Prediction of reparability of meniscal tears in athletes using magnetic resonance.

Meniscal tears account for approximately 15% of all knee injuries and almost 25% of them require surgical procedures. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is widely used for noninvasive assessment of the knee joint and is considered reliable and a powerful tool for the detection of soft tissue injuries of the knee. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict the meniscal tears repair in sports practitioners. 104 incoming consecutive patients who underwent knee joint ligament reconstruction and/or arthroscopy for the treatment of meniscal injury at knee joint were imaged using a 1.5-T MRI scanner prior to arthroscopy. MRI images were evaluated for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), articular cartilage, and meniscal injury. Images were correlated with arthroscopic findings, used as the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI in predicting meniscal repair were 61.1%, 65.94%, and 64.58%, respectively. The agreement between MRI and arthroscopy yielded a kappa index of 0.236, indicating fair agreement. When the menisci were evaluated separately, 65.85% sensitivity, 45.45% specificity, and 54.16% accuracy were found for the medial meniscus, while 46.15%, 79.51%, and 75.0% for the lateral meniscus, respectively. The accuracy was 62.09% in whose patients that arthroscopy was performed up to 3 months after MRI and 67.18% in those that this time frame was more than 3 months before surgery. The 54 meniscal injuries occurred more frequently in the posterior horn; most injuries had a longitudinal pattern and were located in the red-red (vascular) zone. We suggest that magnetic resonance imaging is only moderately accurate for the prediction of meniscus reparability.

Effect of opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy on the three-dimensional kinematics of the knee.

Although it is clear that opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) changes alignment in the coronal plane, which is its objective, it is not clear how this procedure affects knee kinematics throughout the range of joint movement and in other planes. Our research question was: how does opening-wedge HTO change three-dimensional tibiofemoral and patellofemoral kinematics in loaded flexion in patients with varus deformity?Three-dimensional kinematics were assessed over 0° to 60° of loaded flexion using an MRI method before and after opening-wedge HTO in a cohort of 13 men (14 knees). Results obtained from an iterative statistical model found that at six and 12 months after operation, opening-wedge HTO caused increased anterior translation of the tibia (mean 2.6 mm, p < 0.001), decreased proximal translation of the patella (mean -2.2 mm, p < 0.001), decreased patellar spin (mean -1.4°, p < 0.05), increased patellar tilt (mean 2.2°, p < 0.05) and changed three other parameters. The mean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index improved significantly (p < 0.001) from 49.6 (standard deviation (sd) 16.4) pre-operatively to a mean of 28.2 (sd 16.6) at six months and a mean of 22.5 (sd 14.4) at 12 months. The three-dimensional kinematic changes found may be important in explaining inconsistency in clinical outcomes, and suggest that measures in addition to coronal plane alignment should be considered.

Fixation of fractures of the shaft of the humerus by dynamic compression plate or intramedullary nail. A prospective, randomised trial.

We randomised prospectively 44 patients with fractures of the shaft of the humerus to open reduction and internal fixation by either an intramedullary nail (IMN) or a dynamic compression plate (DCP). Patients were followed up for a minimum of six months. There were no significant differences in the function of the shoulder and elbow, as determined by the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons' score, the visual analogue pain score, range of movement, or the time taken to return to normal activity. There was a single case of shoulder impingement in the DCP group and six in the IMN group. Of these six, five occurred after antegrade insertion of an IMN. In the DCP group three patients developed complications, compared with 13 in the IMN group. We had to perform secondary surgery on seven patients in the IMN group, but on only one in the DCP group (p = 0.016). Our findings suggest that open reduction and internal fixation with a DCP remains the best treatment for unstable fractures of the shaft of the humerus. Fixation by IMN may be indicated for specific situations, but is technically more demanding and has a higher rate of complications.

Ankle fractures in diabetics. Complications of surgical management.

To determine the relative risk of complications in treating ankle fractures in patients with diabetes, we compared the results of the management of displaced malleolar fractures in 26 patients with those of a matched group of non-diabetic patients, using a case-controlled study. The groups were matched for patient age, fracture type and treating surgeon. The incidence of significant complications in diabetic patients was 42.3%. By contrast, there were no complications in the matched group of non-diabetic patients. Of 19 diabetic patients treated surgically, six developed major complications including one case of malunion, one of necrosis of the wound edge requiring a flap, and two of deep sepsis. Two patients required amputation and both died. Diabetic patients with displaced ankle fractures treated non-operatively had a high incidence of loss of reduction and malunion but these caused few symptoms. In these patients, non-operative management may be preferable in view of the high risks of major complications after surgery and the acceptance of malunion by the older patient with lower demands.

Open pelvic fractures. A multicenter retrospective analysis.

A marked discrepancy exists in the reported mortality rates in patients with open pelvic fractures, ranging from 4.8% to 50%. A retrospective review of patients with open pelvic fractures was performed at three centers. Thirty-nine patients with open pelvic fractures were identified; the average age was 32. The average injury-severity score was 29 (13-75). There were 10 (26%) deaths. Factors that correlated with mortality and morbidity were instability of the pelvic fracture and the presence of a rectal injury. Delay in performing diverting colostomy correlated with a poor outcome. Previously described methods of treatment are still valid; however, there is a need for re-emphasis of early diverting colostomy in the patient with a rectal or perineal injury. A classification system for open pelvic fractures is proposed in this article.

The effect of knee flexion and quadriceps contraction on the axial view of the patella.

Axial views of the patella are standard in the investigation of anterior knee symptoms, and many investigators use congruence angles and patellar tilt in determining the diagnosis and appropriate treatment. A variety of different methods are used to obtain axial radiographs of the patella, but they are static representations of a dynamic phenomenon. The effect of quadriceps contraction on these indices has not been well defined. The purpose of this study was to compare the 30 degree axial view of the patella with the 45 degree axial view of the patella and to study the effect of quadriceps contraction on the 30 degree axial radiograph of the patella. Forty knees with normal patellofemoral joints and 20 knees with patellar subluxation were radiographed using 30 degree axial views of the patella with the quadriceps relaxed and contracted and with 45 degree axial views with the quadriceps relaxed. There was no significant difference in the sulcus or congruence angles between the 30 and 45 degree axial view in either the control or the patellar subluxation group. Contraction of the quadriceps did not cause a significant or consistent alteration in the congruence angles in either group. With quadriceps contraction, 55% of patients will centralize the patella, whereas 40% will actually increase lateral tracking or subluxation. In conclusion, the 30 degree axial view of the patella is equivalent to the 45 degree axial view in the assessment of patellar subluxation. Quadriceps contraction does not alter the congruence angles obtained in these axial views in a significant or consistent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)