Return to sports and quality of life after high tibial osteotomy in patients under 60 years of age.

INTRODUCTION: Since knee osteoarthritis is unicompartmental in most cases, a knee osteotomy is the most logical solution to limit degeneration of the arthritic compartment, thereby delaying knee arthroplasty. Younger patients have high functional demands. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the return to sports and quality of life after high tibial osteotomy (HTO) in athletic patients less than 60 years of age. The hypothesis was that patients can return to sports within 1 year of HTO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-centre, retrospective study was performed of 30 patients under 60 years of age with medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis and no history of surgery or trauma who underwent HTO between January 2014 and August 2015. The primary endpoint was the return to sport at 1 year based on the Tegner score. Secondary endpoints were the subjective IKDC score, Lysholm score and SF-36. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 1.3 years [1-1.5] and no patients were lost to follow-up. All the patients had returned to sports at 1 year: 73.3% at their pre-surgery level (before the pain started) and 23.3% at a higher level. Their quality of life was significantly improved according to the SF-36 questionnaire: 65.3% pre-operatively compared with 72.5% postoperatively (P=0.01). The preoperative and 1-year postoperative scores were comparable for the Tegner (P=0.167), IKDC (P=0.093) and Lysholm (P=0.061). CONCLUSION: HTO allows patients to resume their sports activities within 1 year of surgery and significantly improves their quality of life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV - Retrospective cohort study.

Beta-tricalcium phosphate for orthopedic reconstructions as an alternative to autogenous bone graft.

Autogenous bone graft (autograft) remains the gold standard in the treatment of many orthopedic problems. However, graft harvest can lead to perioperative morbidity and increased cost. We tested the hypothesis that an osteoconductive matrix, beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP), would be a safe and effective alternative to autograft alone. Beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) is considered as one of the most promising biomaterials for bone reconstruction. This study analyzes the outcomes of patients who received ß-TCP as bone substitutes in orthopedic surgery. METHODS: A total of 50 patients were enrolled in a controlled, non-inferiority clinical trial to compare the safety and efficacy of ß-TCP (25 patients) with those of autograft (25 patients) in indications requiring usually autograft. These 50 patients were categorized according to the etiology and morphology of the 54 bone defects resulting from elective surgical procedures, such as 34 open-wedge high tibial osteotomies, and 20 osteonecrosis treatments with core decompression. Radiographic (healing process with or without integration of ß-TCP), clinical (no other surgical procedure), functional outcomes and safety (with or without complications) were assessed through fifty-two weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: With regard to the primary endpoint (radiographic evolution), the fusion rate of the 34 open-wedge osteotomies was 100% (17 among 17) for patients in the group with ß-TCP compared with 94% (16 among 17) for patients in the autograft group. For the 20 cavitary defects (osteonecrosis), the radiographic union rates, as determined by the presence of osseous bridging, were 100% for patients in the group with ß-TCP and 100% for those in the autograft group. Clinically at one year, all quality-of-life and functional outcome data supported non-inferiority of ß-TCP compared with autograft, and patients in the ß-TCP group were found to have less pain and an improved safety profile. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with ß-TCP resulted in comparable fusion rates, less pain and fewer side effects as compared with treatment with autograft. This study established clinical parameters where the ß-TCP alone can successfully support the osteogenic process.

Minimally invasive posterior approach in the popliteal fossa for semitendinosus and gracilis tendon harvesting: an anatomic study.

INTRODUCTION: Harvesting the semitendinosus (ST) and gracilis (GR) tendons at the anteromedial side of the knee may be hampered by a conjoint tendon insertion on the tibial metaphysis and an accessory bundle between the ST and the medial gastrocnemius. Locating and sparing the terminal branches of the saphenous nerve are difficult on an anteromedial approach. The principal objective of the present anatomic study was to assess the feasibility of ST and GR harvesting from a minimally invasive posterior approach in the popliteal fossa. The secondary objective was to analyze the risk of saphenous nerve branch lesion during harvesting. METHOD: Ten cadaver knees, free of scarring, were used. The whole body was positioned supine. The tendons were located in the popliteal fossa with the knee in 30° flexion. A mini-incision was performed in the fossa. The ST and GR tendons were located, and retrograde followed by anterograde stripping was performed. Tendon lengths and diameters were measured. The knees were then dissected to check for saphenous nerve branch lesions (anterior, infrapatellar and posterior branches). RESULTS: The GR and ST tendons were respectively located at 14.4 and 24 mm from the medial edge of the knee. In 90% of cases, there was an accessory ST bundle toward the medial gastrocnemius muscle, 26 mm below the posterior edge. Tendons could be harvested without deviation of the stripper. Knee dissection did not find any saphenous nerve branches, these being protected by the sartorius fascia. DISCUSSION: Posterior ST and GR tendon harvesting in the popliteal fossa is reliable and reproducible. It allows easy sectioning of the accessory ST bundle, without deviation during retrograde stripping. Unlike anterior harvesting, which leads to a rate of saphenous branch lesion of 50-78%, posterior harvesting protects the nerve branches by keeping away from the sartorius. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.

Secondary nailing after external fixation for tibial shaft fracture: risk factors for union and infection. A 55 case series.

INTRODUCTION: Secondary intramedullary nailing (SIN) following external fixation (EF) of tibial shaft fracture is controversial, notably due to the infection risk, which is not precisely known. The present study therefore analysed a continuous series of tibial shaft SIN, to determine (1) infection and union rates, and (2) whether 1-stage SIN associated to EF ablation increased the risk of infection. HYPOTHESIS: Factors exist for union and onset of infection following tibial shaft SIN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective series of SIN performed between 1998 and 2012 in over 16-year-old patients with non-pathologic tibial shaft fracture was analysed. EF pin site infection was an exclusion criterion. Fractures were graded according to AO and Gustilo classifications. Study parameters were: time to SIN, 1- versus 2-stage procedure, bacteriologic results on reaming product, post-nailing onset of infection, and time to union. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (55 fractures) were included. There were 16 closed and 39 open fractures: 7 Gustilo type I, 26 type II and 6 type IIIA; 33 AO type A, 14 type B and 8 type C. Mean time to SIN was 9 ± 9.6 weeks (range, 4 days to 12 months). There were 23 1-stage procedures, and 32 two-stage procedures with a mean 12-day interval (range, 4-30 days). Twelve reaming samples were biologically positive without secondary infection. There were 4 septic complications (3 abscesses, 1 osteomyelitis), and 1 aseptic non-union required re-nailing. The union rate was 96%. The sole factor of poor prognosis was severity of fracture opening. One-stage SIN did not increase infection risk. DISCUSSION: The present results were better than reported in the literature, where the rates of Gustilo IIIA and IIIB fracture and pin site infection are, however, higher. Tibial shaft SIN is a reliable procedure, with infection risk correlating with Gustilo type and time to surgery. Surgery should be early, before onset of EF pin site infection. A 1-stage attitude appears feasible in early SIN. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. Retrospective study type.