Correlation among Knee Muscle Strength and Self-Reported Outcomes Score, Anterior Tibial Displacement, and Time Post-Injury in Non-Coper Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficient Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Little attention has been paid to knee muscle strength after ACL rupture and its effect on prognostic outcomes and treatment decisions. We studied hamstrings (H) and quadriceps (Q) strength correlation with a patient-reported outcome measures score (International Knee Documentation Committee, IKDC), anterior tibial translation (ATT), and time post-injury in 194 anterior cruciate ligament deficient patients (ACLD) who required surgery after a failed rehabilitation program (non-copers). The correlation between knee muscle strength and ATT was also studied in 53 non-injured controls. ACLD patients showed decreased knee muscle strength of both the injured and non-injured limbs. The median (interquartile range) values of the H/Q ratio were 0.61 (0.52–0.81) for patients’ injured side and 0.65 (0.57–0.8) for the non-injured side (p = 0.010). The median H/Q ratio for the controls was 0.52 (0.45–0.66) on both knees (p < 0.001, compared with the non-injured side of patients). The H/Q, ATT, and time post-injury were not significantly correlated with the IKDC score. ATT was significantly correlated with the H/Q of the injured and non-injured knees of patients, but not in the knees of the controls. Quadriceps strength and H/Q ratio were significantly correlated with ATT for both limbs of the patients. IKDC score correlated significantly with the quadriceps and hamstrings strengths of the injured limb but not with the H/Q ratio, ATT or time passed after injury.

Patients return to sports and to work after successful treatment of septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Purpose To determine specific return to sports (RTS) and return to work (RTW) rates of patients with septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), and to assess for factors associated with a diminished postoperative return to physical activity after successful eradication of the infection. Methods In this study, patients who were treated for postoperative septic arthritis of the knee following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction between 2006 and 2018 were evaluated at a minimum follow-up (FU) of 2 years. Patients’ outcomes were retrospectively analyzed using standardized patient-reported outcome scores including the Lysholm score and the subjective IKDC score, as well as return to sports and return to work questionnaires to assess for the types, number, and frequency of sports performed pre- and postoperatively and to evaluate for potential occupational changes due to septic arthritis following ACLR. To assess for the signifiance of the graft at follow-up, outcomes were compared between patients with a functioning graft at FU and those without, as well as between patients with initial graft retention and those with graft removal and consecutive revision ACLR. Results Out of 44 patients eligible for inclusion, 38 (86%) patients at a mean age of 36.2 ± 10.3 years were enrolled in this study. At a mean follow-up of 60.3 ± 39.9 months, the Lysholm score and the subjective IKDC score reached 80.0 ± 15.1 and 78.2 ± 16.6 points, respectively. The presence of a graft at FU yielded statistically superior results only on the IKDC score (p = 0.014). There were no statistically significant differences on the Lysholm score (n.s.) or on the IKDC score (n.s.) between patients with initial graft retention and those with initial removal who had undergone revision ACLR. All of the included 38 patients were able to return to sports at a median time of 8 (6–16) months after their last surgical intervention. Among patients who performed pivoting sports prior to their injury, 23 (62.2%) returned to at least one pivoting sport postoperatively. Overall, ten patients (26.3%) returned to all their previous sports at their previous frequency. The presence of a graft at FU resulted in a significantly higher RTS rate (p = 0.010). Comparing patients with initial graft retention and those with graft removal and consecutive revision ACLR, there was no statistically significant difference concerning the RTS rate (n.s.). Thirty-one patients (83.8%) were able to return to their previous work. Conclusion Successful eradication of septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction allows for a postoperative return to sports and a return to work particularly among patients with ACL-sufficient knees. However, the patients’ expectations should be managed carefully, as overall return rates at the pre-injury frequency are relatively low. Level of evidence IV.

Reintroduction of running after ACL reconstruction with a hamstring graft: can we predict short-term success?

ABSTRACT Context: Return to running (RTR) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) is a crucial milestone. However, there is uncertainty on how and when to start a running program. Objective: To explore the feasibility of a structured program to reintroduce running after ACL-R and to evaluate the predictive value of potential predictors of short-term success. Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Setting: Local Research Center / participant's home. Patients: Thirty-five participants were recruited after ACL-R. Intervention: Program with a progression algorithm to reintroduce running (10 running sessions in 14 days). Main outcome measures: The criterion for short-term success was no exacerbation of symptoms. Potential predictors included: (i) the International Knee Document Committee (IKDC) subjective knee form; (ii) ACL Return to Sport after Injury questionnaire; (iii) quadriceps and hamstring strength; (iv) Step-Down Endurance test; and (v) the modified Star Excursion Balance test. Descriptive statistics were performed to study the feasibility of the RTR program and Poisson regression analysis was used to evaluate predictors of success. Results: Of the 34 participants included, 33 completed the RTR program. Sixteen participants experienced some temporary exacerbation of symptoms, but only one had to stop the RTR program. Initial IKDC score was the only significant predictor of a successful RTR with an Area under the ROC curve of 80.4%. An ICKD cut-off of 63.7/100 differentiated responders and non-responders with the highest sensitivity and specificity (77.8% and 75.0%, respectively). There was a 3-fold greater chance of success with an IKDC score above this threshold. Conclusions: Our results confirm the feasibility of our RTR program and progression algorithm after ACL-R. Clinicians should use an IKDC score of &gt;64 as a criterion to reintroduce running after ACL-R to increase the likelihood of short-term success.

Comparison of Clinical Efficacy Between Arthroscopically Assisted Gracilis Autograft With Suture Reinforcement Technique and Transtibial Pull-out Technique in Treating Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tears

Background: To compare the short-term efficacy of the transtibial pull-out technique and gracilis autograft with suture reinforcement technique in the treatment of medial meniscus posterior root tears. Methods: A total of 64 patients with medial meniscus posterior root tears received reconstruction of the posterior root of the meniscus attachment point through the tibial tunnel between June 2018 and April 2019 were included in this study, patients were divided into 2 groups (transtibial pull-out technique group: 35 cases; gracilis autograft with suture reinforcement technique group: 29 cases) according to the different posterior meniscus root tear repair methods. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Lysholm score and IKDC score, and the demographics and functional recovery of the knee were compared between the two groups.Results: Intraoperative and postsurgical complications such as infection were not found in the two groups, and there was a statistically significant improvement in the Lysholm score，IKDC score and VAS score (P<0.001; respectively). All the patients were very satisfied with the function of their knee at the last follow-up. However, compared with the transtibial pull-out repair group, the reinforced medial meniscal root reconstruction technique with gracilis autograft group were significant improvement in the meniscus healing rates and Lysholm score, IKDC score and VAS score at the end of follow-up (P<0.05; respectively).Conclusions: Compared with the transtibial pull-out technique, the reinforced medial meniscal root reconstruction technique with gracilis autograft is advantageous for treating these patients because it is a minimally invasive procedure with superior clinical outcome and meniscus healing rates.Levels of Evidence: Ⅲ, Case-control study Retrospective comparative study

Lateral Meniscal Tears in Young Patients: A Comparison of Meniscectomy and Surgical Repair

Background: Meniscal tears are common in active patients, but treatment trends and surgical outcomes in young patients with lateral meniscal tears are lacking. Purpose: To evaluate treatment trends, outcomes, and failure rates in young patients with lateral meniscal tears. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patients aged ≤25 years treated surgically for isolated lateral meniscal tears from 2001 to 2017 were identified. Treatment trends were compared over time. International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores and failure rates were compared by treatment modality (meniscectomy vs meniscal repair). Failure was defined as reoperation, symptomatic osteoarthritis, or a severely abnormal IKDC score. Univariate regression analyses were performed to predict failure and IKDC scores based on treatment, type and location of tear, or extent of meniscectomy. Results: Included were 217 patients (226 knees) with a mean age of 17.4 years (range, 7-25 years); of these patients, 144 knees (64%) were treated with meniscectomy and 82 knees (36%) with meniscal repair. Treatment with repair increased over time compared with meniscectomy ( P < .001). At a minimum 2-year follow-up (mean, 6.1 ± 3.9 years), 107 patients (110 knees) had IKDC scores, and analysis indicated that although scores in both groups improved from pre- to postoperatively (repair: from 69.5 ± 13.3 to 97.4 ± 4.3; meniscectomy: from 75.7 ± 9.0 to 97.3 ± 3.9; P < .001 for both), improvement in IKDC score was greater after repair (27.9 ± 13.9) versus meniscectomy (21.6 ± 9.4) ( P = .005). Included in the failure analysis were 184 patients (192 knees) at a mean follow-up of 8.4 ± 4.4 years. The rates of reoperation, symptomatic osteoarthritis, and failure were not significantly different between the meniscectomy and repair groups. Conclusion: An increase was seen in the rate of isolated lateral meniscal tear repair in young patients. IKDC score improvement was greater after repair than meniscectomy, although postoperative IKDC scores were similar. Symptomatic arthritis, reoperation, and failure rates were similar between groups; however, there was a trend for increased arthritis symptoms in patients treated with meniscectomy, especially total meniscectomy. Treatment modality, type and location of tear, and amount of meniscus removed were not predictive of final IKDC scores or failure.

The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Outcomes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (209)

Objectives: Socioeconomic factors have been shown to impact patient care in many surgical fields; however, their effects have not been thoroughly evaluated in the context of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of socioeconomic factors on time to surgery, knee function, and subjective outcomes measures following ACLR. Methods: A retrospective query of primary ACLR surgeries at a single institution performed from 2011 to 2015 with minimum two-year follow-up was conducted. Patient demographics, insurance type, worker’s compensation status, surgical variables, IKDC score, and failure were recorded from chart review. Education level and income were obtained via phone interview. Differences between functional outcome were compared between Medicaid and non-Medicaid groups. Results: 268 patients were included in the analysis (43 patients in the Medicaid group and 225 patients in the non-Medicaid group). The Medicaid group demonstrated lower annual income (p<0.01) and a lower level of completed education compared to the non-Medicaid group (p<0.01). Medicaid patients had a greater duration between time of initial knee injury and surgery compared to the non-Medicaid group (11.8 +/- 16.3 months versus 6.1 +/- 16.5 months, p = 0.04). At the time of follow-up, patients in the non-Medicaid group had a significantly greater IKDC score compared to Medicaid patients (82.5 +/- 13.8 versus 75.3 +/- 20.8, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Socioeconomic factors impacted care in the setting of ACL injury. Medicaid insurance patients were seen significantly later after initial injury when compared to non-Medicaid carriers, and had worse outcomes compared to their non-Medicaid peers. Higher annual income brackets had significantly higher clinical outcomes scores at a minimum of two years postoperatively. Education level did not affect outcomes.

Application of Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict Clinically Meaningful Improvement After Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background: Understanding specific risk profiles for each patient and their propensity to experience clinically meaningful improvement after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is important for preoperative patient counseling and management of expectations. Purpose: To develop machine learning algorithms to predict achievement of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) on the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score at a minimum 2-year follow-up after ACLR. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: An ACLR registry of patients from 27 fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeons at a large academic institution was retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-six variables were tested for predictive value. The study population was randomly partitioned into training and independent testing sets using a 70:30 split. Six machine learning algorithms (stochastic gradient boosting, random forest, neural network, support vector machine, adaptive gradient boosting, and elastic-net penalized logistic regression [ENPLR]) were trained using 10-fold cross-validation 3 times and internally validated on the independent set of patients. Algorithm performance was assessed using discrimination, calibration, Brier score, and decision-curve analysis. Results: A total of 442 patients, of whom 39 (8.8%) did not achieve the MCID, were included. The 5 most predictive features of achieving the MCID were body mass index ≤27.4, grade 0 medial collateral ligament examination (compared with other grades), intratunnel femoral tunnel fixation (compared with suspensory), no history of previous contralateral knee surgery, and achieving full knee extension preoperatively. The ENPLR algorithm had the best relative performance (C-statistic, 0.82; calibration intercept, 0.10; calibration slope, 1.15; Brier score, 0.068), demonstrating excellent predictive ability in the study’s data set. Conclusion: Machine learning, specifically the ENPLR algorithm, demonstrated good performance for predicting a patient’s propensity to achieve the MCID for the IKDC score after ACLR based on preoperative and intraoperative factors. The femoral tunnel fixation method was the only significant intraoperative variable. Range of motion and medial collateral ligament integrity were found to be important physical examination parameters. Increased body mass index and prior contralateral surgery were also significantly predictive of outcome.

Improvement of clinical and radiological outcomes of root repair patients with advanced articular cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis

Purpose The main purpose of this study was to investigate clinical and radiological outcomes of medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) repair in knees with advanced articular cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis compared to those with minimal degenerative change. Methods Thirty-three knees underwent MMPRT repair using an arthroscopic pullout repair tibial tunnel technique. Clinical scores including Lysholm Score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Score and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome (KOOS) Score were collected preoperatively and sequentially at 6 months, 12 months and mean final follow-up of 39.4 months. Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) osteoarthritis grade, Outerbridge classification of cartilage degeneration and the presence of bone marrow oedema on MRI were also evaluated. Results All clinical scores improved at final follow-up for knees with K-L grade ≥ 2 osteoarthritis (p < 0.001), with no significant difference compared to K-L 0/1. Patients with Outerbridge class 3/4 cartilage degeneration also reported improvements in clinical scores, albeit lower than those with class 2 degeneration (p < 0.05). During recovery, the majority of patients reported clinical improvements by 6 months, and six patients further improved by at least 15 points in IKDC score between 6 and 12 months. Osteoarthritis progressed in 10 of 31 knees (32%), with an overall mean pre-operative K-L grade of 1.6 ± 0.9 compared to 2.0 ± 0.9 at final follow-up (n.s.). No knees progressed to K-L 4 or underwent re-operation. Pre-operative bone marrow oedema was present in 17 knees (52%), all of which had signal localised to the medial tibia or femur. Oedema had resolved in all but 5 knees post-operatively (p < 0.01). Conclusion Arthroscopic repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears is associated with improved outcomes in knees with advanced cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis. Meaningful improvements in clinical outcomes can be achieved beyond 6 months, thus success of the operation is best determined at the 12-month mark. Oedema signal significantly improved post-operatively, however a relatively high proportion of knees had K-L progression. Level of evidence IV – Case Series.

Comparative observation of two types of limb salvage surgery on limb function and quality of life in patients with knee joint osteosarcoma

Background We compared the differences of Joint-preservation Limb Salvage (JPLS) and Joint-prosthesis Replacement Surgery (JPRS) on limb function and quality of life in patients with osteosarcoma in the knee. Methods This retrospective study evaluated the postoperative outcomes of patients treated with JPLS and JPRS for osteosarcoma around the knee between November 2000 and January 2019. All patients were followed up at 1 year postoperatively. Patients' lower extremity function, knee function, and quality of life were evaluated during follow-up using the MSTS score, IKDC score, and SF-36 score. Results The patients were divided into two groups: the joint-preservation group (16) and the prosthetic-replacement group (19). All 35 patients received a successful operation, and all incisions healed in one stage after surgery. At 12 months after the operation, the median MTST score in the joint-preservation group was 27(range 24 to30), higher than 24(range 13 to 30) in the prosthetic-replacement group (P < 0.05, Table 2). The median IKDC score in the joint-preservation group was 82.5(range 53 to 95), higher than the 60(range 41 to 80) in the prosthetic- replacement group (P < 0.05, Table 2). The SF-36 scores of physiological and social functions were higher in the joint-preserving group than those in the prosthetic-replacement group (P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences between the groups in the other indexes (P > 0.05). Comparing the distribution of each item in the MSTS and IKDC scoring criteria between the joint-preservation and the prosthetic-replacement group revealed that the limb function, pain, satisfaction, support assistance, and the walking and gait of the joint-preservation group were superior to those of the prosthetic-replacement group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in knee flexion between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the joint-preservation group performed superior to the prosthesis-replacement group in terms of pain, swelling, twisting, softening of the leg, movement downstairs, sitting up from a chair, kneeling, squatting, running straight, jumping up with the injured leg and landing, and quickly stopping or starting (P < 0.05). Conclusion Compared with joint-prosthesis replacement surgery, joint-preservation limb salvage performed better joint function and quality of life. The findings provide a signal of superiority for JPLS to JPRS but further investigation is warranted in multicentre trials.

Surgical Treatment for Avulsion Fractures of the Anterolateral Ligament Associated with Periarticular Fractures of the Knee

The existence and anatomy of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee are a somewhat controversial topic in orthopaedic surgery. The fixation of the avulsion fracture of the ALL (Segond fracture), associated with periarticular knee fractures, is rarely given much consideration while the major fracture fragments are reconstructed. This study aims to confirm the existence of ALL and evaluate the clinical outcomes of surgical management for avulsion fractures, involving its insertion, when associated with periarticular knee fractures. Twenty-three patients (16 males and 7 females) with avulsion fractures of the ALL associated with periarticular knee fractures were fixed with a spider plate, cannulated screw, or suture anchor. Eight patients were diagnosed with distal femoral fracture, 10 with tibial plateau fracture, and 5 with tibial eminence avulsion fracture. All patients underwent X-rays at follow-up. Clinical and functional outcomes were assessed with the pivot-shift test, objective and subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, and Tegner activity scale. The ALL was found and identified as a distinct ligamentous structure in all patients. Prior to Segond repair, patients had significantly more instability, as determined by pivot-shift test, than seen postoperatively (p < 0.0001). At final follow-up, the mean subjective IKDC score was 83.2 ± 10.3. Fourteen patients were graded A, 6 were graded B, and 3 was graded C on the IKDC objective score. The mean Lysholm score was 85.4 ± 12.2. The mean Tegner score was 7.5 ± 1.2. This study confirmed that the ALL is a distinct structure in the anterolateral portion of the knee. The fixation of the avulsion fracture of the ALL associated with periarticular knee fractures can be an effective procedure without specific complications. Long-term and comparative follow-up studies are necessary to confirm the effects.