ABSTRACT
Varus knees with associated cartilage pathologies are not uncommon scenarios that present to orthopaedic surgeons. There is no agreement on the ideal management of varus knees with concomitant cartilage pathology. Through a literature review, the authors tried to answer three main questions: On October 2022, OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, and COCHRANE databases were searched. Clinical studies reporting on clinical, radiologic, or macroscopic cartilage regeneration following either isolated knee osteotomy or concomitant osteotomy and a cartilage procedure were reviewed. Despite controversies, the literature demonstrated favourable outcomes of combined knee osteotomy and a cartilage procedure in patients with substantial deformity and cartilage defects. Isolated high tibial osteotomy may induce cartilage regeneration in several scenarios and severities of concomitant malalignment and cartilage defects. There are recommendations that knee osteotomy should be added to a cartilage procedure when an extra-articular deformity of > 5° is detected. Some studies report good outcomes for combining a knee osteotomy with cartilage grafting, but they lack a control group of isolated osteotomy. There is still scarce of evidence on the influence of osteotomies on cartilage regeneration and the outcomes of concomitant osteotomy and different cartilage procedures vs isolated osteotomies. With advanced statistical evaluation (artificial intelligence, machine learning) of big datasets, more answers and better results will be delivered.
ABSTRACT
The challenge of revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction lies in its complexity, varied presentation, and technical intricacies. A successful ACL reconstruction should allow patients to safely return to preinjury activities. However, it is only sometimes simple, and many risk factors and concurrent pathologies come into play. Evaluating and analysing the cause of failure and associated conditions is paramount to addressing them effectively. Despite a plethora of research and improvements in knowledge and technology, e gaps exist in issues such as optimal techniques of revision surgery, graft options, fixation, concurrent procedures, rehabilitation and protocol for return to sports of high-level athletes. Female athletes need additional focus since they are at higher risk of re-injury, suboptimal clinical outcomes, and lower rates of return to sport following revision reconstruction. Our understanding about injury prevention and the protection of ACL grafts in female athletes needs to be improved. This review focuses on the current state of revision ACL surgery in female athletes and provides recommendations and future directions for optimising outcomes in this high-risk group.
