Risk Factors for New Meniscal Tears following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

This study aims to compare the rate of meniscal tears after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in patients who have undergone concomitant meniscal repair during the index procedure with that in patients who have not undergone such surgery. It also evaluates other risk factors, such as age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), site of concomitant meniscal surgery, and ACL graft failure. This is a retrospective study conducted at a large tertiary public hospital. Patients who underwent primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery with or without concomitant meniscal repair from 2011 to 2016 were identified. Patients with old meniscal tears and previous meniscal surgeries were excluded. The aforementioned demographical, injury, and surgical details were obtained and analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Our study cohort included 754 patients. Primary ACLR surgery was performed with meniscal repair in 172 (22.8%) of the patients, with meniscectomy in 202 (26.8%) of the patients, and without concomitant meniscal surgery in 380 (50.4%) of the patients. A total of 81 (10.7%) patients developed meniscal tears after the index procedure. Such tears occurred in 12.2% (21 of 172) of the patients who had undergone concomitant meniscal repair during the index ACLR, and in 10.3% (60 of 582) of the patients who had not undergone concomitant meniscal repair (p = 0.30). On multivariate analysis, only ACL graft failure was significantly associated with new meniscal tears (p < 0.001, odds ratio 18.69, 95% confidence interval 9.18-38.05). ACL graft failure is the only independent risk factor for meniscal tears after ACLR surgery in our large cohort of patients. Concomitant meniscal repair was not an associated risk factor.

Tear Rates of the Ipsilateral ACL Graft and the Contralateral Native ACL Are Similar following ACL Reconstruction.

The aim of the study is to compare the tear rates of ipsilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts and the contralateral native ACL as well as to investigate the correlation of gender, age at time of surgery, and body mass index (BMI) with the occurrence of these injuries. The medical records of 751 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery with follow-up periods of 2 to 7 years were retrospectively analyzed. Survival analyses of ipsilateral ACL grafts and contralateral native ACL were performed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors that were associated with these injuries. The tear rates of the ipsilateral ACL graft and contralateral ACL were 5.86 and 6.66%, respectively with no significant difference between groups (p = 0.998). The mean time of tears of the ipsilateral ACL and contralateral ACL was also similar (p = 0.977) at 2.64 and 2.78 years, respectively after surgery. Both the odds of sustaining an ipsilateral ACL graft and contralateral ACL tear were also significantly decreased by 0.10 (p = 0.003) and 0.14 (p = 0.000), respectively, for every 1-year increase in age at which the reconstruction was performed. However, graft type, gender, and BMI were not associated with an increased risk of these injuries. There was no difference between tear rates of ipsilateral ACL graft and contralateral ACL following ACL reconstruction. Patients who undergo ACL reconstruction at a young age are at an increased risk of both ipsilateral graft and contralateral ACL rupture after an ACL reconstruction. Patients who are young and more likely to return to competitive sports should be counselled of the risks and advised to not neglect the rehabilitation of the contralateral knee during the immediate and back to sports period of recovery. This is a Level III, retrospective cohort study.

The Use of Combination Paracetamol and Ibuprofen in Postoperative Pain after Total Knee Arthroplasty, a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Adequate pain management has an important role in supporting early ambulation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Multimodal analgesia is one of the modalities of overcoming postoperative pain. The use of a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen is expected to reduce the total morphine requirement after TKA. OBJECTIVES: The use of a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen to reduce morphine requirement after TKA, to provide adequate pain management and early ambulation. STUDY DESIGN: Patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty who met the requirements for inclusion criteria were consented and randomized using randomizer.org in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive either combination paracetamol iv and ibuprofen iv (Group II), paracetamol iv only (Group II), or ibuprofen iv only (III). SETTING: Thirty-six patients aged 63-68 years who underwent TKA were included in this study. METHODS: All patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I received paracetamol 1 g and ibuprofen 800 mg, group II received 1 g paracetamol iv and 100 mL normal saline, group III received 800 mg ibuprofen iv and 100 mL normal saline, 10 minutes before the end of surgery and every 6 hours up to 24 hours. Total morphine consumption, pain score (resting, walking, knee flexion), and 2 minute-length walking tests were measured in hour 24 postoperative. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: Median of total morphine consumption between 3 groups respectively was 7.5 (3.0-36.0) mg vs 15.0 (4.5-28.5) mg vs 9.0 (0.0-24.0) mg with no difference (P = 0.391). Mean of pain score at walking phase respectively was 4.8 ± 0.5 vs 7.3 ± 1.2 vs 5.6 ± 0.5 (hour 24, P < 0.01). Medians of 2-Minute Walking Test respectively were 6.0 (2-16) meters vs 0.0 (0-4) meters vs 0.0 (0-4) meters (hour 24, P  < 0.01). LIMITATIONS: The total morphine requirement measured in this study illustrates the consumption of morphine in resting phase. CONCLUSION: The combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen is better in reducing the total morphine requirement after TKA when compared with the administration of paracetamol injection alone or ibuprofen injection alone. Combination paracetamol injection and ibuprofen injection also provides adequate pain management in order to help early ambulation.

Post-ACL Reconstruction Graft Failure in Severe Gout Arthritis Patient.

INTRODUCTION: Pain and instability following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction remain a significant issue. Common causes include infection and inflammation, and mechanical issues such as graft failure. CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old male with an ACL reconstruction six years prior was admitted due to pain and swelling. The ACL graft that had ruptured was found arthroscopically. Numerous gout crystals and tophus were observed inside. This finding is suggested as a cause of this kind of complication. DISCUSSION: Biological failure is one of the causes of graft failure. Gout arthritis is associated with internal derangement of the joint structures, which is reported in advanced case. CONCLUSION: Severe gouty arthritis, even though rare, could be an etiology of graft failure following ACL reconstruction and cause significant morbidity.

Mismatched knee implants in Indonesian and Dutch patients: a need for increasing the size.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric differences between knees of Indonesian Asians and Dutch Caucasians and the fit of nine different knee implant systems. METHODS: A total of 268 anteroposterior (AP) and lateral knee preoperative radiographs from 134 consecutive patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty at two different centres in Jakarta and Leiden were included. Both patient groups were matched according to age and sex and included 67 Asians and 67 Caucasians. We assessed the radiographic differences between the Asian and Caucasian anthropometric data. The dimensions of the nine knee implant designs (Vanguard, Genesis II, Persona Standard, Persona Narrow, GK Sphere, Gemini, Attune Standard, Attune Narrow, and Sigma PFC) were compared with the patients' anthropometric (distal femur and proximal tibia) measurements. RESULTS: The Dutch Caucasian patients had larger mediolateral (ML) and AP femoral and tibial dimensions than the Indonesian Asians. The aspect ratios of the distal femur and tibia were larger in Asians than in Caucasians. The AP and ML dimensions were mismatched between the tibial components of the nine knee systems and the Asian anthropometric data. Both groups had larger ML distal femoral dimensions than the knee systems. CONCLUSION: Absolute and relative differences in knee dimensions exist not only between Asian and Caucasian knees but also within both groups. Not all TKA systems had a good fit with the Asian and Caucasian knee phenotypes. An increase in the range of available knee component sizes would be beneficial, although TKA remains an adequate compromise. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Early Graft Tunnel Healing After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Intratunnel Injection of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells and have become an important source of cells for engineering tissue repair and cell therapy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis and contributes fibrous integration between tendon and bone during the early postoperative stage. Both MSCs and VEGF can stimulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and matrix deposition by enhancing angiogenesis and osteogenesis of the graft in the tunnel. HYPOTHESIS: Injection of intratunnel BM-MSCs and VEGF enhances the early healing process of a tendon graft. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: In this controlled animal laboratory study, each of 4 groups of rabbits underwent unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with use of the ipsilateral semitendinosus tendon. The rabbits received intratunnel injection of BM-MSCs and VEGF with a fibrin glue seal covering the distal tunnel at the articular site. Evaluation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), collagen type III expression, and biomechanical analyses were performed at 3- and 6-week intervals. RESULTS: All parameters using MRI, collagen type III expression, and biomechanical analysis of pullout strength of the graft showed that application of intratunnel BM-MSCs and VEGF enhanced tendon-to-bone healing after ACL reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Intratunnel injections of BM-MSCs and VEGF after ACL reconstruction enhanced graft tunnel healing. Overall, the femoral tunnel that received BM-MSCs and VEGF had better advanced healing with increased collagen type III fibers and better outcomes on MRI and biomechanical analysis. MRI is the most reliable tool for clinical use in evaluating stages of ACL healing after reconstruction, since biopsy is an invasive procedure.