The validity of the Ligs digital arthrometer at different loads to evaluate complete ACL ruptures.

Objective: The Ligs Digital Arthrometer is a recently launched versatile arthrometer that can be used for the quantitative assessment of knee and ankle joint laxity. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the Ligs Digital Arthrometer for the diagnosis of complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures at different loads. Materials and Methods: From March 2020 to February 2021, we included 114 normal subjects and 132 subjects diagnosed with complete ACL ruptures by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and eventually confirmed by arthroscopy in the study. Anterior knee laxity was independently measured by the same physical therapist using the Ligs Digital Arthrometer. Recorded anterior knee laxity and calculated the side-to-side difference (SSD) at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 N loads, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal laxity threshold, and the diagnostic value was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC). Results: The demographic data of the subjects were comparable between the two groups (p > 0.05). The mean values of anterior knee laxity measured by the Ligs Digital Arthrometer between the complete ACL ruptures group and the control group were significantly different at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 N loads (p < 0.001 for all). According to the results of ROC curve analysis, the optimal laxity threshold for the diagnosis of complete ACL ruptures was 1.1 mm SSD (Se = 66.7%, Sp = 69.3%) at 30 N, 1.3 mm (Se = 74.2%, Sp = 82.5%) at 60 N, 1.6 mm (Se = 79.5%, Sp = 94.7%) at 90 N, 1.9 mm (Se = 84.1%, Sp = 92.1%) at 120 N and 2.1 mm (Se = 85.6%, Sp = 91.2%) at 150 N. The AUC order at different loads from high to low was 150 N (0.948 [0.923-0.973])>120 N (0.933 [0.903-0.963])>90 N (0.902 [0.862-0.943])>60 N (0.846 [0.799-0.893])>30 N (0.720 [0.657-0.783]). Conclusion: The Ligs Digital Arthrometer proved to be of high diagnostic value in complete ACL ruptures at 90 N, 120 N, and 150 N loads. The diagnostic value improved with the increase of load in a certain range. Based on the results of this study, as a portable, digital and versatile new arthrometer, the Ligs Digital Arthrometer was a valid and promising tool for diagnosing complete ACL ruptures.

[Application of transosseous suture in situ technique in repair of anterior cruciate ligament for multiple ligament injuries with knee dislocation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the method and effectiveness of transosseous suture in situ technique in repairing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) avulsion injury for the multiple ligament injuries with knee dislocation (MLIKD). METHODS: The clinical data of 27 patients (27 knees) with MLIKD between September 2010 and April 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 21 males and 6 females, with an average age of 42 years (range, 24-60 years). The injury was caused by traffic accident in 9 cases, heavy-weight crushing in 9 cases, sports sprain in 6 cases, falling from height in 3 cases. The interval from injury to operation was 1-19 days (mean,10.8 days). There were 20 cases of femoral avulsion injury of ACL, 7 cases of tibial avulsion injury of ACL, and there were 17 cases of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries. According to the Schenck classification, there were 15 cases of KD-Ⅲ-M type, 8 cases of KD-Ⅲ-L type, and 4 cases of KD-Ⅳ type. All patients were positive in the posterior drawer test and Lachman test; 8 cases were degree Ⅲ positive in varus stress test, and 15 cases were degree Ⅲ positive in valgus stress test. The Lysholm score of knee was 27.6±6.5, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score was 25.5±6.2, and the range of motion (ROM) of knee was (45.1±10.2)°. The injured PCL was reconstructed with a single bundle of autologous hamstring tendon. ACL was repaired with double bundle traction by transosseous suture in situ technique. Medial cruciate ligament, lateral cruciate ligament, joint capsule, and other damaged structures were repaired at the same time. RESULTS: All incisions healed by first intention. There were 3 cases with joint effusion and 3 cases with incomplete flexion. All patients were followed up 12-36 months (mean, 22 months). The X-ray films showed good stability in all directions. At last follow-up, the anterior and posterior drawer tests were all negative; Lachman test was degreeⅠpositive in 4 cases, valgus stress test was degreeⅠpositive in 3 cases, varus stress test was degreeⅠpositive in 1 case; and all tests were negative in the rest patients. At 1 year after operation, the ROM of knee was (119.3 ±12.6)°, Lysholm score was 87.2±6.3, and IKDC score was 87.9±6.3, showing significant differences when compared with the preoperative scores ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Transosseous suture in situ technique can be used to repair the ACL avulsion injury for MLIKD, which can significantly improve the stability, mobility and function of the knee joint, and obtain satisfied short-term effectiveness.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus muscle-sparing thoracotomy for non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: It has been widely accepted that video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is superior to conventional open thoracotomy lobectomy in many aspects. However, the direct comparison between VATS and Muscle-sparing thoracotomy (MST) has not been widely conducted. We aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients following VATS and MST. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies. The retrieval time was up to April 24, 2019. Studies investigating the comparison of video-assisted thoracoscopy and muscle-sparing thoracotomy were included in our meta-analysis. Odds ratio and mean differences with 95% confidential interval were applied to determine the effectiveness of dichotomous or continuous variables respectively. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies were included with 1514 patients. Compared with MST, the incidence of postoperative complications in VATS [OR = 0.54; 95%CI(0.4, 0.73); P < 0.001] and the hospital stay [MD = -1.5; 95%CI(- 2.28, - 0.73); P = 0.0001] decreased significantly, chest tube drainage time [MD = -0.71; 95%CI(- 1.18, - 0.24); P = 0.003] were shorter and the intraoperative blood loss [MD = - 43.87; 95%CI(- 73.66, - 14.08); P = 0.004] were less in VATS group. VATS also showed a relatively longer operative time [MD = 17.11; 95%CI(2.38, 31.85); P = 0.02]. However, no significant differences were observed in numbers of resected lymph nodes, postoperative mortality, postoperative pneumonia and postoperative bleeding. CONCLUSION: Compared with MST, VATS was associated with lower incidence of postoperative complications, shorter length of hospital stay, less intraoperative blood loss and less chest tube drainage, which showed that VATS was a comparable method to MST. Meanwhile, these results should be further conformed by more randomized control trials.