Conversion of patellofemoral arthroplasty to total knee arthroplasty: A matched case-control study of 13 patients

Background and purpose The long-term outcome of patellofemoral arthroplasty is related to progression of femorotibial osteoarthritis with need for conversion to total knee arthroplasty. We investigated whether prior patellofemoral arthroplasty compromises the results of total knee arthroplasty

BMP-2 Dependent Increase of Soft Tissue Density in Arthrofibrotic TKA

Arthrofibrosis after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is difficult to treat, as its aetiology remains unclear. In a previous study, we established a connection between the BMP-2 concentration in the synovial fluid and arthrofibrosis after TKA. The hypothesis of the present study was, therefore, that the limited range of motion in arthrofibrosis is caused by BMP-2 induced heterotopic ossifications, the quantity of which is dependent on the BMP-2 concentration in the synovial fluid

Stiffness in total knee arthroplasty

Stiffness is a relatively uncommon complication after total knee arthroplasty. It has been defined as a painful limitation in the range of movement (ROM). Its pathogenesis is still unclear even if some risk factors have been identified. Patient-related conditions may be difficult to treat. Preoperative ROM is the most important risk factor, but an association with diabetes, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and general pathologies such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis has been demonstrated. Moreover, previous surgery may be an additional cause of an ROM limitation. Postoperative factors include infections, arthrofibrosis, heterotrophic ossifications, and incorrect rehabilitation protocol. Infections represent a challenging problem for the orthopaedic surgeon, and treatment may require long periods of antibiotics administration. However, it is widely accepted that an aggressive rehabilitation protocol is mandatory for a proper ROM recovery and to avoid the onset of arthrofibrosis and heterotrophic ossifications. Finally, surgery-related factors represent the most common cause of stiffness; they include errors in soft-tissue balancing, component malpositioning, and incorrect component sizing. Although closed manipulation, arthroscopic and open arthrolysis have been proposed, they may lead to unpredictable results and incomplete ROM recovery. Revision surgery must be proposed in the case of well-documented surgical errors. These operations are technically demanding and may be associated with high risk of complications; therefore they should be accurately planned and properly performed

Isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis: A systematic review of treatment options using the GRADE approach

Background and purpose The optimal treatment for isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis is unclear at present. We systematically reviewed the highest level of available evidence on the nonoperative and operative treatment of isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis to develop an evidenced-based discussion of treatment options

SAUDI MEDICAL JOURNAL

Objective: To report a series of 8 diabetic patients in whom the reconstruction of large-sized defect of the foot was performed using lateral supramalleolar flap. Methods: Coverage of the soft tissue defect was carried out by a lateral supramalleolar flap in 8 patients who had large-sized, non-healing ulcers at the Celal Bayax University, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Manisa, Turkey, between 1998-2003. The mean age was 54 years. Preoperatively Doppler flowmeter evaluation was performed, and the ischemic index was calculated in all patients. Results: The flaps survived except for one patient who had a large defect on the heel with low ischemic index. The average healing time of the ulcer region and recovery of regular walking status was 34 days. The average healing period of the donor site was 35 days. After the average follow-up period of 40 months, neither infection nor a recurrence of the ulcer was encountered. The major problem of the donor area was skin graft breakdown and its non-aesthetic appearance due to hypertrophic granulation tissue. Conclusion: The lateral supramalleolar flap is a reliable option for the reconstruction of large-sized diabetic ulcers involving the dorsal aspect of the foot. This can also be used in conjunction with local muscle flaps, such as abductor hallucis for covering deep and large heel defects when the sural neurocutaneous flap is contraindicated

ARCHIVES OF ORTHOPAEDIC AND TRAUMA SURGERY

Habitual or recurrent dislocation of the patella in the skeletally immature patient is a particularly demanding problem since the etiology is frequently multifactorial. The surgical techniques successfully performed in adults with patellar instability may risk injury to an open growth plate if applied to children. We present a technique that preserves femoral and patellar insertion anatomy of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) using a free semitendinosus autograft together with tenodesis to the adductor magnus tendon without damaging open physis on the patellar attachment of MPFL. A 3-cm long longitudinal skin incision is performed 10 mm distal to the tibial tuberosity on the anteromedial side. The semitendinosus tendon is harvested with the stripper. The semitendinosus tendon is placed on a preparation board and cleaned of muscle tissue. The usable part of the tendon should be at least 20 cm long and 4 mm wide. The two free ends of the graft are sutured with Krakow technique. A medial longitudinal incision 2 cm in length is made to expose the MPFL and to abrade the patellar attachment of vastus medialis obliquus. The first patellar tunnel is created with 4.5 mm drill at the mid aspect of the medial patella in the anteroposterior and proximal-distal direction. The drill hole is formed parallel to the articular surface of the center of the patella. The second tunnel is created with 3.2 mm drill and the entry point is localized at the center of the patella. These two tunnels intersect to form a single tunnel. The semitendinosus autograft is run through the bone tunnel in the patella. Double-stranded semitendinosus autograft is placed in the presynovial fatty plane between the second and the third layer of the medial retinaculum, and tenodesis to adductor magnus tendon is applied by a moderate medial force with the knee flexed at 30A degrees. Aftercare includes immobilization of the joint limited to 30A degrees flexion using an above-knee splint for 2 weeks. No recurrent dislocation was observed in three patients (4 knees) at a mean follow-up time of 17.7 months. Both range of motion and radiological finding were restored to normal limits

ARCHIVES OF ORTHOPAEDIC AND TRAUMA SURGERY

Hemangioma or vascular malformation of the synovium is rare and presents a difficult problem in diagnosis and treatment. A long history of joint pain and recurrent non-traumatic hemarthrosis usually draws attention to the hemangioma of the knee joint. The lesion can be seen in two different formations; the synovial hemangioma or the arteriovenous malformation named as hemangiohamartomas, both of which involve the synovium and cause non-traumatic episodes of hemarthrosis. MRI scanning together with arthroscopy is a diagnostic tool to demonstrate the extent and the nature of the lesion. We treated the three patients at different ages. All patients underwent standard radiographic examination, CT scans, MRI and diagnostic arthroscopy. After frozen section taken via arthroscopically, the lesions were excised by arthrotomy. The mean follow-up was 38 months (31-45) and all patients are asymptomatic postoperatively. Three additional cases and a review of the literature are presented because of the rarity of the lesion

KNEE SURGERY SPORTS TRAUMATOLOGY ARTHROSCOPY

Juxta-articular osteoid osteomas arising around the ankle are unusual. Tumors arising on the neck of the talus will commonly produce symptoms mimicking monoarticular arthritis or trauma. Patients are usually treated for arthritis or ankle sprain, which often leads to a delay in definitive diagnosis. We present an arthroscopic removal of an osteoid osteoma on the neck of talus, and review the literature

ARCHIVES OF ORTHOPAEDIC AND TRAUMA SURGERY

Pantibial ligamentous injury including knee dislocation and tibiotalar joint subluxation is an uncommon severe rotational injury. A 21-year-old male injured his right knee falling from a motorcycle. Physical examination revealed effusion on the right knee and ankle, and posterior translation of the tibia as well. The MRI of the right knee and ankle demonstrated the following findings: a complete disruption of cruciate ligaments, the medial collateral ligament, posteromedial corner injury together with a peripheric tear in the medial meniscus, the ruptured deltoid ligament, ankle syndesmosis space widening (> 5 mm) and lateral subluxation of talus. Deltoid ligament of the right ankle was repaired and ankle syndesmosis was fixed with a cortical screw. The PCL and ACL were reconstructed arthroscopically with autogeneous bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. The midsubstance tear of MCL, posteromedial corner and medial meniscus tear were primarily repaired with nonabsorbable sutures. 3 years after the surgery, the patient was called for the final examination. MRI and X-ray findings of the knee and ankle joint demonstrated the continuity of ACL, PCL, MCL, and deltoid ligament. The patient, who is a farmer, can go back to his job and perform his daily activities. We presented a previously unreported case that involves both simultaneous occurrence of knee dislocation and tibiotalar joint subluxation. We used the term Pantibial ligamentous injury for this case