Ultrasound-guided fasciotomy in forearm chronic exertional compartment syndrome: Preliminary results in 12 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Forearm chronic exertional compartment syndrome is a rare condition in athletes and musicians who perform repeated prolonged forced gripping movements. It mainly affects young men, and presents with cramp-like pain, beginning on the anteromedial side of the forearm and progressively extending to the entire circumference, and may be associated with muscle weakness and neurologic symptoms. The objective of this study was to report preliminary results of ultrasound-guided fasciotomy in the treatment of forearm chronic exertional compartment syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective observational study was conducted. Forearm chronic exertional compartment syndrome was diagnosed on clinical presentation and pathological intramuscular pressure measurement, defined as >30 mmHg at 1 min after effort. The series comprised 7 men, with bilateral involvement. Mean age was 30 years. All patients were motorcyclists. The mean preoperative intramuscular pressure at 1 min after effort was 60.75 mmHg (range: 30-81 mmHg). The main study endpoint was change in pain on visual analogic scale. Secondary endpoints comprised patient satisfaction, change in competitive sports level, and time to return to sport. Complications were noted. RESULTS: Six patients (12 forearms) were evaluated. Mean follow-up was 22.5 months (range: 3-48 months). Mean pain rating was 7.3/10 (range: 6-9) preoperatively, and 0/10 postoperatively. All patients were satisfied with the procedure. Mean time to return to sports was 25.5 days (range: 21-30 days). No patients decreased their competitive sports level after the procedure. One patient presented a postoperative hematoma, not requiring surgery. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided fasciotomy in the treatment of Forearm chronic exertional compartment syndrome is an innovative technique with promising preliminary results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; retrospective cohort.

Validation of the French version of the Self-Administered International Hip Outcome Tool-12 Questionnaire and determination of the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) in the French speaking population.

BACKGROUND: Patient-Reported Outcomes tools are becoming the gold standard in the evaluation of results in orthopaedic surgery. In 2012, the International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12) was developed. This self-administered questionnaire was designed to address the day-to-day clinical setting with faster completion and easier patient flow. In 2021, a French translation of the iHOT-33 questionnaire, from which the iHOT-12 is derived, proved to be valid. Since there is not data in French regarding iHOT-12, we performed a prospective study aiming to answer: (1) is this French version of the iHOT-12 questionnaire as valid, (2) can the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) value for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) be defined? HYPOTHESIS: It is hypothesized that the iHOT-12-Fr would be valid and responsive to change in a cohort treated for FAI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the COSMIN recommendations, a multicentric prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the reliability, validity, responsiveness and MCID of the iHOT-12-Fr. RESULTS: In total, 101 patients were recruited for participation in the project. The reliability of the iHOT-12-Fr questionnaire was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC=0.84) and the internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha (α=0.86). The standard error of measurement (SEM=6.7) and the smallest detectable change (SDC=1.8) were calculated. Construct validity was evaluated with Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) by comparing the iHOT-12-Fr with the iHOT-33-Fr (r=0.96), the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Fr (r=0.68) and Nonarthritic Hip Score-Fr (r=0.82). Responsiveness was shown with a standardized effect size of 1.18, standardized response mean of 0.73, responsiveness ratio of 1.4 and an MCID of 11 points. DISCUSSION: Metrological qualities of the iHOT-12-Fr are comparable to the original version and other versions translated into different languages. This study proves that the French translation of the iHOT-12 is valid, reliable and compares to the original iHOT-12. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV prospective study.

Above-the-knee amputation versus knee arthrodesis for revision of infected total knee arthroplasty: Recurrent infection rates and functional outcomes of 43 patients at a mean follow-up of 6.7 years.

INTRODUCTION: In cases of repeated treatment failure of periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) of the knee, above-the-knee amputation (AKA) or knee arthrodesis can be proposed to reduce the risk of recurrent infection, especially in cases with major bone defects or irreparable damage to the extensor mechanism of the knee. Since AKA versus knee arthrodesis results have been rarely assessed for these indications, we conducted a retrospective case-control study to compare both the rates of recurrent infection and functional outcomes. Hypothesis Patients who underwent AKA had fewer recurrent infections than those who had arthrodesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients who underwent AKA and 23 patients who had knee arthrodesis, between 2003 and 2019, were retrospectively included in this study. These two groups were comparable in age (73.8 versus 77.7 years (p=.31)) and sex (10 women and 10 men versus 16 women and seven men (p=.19)). Each group was analyzed individually and then compared in terms of survival (recurrent infection) and functional outcomes using clinical assessment scores (visual analog scale (VAS), French neuropathic pain questionnaire (DN4), Parker and Palmer mobility score and the 36-item short-form survey (SF-36)). RESULTS: The rate of recurrent infection was 10% (two out of 20 patients) for the AKA group and 21.75% (five out of 23 patients) for the arthrodesis group (p=.69). The mean follow-up for the AKA group was 4.18 years (1.2-11.8) and 9.7 years (1.1-14.33) for the arthrodesis group (p=.002). The number of previous revisions (three (1.5-4) for AKA and two (2-3) for arthrodesis) and the time between the primary arthroplasty and surgical procedure were significantly greater in the AKA group (48.0 (12.0-102.0) months) than the arthrodesis group (48.0 (24.0-87.0) months) (p<001). The AKA group had significantly better clinical results for VAS (2.7±2.2 vs. 3.1±3.3), DN4 (1.5±2.1 vs. 2.6±2.9), Parker and Palmer (5.2±1.7 vs. 4.6±1.4), and SF-36 (30.9±15.6 vs. 26.9±17.0) (p<001). CONCLUSION: Above-the-knee amputation and knee arthrodesis showed no differences in the rate of recurrent sepsis. However, the comparison of the two groups demonstrated that patients who underwent an AKA had less pain, were more autonomous and had a better quality of life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III; retrospective case-control.

Knee arthrodesis using a custom modular intramedullary nail in failed, infected knee arthroplasties: A concise follow-up note of 31 cases at a median of 13 years post-arthrodesis.

INTRODUCTION: Knee arthrodesis utilizes an arthrodesis nail as a salvage technique for infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA), especially when the extensor mechanism is damaged, or the skin is compromised. This implant helps to minimize or prevent leg length discrepancy, while allowing immediate weight bearing without requiring bone fusion. However, there is a risk of infection. Surgical revisions were required in 19% of patients at 50 months' follow-up in our team's initial 31-patient case series. Since there is little long-term outcome data, we reviewed this same group of patients after a mean of 13 years to determine: (1) the implant's long-term survival, (2) the functional outcomes, (3) the microbiological changes in revision cases. HYPOTHESIS: The long-term survival of knee arthrodesis using an arthrodesis nail for failed infected TKA is acceptable. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients operated on between January 2005 and December 2008 were retrospectively included in the initial study. The functional outcomes consisted of pain on a visual analog scale (VAS), neuropathic pain (DN4) and the Oxford Knee Score. All surgical revisions were documented with repeat microbiology samples. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 13.1 years [11.5-13.5]. No mechanical failure (implant failure or aseptic loosening) was observed. Eight patients were re-operated on due to new infections. The nail had to be removed in five of these patients. None of the patients required an amputation. Among the eight patients who were re-operated on, only two (25%) had been re-operated on since the initial study and underwent a two-stage arthrodesis revision. At 10 years, the cumulative incidence of surgical revision at the knee was 26% [95% CI: 12%-43%] and 16% [95% CI: 5.7%-31%] for an implant change. Six (75%) of the re-operated patients had their revision within the first 72 months of the initial TKA, while 4 (50%) had it within the first 26 months. Among the 15 patients who were still alive, the median Oxford Knee Score was 17/48 [12-28]. At the final assessment, the median pain level was 0 [0-5], although 4 of the 10 analyzable patients (of the 15 living patients, 3 had a cognitive impairment and 2 refused to participate) had neuropathic pain and pain on VAS of 3/10. The microbiologic findings were the same during the surgical revision in five of the eight re-operated patients (62%); however, one patient who had a Staphylococcus aureus infection had acquired a resistance to methicillin. In one patient, only one of the two bacteria identified initially was still present (methicillin-susceptible Coagulase-negative staphylococci [CNS]) and while in two patients, the infectious agent changed completely (shift from Gram-negative bacilli to methicillin-susceptible CNS, and the opposite for the other patient). DISCUSSION: Knee arthrodesis with a custom modular intramedullary nail is a viable limb salvage option in failed infected TKA cases with long-term survival, and it is comparable to other arthrodesis techniques. In most cases, recurrence of the infection occurred in the short term (<72 months). Later recurrences of the infection (>72 months) were rarer and were found in only two of our patients (6%). There were no mechanical failures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; Retrospective cohort study.

Validation of the French version of the self-administered international hip outcome tool-33 questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments, whether conservative or surgical, a self-administered questionnaire for hip pain targeted at physically active patients 18 to 60 years of age, named the international Hip Outcome Tool-33 (iHOT-33), was developed and validated in 2012. Since there is no French version available and we are acutely aware of transcultural variations, we conducted a prospective study to: 1) translate, and then 2) validate this questionnaire into international French. HYPOTHESIS: The iHOT-33-Fr questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating hip pain in a young, francophone population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Translation of the questionnaire was done according to the standardized method described by Beaton and the final version of the iHOT-33-Fr was validated using the COSMIN methodology. The data were collected prospectively at multiple sites. The reliability of the iHOT-33-Fr questionnaire was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and its internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. The standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change were calculated. The construct validity was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient by comparing the iHOT-33-Fr with the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS-Fr) and Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS-Fr). RESULTS: In all, 101 patients filled out the questionnaires. The ICC was 0.87. The Cronbach alpha was 0.95. The standard error of measurement was 6.4 and the minimum detectable change was 1.8. The correlation between the iHOT-33-Fr and the HOOS-Fr was 0.86, while the correlation between the iHOT-33-Fr and the NAHS-Fr was 0.75. DISCUSSION: Our results show that the metrological qualities of the iHOT-33-Fr are comparable to those of the original version and the versions translated into other languages. This study demonstrates that the iHOT-33-Fr is valid, reproducible and comparable to the original iHOT-33. It can be used by francophone surgeons treating symptomatic hip disease in young, active patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Morscher Osteotomy Through Surgical Dislocation Approach for True Femoral Neck Lengthening with Greater Trochanter Transposition.

BACKGROUND: Young adults presenting with hip pain can be affected by proximal femoral growth disturbances as seen in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) or as a complication of surgical treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). In 1988, Morscher proposed a novel femoral neck lengthening osteotomy to address these issues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Morscher osteotomy as a procedure to complement the well-documented surgical hip dislocation, to increase femoral offset, to distalize the greater trochanter, and to increase the overall limb length. METHODS: This study was a retrospective case series from 3 hip-preservation-expert surgeons. Morscher osteotomies performed through a surgical dislocation approach by 3 surgeons between January 2008 and September 2019 were reviewed. Fifteen patients with a median age at surgery of 17 years (range, 13 to 28 years) and a minimum follow-up of 3 months (until union) were included. Surgical indications, clinical findings, comparative radiographic analyses including the change in horizontal femoral offset and the position of the greater trochanter, and complications were assessed. RESULTS: Surgical indications included DDH and LCPD. The horizontal femoral offset improved in all patients, to a median of 32.5 mm (range, 4 to 46.4 mm). The articular-trochanteric distance increased to >5 mm in all patients. Limb length improved by a median of 11.5 mm (range, 3 to 30 mm). Complementary periacetabular osteotomy was performed in 14 patients. The lateral center-edge angle and the acetabular index improved in patients with an associated periacetabular osteotomy, to a median of 28.2° (range, 9° to 37.7°) and 7.9° (range, 0° to 20°), respectively. Two patients demonstrated osteoarthritis progression from Tönnis stage 0 to stage 1, and 6 patients had a decrease of the joint space. Complications included 1 pulmonary embolism, 1 case of asymptomatic fibrous union of the greater trochanter, and 1 transient sciatic nerve palsy. CONCLUSIONS: The time-tested Morscher osteotomy indicated for complex proximal femoral reconstruction is effective in increasing horizontal femoral offset, distalization of the greater trochanter, and limb length. Combining the Morscher osteotomy with the versatility of surgical hip dislocation and the improved coverage capacity of periacetabular osteotomy proved complementary in the arsenal of hip preservation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.