scholarly journals Evaluating the Diagnostic Pathway for Acute ACL Injuries in Trauma Centres: A Systematic Review

Author(s):  
Miss Natasha E H Allott ◽  
Alison H McGregor ◽  
Matthew S Banger

Abstract Objective: This review sought to evaluate the literature on the initial assessment and diagnostic pathway for patients with a suspected Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear.Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL were systematically searched for eligible studies. Studies were included if they used at least one assessment method to assess for ACL injury and participants were assessed at an acute trauma centre within 6-weeks of injury. Article quality was evaluated using the QUADAS-2 checklist. Results: A total of 353 studies were assessed for eligibility, 347 were excluded for the following reasons: injuries were not assessed in an acute trauma setting, injuries were not acute, participants had previous ACL injuries or chronic joint deformities affecting the knee, participants were under 18, or participants included animals or cadavers. A total of six studies were included in the review. Common assessment methods included: laxity tests, joint effusion, inability to continue activity, and a history of a ‘pop’ and ‘giving way’ at the time of injury. Diagnostic accuracy varied greatly between the assessment method and the assessing clinician. Gold standard diagnostics were MRI and arthroscopy. A weighted meta-mean calculated the time to reach diagnosis to be 68.60 days [CI 23.94, 113.24]. The mean number of appointments to reach diagnosis varied from 2-5. Delay to surgery or surgical consultation ranged from 61 to 328 days. Conclusion: Clinicians in the Emergency Department are not proficient in performing the assessment methods that are used for diagnosis in acute ACL injury. Reliance on specialist assessments or radiological methods inevitably increases the time to reach a diagnosis, which has repercussions on management options. There is an ever-growing demand to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, innovation into new diagnostic methods that require less specialist training would help improve patient care.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 232596712110050
Author(s):  
Hanna Tigerstrand Grevnerts ◽  
Sofi Sonesson ◽  
Håkan Gauffin ◽  
Clare L. Ardern ◽  
Anders Stålman ◽  
...  

Background: In the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, there is little evidence of when and why a decision for ACL reconstruction (ACLR) or nonoperative treatment (non-ACLR) is made. Purpose: To (1) describe the key characteristics of ACL injury treatment decisions and (2) compare patient-reported knee instability, function, and preinjury activity level between patients with non-ACLR and ACLR treatment decisions. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 216 patients with acute ACL injury were evaluated during the first year after injury. The treatment decision was non-ACLR in 73 patients and ACLR in 143. Reasons guiding treatment decision were obtained from medical charts and questionnaires to patients and orthopaedic surgeons. Patient-reported instability and function were obtained via questionnaires and compared between patients with non-ACLR and ACLR treatment decisions. The ACLR treatment group was classified retrospectively by decision phase: acute phase (decision made between injury day and 31 days after injury), subacute phase (decision made between 32 days and up to 5 months after injury), and late phase (decision made 5-12 months after injury). Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, and group comparisons were made using parametric or nonparametric tests as appropriate. Results: The main reasons for a non-ACLR treatment decision were no knee instability and no problems with knee function. The main reasons for an ACLR treatment decision were high activity demands and knee instability. Patients in the non-ACLR group were significantly older ( P = .031) and had a lower preinjury activity level than did those in the acute-phase ( P < .01) and subacute-phase ( P = .006) ACLR decision groups. There were no differences in patient-reported instability and function between treatment decision groups at baseline, 4 weeks after injury, or 3 months after injury. Conclusion: Activity demands, not patient-reported knee instability, may be the most important factor in the decision-making process for treatment after ACL injury. We suggest a decision-making algorithm for patients with ACL injuries and no high activity demands; waiting for >3 months can help distinguish those who need surgical intervention from those who can undergo nonoperative management. Registration: NCT02931084 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).


2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Rideout ◽  
T. B. Brenneman ◽  
K. L. Stevenson

Abstract Southern stem rot (caused by the soilborne fungus Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) traditionally has been assessed based on the percentage of infected 30.5-cm row segments, commonly referred to as disease incidence. Several alternative disease assessment methods were evaluated in four fungicide trials during the growing season (aboveground ratings) and immediately after peanut inversion (belowground ratings). Pearson's correlation coefficients compared disease assessments and yields for all trials. Across all disease assessment methods, belowground assessments at inversion showed a stronger correlation with yield than in-season aboveground assessments. Several of the alternative assessment methods showed a stronger negative correlation with yield than did the traditional disease incidence rating. However, none of the alternative methods were consistently more precise across all assessment dates and trials. There was a significant positive correlation between many of the alternative methods and the traditional disease incidence method. Furthermore, none of the alternative methods was better than the traditional method for detecting differences among fungicide treatments when subjected to ANOVA and subsequent Waller-Duncan mean separation tests (k-ratio = 100). Based on comparisons of the time required to assess disease intensity, the traditional disease assessment method was found to be the most time efficient method of those tested in this study.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgitta Nordahl ◽  
Rita Sjöström ◽  
Maria Westin ◽  
Suzanne Werner ◽  
Marie Alricsson

Abstract Aim: To explore the experiences of alpine skiing at the elite level after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction. Design: A qualitative approach where semi-structured interviews were conducted, and an analysis of the manifest content was performed. Participants: Five ski high school students, two male and three female skiers, who had suffered ACL injuries and undergone ACL reconstructions. Results: Seven categories were identified. The participants described their perceived opportunities with regard to returning to alpine skiing after ACL injury and reconstruction as something positive to do with self-belief, being mentally and physically prepared, regaining confidence in their own ability, being given time and using active strategies. In contrast, perceived barriers to a return to elite alpine skiing gave rise to negative feelings, for example, fear, disheartenment, a total lack of or ambivalent confidence in their own ability and the use of passive strategies. Conclusion: The two male skiers returned to alpine skiing. They reported confidence in their own ability, active strategies and support on all levels, as well as enhanced physical ability. The female skiers did not return to their pre-injury level of competitive alpine skiing. They stated a lack of support on all levels, deterioration in their physical ability and two out of three reported passive strategies and no or ambivalent confidence in their own ability. The most important factors were family support, support on all levels, access to a physiotherapist and time given.


2011 ◽  
Vol 71-78 ◽  
pp. 3868-3873
Author(s):  
Li Jin Ma ◽  
Hong Juan Zou ◽  
Jia Shun Zhu

According to the micro-climate environment outdoor of the region, wind environment outdoor which is under planning programming can be done analog computation using computational fluid mechanics PHOENICS software. A set of comprehensive prediction and assessment system which is mainly focused on outdoor environment composite index WBGT can be established combining with assessment method on wind environment outdoor of predecessors in order to more accurately and humanly predict and assess the wind environment outdoor, bring safe, comfortable and healthy outdoor environment and provide references for the assessment and design of green residential district.


Author(s):  
Frances Cooke ◽  
Ashley Ramos ◽  
Linda Herbert

Abstract Objective Food allergy (FA) management requires youth to avoid allergens and carry emergency medication which can impact participation in social activities. Previous research indicates that some youth experience FA-related bullying, but many studies are limited by single-item assessment methods and a narrow definition of bullying. This study describes FA-related bullying among a diverse cohort of youth with FA and evaluates parent–child disagreement and bullying assessment methods. Methods Youth ages 9–15 years (n = 121) diagnosed with an IgE-mediated FA and their primary caregivers were recruited from pediatric FA clinics to complete surveys about their FA-related bullying experiences. Descriptive statistics were conducted to assess overall FA-related bullying and McNemar tests were utilized to assess disagreement among parent–child report and between multi-item and single-item assessment methods. Results Seventeen percent and 31% of youth reported FA-related bullying on single-item and multi-item assessments, respectively. Twelve percent of parents reported their child had experienced FA-related bullying. Youth reported overt physical (51%), overt non-physical (66%), and relational FA-related bullying (20%). FA-related bullying was most common among classmates. Assessment method significantly affected the rates of FA-related bullying reported by youth, and parents and youth only agreed on FA-bullying experiences when assessed via the single-item measure. Conclusions A subset of a diverse sample of youth with FA reported FA-related bullying. Clinicians should use multi-item assessment methods and ask both parents and children about their experiences to fully capture the experiences of families managing FA. School policies that facilitate FA safety and social inclusion should be promoted. Clinical Trial Registration N/A.


2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Einar Andreas Sivertsen ◽  
Kari Bente Foss Haug ◽  
Eirik Klami Kristianslund ◽  
Anne-Marie Siebke Trøseid ◽  
Jari Parkkari ◽  
...  

Background: Several single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in collagen genes have been reported as predisposing factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. However, the evidence is conflicting and does not support a clear association between genetic variants and risk of ACL ruptures. Purpose: To assess the association of previously identified candidate SNVs in genes encoding for collagen and the risk of ACL injury in a population of elite female athletes from high-risk team sports. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 851 female Norwegian and Finnish elite athletes from team sports were included from 2007 to 2011. ACL injuries acquired before inclusion in the cohort were registered by interview. The participants were followed prospectively through 2015 to record new complete ACL injuries. Six selected SNVs were genotyped ( COL1A1: rs1800012, rs1107946; COL3A1: rs1800255; COL5A1: rs12722, rs13946; COL12A1: rs970547). Results: No associations were found between ACL rupture and the SNVs tested. Conclusion: The study does not support a role of the 6 selected SNVs in genes encoding for collagen proteins as risk factors for ACL injury. Clinical Relevance: Genetic profiling to identify athletes at high risk for ACL rupture is not yet feasible.


Author(s):  
M.L. Schulman ◽  
J.P. Nurton ◽  
A.J. Guthrie

The most useful diagnostic methods in the initial evaluation of horses with colic assess the morphological and functional status of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular status. This evaluation is best achieved using a combination of clinical and laboratory data. Blood lactate concentration (BL) is one of these variables. BL rises mainly due to poor tissue perfusion and anaerobic glycolysis associated with shock, providing an indicator of both the severity of disease and its prognosis. A hand-held lactate meter, Accusport, provides a rapid (60 seconds), inexpensive dry-chemical-based determination of BL. This trial evaluated the Accusport's ability to provide BL data as an adjunct to the initial clinical evaluation of horses with colic. The accuracy of the Accusport was tested by evaluation of its interchangeability with the benchmark enzymatic kit evaluation of BL in a trial using data collected firstly from 10 clinically normal control horses and subsequently from 48 horses presented with signs of colic. The BL values were recorded together with the clinical variables of heart rate (HR), capillary refill time (CRT), haematocrit (Hct), and pain character and severity on the initial assessment of the colic horses. Information regarding choice of therapeutic management (medical or surgical) and eventual case outcome (full recovery or died/euthanased) was recorded. The Accusport was found to be interchangeable with the enzymatic kit for recording BL values in colic horses with BL <10 mmol/ , which is within the BL range associated with survival. The interchangeability of an additional, laboratory-based wet chemical assay for BL, the Stat 7 was simultaneously evaluated for the colic and control horses. The Stat 7 was found to be interchangeable with the enzymatic kit for BL determination of colic horses. No linear associations between BL values with HR, CRT, Hct or pain assessment were observed. No relationship with either selection of therapeutic method or eventual case outcome was observed. All horses with BL >8 mmol/ died or were euthanased.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (7_suppl4) ◽  
pp. 2325967118S0013
Author(s):  
Thomas Rudolf Pfeiffer ◽  
Jeremy M. Burnham ◽  
Ajay C. Kanakamedala ◽  
Jonathan Daniel Hughes ◽  
James J. Irrgang ◽  
...  

Objectives: Bony morphologic characteristics have been demonstrated to increase the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. While posterior femoral condyle condylar offset is an aspect of distal femoral bony morphology that has been reported to influence range of motion and other aspects of knee joint kinematics, it remains unclear whether this characteristic influences the risk of ACL injury. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between distal femoral morphology and risks of ACL injury, reconstruction failure, and contralateral ACL injury. It was hypothesized that increased posterior femoral condylar depth, quantified as the cam ratio, would correlate with increased risk of primary ACL injuries, ACL reconstruction failures, and contralateral ACL injuries. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing evaluation for knee complaints at an academic medical center from 2012-2016 with minimum 24-month follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects were stratified into four groups: a control group consisting of patients with no ACL injuries and three groups of patients with a primary ACL injury, failed ACL reconstruction, or previous ACL injury with subsequent contralateral ACL injury. Using lateral radiographs, the ratio of posterior condylar depth over total condylar distance was defined as the cam ratio. Analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc testing were used to test for differences in the mean tomahawk ratio between study groups (p<0.05). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the optimal cam ratio cut-off for detecting increased risk for ACL injury. Results: One hundred and seventy-five patients met inclusion criteria. The mean cam ratios in the control, primary ACL injury, failed ACL reconstruction, and contralateral ACL injury groups were 61.1% (± 2.1), 64.2% (± 3.8), 64.4% (± 3.6), and 66.9% (± 4.0), respectively. Patients with a primary ACL injury, failed ACL reconstruction, or contralateral ACL injury had a significantly higher cam ratio compared to the control group (p<0.008). ROC analysis demonstrated a cam ratio of 63% or greater to be associated with an increased risk for ACL injury with a sensitivity of83% and a specificity of 71%. Conclusion: The data from this study show that an increased posterior femoral condylar depth, or cam ratio, might be associated with increased risk of ACL injury, including primary ACL injury, failed ACL reconstruction, and contralateral ACL injury. The data from this study may help clinicians identify patients at greater risk of ACL injury and re-injury. Future prospective studies will be helpful in investigating the mechanism by which an increased cam ratio increases ACL injury risk and potential strategies to mitigate the increased risk posed by this bony characteristic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Fox ◽  
Jason Bonacci ◽  
Samantha Hoffmann ◽  
Sophia Nimphius ◽  
Natalie Saunders

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have been a rising concern in the early years of the women’s Australian Football League (AFLW) – eliciting headlines of a “knee crisis” surrounding the league. There has been a focus on female biology as the primary factor driving the high rate of ACL injuries in the AFLW. Emphasising Australian football as being dangerous for females due to their biology may be misrepresenting a root cause of the ACL injury problem, perpetuating gender stereotypes that can restrict physical development and participation of females in the sport. We propose that that a framework addressing environmental and sociocultural factors, along with biological determinants, is required to truly challenge the ACL injury problem in the AFLW. Sports science and medicine must therefore strive to understand the whole system of female Australian football, and question how to address inequities for the benefit of the athletes.


Author(s):  
Firoozeh Ahmadi ◽  
Farnaz Akhbari ◽  
Fatemeh Niknejad ◽  
Hadieh Haghighi ◽  
Zahra Ghahremani ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction Two of the most frequent procedures performed on infertile women are two-dimensional ultrasound (2DUS) and three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS). Hysteroscopy is considered as the gold standard for evaluation of acquired endometrial lesions in infertile women; however, 3DUS is used as a noninvasive, less expensive, and reliable assessment method for evaluation of the intrauterine lesions in infertile women. We aimed to compare the diagnostic efficiency between 3DUS and hysteroscopy in the detection of lesions (polyps, submucous leiomyoma, and synechiae) in infertile women. Materials and methods In this prospective observational study, infertile women (n = 155) with indication of hysteroscopy were scheduled to undergo 3DUS prior to hysteroscopy from September 2010 to 2011. Women with suspected congenital uterine anomalies were excluded. The sensitivity and specificity values of 3DUS were compared with those of hysteroscopy. Hysteroscopy was used as the gold standard for diagnosis of intrauterine lesions in infertile women. Results Of the 155 women, 50 were found to have an intracavitary abnormality, 36 had polyps, 12 had myomas, and 7 had synechiae on hysteroscopic findings. Examination with 3DUS in the diagnosis of intrauterine lesions reached an accuracy of 94%, and 92.15 and 96.9% of sensitivity and specificity respectively. Positive predictive value (PPV) was 83.9%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) was 91.3% (LR+ = 10.75, LR+ = 0.065). Conclusion According to our results, 3DUS has a reliable diagnostic accuracy for intrauterine lesions, and it may limit unnecessary hysteroscopy in patients with normal results. How to cite this article Ahmadi F, Haghighi H, Ghahremani Z, Niknejad F, Akhbari F, Ramezanali F, Chehrazi M. Diagnostic Accuracy of Three-dimensional Ultrasonography in Detection of Endometrial Lesions compared with Hysteroscopy in Infertile Women. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2016;10(4):393-397.


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