Survival and Risk Factor Analysis of Arthroscopic Ramp Lesion Repair During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of research on the management of ramp lesions associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Furthermore, there has been no report of the risk factors for failure of ramp lesion sutures, linked to either the technique used (all-inside suture implant vs suture hook through a posteromedial portal) or the type of lesion (location in the red zone or meniscocapsular junction, longitudinal extension, partial- or full-thickness tear). PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of arthroscopic repair of ramp lesions and determine the risk factors associated with ramp lesion repair failure, with special focus on their subtype and the suture technique. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: All patients who underwent arthroscopic ramp lesion repair in association with ACL reconstruction between November 2015 and January 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. The following parameters were studied: demographics; clinical history; clinical findings including International Knee Documentation Committee score, complications, time from injury to surgery, side-to-side laxity, and pivot shift; and surgical findings including subtype, surgical management, and type and number of sutures. Failure of the ramp lesion repair was defined at secondary arthroscopy. RESULTS: Among the 248 lesions analyzed, 18 (7.3%) failures were documented. The failures occurred in 21.1% of repairs managed with the all-inside device versus 4.3% of sutures managed with the suture hook (P = .003). Among the 6 factors included in the Cox model, the only one identified as a risk factor for failure was the type of repair (P = .003), with a risk for the all-inside device that was >5-fold higher than that for the suture hook repair (corresponding hazard ratio, 5.1 [95% CI, 1.8-14.5]). No other complications involving the surgical technique or device were registered. CONCLUSION: An arthroscopic all-inside technique of meniscal repair of ramp lesions appeared to be safe and effective. It provided excellent healing of the repaired meniscus, with an overall failure rate of 7.3%. The type of suture was associated with failure of the ramp lesion repair, with a significantly higher risk with the all-inside device than with suture hook repair sutures.

Ramp Lesion Subtypes: Prevalence, Imaging, and Arthroscopic Findings in 2156 Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions.

BACKGROUND: Ramp lesions are defined as a particular type of injury within the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and its meniscocapsular attachments. Five subtypes have been described: type 1, meniscocapsular lesion; type 2, partial superior lesion; type 3, partial inferior lesion or hidden type; type 4, complete tear in the red zone; and type 5, complete double tear. PURPOSE: (1) To determine the prevalence of different subtypes of ramp lesions in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). (2) To describe the characteristics of ramp lesions based on imaging and diagnostic arthroscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: All patients who underwent arthroscopic ACLRs between November 2015 and November 2018 by 2 senior surgeons at 1 institution were evaluated retrospectively (1) to describe the subtypes of ramp lesions diagnosed intraoperatively using transnotch arthroscopic exploration of the posteromedial compartment and (2) to look for any factors significantly associated with these subtypes. The following parameters were studied: demographics; history and clinical findings including time between injury and surgery, side-to-side laxity, and pivot shift; lesions missed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and medial proximal tibial bone contusion visible on MRI scans; and arthroscopic confirmation of ramp lesion (ie, prevalence), associated lateral meniscal tear, or medial chondral tear. RESULTS: Out of 2156 primary or revision arthroscopic reconstructions, 334 ramp lesions were confirmed, giving a prevalence of 15.5%. The subtype distribution was as follows: type 1, 47.9%; type 2, 4.8%; type 3, 11.4%; type 4, 28.7%; type 5, 7.2%. Multivariate analysis showed that gross pivot shift was significantly associated with complete ramp tears (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.7-17.2). Hidden lesions (type 3, inferior partial tear in the red zone) were the most likely to be missed on preoperative MRI (45.9%). CONCLUSION: In a population undergoing ACLR, the prevalence of ramp lesions was 15.5%. Among the subtypes of ramp lesion, the most common was a meniscocapsular junction tear (type 1). Partial inferior tears (type 3) were the most likely to be missed on preoperative MRI scans. Gross pivot shift was significantly associated with complete ramp tears (types 1, 4, and 5).

A Comparison of Outcomes After Endoscopic Repair of Partial- Versus Full-Thickness Tears of the Gluteus Medius Tendon.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the functional outcomes after endoscopic repair of partial or full-thickness gluteus medius tears at a minimum 2 years' follow-up. METHODS: Patients with isolated tears of the gluteus medius tendon repaired endoscopically between 2012 and 2017 were evaluated at a minimum 2 years of follow-up. Patients with large, retracted and/or irreducible tears, advanced atrophy, or fatty degeneration or with concomitant other hip pathology were excluded. Functional outcomes were assessed using the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain preoperatively and at the last follow-up RESULTS: Forty-six patients, 3 men and 43 women with a mean (SD) age of 63 (9; range, 43-82) years, were included. Thirty-three patients (72%) had partial-thickness tears and 13 (28%) had full-thickness tears. Pain was reduced significantly from a median of 8 (IQR: 6-8) at the preoperative visit to a median of 2 (IQR: 15) at the most recent follow-up (P < .0001). The mHHS and NAHS improved significantly from a median of 44 (IQR: 35-52) to 80 (IQR: 64-87) (P < .0001) and 52 (IQR: 43-56) to 75 (IQR: 66-94) (P < .0001), respectively. These improvements were clinically relevant and surpass the reported minimal clinically important difference. Patients with partial tears had significant functional gains in the mHHS in comparison with patients with full-thickness tears (P = .02). No other statistically significant difference between groups of tear grade was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic repair of gluteus medius tendon tears yields excellent functional outcomes at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. A lower functional improvement for full-thickness tears was observed; this difference was statistically significant for 1 of the 2 scores evaluated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative cohort.

Posterolateral approach for all-inside arthroscopic lateral meniscus repair in athletes: technique and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The past 2 decades have been marked by substantial progress in our knowledge of meniscus anatomy, function, and biomechanics, and also by the shifting of the surgical treatment of meniscal lesions from traditional meniscectomy towards arthroscopic repair to get away from the early osteoarthritis associated with meniscectomy. Posterior horn injuries of the lateral meniscus (LM) have been less studied due to their lower incidence and also due to the historical technical complexity of performing a repair in the posterolateral compartment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed of all athletic patients who had a peripheral longitudinal tear of the lateral meniscal posterior horn and who underwent at least one repair procedure with a posterolateral approach between 2014 and 2018. The type of injury, extent of lateral meniscal tear, and characteristics of sutures placed were assessed. Clinical assessment included objective and subjective IKDC ratings. The Tegner activity level score was determined before the injury and at the last follow-up visit. Failure was defined as a need for revision surgery. All complications were documented. RESULTS: The study population comprised 24 athletes with a mean follow-up of 25.2 ± 10 months. The Tegner activity level was exactly the same before the injury as after the surgery. The mean IKDC score significantly increased from 41.8 (12.2) before the surgery to 94.5 (9.1) after. There were four reoperations for failure (16.6%) that required a new suture repair. None of these revised repairs sustained a new failure as of the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Despite the long learning curve, the posterolateral approach is a safe and effective technique for longitudinal tears of the posterior horn of the LM. The results of all-inside suture repair through a posterolateral portal are comparable to other techniques.

The effect of anterolateral ligament reconstruction on knee constraint: A computer model-based simulation study.

BACKGROUND: To determine the influence of anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR) on knee constraint through the analysis of knee abduction (valgus) moment when the knee is subjected to external translational (anterior) or rotational (internal) loads. METHODS: A knee computer model simulated from a three-dimensional computed tomography scan of healthy male was implemented for this study. Three groups were designed: (1) intact knee, (2) combined Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and Antero-Lateral Complex (ALC) deficient knee, and (3) combined ACL and Antero- lateral Ligament (ALL) reconstructed knee. The reconstructed knee group was subdivided into four groups according to attachment of reconstructed anterolateral ligament to the femoral epicondyle. Each group of simulated knees was placed at 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 40° and 50° of knee flexion. For each position an external anterior (drawer) 90-N force or a five-newton meter internal rotation moment was applied to the tibia. The interaction effect between the group of knees and knee flexion angle (0-50°) on knee kinematics and knee abduction moment under external loads was tested. RESULTS: When reconstructed knees were subjected to a 90-N anterior force or a five-newton meter internal rotation moment there was significant reduction in anterior translation and internal rotation compared with deficient knees. Only the ALLR procedure using posterior and proximal femoral attachment sites for graft fixation combined with ACL reconstruction allowed similar mechanical behavior to that observed in the intact knee. CONCLUSIONS: Combined ACL and ALLR using a minimally invasive method in an anatomically reproducible manner prevents excessive anterior translation and internal rotation. Using postero-proximal femoral attachment tunnel for reconstruction of ALL does not produce overconstraint of the lateral tibiofemoral compartment.

Survival and Risk Factor Analysis of Medial Open Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy for Unicompartment Knee Osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the survival rates and analyze the factors that affect survival rate after primary treatment with medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) for medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Clinical evaluation using Knee Society Score (KSS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score and radiographic evaluation, including mechanical axis, were done before and after surgery. The main failure criteria for survival included the conversion to total knee arthroplasty or KSS of <60 points. Furthermore, risk factors that affected the survival after MOWHTO were analyzed. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-nine knees were included after a minimum of 5 years' follow-up. Their mean age was 56 years, and mean follow-up duration was 9.6 years. The mean KSS and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores were significantly improved after surgery (87.3 and 18.5 points at 5 years and 81.7 and 23.6 points at 10 years). The mean hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle was corrected from 7.2° varus to 3.4° valgus 1 year after surgery, which was maintained until 10 years after surgery (2.9° valgus at 5 years and 2.3° valgus at 10 years, P > .05). Using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, the probability of survival for MOWHTO was 96.8% at 5 years, 87.1% at 10 years, and 85.3% at 13 years. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that age ≥65 years (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.34, P = .046), medial compartment cartilage damage International Cartilage Repair Society grade ≥4 (HR = 2.46, I = .045), lateral compartment cartilage damage International Cartilage Repair Society grade≥2 (HR = 3.38, P = .006), postoperative HKA angle <0° (HR = 4.69, P < .001) were associated with failure. CONCLUSION: MOWHTO seems to be a good treatment option for young and active patients with medial knee osteoarthrosis and varus alignment, with acceptable survival rates and satisfactory outcomes. Age ≥65 years, grade 4 cartilage damage in medial compartment, grade ≥2 cartilage damage in lateral compartment, and undercorrection of HKA angle appear to be significant risk factors associated with failure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV: retrospective case series.

Diffusion tensor imaging as an additional postoperative prognostic predictor factor in cervical myelopathy patients: An observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple investigation modalities have been invented for diagnosis and for planning management of degenerative cervical myelopathy, which include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography scan, and plain X-rays. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the spinal cord is a special variety of MRI where diffusion of water molecules across and along the tracts is mapped. The changes in anisotropy at the stenotic level can be a postoperative prognostic factor. The aim of this study was to establish postoperative prognostic predictive value of DTI in cases of degenerative cervical myelopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 30 indoor patients in a tertiary care hospital diagnosed with degenerative compressive cervical myelopathy based on both clinical and radiological parameters with complete clinical data including follow-up. All patients with medical neurological diseases, cases who underwent repeat surgery, cases who developed surgical site infection, and those patients who were lost to follow-up were excluded from the study. The patients underwent operative decompression through either anterior or posterior approach with or without fixation with titanium implants as per indication. All patients underwent pre- and postoperative DTI. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were noted in both pre- and postoperative imaging. Epidemiological data such as age and sex were noted. Pre- and postoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores were calculated. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in FA values postoperatively. Preoperatively, both FA and ADC values showed a significant correlation with preoperative Neurological status of the patient while postoperatively only FA values were found to be significantly correlated. The regression equations for determining postoperative mJOA score based on preoperative FA and ADC values revealed mJOA = 9.77 + 12.1 (FA), mJOA = 14.2 + 2408.4 (ADC), and mJOA = 9.54 + 11.2 (FA) +1575.5 (ADC). This means that postoperative mJOA score, i.e., postoperative clinical status improvement can be determined using DTI variables which are an objective preoperative data. However, relative strength of prediction for FA value is 66.7% and for ADC value is 28.7%. CONCLUSION: DTI tractography of the spinal cord will be a helpful objective prognostic factor for patients in whom surgery is planned. However, a study with larger subject size is required to increase the accuracy of determination of regression coefficient.

Treatment outcome of dome osteotomy of the pelvis combined with trochanteric advancement for sequelae of Perthes' disease.

OBJECTIVE: Disparity in size between femoral head and acetabulum could promote premature degeneration of the hip joint. The purpose of this study was to report the results of Kawamura's dome osteotomy for acetabular dysplasia due to sequelae of Perthes' disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients (14 hips) operated between 1999 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 9 males and 5 females with a mean age of 29 years (range, 15-54 years). Functional and radiological results were reviewed at mean follow-up of 9 years (range, 4-12 years). RESULTS: Pain relief was obtained in 13 of 14 (92.8%) patients postoperatively. Good to excellent functional outcome was obtained in 10 of 14 (71.4%) patients. Mean Harris hip score was improved from 63 to 84 (p < 0.05) at the final follow-up. Improvement of limping gait was observed in 10 of 14 (71.4%) patients. Center edge angle improved from mean 24° (11-36°) preoperatively to mean 35° (27-46°) postoperatively (p < 0.05), acetabular angle improved from mean 43° (36-49°) preoperatively to mean 37° (32-44°) postoperatively (p < 0.05), acetabular head index improved from mean 69% (50-83%) preoperatively to mean 85% (73-100%) postoperatively (p < 0.05). Progression of arthrosis stage occurred in 3 of 14 (21%) patients. None of the hip with preoperative Stulberg III, 2 of 9 hips with Stulberg IV and 2 of 2 hips with Stulberg V needed conversion to total hip arthroplasty during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Dome osteotomy of the pelvis combined with trochanteric advancement could give a reasonable treatment outcome for acetabular dysplasia due to Perthes' disease at mid to long-term follow-up. Advanced stage of arthrosis, preoperative Stulberg V and no improvement of limping gait after the surgery possibly associated with poor outcome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based urine metabolome study in children for inborn errors of metabolism: An Indian experience.

OBJECTIVE: The present study highlights the feasibility of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)-based analysis for simultaneous detection of >200 marker metabolites in urine found in characteristic pattern in inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) in India. DESIGN AND METHODS: During this retrospective study conducted from July 2013 to January 2016, we collected urine specimens on filter papers from Indian children across the country along with relevant demographic and clinical data. The laboratory technique involved urease pretreatment followed by deproteinization, derivatization, and subsequent computer-aided analysis of organic acids, amino acids, fatty acids, and sugars by GC/MS, which enable chemical diagnosis of IEM. RESULTS: Totally 23,140 patients were investigated for IEM with an estimated frequency of about 1.40%, that is, 323 positive cases. Most frequent disorders observed were of primary lactic acidemia (27.2%) and organic acidemia (methylmalonic aciduria, glutaric acidemia type I, propionic aciduria, etc.) followed by aminoacidopathies (maple syrup urine disease, phenylketonuria, tyrosinemia, etc.). Furthermore, alkaptonuria, canavan disease, and 4-hydroxybutyric aciduria were also diagnosed. Prompt treatment following diagnosis led to a better outcome in a considerable number of patients. CONCLUSIONS: GC/MS with one-step metabolomics enables quick detection, accurate identification, and precise quantification of a wide range of urinary markers that may not be discovered using existing newborn screening programs. The technique is effective as a second-tier test to other established screening technologies, as well as one-step primary screening tool for a wide spectrum of IEM.

Adenosine Deaminase - a Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The number of patients with oral cancer in India is increasing gradually (especially in younger people). Although the diagnostic modalities and therapeutic management of oral cancer are improving, the treatment outcome and prognosis of oral cancer remain poor. The absence of definite early warning symptoms for most head and neck cancers suggests that sensitive and specific biomarkers are likely to be important in screening for high-risk patients. AIMS: To analyze serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cases who reported to our institute. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 100 histopathologically proven cases of OSCC (study group) and 100 normal healthy individuals (control group). Independent sample and one sample t-tests and one way ANOVA followed by Tuckey's POST HOC test were conducted for analysis. RESULTS: Statistically significant increase in serum ADA levels was observed in OSCC cases compared to the control group. Also serum ADA level increased significantly with the histopathological grade. CONCLUSIONS: Serum ADA levels in OSCC may be a useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in clinical practice and our findings suggest that a large-scale study is warranted to confirm clinical utility as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker.