Arthroscopic Mechanical Chondroplasty of the Knee Is Beneficial for Treatment of Focal Cartilage Lesions in the Absence of Concurrent Pathology.

BACKGROUND: Articular cartilage lacks the ability for intrinsic repair after acute injury, and focal articular cartilage lesions cause significant morbidity worldwide. Arthroscopic debridement (chondroplasty) represents the majority of cartilage procedures of the knee; however, limited data exist regarding outcomes after chondroplasty performed in isolation of concurrent procedures or not as a primary treatment for osteoarthritis (OA). HYPOTHESIS: Arthroscopic mechanical chondroplasty is beneficial for patients with a focal cartilage lesion of the knee in the absence of meniscal pathology or OA. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Potential participants were identified by querying billing data from a 3-year period in a single-surgeon practice, and eligible patients were verified to meet inclusion criteria through electronic medical record review. OA was quantified through Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) scoring. Subjective patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores, including International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), Tegner, Lysholm, and Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12), were collected preoperatively and at follow-up intervals. International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade and lesion size were determined at arthroscopy. Linear regression was used to determine the effect of baseline score on final follow-up score. Correlated regression equations were used to assess the relationship of covariates and change in PRO scores. RESULTS: Fifty-three of 86 (62%) eligible participants completed postoperative questionnaires at an average of 31.5 months (range, 11.5-57 months). The mean patient age was 37.3 ± 9.7 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.7 ± 5.6 kg/m2; 33 (62%) participants were women. The mean treated lesion size was 3.3 ± 1.9 cm2, of these, 36 (68%) were ICRS grade 2 or 3, and 42 (79%) patients had a KL score of 0 to -2. On average, the cohort demonstrated significant improvement from baseline for almost all PRO scores. Regression analysis of change in score versus baseline indicated participants with lower preoperative scores gained more benefit from chondroplasty. Correlated regression equations showed KL score >0 and male sex had a consistent positive effect on change in PRO scores, high ICRS grade had a consistent negative effect, and lesion size, age, and obesity had no effect. Eight patients (15%) required further surgical intervention within the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy of chondroplasty for repair of focal cartilage defects of the knee has not been studied in isolation from concurrent orthopaedic procedures. Our data show that arthroscopic mechanical chondroplasty is beneficial to patients, and response to surgical intervention is correlated with baseline PRO scores, sex, ICRS grade, and KL score.

The Durability of Endoscopic Therapy for Treatment of Barrett's Metaplasia, Dysplasia, and Mucosal Cancer After Nissen Fundoplication.

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) ± endoscopic resection (EMR) is an established treatment strategy for neoplastic Barrett's and intramucosal cancer. Most patients are managed with proton pump inhibitors. The incidence of recurrent Barrett's metaplasia, dysplasia, or cancer after complete eradication is up to 43 % using this strategy. We hypothesize the addition of fundoplication should result in a lower recurrence rates after complete eradication. METHODS: Multi-institutional retrospective review of patients undergoing endotherapy followed by Nissen fundoplication RESULTS: A total of 49 patients underwent RFA ± EMR followed by Nissen fundoplication. Complete remission of intestinal metaplasia (CR-IM) was achieved in 26 (53 %) patients, complete remission of dysplasia (CR-D) in 16 (33 %) patients, and 7 (14 %) had persistent neoplastic Barrett's. After fundoplication, 18/26 (70 %) remained in CR-IM. An additional 10/16 CR-D achieved CR-IM and 4/7 with persistent dysplasia achieved CR-IM. One patient progressed to LGD while no patient developed HGD or cancer. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic therapy for Barrett's dysplasia and/or intramucosal cancer followed by fundoplication results in similar durability of CR-IM to patients being managed with PPIs alone after endoscopic therapy. However, fundoplication may be superior in preventing further progression of disease and the development of cancer. Fundoplication is an important strategy to achieve and maintain CR-IM, and facilitate eradication of persistent dysplasia.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for esophageal primary motility disorders: analysis of 100 consecutive patients.

INTRODUCTION: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a flexible endoscopic approach to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) providing access for a myotomy to relieve dysphagia. The technique has been adopted worldwide due to reports of excellent short-term clinical outcomes. We report on a consecutive patient cohort with clinical and objective outcomes representing the establishment of a POEM program within a busy esophageal surgical practice. METHODS: Comprehensive data was collected prospectively on all patients undergoing POEM from October 2010 to November 2013 at a single institution. Patients were classified based on high-resolution manometry (HRM). Operative data and immediate outcomes were reviewed. Symptom scores, HRM, and timed barium swallow (TBS) were performed prior to the procedure. Patients were asked to undergo routine postoperative testing 6-12 months after surgery with the addition of standard 24-h pH to the preoperative protocol. Morbidity was defined as requiring additional procedures or prolonged hospital stay >2 days. RESULTS: One hundred POEM patients were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 58 years (18-83 years). Primary presenting symptoms included dysphagia 81, chest pain 10, and regurgitation 9. The mean follow-up was 16 months. HRM diagnoses were 75 achalasia (30 type I, 43 type II, 2 type III), 12 nutcracker esophagus, 5 diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), and 8 isolated hypertensive non-relaxing LES. The mean operative time was 128 min. The median hospital length of stay (LOS) was 1 day. The overall morbidity was 6%; all were treated endoscopically or with conservative management without further sequelae (three had intra-tunnel leak diagnosed on routine esophagram and one developed a postoperative intra-tunnel hemorrhage, one developed Ogilvie's, and one required prolonged intubation for CO2 retention). The average LES resting/residual pressure significantly decreased (44.3/22.2 to 19.6/11.7 in millimeters of mercury). Esophageal emptying improved from 40 to 90% on TBS with 93% patients demonstrating >90% emptying at 1 min. Of the achalasia patients, 36% (17/47) showed some return of normal peristalsis (≥70% peristalsis) on post-op HRM. Abnormal acid exposure was present on postoperative testing in 38% (26/68). Of these, 14 were asymptomatic. No reflux patient required additional antireflux procedure. Eckardt scores decreased from 6 to 1. Dysphagia was improved or eradicated in 97% with a complete resolution accomplished in 89%. Complete dysphagia relief was better for achalasia patients (46/47 patients; 97.8%) vs. non-achalasia patients (17/24; 70.8%). Of those with preoperative chest pain, 91.5% reported complete relief. Four patients have refractory dysphagia. Two non-achalasia patients underwent subsequent laparoscopic Heller myotomy and two are improved following serial endoscopic dilatations. CONCLUSION: This study represents the largest POEM series to date that includes objective data. Despite reflux in one/three of patients, POEM provides excellent relief of dysphagia (97%) and chest pain (91.5%) for patients with esophageal spastic disorders with acceptable procedural morbidity.