Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Allograft in Adults Older Than the Age of 40 Years Shows Similar Patient-Reported Outcomes Between Male and Female Patients.

Purpose: To evaluate patient-reported outcomes in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using allograft in patients 40 years of age or older divided by sex. Methods: Patients age 40 years of age or older who underwent ACL reconstruction by the same surgeon using allograft via anteromedial portal technique were retrospectively identified. Patient-reported outcomes (International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC], Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Tegner, Lysholm, Marx, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation) were evaluated and recorded, and outcomes were analyzed by sex. Results: In total, 159 patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction were reviewed. Two-year outcomes were obtained. All patients noted improvement in patient-reported outcome measures. Male patients had overall greater postoperative patient-reported outcomes measures at all time points for IKDC, Tegner, Lysholm, Marx, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores; however, the only significant time points were IKDC 6 months (P = .016), 1 year (P = .012) and Marx 1 year (P = .007) and 2 year (P = .016). Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score scores similarly showed greater postoperative scores at all time points and statistical significance at 3 months (P = .002), 6 months (P = .033), and 1 year (P = .031). Conclusions: ACL reconstruction in individuals older than the age of 40 years using allograft results in good outcomes compared with preoperative status. Patient-reported outcomes were similar between male and female patients regarding most patient-reported outcome measures. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Predicting Contralateral Surgery for Trapeziometacarpal Arthrosis Within 5 Years.

PURPOSE: Symptomatic trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint arthritis is a common cause of hand pain. It is unknown how many patients ultimately elect to have bilateral surgery for TMC arthritis. In this study, we assessed the frequency and predictive factors for contralateral TMC surgery in patients who underwent prior TMC surgery. METHODS: We identified 712 patients who underwent primary surgery for TMC arthritis with a follow-up period of 5 years. We collected demographic, surgical, and follow-up data. Prediction models for contralateral surgery using a training and testing data set were created with multivariable logistic regression and random forest classifier algorithms. RESULTS: At the time of initial surgery, 230 patients had bilateral thumb pain (32%), but only 153 patients ultimately had an operation for TMC arthritis on the contralateral side within 5 years (21% of 712 total patients and 67% of 230 patients with bilateral pain). Common predictive factors between both models for contralateral surgery were younger age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-0.98), bilateral thumb pain (OR = 3.76; 95% CI, 2.52-5.65), and anxiety disorders (OR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.11-3.03). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we found that the rate of contralateral surgery was 21% in patients who underwent prior TMC surgery. Predictive factors for future contralateral surgery included younger age, bilateral thumb pain, and anxiety disorder at the time of initial surgery. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

Hemoglobin A1c Levels >6.6% Are Associated With Higher Postoperative Complications After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Purpose: To investigate the relation between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and postoperative complications after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Methods: A retrospective review was performed of consecutive patients with an isolated anterior cruciate ligament tear, preoperative diagnosis of diabetes, and documented HbA1c within 90 days of primary ACLR between 2000 and 2019. Data collected included demographic and surgical characteristics, 90-day medical complications, and subsequent surgeries on the ipsilateral knee. A receiver operating curve was constructed for each HbA1c level in relation to postoperative complications and the optimal cutoff identified via Youden's J statistic. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the relation between postoperative complications and age, sex, graft type, diabetes subtype, and HbA1c. Results: Nineteen patients (7 females, 12 males) fulfilled inclusion criteria with preoperative HbA1c ranging from 5.5 to 10. Complications included septic knee (n = 1) and cyclops lesions requiring arthroscopic lysis (n = 3). Patients with HbA1c of 6.7% or higher were 25 times more likely to experience any postoperative complication (P = .04) and 16 times more likely to require lysis of adhesions (P = .08). On multivariable regression, HbA1c remained significantly associated with any complication (P = .005) and developing arthrofibrosis (P = .02) independent of age, sex, graft type, and diabetes subtype. Conclusions: Diabetic patients undergoing primary ACLR with a preoperative HbA1c of 6.7% or higher were 25 times more likely to require repeat surgical intervention for a postoperative complication. These complications included arthrofibrosis and infection. Strict glycemic control may help minimize the risk of postoperative complications after ACLR. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Tramadol Provides Similar Pain Relief and a Better Side Effect Profile than Oxycodone (or Hydrocodone) Alone or in Combination With Tramadol After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction or Arthroscopic Knee Debridement.

Purpose: To evaluate whether tramadol provides similar postoperative pain relief after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery or arthroscopic debridement surgery compared to oxycodone (or hydrocodone) or a combination of tramadol and oxycodone. Methods: Patients over the age of 14 undergoing ACL surgery or arthroscopic debridement surgery performed by the same surgeon were provided a postoperative pain diary over the first 10 postoperative days. Patients were either provided tramadol, oxycodone (or hydrocodone), or a combination of tramadol in addition to oxycodone (or hydrocodone). Pain scores were measured on visual analog scale (VAS), including average pain, maximum pain, and minimum pain throughout the day. Additionally, side effects and number of over-the-counter analgesics were recorded. Results: 121 patient surveys were reviewed. Tramadol alone for ACL with autograft provided lower average pain scores on postoperative day 1-3 (VAS 3.3 vs oxycodone 6.1 and hybrid of 5.1) with lowest maximum pain on postoperative day 1 (VAS 5.3 vs oxycodone 6.6 and hybrid 5.1) and the lowest number of average nights awakened by knee pain (3.6 vs oxycodone 6.0 and hybrid 8.5). Tramadol alone provided the lowest number of days of constipation (3 vs oxycodone 4.68 and hybrid 4.08), nausea (0.42 vs oxycodone 1.48 and hybrid 1.72), and dizziness (0.68 vs oxycodone 0.84 vs hybrid 1.28). Individual medication group breakdown of ACL surgery with allograft, as well as arthrosopic knee debridements did not have a large enough quantity to have three separate comparison groups. Conclusions: Tramadol provides similar, and in most cases better, pain relief for ACL reconstruction and arthroscopic knee debridements compared to oxycodone (or hydrocodone) alone or a combination of tramadol with oxycodone (or hydrocodone), while providing a lower side-effect profile. Clinical Relevance: Alternative analgesic therapies outside of traditional opioids (like oxycodone and hydrocodone) are lacking in popularity or reputation. This retrospective comparative study cohort evaluation can help provide clinicians an alternative analgesic therapy for various knee surgeries that have comparable pain relief with less addictive properties and less side effects.

Association of Trochlear Length on Sagittal MRI to Trochlear Dysplasia in Knees With Patellar Instability.

Background: Trochlear dysplasia is a primary risk factor for patellar instability and leads to loss of the osteochondral constraint of the patella. Trochleoplasty techniques include the Peterson grooveplasty, which alters the length of the trochlea; however, a radiographic measurement of trochlear length to support this has not been described. Purpose: To describe measurements to quantify trochlear length on sagittal magnetic resonance imaging in patients with and without patellar instability and to correlate trochlear length with measurements of trochlear dysplasia. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 66 age- and sex-matched knees (36 female and 30 male; mean age, 20.8 ± 4.8 years) were included in this study, of which 33 had patellar instability. Trochlear extension length (TEL) and trochlear alpha angle (TAA) were measured on 3 sagittal magnetic resonance imaging scans (center of the knee, center of the medial condyle, and center of the lateral condyle), and measurements were compared between symptomatic and control knees. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to describe the accuracy of each measurement to distinguish between knees with and without patellar instability. Linear and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between sagittal measurements and axial measurements of trochlear dysplasia, including lateral trochlear inclination, sulcus angle, and trochlear depth, as well as patient size reflected by the epicondylar distance. Results: In symptomatic knees, the central trochlea extended more proximally than in control knees, as determined by the TEL (14.0 ± 3.0 vs 11.5 ± 2.3 mm, respectively; P < .001) and TAA (68.4° ± 3.8° vs 70.5° ± 3.4°, respectively; P = .017). AUC calculations showed that a TEL ≥11 mm at the central trochlea was predictive of patellar instability in both male and female knees (AUC = 0.83 and 0.77, respectively), as was a TAA ≤67° in female knees (AUC = 0.72). An independent association between the central TEL and sulcus angle was found. The central TEL showed a weak correlation with patient size, as measured by the epicondylar distance, while the TAA did not. Conclusion: In knees with symptomatic patellar instability, the central trochlea was found to extend 2.5 mm more proximally than in control knees, and this increase in length correlated with severity of trochlear dysplasia. As radiographic examinations of the trochlea and grooveplasty procedures are often based on the proximal extent of the cartilaginous trochlea, further studies are needed to identify the role of trochlear length in the assessment and treatment of trochlear dysplasia in the setting of patellar instability.

Risk of erectile dysfunction after modern radiotherapy for intact prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent side effect of prostate cancer treatment. We hypothesized that the previously reported rates of ED may have improved with the advent of modern technology. The purpose of this project was to evaluate modern external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy techniques to determine the incidence of radiotherapy (RT) induced ED. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature published between January 2002 and December 2018 was performed to obtain patient reported rates of ED after definitive external beam radiotherapy, ultrafractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, and brachytherapy (BT) to the prostate in men who were potent prior to RT. Univariate and multivariate analyses of radiation dose, treatment strategy, and length of follow-up were analyzed to ascertain their relationship with RT-induced ED. RESULTS: Of 890 articles reviewed, 24 met inclusion criteria, providing data from 2714 patients. Diminished erectile function status post RT was common and similar across all studies. The median increase in men reporting ED was 17%, 26%, 23%, and 23%, 3DCRT, IMRT, low dose rate BT, and SBRT, respectively, at 2-year median follow-up. CONCLUSION: ED is a common side effect of RT. Risk of post-RT ED is similar for both LDR brachytherapy and external beam RT with advanced prostate targeting and penile-bulb sparing techniques utilized in modern RT techniques.

Challenges in Reporting the Effect of Radiotherapy on Erectile Function.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common side effect of prostate radiotherapy (RT), but reported rates over time and across modalities have varied widely. AIM: To evaluate the published literature between 2002 and 2018 for high quality data utilizing prospectively gathered patient-reported ED, and to summarize the challenges in reporting of RT-induced ED (RIED). METHODS: A PubMed search and literature review was performed to identify articles describing rates of ED before and after definitive external beam RT or brachytherapy without androgen deprivation. OUTCOMES: Patient-reported ED, patient and treatment variables, and study follow-up constituted the main outcomes of this study. RESULTS: 24 articles were identified, reporting RIED rates between 17% and 90%. Variables contributing to this range included patient, treatment, and study characteristics known to impact ED reporting. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: For future studies, we recommend the use of validated patient-reported questionnaires and reporting of baseline function and comorbidities, RT type and dose, and use of androgen deprivation therapy and erectile aids at the time of ED measurement. With sufficient follow-up to understand the late nature of RIED, these recommendations will improve comparison of results between studies and the applicability of results to patients undergoing pretreatment counseling regarding the risks of RIED. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: The literature search and formulation of results were based on a broad understanding of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines and the literature, but because of the focus on data reporting, a comprehensive systematic review of all RIED literature was not performed. CONCLUSION: Reported rates of ED after RT vary widely due to differences in patients' baseline reported erectile function, age, comorbidities, and characteristics of the treatment delivered. The methodology of ED measurement has significant impact on the applicability and comparability of results to other studies and clinical practice. Nukala V, Incrocci L, Hunt AA, et al. Challenges in Reporting the Effect of Radiotherapy on Erectile Function. J Sex Med 2020;17:1053-1059.