolescents with 2-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging and anthropometric measures.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the correlation between the bone end and soft tissue end of the quadriceps tendon-patellar bone autograft (QPA) size and pre-operative MRI measurements of the quadriceps tendon along sections to be included in the graft harvest in adolescents. We also assessed association between graft diameter and anthropometric measures (height, weight, and BMI), age, and sex. METHODS: Patients (10-18 years) who underwent QPA ACL reconstruction and had a pre-operative MRI were considered for inclusion. Age, height, and weight, tibial and femoral side graft diameter, and patellar bone block dimensions were collected. Using a pre-operative 2D sagittal plane MRI, we measured the quadriceps at 10-mm increments above the patella, up to 40 mm. We assessed correlation between the bone-end graft diameter and the AP measure at 10 mm above the patella, and correlation between the soft-tissue end graft diameter and the most proximal AP measure. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients were included. A significant correlation between the soft-tissue side graft diameter and most proximal AP measurement was observed (rs = 0.51; p < 0.001). However, measurements significantly underestimated the soft-tissue end graft diameter (9.6 ± 0.8 vs. 7.4 ± 1.1; p < 0.001). There was no correlation between the bone-end graft diameter and AP measurement 10 mm above the patella. Anthropometric measures were not associated with graft size. Skeletal maturity was associated with smaller graft size (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: Soft-tissue end graft diameter is associated with the AP measure of the quadriceps at 20-40 mm above the superior pole of the patella.

Comparison of pediatric sports fracture outcomes based on provider type.

Objective: Pediatric primary care sports medicine physicians and pediatric sports medicine orthopedic surgeons, in conjunction with physician assistants (PAs), often manage patients with fractures. We sought to determine if pediatric patients with fractures seen by primary care sports medicine physicians had similar outcomes and satisfaction as those seen by orthopedic surgeons. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of four to 18-year-old patients who were treated by a sports medicine provider (primary care or orthopedic surgeon/PA) for a fracture of the radius, ulna, tibia, or fibula. Patients or their parents completed a patient satisfaction survey (Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction [SAPS]) and an injury location-specific patient-reported functional outcome tool: the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) or the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Scale. Results: Fifty-seven (70%) of the 82 patients were treated by pediatric primary care sports medicine physicians and 25 (30%) were treated by a pediatric sports medicine orthopedic surgeon or surgical PA. The median time from injury to clinically confirmed healing was similar between the two groups (47 vs 60.5 days; p = 0.54), as was the patient satisfaction (SAPS median score = 26 [range = 19-28] vs 24 [range = 9-28]; p = 0.12). Patient-reported outcomes did not differ significantly between groups for the functional outcome tools. Conclusions: Patients seen by pediatric primary care sports medicine physicians and sports medicine orthopedic surgeons have similar patient-reported fracture outcomes and similar satisfaction with care. Pediatric patients with fractures will likely have favorable outcomes when cared for by either of these subspecialty providers.

Patient expectations and perceived social support related to return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in adolescent athletes.

OBJECTIVE: Examine the relationship between pre-operative competitive status and return to sport expectations post-operatively among adolescents undergoing ACL reconstruction. Assess the association between perceived levels of social support and doubts in returning to sport after ACL reconstruction. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Outpatient sports medicine clinic at a single institution. PARTICIPANTS: 12-18 years old with an ACL tear who were planning to undergo ACL reconstruction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Psychovitality questionnaire responses and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaire scores. RESULTS: 86% of participants expected to return to sports in six months or less after surgery; there was no significant difference in expected time to return to sport between competitive vs. recreational athletes. Competitive athletes were less likely to be content returning to a lower activity level after surgery compared to recreational athletes. There were no significant differences in MSPSS scores between those who did and did not report doubts in their ability to return to their previous sports. CONCLUSION: Most of our adolescent athlete population expected to return to sport after ACL reconstruction within six months of surgery. Those with and without doubts in their ability to return to sports did not significantly differ in levels of perceived social support.

Sports participation volume and psychosocial outcomes among healthy high school athletes.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the association between hours/week of sports participation and psychosocial outcomes among high school athletes. We hypothesized that more hours of participation would be associated with the lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. METHODS: Participants completed the Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Profile 25 quality of life and other questionnaires to assess sports participation, socioeconomic status, and health history. We evaluated the multivariable relationship between hours/week in sport and PROMIS scores while adjusting for the independent effect of age and varsity team status. RESULTS: A total of 230 high school athletes participated in this study (mean=15.4±1.2 years of age). More hours/week playing sports were significantly associated with the lower levels of depressive symptoms (coefficient=-0.073, 95% CI=-0.137, -0.010; P=0.02). Sports participation was not significantly associated with any other psychosocial domain scores on the PROMIS questionnaire. CONCLUSION: More hours of sports participation were significantly associated with the lower depressive symptoms, but no other psychosocial domain. While our findings are cross-sectional, sport participation may play a role in attenuating symptoms of depression in high school athletes. RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS: Sports participation may play a beneficial role in lessening depressive symptoms among healthy high school students.

Femoral nerve catheters and limb strength asymmetry at 6 months after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: The postoperative implications of single-injection femoral nerve blockade and femoral nerve catheter placement for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are not well defined among pediatric patients. Femoral nerve blockade may be associated with deficits in quadriceps symmetry at 6 months postoperative. AIMS: We compared outcomes after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery in pediatric patients who received either a single-injection femoral nerve block or femoral nerve catheter and a single-injection popliteal nerve block. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients 10-19 years of age who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with quadriceps tendon-patellar bone autograft by a single orthopedic surgeon at two of our locations. Of 88 patients analyzed, 31 received single-injection femoral nerve blockade (52% female, mean age = 15.6 ± 1.8 years) and 57 received femoral nerve catheter (53% female, mean age = 15.6 ± 1.7 years). Time from surgery to return-to-sport clearance and movement symmetry were compared between groups at approximately 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The single-injection femoral nerve blockade group exhibited significantly greater single-leg squat symmetry than did the femoral nerve catheter group (95.5 ± 6.7% vs 88.3 ± 9.3%; P = 0.02; mean difference = 7.2%, 95% CI = -1.1, 13.3) 6 months postoperatively. There was no difference in time from surgery to return-to-sport clearance between groups (median = 247 [interquartile range = 218-295] days vs 268 [241-331] days; P = 0.22; mean difference = 40 days; 95% CI = -23, 102). CONCLUSION: Though time to return to sport did not differ, patients in the femoral nerve catheter group exhibited greater single-leg squat asymmetry than did those in the femoral nerve blockade group approximately 6 months postoperatively. Persistent functional deficits may be important to consider when treating pediatric patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Outcomes of Quadriceps Tendon With Patellar Bone Block Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Adolescent Patients With a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the adolescent population is increasing. The quadriceps tendon-patellar bone autograft (QPA) has been established as a reliable graft choice for ACL reconstruction in the adult population. PURPOSE: To investigate graft failure, ability to return to sport, patient-reported functional outcomes, joint laxity, and subsequent injury among adolescent patients >2 years after primary ACL reconstruction with the QPA. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent QPA ACL reconstruction performed by a single surgeon were identified from an existing database. Information available in the database included demographics, concomitant/subsequent injuries, surgical procedures, graft failure, return to sport, and Lachman examination collected by medical record review. Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (Pedi-IKDC) and Lysholm scores were collected by telephone or during a clinic visit >2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: The final cohort included 81 of 104 consecutive adolescent patients aged 10 to 18 years (mean ± SD, 15.9 ± 1.7 years at the time of surgery) for whom follow-up information was collected at >2 years after surgery. The cumulative incidence of graft failure within the 36-month follow-up period was 1.2% (95% CI, 0.1%-11.4%). The rate of ipsilateral non-ACL injuries was similar (1.2%; 95% CI, 0.2%-7.6%). Contralateral ACL and non-ACL injuries requiring surgical intervention were documented in 9.8% (95% CI, 4.9%-19.5%). The median Pedi-IKDC score was 94 (interquartile range, 89-98). The median Lysholm score was 99.5 (interquartile range, 89.0-100.0). At 36 months after surgery, 87.9% (95% CI, 81.4%-94.9%) of individuals had returned to play. CONCLUSION: The quadriceps tendon-patellar autograft is a novel graft that demonstrates excellent stability and favorable patient-reported outcomes. Based on these results, the QPA is a reliable choice for primary ACL reconstruction in adolescent patients.

ACL Repair With Suture Ligament Augmentation Is Associated With a High Failure Rate Among Adolescent Patients.

BACKGROUND: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair technique avoids graft harvest and therefore the risk of donor site morbidity. However, early failure rates after ACL repair with suture ligament augmentation (SLA) remain high. PURPOSE: To compare surgical failure, functional outcomes, return to sport, and joint laxity between adolescents who underwent ACL repair with SLA and those who underwent ACL reconstruction with quadriceps tendon-patellar bone autograft (QPA). STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Adolescent patients (7-18 years old) underwent ACL repair with SLA or ACL reconstruction with QPA. The authors collected data from those who had postoperative information pertaining to repaired ligament or graft failure, range of motion, complications, and return to sport at a minimum of 6 months after surgery. Participants were contacted after surgery to complete study questionnaires. RESULTS: The cohort included 22 consecutive patients in the SLA group and 157 in the QPA group. The median duration of follow-up was 2.7 years (interquartile range, 2.0-3.6 years) in the QPA group and 3.2 years (2.2-3.4 years) in the SLA group. After adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, and time from injury to surgery, the hazard of graft failure in the SLA group was 10.66 times (95% CI, 3.41-32.92; P < .0001) that of the QPA group. The cumulative incidence of graft failure in the first 3 years after surgery was 48.8% (95% CI, 28.9%-73.1%) in the SLA group, as opposed to 4.7% (2.1%-10.3%) in the QPA group. There was no difference in return to sport between the groups. Among individuals who did not rerupture their ACL, International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm scores were comparable between the groups, as well as range of motion. CONCLUSION: The risk of failure was significantly increased in the SLA group relative to the QPA group. The high risk of failure for the SLA group in this short-term follow-up should be considered when selecting the treatment for adolescent patients with an ACL injury.

Combined Femoral-Sciatic Nerve Block is Superior to Continuous Femoral Nerve Block During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the Pediatric Population.

Background: Despite advancements in minimally invasive arthroscopic surgical techniques, post-operative pain management following ACL reconstruction remains a concern. This study compares the effectiveness of two common intraoperative pain management strategies - a femoral nerve catheter (FC) versus a combined femoral nerve catheter and single injection sciatic nerve block (FSB) - in pediatric patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Methods: The medical records of patients age 8 to 18 who underwent ACL reconstruction at our institution were reviewed retrospectively. All subjects underwent general anesthesia with either FC or FSB. Multivariable linear regression, or modified Poisson regression were used to compare outcome variables across groups. Propensity scores were used to minimize bias due to the non-randomized allocation of the regional anesthesia protocol. Results: The study population included 18 subjects in the FC group and 32 subjects in the FSB group. There was no difference in incidence of nausea or opioid prescription refill requests between groups. Total intravenous (IV) morphine equivalent dose, maximum numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score, and percentage of subjects requiring one or more opioid doses in the PACU were significantly greater in the FC group relative to the FSB group. PACU length of stay (LOS) was also significantly greater in the FC group than the FSB group. Conclusion: This study suggests that FSB may be a more effective pain management technique for reducing the total IV morphine equivalent dose, maximum NRS pain scores, number of PACU postoperative opioid doses, and PACU LOS following ACL reconstruction in the pediatric population.Level of Evidence: III.

Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

The rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures diagnosed among the pediatric and adolescent population is increasing. The rise in ACL injuries may be attributed to earlier sports specialization, year-round sports participation, increased awareness, and improved ability to diagnose the injury. Treatment options for pediatric or adolescent ACL injuries include nonoperative conservative treatment, ACL repair, or various techniques for ACL reconstruction. The best course of treatment for ACL rupture in young patients continues to be debated. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft is currently the gold standard and has been shown to be successful in restoring joint stability. This article reviews predisposing factors, common mechanisms, diagnostic procedures, and treatments for ACL rupture in adolescent patients, with a focus on using quadriceps patellar tendon autograft. [Orthopedics. 2018; 41(3):129-134.].