Systematic Review of Injuries in the Men's and Women's National Basketball Association.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have reported the incidence and outcomes of injuries in the men's and women's National Basketball Association (NBA and WNBA, respectively). PURPOSE: To synthesize published data regarding the incidence and outcomes of all injuries in the NBA and WNBA in a comprehensive review. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we searched 3 electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase) for studies of all levels of evidence since 1990 pertaining to injuries sustained by active players in the NBA and WNBA. Studies were excluded if the cohort of interest included ≤3 active players. RESULTS: The initial search of the 3 databases yielded 1253 unique studies, of which 49 met final inclusion criteria for this review. Only 4 studies included athletes in the WNBA. Based on the mean annual incidence, the 5 most common orthopaedic sports injuries sustained in the NBA were concussions (9.5-14.9 per year), fractures of the hand (3.5-5.5 per year), lower extremity stress fractures (4.8 per year), meniscal tears (2.3-3.3 per year), and anterior cruciate ligament tears (1.5-2.6 per year). Cartilage defects treated using microfracture, Achilles tendon ruptures, and anterior cruciate ligament injuries were 3 injuries that led to significant reductions in performance measurements after injury. CONCLUSION: With advances in sports technology and statistical analysis, there is rapidly growing interest in injuries among professional basketball athletes. High-quality prospective studies are needed to understand the prevalence and effect of injuries on player performance and career length. This information can inform preventative and treatment measures taken by health care providers to protect players and guide safe return to play at a high level.

Anterior cruciate ligament graft forces are sensitive to fixation angle and tunnel position within the native femoral footprint during passive flexion.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft position within the anatomic femoral footprint of the native ACL and the flexion angle at which the graft is fixed (i.e., fixation angle) are important considerations in ACL reconstruction surgery. However, their combined effect on ACL graft force remains less well understood. HYPOTHESIS: During passive flexion, grafts placed high within the femoral footprint carry lower forces than grafts placed low within the femoral footprint (i.e., high and low grafts, respectively). Forces carried by high grafts are independent of fixation angle. All reconstructions impart higher forces on the graft than those carried by the native ACL. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Five fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were mounted to a robotic manipulator and flexed from full extension to 90° of flexion. The ACL was sectioned and ACL force was calculated via superposition. ACL reconstructions were then performed using a patellar tendon autograft. For each knee, four different reconstruction permutations were tested: high and low femoral graft positions fixed at 15° and at 30° of flexion. Graft forces were calculated from full extension to 90° of flexion for each combination of femoral graft position and fixation angle again via superposition. Native ACL and ACL graft forces were compared through early flexion (by averaging tissue force from 0 to 30° of flexion) and in 5° increments from full extension to 90° of flexion. RESULTS: When fixed at 30° of flexion, high grafts carried less force than low grafts through early flexion bearing a respective 64 ± 19 N and 88 ± 11 N (p = 0.02). Increasing fixation angle from 15° to 30° caused graft forces through early flexion to increase 40 ± 13 N in low grafts and 23 ± 6 N in high grafts (p < 0.001). Low grafts fixed at 30° of flexion differed most from the native ACL, carrying 67 ± 9 N more force through early flexion (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: ACL grafts placed high within the femoral footprint and fixed at a lower flexion angle carried less force through passive flexion compared to grafts placed lower within the femoral footprint and fixed at a higher flexion angle. At the prescribed pretensions, all grafts carried higher forces than the native ACL through passive flexion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Both fixation angle and femoral graft location within the anatomic ACL footprint influence graft forces and, therefore, should be considered when performing ACL reconstruction.

Successful Return to Sport Following Distal Femoral Varus Osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE: Distal femoral varus osteotomy (DFVO) is an effective treatment for unloading valgus knee malalignment; however, there is limited evidence on the ability for patients to return to athletics following this procedure. The purpose of this study is to report the functional outcomes and rate of return to sport for athletes that underwent DFVO. DESIGN: A consecutive series of athletes that had undergone DFVO were retrospectively reviewed. Radiographs were assessed to determine preoperative and postoperative alignment. Institutional registries were used to collect preoperative and postoperative Marx Activity Scale, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form scores, and return to sport. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (8 males, 5 females) with a mean age of 24 years (range 17-35 years) and a mean follow-up of 43 months (range 24-74 months) were included in the study. Six patients underwent medial closing wedge DFVO versus 7 patients who underwent lateral opening wedge DFVO. Nine of 13 had concomitant chondral, meniscal, or ligamentous procedures performed. The mean alignment correction was 8° (range 5°-13°). All patients were able to successfully return to sport at a mean of 11 months (range 9-13 months). Furthermore, all 13 patients demonstrated an improvement in both Marx Activity Scale (4-11; P < 0.01) and IKDC scores (53-89; P < 0.01) after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Correction of valgus knee malalignment through DFVO-either medial closing wedge or lateral opening wedge-can reliably result in improvement in function and return to sport. Concomitant chondral, meniscal, and ligamentous pathology should be addressed.

Preoperative Short Form Health Survey Score Is Predictive of Return to Play and Minimal Clinically Important Difference at a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: There is increased interest in understanding the preoperative determinants of postoperative outcomes. Return to play (RTP) and the patient-reported minimal clinically important difference (MCID) are useful measures of postoperative outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). PURPOSE: To define the MCID after ACLR and to investigate the role of preoperative outcome scores for predicting the MCID and RTP after ACLR. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: There were 294 active athletes enrolled as part of an institutional ACL registry with a minimum 2-year follow-up who were eligible for inclusion. A questionnaire was administered to elicit factors associated with RTP. Patient demographic and clinical data as well as patient-reported outcome measures were captured as part of the registry. Outcome measures included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee evaluation form, Lysholm scale, and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). Preoperative outcome score thresholds predictive of RTP were determined using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) with area under the curve (AUC) analysis. The MCID was calculated using a distribution-based method. Multivariable logistic models were fitted to identify predictors for achieving the MCID and RTP. RESULTS: At a mean (±SD) follow-up of 3.7 ± 0.7 years, 231 patients were included from a total 294 eligible patients. The mean age and body mass index were 26.7 ± 12.5 years and 23.7 ± 3.2 kg/m2, respectively. Of the 231 patients, 201 (87.0%) returned to play at a mean time of 10.1 months. Two-year postoperative scores on all measures were significantly increased from preoperative scores (IKDC: 50.1 ± 15.6 to 87.4 ± 10.7; Lysholm: 61.2 ± 18.1 to 89.5 ± 10.4; SF-12 PCS: 41.5 ± 9.0 to 54.7 ± 4.6; SF-12 MCS: 53.6 ± 8.1 to 55.7 ± 5.7; P < .001 for all). The corresponding MCID values were 9.0 (IKDC), 10.0 (Lysholm), 5.1 (SF-12 PCS), and 4.3 (SF-12 MCS). Preoperative score thresholds predictive of RTP were the following: IKDC, 60.9; Lysholm, 57.0; SF-12 PCS, 42.3; and SF-12 MCS, 48.3. These thresholds were not independently predictive but achieved significance as part of the multivariable analysis. In the multivariable analysis for RTP, preoperative SF-12 PCS scores above 42.3 (odds ratio [OR], 2.73; 95% CI, 1.09-7.62) and SF-12 MCS scores above 48.3 (OR, 4.41; 95% CI, 1.80-10.98) were predictive for achieving RTP; an ACL allograft (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.06-1.00) was negatively predictive of RTP. In the multivariable analysis for the MCID, patients with higher preoperative scores were less likely to achieve the MCID ( P < .0001); however, a higher preoperative SF-12 MCS score was predictive of achieving the MCID on the IKDC form (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.11-1.52) and Lysholm scale (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00-1.16). Medial meniscal injuries, older age, and white race were also associated with a decreased likelihood for achieving the MCID. CONCLUSION: Preoperative SF-12 MCS and PCS scores were predictive of RTP after ACLR; patients scoring above 42.3 on the SF-12 PCS and 48.3 on the SF-12 MCS were more likely to achieve RTP. Additionally, we defined the MCID after ACLR and found that higher SF-12 MCS scores were predictive of achieving the MCID on knee-specific questionnaires.

Return to Play and Patient Satisfaction After ACL Reconstruction: Study with Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Return to play and patient satisfaction after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) have been inconsistently studied. The purposes of this study were to (1) investigate rates and predictors of return to play after ACLR, (2) evaluate patient satisfaction after ACLR, and (3) analyze the relationship between return to play and satisfaction with the result of ACLR. METHODS: Eligible patients were active athletes included in an institutional ACL registry who had undergone ACLR and had been followed for a minimum of 2 years. A questionnaire was administered to elicit information regarding factors associated with return to play, sports performance, reinjury, and overall patient satisfaction. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare return to play with patient satisfaction. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify demographic, sports, and clinical factors associated with return to play. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-two patients with a mean age of 26.7 years (standard deviation [SD] = 12.5 years) who had been followed for a mean of 3.7 years were enrolled. Of 231 patients who responded to the return-to-play question, 201 (87.0%) had returned to play, at a mean of 10.1 months; of 175 athletes eligible to return to their prior level of competition, 89.1% had done so. Overall satisfaction was high: 85.4% were very satisfied with the outcome and 98.1% stated that they would have surgery again. Patients were more likely to respond "very satisfied" if they had returned to play (p < 0.001). Use of a patellar tendon autograft (odds ratio [OR] = 5.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.32 to 25.76) increased the chance of returning to play whereas playing soccer (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.66) or lacrosse (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.06 to 0.99) preoperatively decreased the likelihood of returning to play. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of return to play and patient satisfaction are high after ACLR in active athletes. The use of patellar tendon autograft increased the likelihood of returning to play whereas preinjury participation in soccer and lacrosse decreased these odds. Additionally, patients who returned to play were more likely to be very satisfied with the result of the ACLR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Rupture of the short head component of a bifurcated distal biceps tendon.

BACKGROUND: Rupture of the short head component of a bifurcated distal biceps tendon is a rare injury that may be difficult to diagnose and to treat. METHODS: Three cases of patients with selective disruption of the short head of the biceps distal tendon from a single institution are reported. The presenting history, physical examination, imaging studies, operative findings, and treatment strategies are described. RESULTS: In each case, the mechanism of injury was forceful flexion of the involved elbow against an eccentric load. Notable physical examination findings included a palpable tendon in the antecubital fossa, a "reverse Popeye" deformity, and pain and weakness with resisted forearm supination and elbow flexion. Careful review of the magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated the classic findings for this unique injury. All 3 patients successfully returned to their baseline level of activity after anatomic repair of the short head component with or without independent repair of the long head component (depending on the degree of partial tearing seen intraoperatively). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Rupture of the short head component of a bifurcated distal biceps tendon is a rare injury that can be easily misdiagnosed and mistreated. A meticulous physical examination and evaluation of imaging is required to differentiate this injury from a partial or complete tear of a common distal biceps tendon. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for this unusual injury pattern. When it is diagnosed appropriately, selective disruption of the short head of the biceps distal tendon may be effectively treated with anatomic repair.

Comparative Influence of Sport Type on Outcome After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction at Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

PURPOSE: To investigate differences between sport types for patient-reported outcome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). METHODS: Included patients were enrolled as part of a prospective institutional ACL registry. Inclusion criteria were preoperative self-identification as a competitive athlete, maximum score on the preoperative Marx Activity Scale, and minimum 2-year follow-up. Demographic, intraoperative, and outcome data were extracted from the registry. Outcome tools administered as part of the registry included International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm-Tegner Scales, Marx Activity Scale (MAS), and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). RESULTS: A total of 294 patients with a mean age of 25.5 years (standard deviation 12.1) met the study inclusion criteria; mean follow-up was 3.7 years. Included sports categories were soccer (n = 92; 31.3%), skiing (n = 67; 22.8%), basketball (n = 56; 19.1%), lacrosse (n = 38; 12.9%), football (n = 29; 9.9%), and Tennis (n = 12; 4.1%). At baseline, compared with other sports, lacrosse players have higher outcome scores while skiers had lower scores. At 2-year follow-up, however, across all outcome tools, football players demonstrated significantly higher outcome scores than all other athletes (IKDC, 93.2, P = .001; Lysholm, 93.2, P = .03; MAS, 13.1, P = .03; SF-12 Mental Component Summary, 57.9, P = .0002). Conversely, at 2-year follow-up, soccer players demonstrated a significantly lower Lysholm (86.7, P = .02) and a trend toward lower IKDC (85.6, P = .09) scores. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-reported outcomes after ACLR among active athletes are comparable. Football players demonstrate quantitatively higher outcome scores whereas soccer players have lower scores. However, these outcome score differences may not be clinically significant and may be subject to confounding variables. Continued attention should be paid to understanding sport-specific outcome after ACLR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction of the Elbow: The Docking Technique.

Reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in overhead throwing athletes. Since its initial description, the procedure has undergone a number of technical modifications and advancements. This has resulted in multiple described techniques for UCL reconstruction. One of the most commonly performed UCL reconstruction methods is the docking technique. It has the advantages of minimizing injury to the flexor-pronator mass, avoiding the ulnar nerve, allowing robust graft tensioning, and reducing the amount of bone removed from the medial epicondyle compared with previously described techniques. This article provides a detailed description and video demonstration of how to perform this technique. When precise surgical steps are followed and postoperative rehabilitation appropriately progresses, this procedure has a well-documented history of reliably returning athletes to competitive throwing.

Arthroscopic Removal of Symptomatic Proximal Humerus Locking Plates With Bone-Void Filler Augmentation.

Open reduction internal fixation of proximal humerus fractures is often accomplished with proximal humerus locking plates. While these plates have a good track record, they can become symptomatic and require removal once the fracture has healed. Open hardware removal is associated with a number of additional risks to the patient, including infection, scarring, nerve damage, and blood loss. In addition, the recovery time after open hardware removal may be prolonged, thereby predisposing the patient to postoperative stiffness. The purpose of this article is to describe a technique for removing proximal humerus locking plates arthroscopically. Although technically demanding, the benefits of this technique include smaller incisions, quicker recovery time, decreased risk of infection, and reduced blood loss. Arthroscopy also provides the surgeon with the ability to address concomitant intra-articular pathology at the time of surgery. Additionally, we use a bone-void filler to reduce the risk of fracture through stress caused by previous screw holes.

Arthroscopic Fixation of Glenoid Rim Fractures After Reduction by Labral Repair.

Surgical fixation of displaced, intra-articular glenoid fractures represents a clinical challenge. These fractures have traditionally been treated through open approaches to the glenohumeral joint; however, the morbidity associated with open surgery may be reduced with arthroscopic techniques. Previously described arthroscopic methods commonly use clamps and/or Kirschner wires to obtain and maintain provisional fixation. We describe our technique for minimally invasive, arthroscopic fixation of glenoid rim fractures using labral repair as an indirect reduction maneuver, followed by final fixation with an extra-articular screw. This method is safe, efficient, and reliable, and it can be used to approach a variety of intra-articular glenoid fractures.

Single-Incision Technique for Repair of Distal Biceps Tendon Avulsions With Intramedullary Cortical Button.

Patients who experience distal biceps tendon avulsions generally benefit from surgical intervention. Compared with nonoperative treatment, surgery has shown improved muscle endurance as well as increased flexion and supination strength. Although a number of surgical techniques exist, repair of the distal biceps through a single incision is gaining popularity. This may be due in part to patient preference and emerging technologies such as cortical button fixation, suture anchors, and intraosseous screws. In this report, we present a simple technique for anatomically repairing distal biceps injuries using an intramedullary tenodesis button. This technique has the benefit of using a single unicortical drill hole in the radius while allowing the surgeon to sequentially tighten the tendon to its desired level of tension. When appropriate surgical steps are followed, it can be completed in a reliable, safe, and efficient manner through a single incision.

Tibial component considerations in bicruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty: A 3D MRI evaluation of proximal tibial anatomy.

BACKGROUND: Restoration of normal anatomy and proper ligament balance are theoretical prerequisites for reproducing physiological kinematics with bicruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to use a 3D MRI technique to evaluate the topography of the proximal tibia and outline considerations in tibial component design for bicruciate-retaining TKA. METHODS: We identified 100 consecutive patients (50 males and 50 females) between ages 20 and 40 years with knee MRIs without arthritis, dysplasia, ACL tears, or prior knee surgery. A novel 3D MRI protocol coordinating axial, coronal, and sagittal images was used to measure: 1) medial and lateral posterior tibial slopes; 2) medial and lateral coronal slopes; and 3) distance from the anterior tibia to the ACL footprint. RESULTS: There was no overall difference in medial and lateral posterior tibial slopes (5.5° (95% CI 5.0 to 6.0°) vs. 5.4° (95% CI 4.8 to 6.0°), respectively (p=0.80)), but 41 patients had side-to-side differences greater than 3°. The medial coronal slope was greater than the lateral coronal slope (4.6° (95% CI 4.0 to 5.1°) vs. 3.3° (95% CI 2.9 to 3.7°), respectively (p<0.0001)). Females had less clearance between the anterior tibia and ACL footprint than males (10.8mm (95% CI 10.4 to 11.2mm) vs. 13.0mm (95% CI 12.5 to 13.5mm), respectively (p<0.0001)). CONCLUSIONS: Due to highly variable proximal tibial topography, a monoblock bicruciate-retaining tibial baseplate may not reproduce normal anatomy in all patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV - Anatomic research study.

Intertrochanteric Femur Fracture Stability: A Surrogate for General Health in Elderly Patients?

INTRODUCTION: Intertrochanteric (IT) femur fractures are common in elderly patients who are often in poor general health. Intertrochanteric fractures are classified as stable or unstable, taking into account fracture morphology and involvement of the posteromedial calcar. The purpose of this study is to determine whether IT fracture stability can be used as a marker for general health or as a predictor of postoperative medical complications in elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of all patients treated for IT fractures at our institution over the past 7 years. We excluded patients who were younger than 60 years, polytraumatized, involved in high-energy mechanisms of injury, managed nonoperatively, with hardware from previous surgery, or missing preoperative radiographs. Ninety-three patients were included in the present series. Three orthopedic surgeons independently reviewed all preoperative radiographs and classified each fracture as either stable or unstable. Interrater reliability was .77 (substantial) and consensus designation was assigned by majority. We reviewed charts for age, gender, time to surgery, length of hospital stay, type of surgery, estimated blood loss, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and postoperative medical complications. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to determine the relationship of fracture stability on ASA class and medical complications. RESULTS: Intertrochanteric fracture stability had no detectable relationship with ASA class (P = .497). On univariate analysis, stability was not significantly related to medical complications (P = .421). Our multivariate analysis found that only ASA was related to medical complications (P = .004), and fracture stability was not related to complications (P = .538). CONCLUSION: Intertrochanteric fracture stability does not appear to be a marker for poor general health or to predict postoperative medical complications in elderly patients in this limited study. ASA class was predictive of medical complications. Interestingly, medical complications were 8% greater in patients with unstable fractures than in patients with stable fractures.

Propionibacterium acnes infection in shoulder arthroscopy patients with postoperative pain.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have identified Propionibacterium acnes as the causal organism in an increasing number of postoperative shoulder infections. Most reports have found a high rate of P acnes infection after open surgery, particularly shoulder arthroplasty. However, there are limited data regarding P acnes infections after shoulder arthroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively collected data on all shoulder arthroscopies performed by the senior author from January 1, 2009, until April 1, 2013. Cultures were taken in all revision shoulder arthroscopy cases performed for pain, stiffness, or weakness. In addition, 2 cultures were taken from each of a cohort of 32 primary shoulder arthroscopy cases without concern for infection to determine the false-positive rate. RESULTS: A total of 1,591 shoulder arthroscopies were performed during this period, 68 (4.3%) of which were revision procedures performed for pain, stiffness, or weakness. A total of 20 revision arthroscopies (29.4%) had positive culture findings, and 16 (23.5%) were positive for P acnes. In the control group, 1 patient (3.2%) had P acnes growth. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of P acnes infection in patients undergoing revision shoulder arthroscopy is higher than previously published and should be considered in cases characterized by refractory postoperative pain and stiffness.

Fifty most-cited articles in anterior cruciate ligament research.

The number of times an article has been cited in the peer-reviewed literature is indicative of its impact on its respective medical specialty. No study has used citation analysis to determine the most influential studies pertaining to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The primary aims of this study were to identify the classic works in ACL research using citation analysis and to characterize these articles to determine which types of studies have had the most influence on the field. A systematic query of ISI Web of Science (Thomson Reuters, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was performed for articles pertaining to the ACL, and the 50 most-cited articles were selected for evaluation. The following characteristics were determined for each article: number of citations, citation density, journal, publication year, country of origin, language, article type, article subtype, and level of evidence. The number of citations ranged from 219 to 1073 (mean, 326), and the citation densities ranged from 4.9 to 55.6 citations per year (mean, 18.2). All articles were published in 1 of 11 journals, with the most being published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine (46%) and The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery American (30%). The most common decades of publication were the 1990s (34%), 1980s (28%), and 2000s (26%). The majority (68%) of articles originated from the United States, and all were written in English. By article type, 42% were basic science, and 58% were clinical. Of the clinical articles, 3% were Level I, 17% were Level II, 28% were Level III, and 52% were Level IV. The articles were heterogeneous with regard to article type, article subtype, and level of evidence and tended to have the following characteristics: high-impact journal of publication, recent publication year, US origin, English language, and low level of evidence. These works represent some of the most popular scientific contributions to ACL research. This list may aid residency and fellowship programs in the compilation of articles for trainee reading curriculums.

Endoscopic Thermal Fasciotomy for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome.

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is an activity-induced condition that occurs when intracompartmental pressures within an osteofascial envelope increase during exercise, leading to reversible ischemic symptoms such as pain, cramping, numbness, or weakness. Nonoperative treatment options for this condition have shown limited success and are often undesirable for the patient given the requirement for activity modification. Traditional surgical treatment options involving open or subcutaneous fasciotomies have more favorable results, but these techniques are associated with significant morbidity. Endoscopically assisted fasciotomy techniques afford the advantages of being minimally invasive, providing excellent visualization, and allowing accelerated rehabilitation. The purpose of this article is to describe a technique for performing endoscopically assisted fasciotomies for chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the lower leg using an entirely endoscopic thermal ablating device. The endoscopic thermal fasciotomy technique is associated with minimal morbidity, ensures excellent hemostasis, and affords an early return to sports.

No sex differences exist in posterior condylar offsets of the knee.

BACKGROUND: Restoration of posterior condylar offset during TKA is believed to be important to improving knee kinematics, maximizing ROM, and minimizing flexion instability. However, controversy exists regarding whether there are important anatomic differences between sexes and whether a unisex knee prosthesis can restore the anatomy of knees in males and females. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purposes of our study were to determine if sex differences exist in (1) absolute posterior condylar offset size, (2) relative posterior condylar offset size in relation to total condylar height, and (3) posterior condylar articular cartilage thickness. METHODS: We identified 100 patients (50 men and 50 women) without a history of arthritis, deformity, dysplasia, osteochondral defect, fracture, or surgery about the knee who had MRI of the knee performed. All MR images were ordered by primary care medical physicians for evaluation of nonspecific knee pain. Using a previously described three-dimensional MRI protocol, we measured posterior condylar offset, total condylar height, and articular cartilage thickness at the medial and lateral femoral condyles and compared values to evaluate for potential sex differences. We performed an a priori power calculation using a 2-mm posterior condylar offset difference as the minimum clinically important difference; with 2n = 100, our power to detect such a difference was 99.8%. RESULTS: Compared with females, males had greater medial posterior condylar offset (30 mm [95% CI, 29.3-30.7 mm; SD, 2.5 mm] vs 28 mm [95% CI, 27.0-28.5 mm; SD, 2.7 mm]), lateral posterior condylar offset (27 mm [95% CI, 26.2-27.3 mm; SD, 2.0 mm] vs 25 mm [95% CI, 24.2-25.4 mm; SD, 2.0 mm]), medial condylar height (63 mm [SD, 3.2 mm] vs 57 mm [SD, 4.4 mm]), and lateral condylar height (71 mm [SD, 5.2 mm] vs 65 mm [SD: 4.0 mm]) (all p values < 0.001). However, the mean ratio of medial posterior condylar offset to medial condylar height (0.48 [SD, 0.04] vs 0.49 [SD, 0.05]) and the mean ratio of lateral posterior condylar offset to lateral condylar height (0.38 [SD, 0.05] vs 0.38 [SD, 0.03]) were not different between sexes (p = 0.08 and p = 0.8, respectively). There also was no sex difference in mean articular cartilage thickness at either condyle (medial condyle: 2.7 mm [SD, 0.5 mm] vs 2.5 mm [SD, 0.7 mm]; lateral condyle: 2.6 mm [SD, 0.6 mm] vs 2.5 mm [SD, 0.8 mm]) (both p values ≥ 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study showed that knees in males exhibited greater posterior condylar offset and greater total condylar height at the medial and lateral femoral condyles, however, there were no sex differences in the ratio of posterior condylar offset to condylar height at either condyle. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that a unisex knee prosthesis design is adequate to recreate the normal posterior condylar offsets for men and women.

Current data do not support routine use of patient-specific instrumentation in total knee arthroplasty.

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to compare patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) versus standard instrumentation for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with regard to coronal and sagittal alignment, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and cost. A systematic query in search of relevant studies was performed, and the data published in these studies were extracted and aggregated. In regard to coronal alignment, PSI demonstrated improved accuracy in femorotibial angle (FTA) (P=0.0003), while standard instrumentation demonstrated improved accuracy in hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) (P=0.02). Importantly, there were no differences between treatment groups in the percentages of FTA or HKA outliers (>3 degrees from target alignment) (P=0.7). Sagittal alignment, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and cost were also similar between groups (P>0.1 for all comparisons).