True all inside meniscus repair using the popliteus tendon.

The popliteus tendon is a useful anchor point to repair the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. We describe a new, economical technique that does not violate the neurovascular structures, using an antegrade suture passer and a 2-0 fiberwire to repair the posterior segment including posterior horn of the lateral meniscus taking bites through the capsule and meniscus or the popliteus tendon and meniscus with no anchors in the capsule or popliteus. 9 patients were operated upon using this technique and the mean IKDC score improved from 24.2 to 84, p < 0.01, mean pre op Tegner improved from 1.88 to 6.63 p < 0.01, median hop test from 0 to 4, p = 0 at a mean 15.2 months post surgery. 8 patients had a negative Lachman and 1 grade 2 Lachman at 12 months follow up but was asymptomatic. The Barret's criteria was negative for all 9 patients at latest follow up.

Ultrasound guided arthroscopic meniscus surgery.

Ultrasound is a useful adjunctive intra-operative imaging modality for soft tissue pathologies. It is readily available in the operating theater and has the distinct advantage of being more portable than an MRI, with no harmful radiation. It is especially useful for determining if any extra articular cysts have been decompressed through arthroscopic surgery, if a parameniscal cyst has been removed completely or if extrusion has been reduced adequately in a meniscus root repair. In our series, intra-operative ultrasound was used for two cases of medial meniscus horizontal tear with meniscus cyst excision, one case of lateral parameniscal cyst without a communicating tear, and five cases of meniscus root repairs. Ultrasound has the potential to be an important intra-operative diagnostic modality not only in diagnosing pathologies but also accurately localizing the soft tissue pathology, which is critical in arthroscopic surgery where the incisions are small. It also has the added advantage of guiding portal placements, especially in areas where there are neurovascular structures, to avoid injuring them. However, training in its effective use by the surgeon is important.

How Important is the Tunnel Position in Outcomes Post-ACL Reconstruction: A 3D CT-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Drilling the femoral and tibial tunnels at their anatomical locations are critical for good outcomes and involve seeing the footprints well. We intended to compare two techniques of drilling the tunnels and the patient-reported outcomes and knee stability of patients undergoing single bundle ACL reconstruction using 3D CT to evaluate if the tunnels were anatomical or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty single bundle ACL reconstructions were analyzed, 30 each with Technique A and B. Pre-operative and after a minimum 27 month follow-up Lysholm, IKDC, Tegner score, hop test, and Lachman test were noted. 3D CT was done to classify femoral tunnels positions as being well placed, slightly or grossly misplaced and tibial tunnels as optimal or suboptimal and compared. RESULTS: Sixty ACL reconstructions had full follow-up with a mean follow-up of 34 months. There was no significant difference between tunnel positions between the two techniques. Well-placed femoral tunnel had better Lysholm score (62.2 ± 16.2 v/s 48.5 ± 17.2, p 0.002) and IKDC score (62.5 ± 14.3 v/s 52.7 ± 15.1, p 0.012).). Those who had their surgeries within 3 months of their injury had better hop test (4.4 ± 0.9 v/s 3.9 ± 1, p 0.034) and IKDC scores (62.5 ± 15.8 v/s 33.2 ± 13.8, p 0.026) as compared to those that had surgery done after 3 months. CONCLUSION: Tibial tunnel positions were optimal in most cases and did not differ between the two techniques. Well-placed femoral tunnels and surgeries done within 3 months of the injury produced best results.

Does Viewing the ACL Femoral Footprint End on Using a High Medial Portal Produce Better Tunnel Placement as Compared to Viewing it from a Lateral Portal while Drilling: A 3D CT-based Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Anatomical placement of an ACL graft is critical to the clinical outcome of an ACL reconstruction. The purpose of the study was to compare the conventional technique of drilling a femoral tunnel from a medial portal while viewing it from a lateral portal versus viewing it from a high anteromedial portal and drilling it from a low medial portal. We hypothesized that the high anteromedial portal possibly provides an end-on view of the tunnel and would lead to a more favourable tunnel position. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients underwent arthroscopic single-bundle ACL reconstruction with a soft tissue graft. All patients had the same surgeon and same surgical technique (except viewing portal). Each patient underwent a 3D-CT 1-week post-op. We classified the patients into two groups (technique A and B) of 30 each. Postoperative tunnel position in each patient was visualized on CT scan with 3D reconstruction by the quadrant method described by Bernard et al. The distance of the centre of the femoral tunnel from the superior and posterior border of the Bernard frame was obtained in each patient of the two groups and mean value in each group was obtained and compared by Student 't' test at 5% level of significance. The position of the femoral tunnels was also studied in reference to the lateral intercondylar ridge and classified into type I (well placed), type II (moderately malpositioned) and type III (grossly malpositioned). RESULTS: The mean distances in technique A from the posterior and superior border of the lateral femoral condyle was 35.8 ± 8.2 and 35.2 ± 6.7, and in technique B was 38.1 ± 8.6 and 35.8 ± 9.4. The two groups did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in femoral tunnel position as visualized on 3D-CT scan postoperatively. 53.3% patients had well-placed tunnels (type I) overall with 56.67% of technique A and 50% of technique B in this group. None of the tunnels were grossly malpositioned. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of any statistically significant difference between the groups suggests that a high anterolateral portal close to the patellar tendon gives an almost complete view of the lateral aspect of the notch, if not end on. Both techniques produced a majority of well placed (type I) tunnels.

Implantless Fixation of a Large Osteocartilaginous Fracture of the Lateral Femoral Condyle in a Child.

We describe for the first time a case of lateral femoral condyle fracture following a fall in a 13-year-old child that was reduced arthroscopically using a probe. It was definitively fixed with 0 vicryl sutures in a cruciate pattern after being initially stabilised with 1.5-mm Kirschner wires. Four beath pins carrying sutures were drilled at four opposing quadrants through the reduced fragment into the femur. The sutures were then tied on the lateral cortex of the femur. After fixation, the child was kept non-weight bearing for 6 weeks, partial weight bearing from 6 weeks to 12 weeks and then full weight bearing thereafter. Range of motion (ROM) exercises were commenced on the first postoperative day. At one-year follow-up, the ROM was from -5° to 130°, all symptoms disappeared, and complete resumption of all sports activities was allowed.

Anterior tibial plateau fracture: An often missed injury.

BACKGROUND: In most classifications of tibial plateau fractures, including one used most widely-Schatzker classification, fractures are described as a combination of medial and lateral condyle, primarily in the sagittal plane. Coronal component of these fractures, affecting the posterior tibial condyle is now well recognized. What is not described is anterior coronal component of the fracture, what we are calling "anterior tibial condyle fracture". These fractures are often missed on routine antero-posterior and lateral knee X-rays due to an overlap between the fracture and the normal bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight cases of anterior tibial condyle fractures with posterior subluxation of the tibia, six of which were missed by the initial surgeon and two referred to us early, are described. Two of the six late cases and both the early ones were operated. Reconstruction of the anterior condyle and posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was done. Primary outcome measures such as union of the fracture, residual flexion deformity, range of motion and stability were studied at the end of 6 months. RESULTS: All operated fractures united. There was no posterior sag in any. In those presenting late and were operated, the flexion deformity got corrected in all (average from 15° to 0°) and mean flexion achieved was 100° (range: 80-120°). In those presenting early and were operated, there was no flexion deformity at 6 months and a mean flexion achieved was 115° (range: 100-130°). None of the operated patients had instability. CONCLUSION: This article attempts to highlight that this injury is often missed. They should be suspected, diagnosed early and treated by reconstruction of anterior condyle, posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Recognition and analysis of protein-coding genes in severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus.

MOTIVATION: The recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) has necessitated an in-depth molecular understanding of the virus to identify new drug targets. The availability of complete genome sequence of several strains of SARS virus provides the possibility of identification of protein-coding genes and defining their functions. Computational approach to identify protein-coding genes and their putative functions will help in designing experimental protocols. RESULTS: In this paper, a novel analysis of SARS genome using gene prediction method GeneDecipher developed in our laboratory has been presented. Each of the 18 newly sequenced SARS-CoV genomes has been analyzed using GeneDecipher. In addition to polyprotein 1ab(1), polyprotein 1a and the four genes coding for major structural proteins spike (S), small envelope (E), membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N), six to eight additional proteins have been predicted depending upon the strain analyzed. Their lengths range between 61 and 274 amino acids. Our method also suggests that polyprotein 1ab, polyprotein 1a, S, M and N are proteins of viral origin and others are of prokaryotic. Putative functions of all predicted protein-coding genes have been suggested using conserved peptides present in their open reading frames. AVAILABILITY: Detailed results of GeneDecipher analysis of all the 18 strains of SARS-CoV genomes are available at http://www.igib.res.in/sarsanalysis.html