Predisposing factors for chronic syndesmotic instability following syndesmotic fixation in ankle fracture: Minimum 5-year follow-up outcomes.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify risk factors for chronic syndesmotic instability following syndesmotic fixation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients who had sustained ankle fractures requiring syndesmotic fixation. Patients available for a minimum 5 years of follow-up were classified into 2 groups according to the presence of syndesmotic instability. Statistical binary logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the significance of various risk factors. Functional outcomes were assessed using the FAOS. RESULTS: In total, 166 patients who met the study inclusion criteria underwent analysis. The overall postoperative instability rate was 20.5%, which was significantly affected due to BMI (p = 0.018; OR 6.72), and concomitant posterior malleolar fracture (p = 0.032, OR 2.77). The mean scores in the syndesmotic instability (SI) group were significantly lower than those in the no syndesmotic instability (NSI) group (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and concomitant posterior malleolar fracture were significant risk factors for postoperative syndesmotic instability.

Additional Inferior Extensor Retinaculum Augmentation After All-Inside Arthroscopic Anterior Talofibular Ligament Repair for Chronic Ankle Instability Is Not Necessary.

BACKGROUND: Although several arthroscopic surgical techniques for the treatment of chronic ankle instability (CAI) have been introduced recently, the effect of inferior extensor retinaculum (IER) augmentation remains unclear. PURPOSE: To compare the clinical outcomes after arthroscopic anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) repair according to whether additional IER augmentation was performed or not. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic ATFL repair surgery for CAI between 2016 and 2018. The mean age of the patients was 35.2 years (range, 19-51 years), and the mean follow-up period was 32.6 months (range, 24-48 months). Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the surgical technique used for CAI: arthroscopic ATFL repair (group A; n = 37) and arthroscopic ATFL repair with additional IER augmentation (group R; n = 45). The pain visual analog scale, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, and the Karlsson Ankle Function Score were measured as subjective outcomes, and posturographic analysis was performed using a Tetrax device as an objective outcome. Radiologic outcome evaluations were performed preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively using stress radiographs and axial view magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Out of 101 patients, 19 (18.5%) were excluded per the exclusion criteria, and 82 were evaluated. We identified 6 retears (7.3%) based on postoperative MRI evaluation. All patients who had ATFL retear on MRI (8.1% [3/37] in group A and 6.7% [3/45] in group R) demonstrated recurrent CAI with functional discomfort and anterior displacement >3 mm as compared with the intact contralateral ankle. All clinical scores and posturography results were improved after surgery in both groups (P < .001). However, there were no significant differences in the clinical results and radiologic findings between the groups. CONCLUSION: The clinical and radiologic outcomes of patients with CAI improved after all-inside arthroscopic ATFL repair. However, additional IER augmentation after arthroscopic ATFL repair did not guarantee better clinical outcomes.

Osteochondroma formation after avulsion fracture of anterior inferior iliac spine: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hip avulsion fractures occur mostly during adolescence when actions such as kicking or running cause forceful contraction of attached muscle. Osteochondroma is benign tumor that mostly occurs at the metaphysis of a long bone, being usually asymptomatic. CASE SUMMARY: A 15-year-old patient experienced feeling and sound of a break while kicking a ball in soccer game three years prior to his visit to our hospital. A simple X-ray revealed an avulsion fracture of the apophysis of the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS). Later in the follow-up X-ray, a palpable mass was found and demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging to be a pedunculated osteochondroma in the superolateral aspect of the AIIS. For surgical treatment, we performed osteotomy for surgical excision and excisional biopsy. A mass with smooth surface and an unclear superolateral AIIS border was found intraoperatively. Pathologic exam showed definite diagnosis of osteochondroma. Postoperatively, discomfort during hip flexion was improved, and the hip joint range of motion during walking was recovered at the last follow-up, which was three weeks after the surgery. CONCLUSION: This is a rare case to demonstrate relevant previous trauma history prior to the formation of osteochondroma.

Quantitative assessment of neural elements in a rat model using nerve growth factor after remnant-preserving anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a histological and immunofluorescence pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Immunofluorescence analyses of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) allografts following remnant-preserving ACL reconstruction using Achilles tendon allografts have provided evidence for the presence of neural elements. In this study, we aimed to examine the expression of neural elements and quantify the presence of neural cells in ACL remnants and Achilles allografts using nerve growth factor (NGF) therapy after remnant-preserving ACL reconstruction. METHODS: Experiments were conducted on 5 pairs of rats (approximately 8 weeks old and weighing 320 g at the time of surgery). Longitudinally, split Achilles tendons from the paired rats were freshly frozen and later defrosted with warm saline and allografted onto the right ACL of the other rat that was partially detached at the femoral attachment site. A sham operation was conducted on the left knee to be used as a control. NGF was injected into both knee joints every week for 6 weeks after surgery. The presence of neural cells in the ACL of the sham-operated knee, allografted Achilles tendon, and ACL remnant was examined 6 weeks post-surgery using H and E and immunofluorescent staining. RESULTS: H and E staining did not reveal neural cells in any of the three groups. However, immunofluorescence analysis showed the presence of nestin-positive neural elements in the normal ACL tissues as well as ACL remnants. Additionally, neural elements were examined in 7 of the 8 (87.5%) allograft tissues. Quantitative analysis showed no difference in the number or area of nuclei among the three groups. However, the number and area of neural cells in the Achilles allografts were significantly lower than those in the other two groups (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our observations indicate that ACL remnants promote the new ingrowth and persistence of neural cells. We suggest that the ingrowth of neural elements can support the persistence and new ingrowth of mechanoreceptors, thereby enhancing the functional stability of knee joints. Moreover, the expression of neural cells in the Achilles allografts was lower than that in normal ACL tissues and ACL remnants in the quantitative evaluation, thereby confirming the essential role of ACL remnants in knee joint functionalization.

Results of Decompression Alone in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A Minimum 5-Year Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment consisting of decompression and fusion is generally known to produce good clinical results for lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative spondylolisthesis. However, the clinical outcome of decompression alone, without fusion, remains unclear, and long-term follow-up results are scarce. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the 5-year clinical results of decompression only in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Among the patients diagnosed as having lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative spondylolisthesis, 36 patients who underwent decompression without fusion and were followed up for minimum 5 years were included in this study. The average follow-up period was 7.2 years, and the mean age of patients was 63.2 years. Visual analog scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were investigated pre- and postoperatively, and also radiologic displacement and instability were measured. In addition, patients who needed fusion or redecompression at the decompression site postoperatively were also investigated. RESULTS: VAS score and ODI improved from an average of 7.8 points and 57 points preoperatively, respectively, to 1.4 points and 19 points at 5 years postoperatively, respectively. The degree of radiologic displacement increased from an average of 5.1 mm preoperatively to 6.4 mm at the final follow-up. Radiological instability was detected in five patients. Two patients (9.5%) required fusion. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term follow-up results revealed that satisfactory clinical outcomes were obtained with decompression alone, without fusion, for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis.