Capsular Management Techniques and Hip Arthroscopy.

There has been an increased emphasis on capsular management during hip arthroscopy in the literature in recent years. The capsule plays a significant role in the hip joint stability and studies have demonstrated that capsular closure can restore the biomechanics of the hip back to the native state. Capsular management also affects functional outcomes with capsular repair resulting in better clinical outcomes in some studies. Management of the capsule has evolved in recent years with more surgeons performing routine capsular closure. Management techniques and degree of capsular closure, however, can be quite variable between surgeons. This review will discuss hip capsular anatomy, the importance of the capsule in hip biomechanics, management of the capsule during arthroscopy, and functional outcomes as it relates to the various capsular closure techniques versus leaving the capsulotomy unrepaired.

Outcomes of Nitinol Compression Staples in Tarsometatarsal Fusion.

BACKGROUND: Tarsometatarsal (TMT) arthrodesis is commonly performed in the management of midfoot arthritis, trauma, or deformity. The purpose of this study was to collect aggregate data (demographic, surgical, and perioperative outcomes) on patients who previously had a TMT fusion with BME compression staples. METHODS: Sixty-six patients underwent TMT fusion with BME compression staples. Outcomes included demographics, surgical information, the Veterans Rand VR-12 Health Survey, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), visual analog scale (VAS), Revised-Foot Function Index (FFI-R), Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS), patient satisfaction survey scores, radiographic fusion rate, level of pain reduction, and complications. Sixty-six patients (68 feet) were analyzed (59 females) with an average age of 64 years (range, 18-83). The mean latest follow-up was 35.9 (range, 6-56.6 months). RESULTS: The average surgical time was 38.1±14.3 minutes (range, 11-75). All outcomes improved significantly (P < .001) from preoperative to latest follow-up except for the VR-12 Mental and Physical score. The average time to fusion determined by radiographs was 8.4 weeks (range, 6.1-46.1 weeks). Wound complications were not seen. Indications for subsequent surgeries (26.5%, 18/68 feet) in this current study included pain (n = 14), broken staples, and nonunion (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: The fusion rate in this study, 89.7%, was similar to values reported in the literature. The patient satisfaction score of 81.9 at latest follow-up is consistent with patient satisfaction for other methods of fusion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Biomechanical Evaluation of Suture Anchor versus Transosseous Tunnel Patellar Tendon Repair Techniques.

The objective of this study is to compare the cyclic loading strength and ultimate failure load in suture anchor repair versus transosseous tunnel repair of patellar tendons using a cadaver model. Twelve cadaveric patella specimens were used (six matched pairs). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements were performed to ensure equal bone quality among groups. All right knees were assigned to the suture anchor repair group (n = 6), whereas all left knees were assigned to the transosseous bone tunnel group (n = 6). Suture type and repair configuration were equivalent. After the respective procedures were performed, each patella was mounted into a gripping jig. Tensile load was applied at a rate of 1 Hz between magnitudes of 50 and 150 N, 50 and 200 N, 50 and 250 N, and tensile load at a rate of 0.1 mm/s until failure. Failure was defined as a sharp deviation in the linear load versus displacement curve, and failure mode was recorded. DXA measurements demonstrated equivalence of bone quality between the two groups (p > 0.05). During cyclic load testing, there was only a statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to cyclic loading at the 50 to 200 N loading cycle (p = 0.010). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to ultimate load to failure (p = 0.43). Failure mode within the suture anchor cohort occurred through anchor pullout except for one, which failed through the tendon. All specimens within the transosseous cohort failed through the midsubstance of the tendon except for one, which failed through suture breakage. Suture anchor repair demonstrated a similar biomechanical profile regarding cyclic loading and ultimate load to failure when compared with "gold standard" transosseous tunnel patellar tendon repair with a trend toward less gapping in the suture anchor group. Using suture anchors for repair of the patella tendon has similar biomechanical properties to transpatellar tunnels but may provide other clinical advantages.