Hip Arthroscopy Simulator Training With Immersive Virtual Reality Has Similar Effectiveness to Nonimmersive Virtual Reality.

PURPOSE: To (1) compare the efficacy of immersive virtual reality (iVR) to nonimmersive virtual reality (non-iVR) training in hip arthroscopy on procedural and knowledge-based skills acquisition and (2) evaluate the relative cost of each platform. METHODS: Fourteen orthopaedic surgery residents were randomized to simulation training utilizing an iVR Hip Arthroscopy Simulator (n = 7; PrecisionOS) or non-iVR simulator (n = 7; ArthroS Hip VR; VirtaMed). After training, performance was assessed on a cadaver by 4 expert hip arthroscopists through arthroscopic video review of a diagnostic hip arthroscopy. Performance was assessed using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) and Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET) scores. A cost analysis was performed using the transfer effectiveness ratio (TER) and a direct cost comparison of iVR to non-iVR. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics did not differ between treatment arms or by training level, hip arthroscopy experience, or prior simulator use. No significant differences were observed in OSATS and ASSET scores between iVR and non-iVR cohorts (OSATS: iVR 19.6 ± 4.4, non-iVR 21.0 ± 4.1, P = .55; ASSET: iVR 23.7 ± 4.5, non-iVR 25.8 ± 4.8, P = .43). The absolute TER was 0.06 and there was a 132-fold cost difference of iVR to non-iVR. CONCLUSIONS: Hip arthroscopy simulator training with iVR had similar performance results to non-iVR for technical skill and procedural knowledge acquisition after expert arthroscopic video assessment. The iVR platform had similar effectiveness in transfer of skill compared to non-iVR with a 132 times cost differential. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Due to the accessibility, effectiveness, and relative affordability, iVR training may be beneficial in the future of safe arthroscopic hip training.

Resisted adduction sit-up test (RASUT) as a screening tool for pelvic versus hip pathology.

Groin pain is a common symptom in hip and pelvic pathology and differentiating between the two remains a challenge. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a test combining resisted adduction with a sit-up (RASUT) differentiates between pelvic and hip pathology. The RASUT was performed on 160 patients with complaints of hip or groin pain who subsequently had their diagnosis confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or surgery. Patients were categorized as having pelvic pathology (athletic pubalgia or other) or hip pathology (intra-articular or other). Athletic pubalgia was defined as any condition involving the disruption of the pubic aponeurotic plate. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive accuracy, negative predictive accuracy and diagnostic odds ratios were computed. Seventy-one patients had pelvic pathology (40 athletic pubalgia), 81 had hip pathology and 8 had both. The RASUT was effective in differentiating pelvic from hip pathology; 50 of 77 patients with a positive RASUT had pelvic pathology versus 29 of 83 patients with a negative test (P < 0.001). RASUT was diagnostic for athletic pubalgia (diagnostic odds ratio 6.08, P < 0.001); 35 of 45 patients with athletic pubalgia had a positive RASUT (78% sensitivity) and 73 of 83 patients with a negative RASUT did not have athletic pubalgia (88% negative predictive accuracy). The RASUT can be used to differentiate pelvic from hip pathology and to identify patients without athletic pubalgia. This is a valuable screening tool in the armamentarium of the sports medicine clinician.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Osseous Instability of the Shoulder.

BACKGROUND: Bony deficiency of the anteroinferior glenoid rim as a result of a dislocation can lead to recurrent glenohumeral instability. These lesions, traditionally treated by open techniques, are increasingly being treated arthroscopically as our understanding of the pathophysiology and anatomy of the glenohumeral joint becomes clearer. Different techniques for arthroscopic management have been described and continue to evolve. While the success of the repair is surgeon dependent, the recent advances in arthroscopic shoulder surgery have contributed to the growing acceptance of arthroscopic reconstruction of glenoid bone defects to restore stability. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to describe arthroscopic surgical management options for patients with glenohumeral osseous lesions and instability. METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane, and Medline was conducted to identify eligible studies. The reference lists of identified articles were then screened. Both technique articles and long-term outcome studies evaluating arthroscopic management of glenohumeral lesions were included. RESULTS: Studies included for final analysis ranged from Level II to V evidence. Technique articles include suture anchor fixation of associated glenoid rim fractures, arthroscopic reduction and percutaneous fixation of greater tuberosity fractures, arthroscopic filling ("remplissage") of the humeral Hill-Sachs lesion, and an all-arthroscopic Latarjet procedure. The overall redislocation rate varied but was consistently <10% with a low complication rate. CONCLUSION: Management of glenohumeral instability can be challenging but more recent advances in arthroscopic techniques have provided improved means of treating this diagnosis. This manuscript provides a comprehensive review of the arthroscopic treatment of osseous instability of the shoulder. It provides an in depth look at the various treatment options and describes techniques for each.

Arthroscopic tenodesis of the long head of the biceps.

The long head of the biceps (LHB) is commonly implicated in shoulder pathology due to its anatomic course and intimacy with the rotator cuff and superior labrum of the glenoid. Treatment of tendinosis of the LHB may be required secondary to partial thickness tears, instability/subluxation, associated rotator cuff tears, or SLAP (superior labrum, anterior to posterior) lesions. Treatment options include open or arthroscopic techniques for tenodesis vs tenotomy. Controversy exists in the orthopedic literature regarding the preferred procedure. The all-arthroscopic biceps tenodesis technique is a viable and reproducible option for treatment. This article provides a review of the all-arthroscopic biceps tenodesis technique using proximal interference screw fixation and its subsequent postoperative regimen. All-arthroscopic biceps tenodesis maintains elbow flexion and supination power, minimizes cosmetic deformities, and leads to less fatigue soreness after active flexion. Thus, arthroscopic biceps tenodesis should be offered and encouraged as a treatment option for younger, active patients.

Articular shear of the anterior-inferior quadrant of the glenoid: a glenolabral articular disruption lesion variant.

Traumatic cartilage lesions of the shoulder, such as glenolabral articular disruption (GLAD), have previously been recognized in patients with shoulder instability. We describe a new lesion in which the entire anteroinferior quadrant of the glenoid articular cartilage is sheared off in association with an adjacent labral tear. Both patients were teenage athletes who were being treated arthroscopically for shoulder instability. Preoperative imaging showed some evidence of an articular cartilage lesion. One patient was treated with removal of an irreparable fragment and microfracture, while in the other case the cartilage flap was reattached to the glenoid with a chondral fixation device. This GLAD lesion variant is a serious cartilage injury to the shoulder in young athletes that may be subtle, but needs to be recognized for proper arthroscopic treatment.

Profile of an American amateur rugby union sevens series.

BACKGROUND: Rugby union will enter the Olympic arena as Rugby Sevens in 2016. PURPOSE: To investigate the injury rate, injury type, and nature of injuries sustained in an amateur American rugby union sevens tournament series. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS: The rate, demographics, and characteristics of injury were evaluated in 1536 rugby union sevens players, from 128 sides, competing in 4 amateur 1-day tournaments in a USA Rugby local area rugby union. RESULTS: Forty-eight injuries occurred over 4 tournaments, for an injury rate of 55.4 injuries per 1000 playing hours. Head and neck injuries were most common (33.3% of injuries), followed by upper extremity (31.3%), trunk (18.8%), lower extremity (14.6%), and physiologic injuries (2.1%). The most common type of injury was ligament sprain (25.0%); followed by concussion (14.6%), hematoma/contusion (12.5%), muscle strain (10.4%), and abrasion (8.3%). Tackling was the most common mechanism of injury (74.5%). Males were injured at a significantly higher rate than females (RR, 7.5, P < .01), but no significant difference was observed based on player position (P = .08). CONCLUSION: Injuries are common among American amateur rugby athletes, with a substantial proportion involving the head and neck region. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Understanding injury patterns in an American rugby union will be important for formulating future injury prevention, assessment, and treatment protocols.

Relationship of native tibial plateau anatomy with stability testing in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee.

PURPOSE: Recent attention has been drawn to tibial plateau slope and depth with relation to both risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and kinematics in the cruciate-deficient knee. The purpose was to evaluate the relationship between native proximal tibial anatomy and knee kinematics in the anterior cruciate-deficient knee. METHODS: Twenty-two cadaveric knees underwent CT scanning to measure proximal tibia anatomy. Translation was measured during Lachman and mechanized pivot-shift tests on the intact knee and then after resection of the ACL. Pearson's correlation was calculated to assess the relationship between tibial translation of the ACL-deficient knee and tibial plateau anatomic parameters. RESULTS: No significant correlation was found between ACL-deficient kinematic testing and tibial slope or depth (n.s.). Lateral compartment translation on Lachman and pivot-shift testing correlated with lateral compartment AP length (P = 0.007 and P = 0.033, respectively). The ratio of lateral AP length to medial AP length correlated with lateral compartment translation during the pivot shift (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: There was a poor correlation between native tibial slope and kinematic testing. There were, however, increases in translation during pivot-shift and Lachman testing with increased AP length of the lateral compartment. In addition, the finding of increased pivot-shift magnitude when the lateral compartment was relatively wide in the AP plane compared to the medial compartment suggests that patients with a "dominant" lateral compartment may be prone to a greater magnitude of instability after ACL injury.

Percutaneous SLAP lesion repair technique is an effective alternative to portal of Wilmington.

Athletes with superior labral tear from anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions place large demands on their rotator cuff and often have partial articular-sided rotator cuff tears as part of an internal impingement process. A percutaneous technique that facilitates SLAP repair may decrease the rotator cuff morbidity associated with establishment of the standard Wilmington portal. The current study reports the clinical outcome of patients with SLAP lesions treated with a percutaneous repair technique. Twenty-two patients with SLAP lesions underwent percutaneous repair. Mean patient age was 26.9 years. Standard posterior viewing and anterior working portals were used. Anchor placement and suture passing were performed with a 3-mm percutaneous and transtendinous approach to the superior labrum. Knot tying was performed via the standard anterior working portal. Clinical outcomes were assessed with validated shoulder evaluation instruments. Mean follow-up was 31.1 months (±6.6 months). Improvement of shoulder evaluation scores from pre- to postoperative were as follows: American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score improved from 49.5 to 83.6, visual analog scale improved from 5.4 to 1.5, and Simple Shoulder Score improved from 6.4 to 11.0. All were significant improvements (P<.05). There was no significant difference in functional scores between Type II lesions versus combined lesions, or between patients with or without a concurrent low-grade rotator cuff tear. Ninety percent of athletes were able to return to sport at pre-injury level of function. Percutaneously-assisted arthroscopic SLAP lesion repair may minimize surgical morbidity to the rotator cuff and provides excellent results.

Arthroscopic management of a chronic primary anterior shoulder dislocation.

Chronic anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint often leads to functional impairment and pain. Duration of dislocation is correlated with complications, and this injury is traditionally treated with an open procedure. A right-hand - dominant woman in her late 70s presented with traumatic chronic anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint. Her physical exam and imaging studies were consistent with anterior shoulder dislocation, a large Hill-Sachs deformity, and rotator cuff and anterior labral tears. A shoulder reduction under anesthesia was performed followed by an arthroscopic double-row rotator cuff repair. In addition, a labral repair was performed via percutaneously inserted suture anchors. Following this treatment, stability was restored to the glenohumeral joint. The patient progressed well with physical therapy and, at 1-year follow-up, the patient had returned to all routine activities pain-free. Arthroscopic repair of chronic primary traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations requiring surgical treatment is a valuable alternative to open procedures and should be considered in higher-functioning elderly patients. Percutaneous suture anchor placement minimizes trauma to an already pathologic rotator cuff and joint capsule.

Current treatment strategies for bicolumnar distal humerus fractures.

Management of distal humerus fractures continues to challenge orthopaedic surgeons. The unique and complex anatomy of the distal humerus, involving the ulnohumeral and radiocapitellar joints, makes anatomic reduction difficult and hardware placement challenging. However, long-term results of well-performed open reduction and internal fixation demonstrate satisfactory outcomes in most patients. Osteoporosis in the elderly population often leads to severe comminution, which may render open reduction and internal fixation impossible. Total elbow arthroplasty in the elderly has become a viable option, with excellent results in the properly selected patient who understands the lifetime limitations of this option. Distal humeral replacement is a new and potentially exciting option but it is currently not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and has no long-term follow-up to support its use.

Inflammatory response with osteolysis related to a bioabsorbable anchor in the finger: a case report.

Soft tissue fixation of ligaments and tendons in the hand can be achieved by the use of metal or bioabsorbable suture anchors. Advantages of bioabsorbable suture anchors include lack of interference in magnetic resonance imaging, resorption of anchor, replacement by bone, and no need for hardware removal. However, complications of these bioabsorbable implants include inflammatory response to the material use. We present what we believe to be the first case in the hand of a poly(l-lactide-co-d,l-lacitide) suture anchor causing an inflammatory response leading to significant osteolysis 4 months postoperatively after repair of a ring finger flexor digitorum profundus avulsion. Exploration of the distal phalanx revealed an intact implant and repair, no signs of infection, and an extensive bone defect. Pathology showed chronically inflamed tissue. This case has led us to reconsider the use of bioabsorbable anchor sutures in the hand. Further research is necessary to better define the contraindications to bioabsorbable suture anchor use in the hand.

Evaluation of glenoid capsulolabral complex insertional anatomy and restoration with single- and double-row capsulolabral repairs.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the normal glenoid insertional anatomy of the anterior-inferior capsulolabral complex and to compare the ability of a single-row repair and a double-row suture bridge repair to restore the insertional anatomy. METHODS: Eight fresh frozen cadaver shoulders were dissected and the native glenoid insertion of the anterior-inferior capsulolabral complex was digitized. Bankart lesions were created, the shoulders were randomized to receive either the standard single-row suture anchor repair or a double-row suture bridge repair, and the insertion repair sites were then digitized. RESULTS: The single-row repair recreated 42.3% of the native footprint surface area while the double-row repair recreated 85.9%. The double-row repair was significantly larger and recreated significantly more of the native footprint compared with single-row repair (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Double-row repair of the capsulolabral complex reestablishes the native insertional footprint on the anterior inferior glenoid better than a single-row repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Basic science study.

Surgical treatment of winged scapula.

Injuries to the long thoracic and spinal accessory nerves present challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Palsies of the serratus anterior and trapezius muscles lead to destabilization of the scapula with medial and lateral scapular winging, respectively. Although nonoperative treatment is successful in some patients, failures have led to the evolution of surgical techniques involving various combinations of fascial graft and/or transfer of adjacent muscles. Our preferred method of reconstruction for serratus anterior palsy is a two-incision, split pectoralis major transfer without fascial graft. For trapezius palsy, we prefer a modified version of the Eden-Lange procedure. At a minimum followup of 16 months (mean, 47 months), six patients who underwent the Eden-Lange procedure showed improvement in mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder scores (33.3-64.6), forward elevation (141.7-151.0), and visual analog scale (7.0-2.3). At a minimum followup of 16 months (mean, 44 months), 10 patients (11 shoulders) who underwent split pectoralis transfer also improved American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder scores (53.3-63.8), forward elevation (158.2-164.5), and visual analog scale (5.0-2.9). We encountered two complications, both superficial wound infections. These tendon transfers were effective for treating scapular winging in patients who did not respond to nonoperative treatment.

The most frequent traumatic orthopaedic injuries from a national pediatric inpatient population.

Pediatric trauma remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality of children in the United States and entails exorbitant costs. A 1997 national pediatric inpatient database, the Kids' Inpatient Database, was reviewed for current trauma and practice patterns and was found to contain over 84,000 patients admitted for orthopaedic trauma. These patients accrued an estimated 932.8 million dollars in hospital charges. Femur fracture was the most frequent injury among this patient group (21.7% of orthopaedic trauma), followed by tibia and/or fibula fracture (21.5%), humerus fracture (17.0%), radius and/or ulna fracture (14.8%), and vertebral fracture (5.2%). While the majority of pediatric orthopaedic trauma was treated at non-children's hospitals (70.4%), patients with certain diagnoses such as femur, humerus, vertebral, pelvic, or hand/finger fracture or a back sprain/strain were directed to children's hospitals more frequently compared with the total number of pediatric orthopaedic trauma patients. Practice patterns varied for certain subgroups (eg, femoral shaft fractures) of patients, depending on the type of hospital where the child was treated. Children who sustained a femoral shaft fracture in the 6-to-10-year age group were significantly more likely to receive internal fixation versus casting or traction if they were treated at a children's hospital. Understanding the patterns in which traumatic injuries occur in children is paramount to establishing effective injury prevention, as well as adapting treatment to optimize outcomes.

Management of closed femoral shaft fractures in children, ages 6 to 10: national practice patterns and emerging trends.

Controversy exists regarding the appropriate management of closed femoral shaft fractures in children of intermediate ages (6-10 years old). To elucidate national practice patterns and trends in the treatment of these fractures at general hospitals and pediatric hospitals, the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), a national database containing volumes for all inpatient pediatric admissions in approximately half the U.S. states, was reviewed for the years 1997 and 2000. The frequency of surgical treatment, most commonly consisting of internal fixation, increased significantly over this period, while the frequency of spica casting decreased. This change in practice was significantly greater at pediatric hospitals than general hospitals. The overall cost of treatment and hospital length of stay were significantly less at pediatric hospitals than general hospitals, regardless of treatment modality. These findings may be relevant to the issue of specialization of pediatric orthopaedic trauma care.