Knee Osteoarthritis in Patients With High BMI: The Role of an Orthopaedic Surgeon.

Obesity and lower limb osteoarthritis (OA) are amongst the commonest conditions worldwide, with increasing burden on health systems. The relationship between the two is complex. Obesity is thought to be a risk factor for OA, and OA can hinder efforts to reduce weight. Total knee replacement (TKR) is a widely used and effective management for knee OA. However, high body mass index (BMI) can complicate the surgery, which leads to some surgeons denying this operation to patients above a certain BMI. Orthopaedic surgeons have an important part in helping patients lose weight in the process of preparing for their TKR. We review the effect of high BMI on developing symptomatic knee OA, the complication rate with high BMI and TKR and the obstacles to losing weight in the presence of OA and point to areas where the orthopaedic surgeon can find support for their patients during their journey to losing weight. We review the evidence to see whether denying patients a TKR based on their BMI is justified and look into the most effective way to engage high BMI patients to improve their chance of a complication-free TKR.

The flexibility and convenience of using a standard orthopaedic table in peri-articular knee fractures: Allowing ligamentotaxis and improving imaging accessibility.

Tibial plateau and distal femoral fractures are common injuries presenting a significant operative challenge. Complexity of the fracture often needs multi-planar surgical access. A combined two-staged procedure is frequently suggested both in supine and prone position to address this issue. However, this will significantly increase the operative time and eventually impact the outcome, in addition to the complications associated with prone positioning. In this study we used a standard orthopaedic table to position these patients in order to grant access to the postro-medial and a postro-lateral structures while the patient stays in supine setup, at the same time, giving the flexibility to change the alignment from valgus to varus and vice versa. This facilitates fracture reduction while addressing the anatomical structure of the knee. A further advantage is the unobstructed imaging access throughout the surgical fixation. This facilitates the reduction in operative time hence leading to a better outcome in these difficult fractures. We tested this positioning technique in more than 40 patients over a 4-year period at two different centres in the United Kingdome. We found that this approach is safe, reproducible and relatively easy to set up in the two centres.

Incidence of Soft-Tissue Releases, Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Lateral Parapatellar Approach for Valgus Arthritic Knees: A 4-year Follow-up Study with A Review of Literature.

PURPOSE: To analyse the incidence of additional soft tissue releases with the lateral parapatellar approach, and the clinical and radiological outcomes of total knee arthroplasties performed using the lateral parapatellar approach for valgus arthritic knees. A review of the existing literature on valgus arthritic knees undergoing knee replacement was performed and our results compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study of 50 patients operated by this approach. Operation and clinical records were assessed to determine the number and sequence of soft tissue releases. Functional outcome was measured using the Oxford Knee Score. Radiological assessment included measurement of alignment and implant positioning. RESULTS: 46 patients included. Mean follow-up of 4 years. Additional lateral releases were performed in 11 (24%) cases. Mean valgus alignment corrected from 13.1 degrees pre-operatively to 5.7 degrees post-operatively. Oxford Knee Score improved from a mean pre-operative score of 11.9 to a mean post-operative score of 38.3 at final follow-up. Radiographs revealed lateralisation of the tibial component in 4 patients. No immediate or late post-operative wound complications, late instabilities or revisions were observed. CONCLUSION: Lateral parapatellar approach is highly effective in correcting the valgus deformity with a low incidence of additional soft tissue releases. Medium-term results indicate an excellent functional outcome with no complications.

Operative versus conservative treatment of proximal rectus femoris avulsions: A systematic review with meta-analysis of clinical outcomes, complications and return to sports.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020198333. OBJECTIVE: To compare the surgical and conservative treatment of proximal rectus femoris avulsions regarding clinical outcomes, rate of return to sports and incidence of complications. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane, Medline, Scopus and SPORTDiscus. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Studies reporting on outcomes of PRFAs or return to sports were included. RESULTS: Nine studies consisting of a total eighty-two patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 22.2 years and 75.9% of patients were male. Mean follow-up was 28.9 months and 65% avulsions were managed surgically. The overall outcomes were similar in surgical and conservative treatment group (p = 0.72) with similar incidence of complications (14%). The rate of return to sports was 95% in surgical and 92.7% in the conservative management groups (p = 0.93). Overall, the quality of the methodology of included studies was low, with a mean CMS of 45.6. CONCLUSION: Both conservative and operative treatment provide excellent outcomes in proximal rectus femoris avulsions, with similar rates of return to sports and incidence of complications. More prospective and good quality studies are needed to compare surgical techniques and time to return to sports. Avulsions with retraction of more than 20 mm and high demand patients may benefit from surgical treatment. Patients should be counselled accordingly.

Recurrent patellar dislocations with patellar cartilage defects: A pain in the knee?

BACKGROUND: Recurrent patellar dislocation in combination with cartilage injures are difficult injuries to treat with confounding pathways of treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and functional outcomes of patients operated for patellofemoral instability with and without cartilage defects. METHODS: Eighty-two patients (mean age 28.8 years) with recurrent patellar dislocations, who underwent soft-tissue or bony procedures, were divided into two matched groups (age, sex, follow up and type of procedure) of 41 each, based on the presence or absence of cartilage defects in patella. Chondroplasty, microfracture, osteochondral fixation or autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC)-type procedures were performed depending on the nature of cartilage injury. Lysholm, Kujala, Tegner and Subjective Knee scores of both groups were compared and analysed. Complications and return to surgery were noted. RESULTS: With a mean follow up of 8 years, there was a significant improvement observed in all the mean postoperative patient-reported outcome measures of both groups, as compared with the preoperative scores (P < 0.05). Comparing the two groups, postoperative Lysholm, Kujala and Subjective knee scores were significantly higher in patients operated without cartilage defects (P < 0.05). Three patients operated for patellofemoral instability with cartilage defects underwent patellofemoral replacement subsequently. The odds ratio for developing complications was 2.53 for patients operated with cartilage defects. CONCLUSION: Although there is a significant improvement in the long-term outcome scores of patients operated for recurrent patellar dislocation with cartilage defects, the results are significantly inferior compared with those without cartilage defects, along with a higher risk of developing complications and returning to surgery.

Clinical outcomes of primary anatomic all-inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction using the TransLateral technique: A minimum one-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Anatomic all-inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction using the TransLateral technique is relatively new. This technique utilises single tendon autograft and instruments permitting inside-to-out drilling to create retrograde sockets. Few studies have investigated clinical outcomes following this technique. We investigate clinical outcomes in patients who underwent primary anatomic all-inside ACL reconstruction using the TransLateral technique with a minimum one-year follow-up. METHODS: Interrogation of our prospectively maintained database identified patients who underwent surgery from June 2013 to December 2017. Patients were followed up clinically and using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) including EQ-5D, KOOS, IKDC and Tegner scores from the National Ligament Registry. Paired two-tailed Student t-test was used to assess for clinical significance. RESULTS: One hundred forty-one cases with a mean age of 30 years (range 16.0-60.2) and mean follow-up of 17.4 months (12.1-75.2) were included. Grafts included isolated quadrupled semitendinosus (n = 115) and both quadrupled semitendinosus and gracilis (n = 26). One hundred and two patients (72.3%) had complete peri-operative PROMS. Mean increases in EQ-5D VAS and IKDC scores were 18.9 and 29.2 points (p < 0.001). Significant peri-operative improvements were observed for all KOOS domains (p < 0.001). Median Tegner activity score increased by two levels (p < 0.001). Incidence of graft re-rupture was 5.7% (n = 8), all were following significant knee trauma and seven cases were mid-bundle femoral tunnel placements. CONCLUSIONS: All-inside ACL reconstruction using the TransLateral technique demonstrates good clinical and functional outcomes with low complication and failure rate. Mid-bundle femoral tunnel placements have been abandoned in favour of placement deep within the anteromedial bundle footprint.

Outcome of Single Stage Revision ACL Reconstruction. Retrospective Study and Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Pragmatic review of outcomes for single stage revision ACL reconstruction performed in a single center and the reasons for failure in primary surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study included 59 patients with revision ACL reconstruction done by one surgeon from 2007 to 2017.Clinical records, operative notes and x-rays were assessed to find the reasons of failure. RESULTS: The cause of failure was traumatic in 26 (44.1%) patients after primary reconstruction, incorrect tunnel position in 18(30.5%) and biological failure in 15 (25.4%). All ACL revisions were done using autografts; patellar tendon grafts in 33 patients (55.9%), ipsilateral hamstrings in 12 (20.3%), contralateral hamstrings in 9 (15.3%) and quadriceps tendons in 5 (8.5%). Twenty-one patients were contactable as regards postoperative functional outcome scores. There was an average 18 point improvement in Oxford knee score (OKS) post-operatively, 1.6 point improvement in Tegner scores and 30 point improvement in Lysholm scores. One patient (1.7%) developed septic arthritis, 4 (6.8%) had superficial infection, while 6 (10.2%) had residual instability after revision but did not have further surgery. There was lack of full extension in 4 (6.8%) patients. In BTB grafts, 2 (6.1%) patients sustained a post-traumatic patellar fracture. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Good outcomes of single stage revision ACL reconstruction surgery are achievable as de-monstrated in our cohort. 2. There is need for good quality research to identify whether BTB, hamstrings or quadriceps autografts are better for ACL Reconstruction.

The midterm results of a cohort study of patellofemoral arthroplasty from a non-designer centre using an asymmetric trochlear prosthesis.

PURPOSE: Patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) prosthesis with asymmetric trochlear component was introduced as an improvement from existing designs for surgical treatment of symptomatic isolated patellofemoral arthritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate midterm results in patients who underwent PFA procedure using such prosthesis. METHODS: Our study involved a continuous retrospective cohort of patients who underwent PFA using Journey PFA prosthesis with an asymmetric trochlear component, performed between June 2007 and July 2016 at a non-designer centre. The Patient Reported Outcome Measures and patient satisfaction questionnaires were collected for final evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 103 PFA performed on 79 patients were evaluated. Median age at the time of surgery was 58years (range 42 to 78years); the mean follow-up period was 6 years (range 2 to 11years). Four knees were revised to Total Knee Arthroplasty for reasons not related to the implant. The cumulative survival estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 94.3% (95% confidence interval: 88.4%-100%). There were statistically significant improvements in functional outcome scores. CONCLUSION: This series of patients who underwent PFA with the asymmetric trochlear component has shown promising mid-term results with no implant-related complications.

An Update on Unloading Knee Braces in the Treatment of Unicompartmental Knee Osteoarthritis from the Last 10 Years: A Literature Review.

Background The incidence of osteoarthritis is increasing and it is one of the most common causes of chronic conditions. Total knee replacement is the mainstay of treatment for end-stage knee osteoarthritis; however, with long waiting lists and high levels of dissatisfaction, a treatment like knee braces could potentially delay surgery. Unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis is associated with misalignment of the knee, and unloader bracing has been recommended by various guidelines to correct this misalignment. The aim of this report was to provide an update of evidence from the past 10 years on knee braces. Methods MEDLINE/EMBASE search was performed from the past 10 years. Results We reviewed the evidence from 14 published articles. Almost all articles supported knee brace use and showed it to decrease pain, improve function, and improve the quality of life of patients. One study in 2017 followed patients for long term and found knee bracing to be more cost effective than total knee replacement, and could replace the need for surgery. Several minor complications were reported with bracing, like soft tissue irritation, which could be due to poor fitting. A management strategy for this could be regular follow-up at a nurse-led clinic. Conclusions Unloader braces are an economical and effective treatment for unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. They can significantly improve a patient's quality of life and potentially delay the need for surgery. Patients should be managed with a multidisciplinary approach with conservative management and knee bracing, before surgery is considered.

Modern synthetic material is a safe and effective alternative for medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction is often performed using gracilis autografts, which may be associated with donor site morbidity and complications. The use of a synthetic material can circumvent a harvest operation and has previously been demonstrated to be effective in other types of reconstructive procedures and may be effective in MPFL reconstruction. This study reports the clinical result with the use of a modern ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with a braided jacket of polyester tape (FT) in MPFL reconstruction compared to using standard autografts. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively in 50 MPFL reconstructions. The first 27 underwent reconstruction using gracilis tendon (GT) autograft; the following 23 patients were treated with FT. All patients were clinically and radiologically assessed and underwent pre- and post-operative scoring using the Kujala score, Bartlett score, Tegner activity rating scale, SF-12 score and Lysholm score. Statistical significance was tested between groups using ANOVA with repeated measures. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the pre-operative scores between the FT and GT groups (n.s.). Both groups showed significant improvements across all scoring modalities between pre- and post-operative periods 12, 24 and 48 months of follow-up (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in knee function scores between the GT and FT groups. CONCLUSION: The use of FiberTape in MPFL reconstruction is safe and effective, and it significantly improves patient's quality of life and related post-operative outcome measures. There were no significant differences in all knee scores compared to GT autografts. Using this technique for MPFL reconstruction, tendon harvesting is unnecessary and hence eliminates donor site morbidity-associated complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Synovial Plica Syndrome of the Knee: A Commonly Overlooked Cause of Anterior Knee Pain.

Synovial plica syndrome (SPS) occurs in the knee, when an otherwise normal structure becomes a source of pain due to injury or overuse. Patients may present to general practitioners, physiotherapists, or surgeons with anterior knee pain with or without mechanical symptoms, and the diagnosis can sometimes be difficult. Several studies have examined the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of SPS. We review these resources to provide an evidence-based guide to the diagnosis and treatment of SPS of the knee.

A Systematic Review on the Use of Aspirin in the Prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Major Elective Lower Limb Orthopedic Surgery: An Update from the Past 3 Years.

Introduction Currently there are no consensuses in the national guidance on thromboprophylaxis following major elective lower limb surgery. Emerging clinical evidence suggests that aspirin could be just as effective as anticoagulants with a lower cost. The aim of this study was to provide an update based on literature of the past 3 years for the use of aspirin as thromboprophylaxis after knee and hip arthroplasty. Materials and Methods MEDLINE/EMBASE search was performed with appropriate terms for original articles from 2014 to 2017. Results Eight articles were found. Five articles concluded that aspirin was an effective prophylactic. The collation of results on the deep vein thrombosis rate involved 43,012 patients who were prescribed aspirin, of which 283 (0.66%) suffered from symptomatic deep vein thromboses. Aspirin was noted for its good side effect profile and cost effectiveness. It was noted that anticoagulants had a higher rate of complications, including bleeding and wound-oozing. Conclusion Aspirin is an effective and safe prophylactic against deep vein thrombosis following major elective lower limb arthroplasty surgery.

Unloading knee brace is a cost-effective method to bridge and delay surgery in unicompartmental knee arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Unloading knee braces can provide good short-term pain relief for some patients with unicompartmental osteoarthritis (UOA). Their cost is relatively small compared with surgical interventions. However, no previous studies have reported their use over a duration of 5 years or more. METHODS: Up to 8 years of prospective data were collected from 63 patients who presented with UOA. After conservative management with analgesia and physiotherapy, patients were offered an unloading brace. EQ-5D (EuroQol five dimensions) questionnaires were collected at baseline and after wearing the brace. Cost and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were compared with a total knee replacement (TKR) with an 8-month waiting duration and 8 years of results. RESULTS: Patients experienced a mean increase in EQ-5D of 0.42 with an average duration of wear of 26.1 months resulting in an increase of 0.44 in QALYs with a mean cost of £625. The adoption of an unloader knee brace was found to be a short-term cost-effective treatment option with an 8-month incremental cost effectiveness ratio of £9599. Compared with no treatment, the unloader knee brace can be considered cost effective at 4 months or more. At 8 years follow-up, the unloader knee brace demonstrated QALYs gain of 0.43 and with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of -£6467 compared with TKR. CONCLUSION: Unloading knee braces are cost effective for the management of UOA. These findings strongly support the undertaking of further research into the long-term impact of unloading knee brace. The unloader knee brace has benefits to the National Health Service for capacity, budget, waiting list duration, frequency of surgery and reducing the required severity of surgical intervention.

Changing the Management from Olecranon Screw Traction to Percutaneous Wiring for Displaced Supracondylar Fractures of the Humerus in Children. A Justified Decision?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In this institution, the management of displaced (Gartland III) supracondylar fractures in children was changed from overhead olecranon screw traction to manipulation and percutaneous wiring in 1996. The purpose of this study was to compare the two methods of treatment and observe whether the decision to change management was justified. METHODS: A retrospective study of two cohorts; 151 patients between 1986 and 1996 treated with olecranon screw traction and 92 patients between 1996 and 2002 treated with percutaneous wiring. Both sets of patients were followed up clinically and radiologically until the child could demonstrate a satisfactory range of movement and the fracture had united. RESULTS: There were no differences in the clinical outcomes between the two groups. The main difference between the groups was in length of stay, which was a median of 1 day in the wired group and 14 days in the traction group. CONCLUSION: Outcomes achieved from percutaneous wiring of displaced supracondylar fractures are similar to those from olecranon screw traction. The advantage of percutaneous wiring to both patient and provider is the reduced hospital stay. The decision to change management therefore appears to be justified. However, percutaneous wiring is generally a technically more demanding procedure and olecranon screw traction should remain a possible treatment option for the management of this injury.

Top tips for RIGIDfix femoral fixation.

The use of pin fixation for grafts in the femoral tunnel in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is becoming more popular. The transtibial stiff femoral guides are necessary to ensure that the pins fix the graft. However, the cross pins can sometimes miss the femoral tunnel. As a result of some technical problems that we encountered, we introduced an extra step in the technique of the Mitek RIGIDfix ACL Graft Fixation System (Mitek Products, Ethicon, Edinburgh, UK). This article suggests some tips for fixing problems that arise in cases in which the graft is accidentally missed with the cross pins.