CURRENT PANORAMA OF ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY IN BRAZIL.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to establish the current panorama of the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery in Brazil. METHODS: A survey that consisted of a 24-item questionnaire including surgeon's demographics, preferred technique, graft selection, graft positioning, use of braces, drains, antibiotic prophylaxis and most common complications was conducted at the last three editions of a national knee surgery event. RESULTS: Six hundred eight questionnaires were analyzed. Brazilian knee surgeons are mostly male, with mean age of 42 years (26-68) and are affiliated to at least one orthopedic society. Thirty-six percent (36%) perform more than 50 reconstructions per year. The preferred graft is the hamstring tendons graft (64%). The frequency of use of anatomical technique increased approximately from 55% from 2011 to 2013, to 85.5% in 2015 (p<0.001). From 2011 to 2015, there was a progressive reduction from 56.8% to 18.1% in the frequency of use of transtibial femoral tunnel drilling (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings show that Brazilian knee surgeons' preferences are evolving according to the current world practice. Level of Evidence V, Economic and Decision analysis study.

OBJETIVO: O presente estudo tem como objetivo estabelecer o panorama atual da cirurgia de reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Nas últimas três edições de um evento nacional de cirurgia do joelho, realizou-se uma pesquisa que consistiu em um questionário de 24 itens incluindo dados demográficos do cirurgião, técnica preferida, seleção do enxerto, posicionamento do enxerto, uso de órteses, drenos, profilaxia antibiótica e complicações mais comuns. RESULTADOS: Seiscentos e oito questionários foram analisados. O cirurgião brasileiro de joelho é majoritariamente do sexo masculino, tem idade média de 42 anos (26-68) e é afiliado a pelo menos uma sociedade ortopédica. Trinta e seis por cento (36%) realizam mais de 50 reconstruções por ano. O enxerto preferido é o enxerto de tendões isquiotibiais (64%). A frequência de uso da técnica anatômica aumentou de 55% nos anos de 2011 e 2013 para 85,5% em 2015 (p<0,001). Após 2011, também foi observada redução progressiva de 56,8% para 18,1% até 2015 na frequência de uso da técnica de perfuração do túnel femoral transtibial (p<0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Nossos achados mostram que os cirurgiões brasileiros de joelho estão evoluindo de acordo com a prática mundial atual. Nível de evidência V, Análise econômica e de decisão.

Current panorama of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery in brazil / Panorama atual da reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior no brasil

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aims to establish the current panorama of the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery in Brazil. Methods: A survey that consisted of a 24-item questionnaire including surgeon's demographics, preferred technique, graft selection, graft positioning, use of braces, drains, antibiotic prophylaxis and most common complications was conducted at the last three editions of a national knee surgery event. Results: Six hundred eight questionnaires were analyzed. Brazilian knee surgeons are mostly male, with mean age of 42 years (26-68) and are affiliated to at least one orthopedic society. Thirty-six percent (36%) perform more than 50 reconstructions per year. The preferred graft is the hamstring tendons graft (64%). The frequency of use of anatomical technique increased approximately from 55% from 2011 to 2013, to 85.5% in 2015 (p<0.001). From 2011 to 2015, there was a progressive reduction from 56.8% to 18.1% in the frequency of use of transtibial femoral tunnel drilling (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings show that Brazilian knee surgeons' preferences are evolving according to the current world practice. Level of Evidence V, Economic and Decision analysis study.

RESUMO Objetivo: O presente estudo tem como objetivo estabelecer o panorama atual da cirurgia de reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior no Brasil. Métodos: Nas últimas três edições de um evento nacional de cirurgia do joelho, realizou-se uma pesquisa que consistiu em um questionário de 24 itens incluindo dados demográficos do cirurgião, técnica preferida, seleção do enxerto, posicionamento do enxerto, uso de órteses, drenos, profilaxia antibiótica e complicações mais comuns. Resultados: Seiscentos e oito questionários foram analisados. O cirurgião brasileiro de joelho é majoritariamente do sexo masculino, tem idade média de 42 anos (26-68) e é afiliado a pelo menos uma sociedade ortopédica. Trinta e seis por cento (36%) realizam mais de 50 reconstruções por ano. O enxerto preferido é o enxerto de tendões isquiotibiais (64%). A frequência de uso da técnica anatômica aumentou de 55% nos anos de 2011 e 2013 para 85,5% em 2015 (p<0,001). Após 2011, também foi observada redução progressiva de 56,8% para 18,1% até 2015 na frequência de uso da técnica de perfuração do túnel femoral transtibial (p<0,001). Conclusão: Nossos achados mostram que os cirurgiões brasileiros de joelho estão evoluindo de acordo com a prática mundial atual. Nível de evidência V, Análise econômica e de decisão.

Prevalence and reliability of treatment-based classification for subgrouping patients with low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the distribution of patients who presented with low back pain (LBP) and to determine the between therapists' interrater reliability of assessments in a private outpatient setting using treatment-based classification (TBC) subgroups. METHODS: An observational and methodological study was conducted. Four hundred and twenty-nine patients (231 male; 198 female) presenting LBP symptoms and referred to conservative treatment were assessed by 13 physical therapists who conducted a 60-min examination process utilizing TBC subgroups. Interrater reliability analyses from six raters were assessed using Fleiss' kappa and previously recorded data (n = 30). RESULTS: In this study, 65.74% of patients were classified in only one subgroup, the most prevalent being stabilization (21.91%), followed by extension (15.38%), traction (11.89%), flexion (10.96%), manipulation (5.13%), and lateral shift (0.47%). Approximately 20.98% of patients were classified in two subgroups, where the most frequent overlaps were flexion + stabilization (7.46%), extension + stabilization (6.06%), flexion + traction (4.20%), extension + manipulation (1.86%), and 13.29% of patients were not classified in any TBC subgroup. Analysis of interrater reliability showed a kappa value of 0.62 and an overall agreement of 66% between raters. DISCUSSION: LBP is a heterogeneous clinical condition and several classification methods are proposed in the attempt to observe better outcomes for patients. Eighty-five percent of patients assessed were able to be classified when using the TBC assessment and reliability analysis showed a substantial agreement between raters. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2c.

Femoral positioning influences ipsi-and contralateral anterior cruciate ligament rupture following its reconstruction: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To systematically review the incidence of ipsilateral graft re-rupture and contralateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture following its reconstruction, with special attention to the femoral drilling technique. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of high-level prospective studies searched in MEDLINE database following PRISMA statement. The rate of ipsilateral graft re-rupture and contralateral rupture in patients submitted to either transtibial (TT) technique (isometric) or anteromedial (AM) technique (anatomic) was compared. RESULTS: Eleven studies met the criteria and were included in final analysis. Reconstructions using the AM technique had a similar chance of contralateral ACL rupture when compared to the chance of ipsilateral graft failure (OR = 1.08, P = 0.746). In reconstructions using TT technique, the chance of contralateral ACL rupture was approximately 1.5 times higher than ipsilateral graft failure (OR = 1.49, P = 0.048). Incidence of contralateral lesions were similar among the techniques TT (7.4%) and AM (7.0%) (P = 0.963), but a trend could be noticed with a lower incidence of lesion in the ipsilateral limb when using the TT technique (4.9%) compared to the AM technique (6.5%) (P = 0.081). CONCLUSION: ACL reconstruction by TT technique leads to lower incidence of graft re-injury than contralateral ACL lesion. There is no difference between the chance of re-injury after AM technique and the chance of contralateral ACL lesion (native ligament) with either technique.

Association Between Meniscal and Chondral Lesions and Timing of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common sports injury and is known to be associated with an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis. Several studies have indicated that the risk of additional injuries to the menisci and articular cartilage increases with delays in the treatment of ACL tears. However, no consensus has been reached regarding the ideal timing for ACL reconstruction in terms of preventing secondary lesions. PURPOSE: To determine how the time elapsed between an ACL lesion and its reconstruction affects the incidence of meniscal and chondral lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Medical records of 764 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction were reviewed. Data from arthroscopic findings that included information about meniscal lesions and full-thickness articular cartilage lesions at the time of surgery were collected. The association between time elapsed between ACL lesion and reconstruction surgery and incidence of articular cartilage and meniscal lesions was analyzed by chi-square or Fisher exact test. The risk of secondary lesion was calculated by odds ratios (ORs) obtained from simple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A positive correlation was observed between time after injury and the presence of any articular lesions (P = .003), cartilage lesions (P = .01), and medial meniscus lesions (P < .001). When analyzing the risk of secondary lesion relative to the reference period (<2 months), it was observed that the odds of finding any articular injury at the time of ACL reconstruction increased when the time from ACL injury to surgery was between 12 and 24 months (OR = 2.62) and >24 months (OR = 5.88). Furthermore, the odds of lesions on the medial meniscus increased when the timing between injury and surgery was 6 to 12 months (OR = 2.71) and continued to increase when the timing was 12 to 24 months (OR = 3.78) and >24 months (OR = 9.07). CONCLUSION: Associated articular lesions are more common if ACL reconstruction is delayed by ≥6 months (medial meniscus lesion) and ≥1 year (chondral or any meniscal lesion).