Is anterior knee pain following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction a consideration for graft choice, and the influence of COVID: a qualitative analysis in recreational athletes.

BACKGROUND: We set out to investigate whether anterior knee pain following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has a significant effect on patients, and whether it should influence graft choice. METHODS: This was a qualitative analysis of a set of recreational athletes treated at a university hospital at about 1 year following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery. Participants were interviewed by an orthopaedic fellow and resident using structured, open-ended questions. Inductive theme analysis was used to code the data. RESULTS: There were 4 major themes: (1) Our hypothesis was that patients would be given adequate information to make an appropriate graft choice. This hypothesis was rejected. Discussion took place, but with little details or rationale for the graft choice. The predominant theme was that the surgeon made the decision, and there was a lack of reliable information for the patient to make a choice. (2) The overall theme was that most patients had no anterior knee pain, and it did not interfere with activities of daily living. (3) One theme was that patients were able to resume all sports without restriction, but in some, the anterior knee pain interfered with the more demanding activities such as impact, cutting, and pivoting. A separate theme was that fear was a major impediment to return to sports and was not related to the anterior knee pain. (4) The overriding theme was that the generalized closures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the rehabilitation process. Although virtual care was available in general, it was not particularly satisfactory. Patients indicated that they had not been able to return to the gym or to their sporting activities as a result. CONCLUSIONS: Amongst non-competitive athletes, anterior knee pain post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery does not significantly affect activities of daily living. Although there is a minor effect on sporting activities, the inability to return to sports is related to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, fear, or insufficient rehabilitation, rather than anterior knee pain. Overall, anterior knee pain is not a significant factor that plays a role in determining graft choice.

Operative treatment of acute shaft and neck lesser metatarsals fractures: a systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Metatarsal fractures are relatively common injuries that they might lead to significant disability and chronic pain if suboptimally treated. Operative treatment is reserved for the displaced fractures. The primary aim of the herein study is to present the union time and rate, as well as the functional outcome of the surgically treated isolated lesser metatarsal shaft and neck fractures. The secondary aim is to present the related complications of each fixation method. METHODS: The electronic databases of Pubmed, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane libraries were searched from January 1990 to December 2020. PRISMA guidelines were used for data collection. We retrieved five articles including in total 154 patients, which were compatible to our inclusion criteria and they were used for this systematic review. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients were treated with percutaneous antegrade pinning resulting in AOFAS score: 96.4 ± 4.8 and time to heal 7.4 ± 1 weeks, 34 patients underwent ante/retrograde pinning resulting in AOFAS score: 95.2 ± 4.75 and time to heal 6.5 ± 1 weeks, and 45 patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation with plate and screws resulting in a time to union 10.9 ± 0.5 weeks. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that K wire intramedullary nailing regardless of the specific technique (antegrade, retrograde, ante/retrograde) is associated with better outcomes compared to open reduction and internal fixation as it permits faster weight bearing and quicker rehabilitation. K-wire fixation is related to statistically significant shorter time for the fracture to heal, by approximately three weeks compared to open reduction and internal fixation. Future research should focus on studies directly comparing the different intramedullary K-wiring techniques and also K-wiring versus plate fixation.

Arthroscopy Assisted Balloon Osteoplasty of a Tibia Plateau Depression Fracture: A Case Report.

CONTEXT: A clinical case of a tibia plateau fracture is presented which was treated with balloon osteoplasty and arthroscopy guidance. Balloon Tibioplasty has been shown to be a very useful method for the management of tibial plateau fractures. The use of calcium phosphate has been described in the literature for management and restoration of bone defects in tibial plateau fractures. CASE REPORT: A 45-years-old Caucasian woman was presented after a fall from a ladder. The patient sustained a lateral tibia plateau fracture which was classified as Shatzker type III (AO 41-B2) with posterolateral depression of the joint surface. Surgical treatment was applied using a minimal approach which included percutaneous reduction of the fracture under arthroscopy and fluoroscopy guidance. The bone defect was filled with calcium phosphate via injection. The clinical outcome at the 6, 12 and 24 weeks was excellent with full-range of motion of the knee joint. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopy assisted balloon osteoplasty seems to be a safe and effective method for the treatment of depressed tibia plateau fractures. Further study is needed for the proper evidence based use and application of this method.