The Black Knee – A Case Report

Introduction: Ochronotic arthropathy in patients with alkaptonuria is a rare hereditary disorder. The altered metabolism causes the homogentesic acid derivatives to deposit in various connective tissues causing characteristic pigmentation. Due to the close clinical resemblance to that of a degenerative disorder, diagnosis of ochronotic arthropathy usually occurs intraoperatively. We report arthroscopic findings of a 50-year-old female with ochronotic arthropathy. Case Report: A 50-year-old woman came with complaints of pain and swelling in the left knee. Clinical examination and MRI findings were correlated to reveal a tear of lateral meniscus. On arthroscopic examination, the blackish pigmentation of the meniscus and the articular cartilage led to the diagnosis of ochronotic arthropathy. Conclusion: Arthroscopy plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment of patients with ochronotic arthropathy. The characteristic arthroscopic finding may aid diagnosis even in patients who do not have other systemic manifestations. Timely arthroscopic intervention can help delay the disease progression. Keywords: Alkaptonuria, Ochronotic arthropathy, Ochronosis, Arthroscopy.

Empty Sunrise Sign: An Arthroscopic Finding in Recurrent Patellar Dislocation

Patellar dislocation is a relatively common knee injury and can be challenging to diagnose. We describe an arthroscopic finding we noted in recurrent patellar dislocation. Arthroscopic photos were evaluated from 50 knees with a history patellar dislocation and 100 control patients. We quantified the amount of patellar subluxation seen on a single arthroscopic view and coined it Empty Sunrise Sign if the patella did not overlap the trochlea. Empty Sunrise Sign was found in 82% of 50 cases with recurrent patellar dislocation and none of the 100 control cases. The finding was 100% specific for identifying a recurrent patellar dislocator. High interobserver agreement was noted. Empty Sunrise Sign suggests significant capsular laxity. This may need to be considered in the surgical treatment of recurrent patellar dislocation.

Association of ACL Laxity Tests with Arthroscopic Findings in Chronic ACL and PCL Deficient Knees

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury may be diagnosed by clinical examination and radiological investigation using magnetic resonance imaging or by arthroscopy.1,2 Based on our experience, the ACL tear in concomitant chronic ACL and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) deficient knees may produce knee laxity, which is more difficult to assess on clinical examination, which in turn may affect the management algorithm of the patient. Our hypothesis is that, in a concomitant chronic ACL and PCL injury, posterior capsular contracture and abnormal reattachment of torn ACL will result in less clinical and subjective laxity, preoperatively. The aim of this study is to review a cohort of patients who had undergone PCL reconstructive surgery and compare the preoperative clinical assessments with and without anesthesia with arthroscopic finding of ACL. This is to assess the accuracy and reliability of clinical ACL laxity tests in detecting ACL tear in chronic ACL and PCL injury.

Second-Look Arthroscopic Findings and Clinical Outcomes After Management of Intra-Articular Lesions in Acute Ankle Fractures with Arthroscopy

Category: Ankle, Arthroscopy, Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Anatomically successful surgical reduction of ankle fractures does not always result in a clinically favorable outcome. The purpose of the present study was to compare initial and second look arthroscopic finding of acute ankle fracture and to evaluate clinical outcomes. Methods: A total of 39 patients (40 ankles, 20 male, 20 female) who underwent surgery for ankle fracture between March 2009 and August 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients gave consent to the exploratory arthroscopic surgery for the removal of internal fixation devices placed in the initial surgery. Intra-articular lesions (osteochondral lesion, loose body, injury of ligaments and fibrosis) were evaluated via ankle arthroscopy. Arthroscopic finding of osteochondral lesion were classified using the Ferkel and Cheng staging system, and cartilage repair was assessed using the international Cartilage Repar System (ICRS). Clinicial outcomes were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Results: Chondral lesions were found in 26 ankles (65%) with initial arthroscopic finding of acute ankle fracture. Newly discovered chondral lesions in second-look arthroscopy was 15 cases. Accoding to the Ferkel and Cheng staging at second-look arthroscopy, 4 of 23 ankles with chondral lesions of talus was getting worse (more than stage D). In terms of ICRS overall repair grades, 4 ankle (15%) were abnormal (grade III). Diffuse synovitis and arthrofibrosis were found in 12 and 7 ankles respectively in second-look arthroscopy. Correlation were found between AOFAS scores, VAS and intra-articular lesions with second-look arthroscopy. Conclusion: Second-look arthroscopic examination combined with treatment of intra-articular lesion arising from ankle fracture surgery may consider to improve clinical outcomes.

Arthroscopic findings after shoulder dislocation

Background/Aim. Recurrent instability of the shoulder joint is frequently difficult to differentiate from diseased or injured rotator cuff or tendon of the forearm flexor (m. biceps brachii). Shoulder joint arthroscopy has been only recently introduced into instable shoulder joint lesion examination. The aim of this study was to present and analyze an arthroscopic finding on instable shoulder joint in order to determine causes and mechanisms of instability, as well as principles of surgical treatment. Methods. Arthroscopy of the shoulder joint was performed in 158 patients with at least one documented shoulder joint dislocation. These patients were divided into two groups. The group I included the patients with one to three dislocations, while the group II those with more than three dislocations. Preoperative diagnosis was based on anamnestic data and clinical examination using specific tests, and on the diagnosis of shoulder joint using radiography or computed tomography. Results. Out of the total number of the patients 138 (87.34%) had injury of the anterior patellar brim, 119 (75.32%) had failure of the anterior capsule, 126 (79.75%) had compressive cartilage injury of the posterior part of the head of the upper arm bone (Hill-Sachs lesion), 102 (64.56%) had insufficiency of glenohumeral tendon, 11 (6.96) had complete cut of the rotator cuff, 23 (14.56%) had injury of the posterior patellar brim, 12 (7.59%) had injury of the upper anterior-posterior patellar brim (SLAP). Conclusion. According to the obtained results it could be concluded that there is no a unique injury that leads to shoulder joint instability. It is necessary to point out to the significance of anamnesis and clinical examination in making diagnosis. Arthroscopic diagnostics is indicated in clinically unreliable findings as an additional method for determining operative treatment.