Large Versus Small Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomies Performed With a Protective Wire Over the Lateral Hinge: Incidence of Lateral Hinge Fracture and Early Clinical Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of lateral hinge fractures (LHFs) during medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOW-HTO) is unacceptably high, especially with distractions >10 mm. LHFs result in malunion, loss of correction, and recurrence of symptoms adversely affecting clinical outcomes. PURPOSE: (1) To investigate the incidence of LHF when a protective guide wire is utilized during MOW-HTO in small and large corrections and (2) to study the effect of correction size on early clinical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 96 knees that underwent MOW-HTO between 2019 and 2020. A protective wire applied intraoperatively across the lateral hinge point before opening wedge distraction was performed for all patients. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on opening wedge sizes: group A (opening distraction <10 mm) and group B (opening distraction ≥10 mm). LHF and wound complications were recorded. Prospective Knee Score and Function Score (Knee Society), Oxford Knee Score, and Physical and Mental Component Summaries of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire were recorded preoperatively and at 6 months and 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: Incidence of LHF was low in group A (n = 2; 6.1%) and group B (n = 3; 9.1%). A single case of intraoperative LHF was noted in each group, with each case resulting in a type 1 fracture. The incidence of postoperative fractures was comparable between groups (groups A vs B, n = 1 vs 2). At 6 months, clinical outcomes in group A were superior to those of group B (Knee Score, 85.7 ± 14.7 vs 73.1 ± 20.3, P = 0.028; Function Score, 73.5 ± 16.5 vs 63.1 ± 19.5, P = 0.047; Oxford Knee Score, 20.2 ± 4.7 vs 25.6 ± 8.5, P = 0.008; Physical Component Summary, 46.8 ± 8.1 vs 40.2 ± 10.9, P = 0.018). However, clinical outcomes were comparable at 2 years (P > .05). CONCLUSION: A protective wire was associated with a low incidence of LHF, even in larger MOW-HTO corrections. Large corrections had poorer clinical outcomes as compared with small corrections at 6 months. However, clinical outcomes between groups were comparable at 2 years.

Distalization of hinge site with use of hinge wire reduces hinge fracture rates in closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy.

PURPOSE: Closing wedge distal femoral osteotomies (CWDFO) are attractive treatment options for unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis with coronal plane deformity. However, it has been traditionally associated with high rates of hinge fracture that can adversely impact recovery and patient outcomes. Appropriate siting of hinge point can be an effective method of reducing the incidence of hinge fractures. This study aims to illustrate a case series of CWDFO with low rates of hinge fracture utilising our preferred hinge point site. METHODS: A retrospective study of a cohort of 39 CWDFO was performed between May 2019 and May 2022. Both medial and lateral CWDFO were included. The hinge point in all cases was placed at the level of the inferior margin of the metaphyseal flare, and inferior to the gastrocnemius origin, with a hinge thickness of 10 mm. Post-operative radiographs were obtained at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery to assess for hinge fracture and union. RESULTS: Thirty-nine cases of CWDFO were performed, consisting of eighteen cases of valgus malalignment that underwent medial CWDFO and twenty-one cases of varus malalignment that underwent lateral CWDFO. At surgery, the mean age was 47.6 (± 13.9) years and mean BMI was 29.4 (± 4.9). There were 23 men and 16 women. Three cases of hinge fractures occurred intraoperatively, translating into a hinge fracture rate of 7.69%. However, union was achieved in all three cases and all patients in this case series were able to progress to weight bear as tolerated at 2 months post-osteotomy. CONCLUSION: Distal placement of the hinge at the level of the inferior metaphyseal flare margin with the use of a hinge wire can greatly reduce the rates of hinge fracture in CWDFO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Medial Meniscal Allograft Transplantation With Bone Plugs Using a 3-Tunnel Technique.

Meniscal allograft transplantation is an area of active research, given that the importance of the meniscus in native knee joint longevity has been increasingly recognized. This article describes a modified meniscal allograft transplantation technique using 3 bone tunnels with allograft fixation through the use of bone plugs. The addition of a third tunnel increases the strength of fixation, avoiding meniscal extrusion and improving load distribution.

The Relationship Between Cervical Sagittal Balance and Adjacent Segment Disease After Three-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between cervical sagittal balance and adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) development after 3-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: ASD is a common complication after ACDF. Previous studies have shown that sagittal imbalance may be associated with ASD development after 1-level or 2-level ACDF. However, these findings may not be generalizable to 3-level procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed prospectively collected data of 46 patients who underwent 3-level ACDF at a tertiary institution. Lateral cervical radiographs taken preoperatively, postoperatively, and at last follow-up were reviewed for ASD. The mean follow-up duration was 5 years. Radiographic parameters measured were cervical sagittal alignment (CSA), segmental sagittal alignment, T1 slope (T1S), sagittal vertical axis, and T1S-cervical lordosis. RESULTS: ASD was present in 27 (58.7%) patients, but only 1 patient (2.2%) underwent reoperation at 4.8 years. The CSA, sagittal vertical axis, and T1S were similar preoperatively, but the T1S-cervical lordosis was higher in the ASD group (18.28 vs. 9.82, P =0.016). All 4 parameters were similar postoperatively and at last follow-up. The ASD group had a greater change in CSA over the follow-up period (-6.26 vs. -1.47, P =0.05), but they achieved similar sagittal alignment at last follow-up. There was no difference in clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike studies on 1-level and 2-level ACDF, this study found that cervical spinal alignment was not associated with ASD development after 3-level ACDF. ASD development also had no impact on clinical outcomes at 2 years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-nonrandomized cohort study.

The Effect of Body Mass Index on Long-Term Patient-Reported Outcome Scores after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in an Asian Population: A 2-Year Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PURPOSE: This study aims to analyze the relationship between body mass index (BMI) subjective patient-reported outcomes (PRO) after 1- and 2-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The prevalence of cervical spondylosis and ACDF in expected to continue rising among the aging population of Asia. Moreover, the prevalence of obesity is also increasing. However, limited information is available about the mechanism by which BMI affects PRO after ACDF. METHODS: Total 878 patients underwent ACDF between 2000 and 2015. After excluding patients with previous cervical instrumentation, >2 levels fused, missing BMI measurement, or neoplastic/trauma indication for surgery, 535 patients were included. The PRO measures of the Neck Disability Index, Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for Neck Pain, NPRS for Limb Pain, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons-Neurogenic Symptom Score, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association myelopathy score were used. Patients were grouped based on their preoperative BMI, as per the World Health Organization guidelines for Asian populations. PRO scores were collected preoperatively, at 6 months postoperatively, and 2 years postoperatively. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the relationship of BMI category with the individual score, accounting for several factors that are likely to affect the outcomes. RESULTS: Total 19 (3.4%) were underweight, 155 (28.0%) were normal weight, 112 (20.3%) were overweight, and 267 (48.3%) were obese. Patients across all BMI categories experienced significant and similar improvements in their postoperative PRO scores. There were no significant differences in the preoperative, 6-month postoperative, and 2-year postoperative PRO scores of the groups. Rate of reoperation was highest in patients with grade II obesity at 8.07%; however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of the BMI, all patients exhibited similar satisfactory outcomes following ACDF. The results support surgery in all subgroups of patients with symptomatic nerve compression in the cervical spine.

Permanent Versus Bioresorbable Implants in Orbital Floor Blowout Fractures.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of bioresorbable and permanent implants in the reconstruction of isolated orbital floor blowout fractures. METHODS: Retrospective series of all patients who had orbital floor fracture repair in a single tertiary trauma center from January 2005 to December 2014. The authors reviewed the case notes and CT scans of patients with orbital floor fracture repair with either bioresorbable or permanent implants. Main outcome measures were enophthalmos, diplopia, and ocular motility restriction 1.5 years after fracture repair. Implant-related complications were collected for analysis. RESULTS: There were a total of 88 patients in our study. Bioresorbable implants were used in 48 patients (54.5%) while 40 patients had permanent implants (45.5%). The authors analyzed the implants used in various sizes of orbital fractures: small (<13.3 mm), medium (13.3-20 mm), and large (>20 mm). One and a half years after fracture repair, both groups had comparable clinical outcomes (n = 2 and n = 0 for diplopia for permanent and bioresorbable implant groups, respectively, n = 0 for enophthalmos for both groups and n = 1 for ocular motility limitation for both groups) overall and across all fracture sizes. CONCLUSION: Bioresorbable implants degrade after fracture healing through hydrolysis and promote the gradual transfer of functional forces to healing bone during its disintegration. The clinical outcomes of diplopia, enophthalmos, and ocular motility restriction associated with the use of resorbable implants are comparable to that of permanent implants for all fracture sizes. Their study shows that bioresorbable and permanent implants are equally safe and effective for the treatment of patients with isolated orbital floor blowout fractures.