[Can meniscal suture repair in athletes prevent early development of osteoarthritis without compromising the preinjury sports activity level]. / Kann die Meniskusrefixation bei Sportlern die frühzeitige Entwicklung einer Arthrose verhindern ohne das prätraumatische Leistungniveau zu verringern? - Eine radiologische und klinische Studie -

In a retrospective study we evaluated the outcome of arthroscopic assisted meniscal repair in athletes on different competitive sports levels. Examination included early osteoarthritic changes and full recovery in sports activities. Fifty athletes were followed up with an average of 6,5 years after meniscal refixation from 1984 through 1998. Twenty-three patients had isolated full-thickness meniscal tears, twenty-seven an associated rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Preoperative sports levels were evaluated with Tegners score. Reexamination included Lysholm score, IKDC score and Fairbanks score. With no persisting anterior knee instability 86 % of the professional athletes returned to former full sports activities on competitive levels. Noncompetitive athletes returned in all cases (100 %) to their former level. Fairbanks score increased by 0,1 observing minimal osteoarthitic signs. However, persisting anterior knee instability showed on reexamination poor results. Only one third of all athletes were able to return to former activity levels. Osteoarthritic changes were observed in all patients. Professional athletes had the most severe osteoarthritic changes with an increase of 0,8 in the Fairbanks score. The results demonstrate that complete recovery on sports activities is not possible without reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. Isolated meniscal repair shows poor results in persisting anterior knee instability and does not prevent increasing osteoarthritic changes in athletes.

[Can meniscus refixation prevent early development of arthrosis in the knee joint? Long-term results]. / Kann die Meniskusrefixation die frühzeitige Arthroseentwicklung im Kniegelenk verhindern? Langzeitergebnisse.

This retrospective study presents the long-term results after meniscal repair with emphasis on early-development of osteoarthritis in the knee. From 1984 to 1996 meniscal repair using the inside-out technique was performed on 54 patients. 25 patients had an isolated tear of the meniscus and 29 additionally a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL, combined injury). 18 patients of those with a combined injury showed a stable knee during clinical follow-up. A separate evaluation of this group was carried out. The mean follow-up was 6.4 years. 22 patients were examined over a period of 2-5 years (mean 3.5) after surgery, 32 patients after 5 years (mean 8.9). The clinical evaluation was carried out using IKDC, Tegner activity scale, Lysholm, and Tapper and Hoover-Score as well as the Fairbank radiographic evaluation. According to the Fairbank's evaluation the results show that up to 5 years after meniscal repair only minimal radiographic changes were detectable. In only 21% of patients with an isolated meniscal lesion and in 13% of those with a stable knee after a combined injury beginning of osteorathritic changes were noted more than 5 years postoperatively. Early osteoarthritic changes were present within 5 years after surgery in non-stable knees (untreated rupture, suturing). Patients with meniscal repair mostly regain their original Tegner activity level and good to very good results in the clinical scores. However, the results clearly indicate that the success of meniscal repair depends on the stability of the knee. Thus, meniscal repair in stable knees is recommended to prevent early development of osteoarthritis.

Arthroscopic labrum refixation for post-traumatic anterior shoulder instability: suture anchor versus transglenoid fixation technique.

SUMMARY: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare recurrence rates following transglenoid labrum refixation or fixation using the suture anchor (FASTak, Arthrex, Naples, FL) technique. Additionally, parameters that apparently influence the rate of redislocation were investigated. There were 163 patients with post-traumatic anterior shoulder instability treated with an arthroscopic labrum refixation; 108 patients (66.3%) were stabilized with the transglenoid suture technique (group I) and 55 patients (33. 7%) with the suture anchor (FASTak) technique (group II). The average follow-up was 4.5 years (range, 2.0 to 7.9 years) in group I and 3.2 years (range, 2.0 to 5.0 years) in group II. The Rowe score increased from a preoperative average of 35.0 points in group I and 35.4 points in group II to a postoperative average of 68.3 points in group I and 84.6 points in group II (P <.01). There was recurrence in 35 patients (32.4%) in group I and 9 patients (16.4%) in group II (P <.05). All incidents of redislocation occurred during the first 21 postoperative months; 58.4% of the patients (n = 63) in group I and 16.4% of the patients in group II (n = 9) had to reduce their sporting activity (P <.001). Independent of the type of surgery, there was a significant correlation of the postoperative rate of redislocation and age (P <.001), number of preoperative dislocations (P <.01), and degree of labrum lesion (P <.001). No correlation with the rate of redislocation was shown for gender, handedness, dislocation-operation interval, degree of Hill-Sachs lesion, or number of transglenoid sutures or anchors. Concerning post-traumatic anterior shoulder instability, the arthroscopic labrum reconstruction with the suture anchor (FASTak) technique was superior to the transglenoid technique but has not yet achieved the level of success obtained by open surgery. With fewer than 5 preoperative redislocations after a first traumatic shoulder dislocation, the arthroscopic treatment is recommended. In cases of more frequent preoperative dislocations, open surgery in combination with a capsular shift should be performed.

[Arthroscopic labral reconstruction for anterior shoulder instability. Failure analysis in 187 patients]. / Die arthroskopische Labrumrefixation bei vorderer Schulterinstabilität. Analyse der Rezidive bei 187 Patienten.

UNLABELLED: Comparing open with arthroscopic labral reconstruction for anterior shoulder instability we found a higher recurrence rate after arthroscopic capsulolabral repair. The aim of this study was, to analyse the reasons for recurrent instability after arthroscopic labral repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1989 and 1995 we performed a arthroscopic labral reconstruction on 187 patients with anterior shoulder instability. 118 patients (63%) were treated with a transglenoid suture technique and 69 patient (37%) with a suture anchor technique. The average age at the time of the operation was 26.4 +/- 6.3 years (14-52 years). There were 41 women (21.9%) and 146 men (78.1%). RESULTS: The minimum follow-up was 18 months. The average follow-up was 3.7 +/- 1.1 years. The average Rowe Score increased from 34.7 points (0-75) preoperatively to 75.3 points (15-100) postoperatively. There were 47 (25.1%) excellent. 76 (40.6%) good, 21 (11.3%) fair, and 43 (23.0%) poor results. 105 patients (56.1%) regained their preoperative level of activity. 50 patients (26.7%) had recurrent subluxations or dislocations postoperatively. All failures occurred within two years (0.5-21 months) after the operation. Failure rates were associated with the patients age (p < 0.001), the level of activity (p < 0.05), the number of the preoperative dislocations (p < 0.01), the degree of the labral lesion (p < 0.001), and the operation method (p < 0.05). No correlation was found for the parameters sex, handiness, time between luxation and operation, size of Hill-Sachs-lesion and numbers of used sutures or anchors. CONCLUSION: We prefer the arthroscopic suture anchor technique if there are less than 5 preoperative dislocation and a type 1 or 2 labral lesion. If there are more than 5 preoperative dislocations and a degenerative labrum defect we favor the open Bankart repair technique.

[Arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with paired semitendinosus tendon. Experimental results of a new fixation method]. / Die arthroskopische Rekonstruktion des vorderen Kreuzbandes mit der gedoppelten Semitendinosussehne. Experimentelle Ergebnisse eines neuen Fixationsverfahrens.

PROBLEM: The major problem of reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with the semitendinosus tendon (STT) is the low primary stability of the STT graft fixation techniques. METHODS: On 10 cadaver knees a surgical procedure for arthroscopic reconstruction of the ACL with the double looped STT was performed. The femoral attachment was achieved with an "U-formed" tendon wrapped around a bone-plug, which then was blocked in a single-staged femoral bone tunnel. The tibial fixation was attained using a bone-plug and an interference-screw. Anatomic studies were performed on the STT of the cadaver knees. Isometrical determinations were performed intraoperatively for precise anatomical placement of the tendon. We compared these measurements with the postoperative position of the STT-transplant. The tibial and the femoral attachment was tested separately for primary stability and stiffness. The mode of failure of the fixation methods was determined. RESULTS: The average length of the STT was 29.4 cm (SD +/- 3.6 cm, 24-33). With comparing the measured intraoperative and postoperative isometrical values we found a high correlation. The primary stability of the attaching methods in the pullout-testing amounted for the femoral attachment to 448.2 N (SD +/- 76.5 N, 322-560 N) and for the tibial attachment to 440.0 N (SD +/- 72.5 N, 316-538 N). The average stiffness of the femoral fixation was 29.23 N/mm (SD +/- 1.64 N/mm; 26.6-32.1 N/mm). The average stiffness of the tibial fixation measured 28.31 N/mm (SD +/- 1.55 N/mm, 25.1-30.4 N/mm). CONCLUSION: The presented method provides an economical and easy to perform autologous STT-fixation technique with a high level of primary stability.

[Combined arthroscopic and radiation synovectomy in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Synovektomie und Synoviorthese als Kombinationstherapie bei rheumatoider Arthritis.

In rheumatoid arthritis of the knee joint good results are obtained using arthroscopic synovectomy or radiation synovectomy. Aim of our study was to investigate, whether the combination of these two minimal invasive interventions achieves better results. First we performed arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee joint followed by radiation synovectomy with application of 111-222 MBq Yttrium-90 6 weeks later. In a prospective randomised clinical trial between 1987 and 1991 we performed radiation synovectomy on 22 knee joints and combined arthroscopic and radiation synovectomy on 26 knee joints. We explored the patients preoperatively, 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. In 1996 we evaluated 141 knee joints in a retrospective clinical trial. 90 Knee joints had been treated with the combined therapy, 39 only with radiation synovectomy and 12 only with arthroscopic synovectomy. Depending on the three different therapeutic interventions, the patients were classified into midterm (3-5 years) and long-term (6-8 years) observation groups. The trials are based on the standardized ARO-Questionnaire of the knee joint, the modified ARO Knee-Score and the radiological grading according to Larsen, Dale and Eek. In the prospective clinical trial we found significant better results for patients treated with the combined therapy than for patients treated with radiation synovectomy only regarding the parameter swelling, effusion, range of motion, pain and Knee-Score. In the long-term results of the retrospective clinical trial the patients treated with the combined therapy showed a significant better outcome for the parameters pain, swelling and Knee-Score, than the patients treated with radiation synovectomy. Although no statistically significant difference was found comparing the results of the combined therapy with arthroscopic synovectomy, an improvement of the clinical outcome can be observed performing arthroscopic synovectomy followed by radiation synovectomy. In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis of the knee joint a better outcome is achieved performing combined arthroscopic and radiation synovectomy than performing only one of the methods.

Combined arthroscopic and radiation synovectomy in rheumatoid arthritis.

In rheumatoid arthritis of the knee joint good results are obtained using arthroscopic synovectomy or radiation synovectomy. Aim of our study was to investigate, wether the combination of these two minimal invasive interventions achieves better results. First we performed arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee joint followed by radiation synovectomy with application of 111-222 MBq Yttrium-90 6 weeks later. In a prospective randomised clinical trial between 1987 and 1991 we performed radiation synovectomy on 22 knee joints and combined arthroscopic and radiation synovectomy on 26 knee joints. We explored the patients preoperatively, 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. In 1996 we evaluated 141 knee joints in a retrospective clinical trial. 90 Knee joints had been treated with the combined therapy, 39 only with radiation synovectomy and 12 only with arthroscopic synovectomy. Depending on the three different therapeutic interventions, the patients were classified into mid-term (3-5 years) and long-term (6-8 years) observation groups. The trials are based on the standardized ARO-Questionnaire of the knee joint, the modified ARO Knee-Score and the radiological grading according to Larsen, Dale and Eek. In the prospective clinical trial we found significant better results for patients treated with the combined therapy than for patients treated with radiation synovectomy only regarding the parameter swelling, effusion, range of motion, pain and Knee-Score. In the long-term results of the retrospective clinical trial the patients treated with the combined therapy showed a significant better outcome for the parameters pain, swelling and Knee-Score, than the patients treated with radiation synovectomy. Although no statistically significant difference was found comparing the results of the combined therapy with arthroscopic synovectomy, an improvement of the clinical outcome can be observed performing arthroscopic synovectomy followed by radiation synovectomy. In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis of the knee joint a better outcome is achieved performing combined arthroscopic and radiation synovectomy than performing only one of the methods.

[Arthroscopic synovectomy and radiosynoviorthesis]. / Arthroskopische Synovektomie und Radiosynoviorthese.

Both procedures, radiosynoviorthesis and arthroscopic synovectomy, are well established in the local treatment of rheumatically deformed joints. By combining the two minimal invasive procedures one can increase the radicality and still decrease traumatization. A prospective study by Herresthal indicates the superiority of the combined therapy over the single nuclide therapy of knee joints in rheumatoid arthritis. This is due to the lesser traumatization as compared to the open synovectomy and to the possibility to remove fibrinous plaques which may impair the efficiency of radiosynoviorthesis. Histology, method and the respective indications regarding the joints of the upper and lower limbs are discussed.