Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in French Army: Return to Prior Level of Running on Selected Military Tests.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is frequently encountered in athletes as well as in military personnel. In civilian population, many studies have looked at the return to sport, but return to duty in Army is a topic that requires further research.The purpose of this study was to determine through annual military fitness tests in real conditions, the return to sport in soldiers after ACL reconstruction and factors influencing failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective comparative study. Patients were all soldiers and had followed up in a Military Hospital. The SUCCESS group was military personnel who obtained a result of the specific aptitude test greater than or equal to this same test carried out before reconstruction of the ACL, the FAILURE group comprised the others. Results of the annual specific aerobic fitness tests were collected before and after ACL reconstruction. Preoperative epidemiological data, intraoperative information, and isokinetic test results were collected. RESULTS: One hundred forty four soldiers were included between January 2011 and December 2017 (94.9% of men with a median age of 27.6 years); 40.3% obtained a result greater than or equal to the preoperative fitness test after ACL reconstruction. Among the soldiers who did not regain their performance, 24.3% were declared unfit or discharged. In the FAILURE group, we found patients with a higher body mass index (25.5 vs. 24.4; P = .04), less patients with isokinetic deficit < 30% on the knee flexors and extensors (26.6% vs. 62.9%; P < .01), more long sick leave (39.5% vs. 13.7%; P < .01), and late resumption of military activities (10.5 vs. 8.9 months; P < .01). CONCLUSION: Rupture of ACL has a significant impact on the operational capacity of the French army. The proportion of return to the same level in annual specific fitness tests after ACL reconstruction is 40% among soldiers. Several variables are important to consider in the follow-up of these patients to optimize their recovery of sports performance and therefore their operational capacity.

Return to duty in military personnel after ACL reconstruction: STG versus ST4 double adjustable-loop device.

INTRODUCTION: ACL ligamentoplasty with a quadruple semitindosus graft (ST4) and double adjustable endobutton (ST4E) allow the preservation of the gracilis, which should allow more rapid recovery of soldiers following ACL reconstruction. However, the literature does not report any superiority of this technique over others in terms of return to duty and sport. HYPOTHESIS: The ST4E system allows a return to military duty at least equivalent to the semitendinosus and gracilis graft (STG) with screw fixation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 133 soldiers operated on for ACL were included, 64 by the STG technique and 69 by ST4E, with an average follow-up of 4 years. The return to duty was assessed, with recovery of skills between the first and second postoperative year, as well as the medico-administrative status at the last follow-up, muscle recovery through isokinetic tests, the sports level before/after surgery, and the failure rate. RESULTS: No difference was found in the return to the soldier's previous post between the STG (64%) and the ST4E (64%) (p=0.97). No difference was found for the medico-administrative status at the last follow-up, but the short-term muscle recovery, the return to sport, and the failure rate were in favor of the ST4E group. DISCUSSION: The ST4E, adjustable double endobutton system, is comparable to the STG technique in terms of return to military duty. On the other hand, it offers faster muscle recovery with better sports results and fewer patients on prolonged sick leave (PSL). This study demonstrated that two-thirds of soldiers operated on for anterior cruciate ligamentoplasty regained their initial aptitude regardless of the technique used, which influences the army's operational capacity and on disability pension requests after service. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, single center retrospective comparative study.

The Damage Control Resuscitation and Surgical Team: The New French Paradigm for Management of Combat Casualties.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this work was to introduce the new French forward resuscitation and surgical unit. It's also to discuss the choices and waivers granted to fit the tactical context of modern conflicts and the current epidemiology of combat casualties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary task force of 11 people proceeded to the conception and the creation of a new military resuscitation and surgical unit. The preliminary work included a scoping review of the combat casualties' epidemiology in modern conflicts and an analysis of the recent French medical-surgical treatment facilities lessons learned. In April 2019, a technical-operational evaluation was conducted to confirm all the technical, ergonomic, and organizational choices made during the design phase. RESULTS: The multidisciplinary task force resulted in the creation of the Damage Control Resuscitation and Surgical Team (DCRST). The DCRST focused on the resuscitation strategy, including transfusion of blood products, and the life-saving surgical procedures to be performed as close as possible to the point of injury. It was designed for the resuscitation of two patients: the life-saving surgery of two patients and the very short-term intensive care (<12 hours) of four patients at the same time. The DCRST provided sufficient autonomy to provide take care of four T1 and four T2 or T3 casualties per day for 48 hours. It was armed with 23 soldiers. The technical equipment represented 5,300 kg and 27 m3. All the technical medical equipment could be stored in two 20-foot containers. CONCLUSION: The DCRST represents a new paradigm in medical support of French military operations. It offers the advantage of two combat casualties' surgical management at the same time, as close as possible to the combat zone. It responds to a 2-fold epidemiological and logistical challenge.

Unstable Pelvic Fracture Reduction Under Ultrasonographic Control.

Managing acute trauma cases in military and low-resource environments usually requires adapted medicosurgical protocols to achieve best medical results with limited technical capacity. We report a case of unstable pelvic fracture that needed ultrasonographic assessment for closed reduction before external stabilization. In our opinion, ultrasonographic control should be considered as a useful technique for unstable pelvic fracture reduction and an alternative to radiographic control.

Symptomatic os trigonum in children.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic os trigonum is a rare condition well described in adults responsible for chronic ankle pain. To date there is no published case of successfully managed symptomatic os trigonum in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 4 paediatric patients (11-17) successfully operated on for a symptomatic os trigonum through a postero medial approach. One case was bilateral. RESULTS: Pain relief was postoperatively obtained in all cases. All of the patients were able to return to physical activities after 3 months. The mean follow up was 12 months. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic os trigonum may be responsible for chronic ankle pain in children and adolescents as well as in adults. The surgical treatment is effective in children.