Multiple Ligament Knee Injuries.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-based multiple ligament injury, or dislocated knee, is often part of a multisystem injury complex that not only includes the knee ligaments, but may also include blood vessels, skin, nerves, fractures, and other organ system trauma. These factors must be considered in the scope of treating this complex knee injury. These complex knee ligament injuries can result in significant functional instability for the affected individual. This article will discuss multiple ligament knee injuries evaluation, treatment, and special considerations in the pediatric and adolescent population.

Revision Posterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery.

Successful posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction surgery results from identification and treatment of associated pathology such as posterolateral instability, posteromedial instability, and lower extremity malalignment. The use of strong graft material, properly placed tunnels to as closely as possible approximate the PCL insertion sites, and minimization of graft bending also enhance the probability of PCL reconstruction success. In addition, mechanical graft tensioning, primary and back-up PCL graft fixation, and the appropriate postoperative rehabilitation program are also necessary ingredients for PCL reconstruction success. Both single-bundle and double-bundle PCL reconstruction surgical techniques are successful when evaluated with stress radiography, KT 1000 arthrometer measurements, and knee ligament rating scales. PCL reconstruction failure may result when any or all of these surgical principles are violated. The purpose of this manuscript was to discuss revision PCL surgery. This presentation will include causes of unsuccessful PCL reconstruction, surgical indications and goals, patient evaluation, surgical decision making, graft selection, surgical technique, associated surgical procedures, postoperative rehabilitation, and revision PCL reconstruction results.

A Retrospective Review of Temporal Bone Imaging With Respect to Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid Placement.

OBJECTIVE: Current bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) guidelines recommend placement of the titanium implant 5 to 7 cm posterior to the ear canal. Previous studies show that bone conducted hearing is maximized the closer the transducer is to the cochlea. We aim to investigate the position of the sigmoid sinus with respect to BAHA implants to determine whether they may be safely placed closer to the ear canal in patients with chronic ear disease, enhancing the amplification available to the patient. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective review of high-resolution temporal bone computed tomographies (CTs), comparing multiple measurements between ears with chronic ear disease and normal controls. SETTING: Images were obtained at a single academic medical center. PATIENTS: Eighty patients (160 ears) with temporal bone CTs performed between 2006 and 2009 were measured. Patients with chronic ear disease were identified by international statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, revision 9 code and confirmation by review of the imaging. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurements were made on axial CT slices from a point 1 cm posterior to the sigmoid sinus to the posterior margin of the external canal. The squamous temporal bone thickness was also measured at this point. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (55 ears) had chronic ear disease. Distance from the posterior canal was significantly different between normal and diseased ears (36.3 mm versus 33.5 mm, p < 0.001). Squamous temporal bone thickness varied widely, and was similar between groups (6.9 mm versus 6.8 mm, p = 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, titanium implants for bone-anchored hearing aids may be safely placed closer to the external canal than the current recommendations. This could allow for better transduction as well as sound localization in BAHA patients.

Knee Dislocations and PCL-Based Multiligament Knee Injuries in Patients Aged 18 Years and Younger: Surgical Technique and Outcomes.

Knee dislocations and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-based multiple ligament knee injuries are complex injuries that can result in significant functional instability for the affected individual. The purpose of this article is to present a review of the literature, and the authors' experience treating knee dislocations and PCL-based multiple ligament knee injuries in patients 18 years of age and younger. This article will discuss patient age at the time of surgery, mechanisms of injury, surgical techniques, considerations in patients with open growth plates, a review of the literature, and the authors' surgical outcomes in these complex knee ligament instabilities.

Management of Chronic Combined PCL Medial Posteromedial Instability of the Knee.

Currently, there is no collective consensus on the most effective treatment method for medial collateral ligament injuries with or without associated structural deficiencies. An in-depth understanding of relevant anatomic structures and diagnostic tools is critical to determining an appropriate treatment strategy. This article presents an overview for management of chronic combined posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and posteromedial instability of the knee, and the results of treatment within the context of the PCL-based multiple ligament injured knee. Recognition and correction of the varying types of posteromedial instability is the key to successful PCL reconstruction in combined PCL posteromedial instability. Reasons for failure of PCL reconstruction include failure to address associated collateral ligament instability, associated limb malalignment, and improper tunnel position. The principles of reconstruction in the combined PCL posteromedial injured knee are to identify and treat all pathology, accurately place tunnels to approximate ligament anatomic insertion sites, utilize strong graft material, employ mechanical graft tensioning, provide secure graft fixation, and perform a deliberate postoperative rehabilitation program. Results of treatment indicate that multiple techniques of posterior ligament reconstruction and posteromedial reconstruction are successful and return patients functional activity with long-term follow-up.

Fibular head-based posterolateral reconstruction of the knee combined with capsular shift procedure.

Posterolateral instability (PLI) is common with posterior cruciate ligament tears, is less common with anterior cruciate ligament tears, and isolated PLI is rare. There are varying degrees of PLI with respect to pathologic external tibial rotation and varus laxity. Surgical treatment of PLI must address all components of the PLI (popliteus tendon, popliteofibular ligament, lateral collateral ligament, and the lateral-posterolateral capsule), the abnormal planes of motion, as well as other structural injuries. Successful posterior cruciate ligament and anterior cruciate ligament surgery depends upon recognition and treatment of posterolateral corner injuries.

Combined anterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral reconstruction of the knee using allograft tissue in chronic knee injuries.

Combined anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterolateral injury of the knee can result in significant functional instability for the affected individual. Both components of the instability must be treated to maximize the probability of success for the surgical procedure. Higher failure rates of the ACL reconstruction have been reported when the posterolateral instability has been left untreated. The purpose of this article is to describe our surgical technique, and present the results of 34 chronic combined ACL posterolateral reconstructions in 34 knees using allograft tissue, and evaluating these patient outcomes with KT 1000 knee ligament arthrometer, Lysholm, Tegner, and Hospital for Special Surgery knee ligament rating scales. In addition, observations regarding patient demographics with combined ACL posterolateral instability, postoperative range of motion loss, postinjury degenerative joint disease, infection rate, return to function, and the use of radiated and nonirradiated allograft tissues will be presented.