Context: Epidemiological studies have shown an increased risk of musculoskeletal injury after concussion. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the reverse relationship exists, specifically whether there is an increased risk of concussion after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in a population-based cohort. Design: Retrospective cohort. Methods: The Rochester Epidemiology Project was searched between 2000 and 2017 for International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10th Revision codes relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of concussion and ACL tear. A total of 1294 unique patients with acute, isolated ACL tears and no previous history of concussion were identified. Medical records for cases were reviewed to confirm ACL tear diagnosis and to determine history of concussion after the ACL injury. Cases were matched by age, sex, and Rochester Epidemiology Project availability to patients without an ACL tear (1:3 match), resulting in 3882 controls. Medical records of matched control patients were reviewed to rule out history of ACL injury. The hazard ratio of concussion injury following an ACL injury was determined. Results: Nine patients with an ACL injury suffered concussion up to 3 years after the ACL injury. The rate of concussion was no different between ACL-injured cases (0.7%) compared with matched controls with no ACL injury (1.2%), which corresponded to a hazard ratio of 0.55 (95% confidence interval, 0.3–1.1; P = .10). Conclusions: Based on the current evidence, there does not appear to be a significant association between ACL injury and subsequent concussion, which suggests that a concussion uniquely affects the risk of future subsequent musculoskeletal injury.
Do breast cancer patients have increased risk of complications after primary total hip and total knee arthroplasty?
AimsBreast cancer survivors have known risk factors that might influence the results of total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study evaluated clinical outcomes of patients with breast cancer history after primary THA and TKA.MethodsOur total joint registry identified patients with breast cancer history undergoing primary THA (n = 423) and TKA (n = 540). Patients were matched 1:1 based upon age, sex, BMI, procedure (hip or knee), and surgical year to non-breast cancer controls. Mortality, implant survival, and complications were assessed via Kaplan-Meier methods. Clinical outcomes were evaluated via Harris Hip Scores (HHSs) or Knee Society Scores (KSSs). Mean follow-up was six years (2 to 15).ResultsBreast cancer patient survival at five years was 92% (95% confidence interval (CI) 89% to 95%) after THA and 94% (95% CI 92% to 97%) after TKA. Breast and non-breast cancer patients had similar five-year implant survival free of any reoperation or revision after THA (p ≥ 0.412) and TKA (p ≥ 0.271). Breast cancer patients demonstrated significantly lower survival free of any complications after THA (91% vs 96%, respectively; hazard ratio = 2 (95% CI 1.1 to 3.4); p = 0.017). Specifically, the rate of intraoperative fracture was 2.4% vs 1.4%, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) was 1.4% and 0.5% for breast cancer and controls, respectively, after THA. No significant difference was noted in any complications after TKA (p ≥ 0.323). Both breast and non-breast cancer patients experienced similar improvements in HHSs (p = 0.514) and KSSs (p = 0.132).ConclusionBreast cancer survivors did not have a significantly increased risk of mortality or reoperation after primary THA and TKA. However, there was a two-fold increased risk of complications after THA, including intraoperative fracture and VTE.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(4):365–371.
Anterior Shoulder Instability in Throwers and Overhead Athletes: Long-term Outcomes in a Geographic Cohort
Background: Athletes of all sports often have shoulder instability, most commonly as anterior shoulder instability (ASI). For overhead athletes (OHAs) and those participating in throwing sports, clinical and surgical decision making can be difficult owing to a lack of long-term outcome studies in this population of athletes. Purpose/Hypothesis: To report presentation characteristics, pathology, treatment strategies, and outcomes of ASI in OHAs and throwers in a geographic cohort. We hypothesized that OHAs and throwers would have similar presenting characteristics, management strategies, and clinical outcomes but lower rates of return to play (RTP) when compared with non-OHAs (NOHAs) and nonthrowers, respectively. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: An established geographic medical record system was used to identify OHAs diagnosed with ASI in the dominant shoulder. An overall 57 OHAs with ASI were matched 1:2 with 114 NOHAs with ASI. Of the OHAs, 40 were throwers. Sports considered overhead were volleyball, swimming, racquet sports, baseball, and softball, while baseball and softball composed the thrower subgroup. Records were reviewed for patient characteristics, type of sport, imaging findings, treatment strategies, and surgical details. Patients were contacted to collect Western Ontario Shoulder Instability index (WOSI) scores and RTP data. Statistical analysis compared throwers with nonthrowers and OHAs with NOHAs. Results: Four patients, 3 NOHAs and 1 thrower, were lost to follow-up at 6 months. Clinical follow-up for the remaining 167 patients (98%) was 11.9 ± 7.2 years (mean ± SD). Of the 171 patients included, an overall 41 (36%) NOHAs, 29 (51%) OHAs, and 22 (55%) throwers were able to be contacted for WOSI scores and RTP data. OHAs were more likely to initially present with subluxations (56%; P = .030). NOHAs were more likely to have dislocations (80%; P = .018). The number of instability events at presentation was similar. OHAs were more likely to undergo initial operative management. Differences in rates of recurrent instability were not significant after initial nonoperative management (NOHAs, 37.1% vs OHAs, 28.6% [ P = .331] and throwers, 21.2% [ P = .094]) and surgery (NOHAs, 20.5% vs OHAs, 13.0% [ P = .516] and throwers, 9.1% [ P = .662]). Rates of revision surgery were similar (NOHAs, 18.0% vs OHAs, 8.7% [ P = .464] and throwers, 18.2% [ P > .999]). RTP rates were 80.5% in NOHAs, as compared with 71.4% in OHAs ( P = .381) and 63.6% in throwers ( P = .143). Median WOSI scores were 40 for NOHAs, as compared with 28 in OHAs ( P = .425) and 28 in throwers ( P = .615). Conclusion: In a 1:2 matched comparison of general population athletes, throwers and OHAs were more likely to have more subtle instability, as evidenced by higher rates of subluxations rather than frank dislocations, when compared with NOHAs. Despite differences in presentation and the unique sport demands of OHAs, rates of recurrent instability and revision surgery were similar across groups. Similar outcomes in terms of RTP, level of RTP, and WOSI scores were achieved for OHAs and NOHAs, but these results must be interpreted with caution given the limited sample size.
Increased risk of periprosthetic joint infection after acute, traumatic wound dehiscence following primary total knee arthroplasty
Aims To describe the risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and reoperation in patients who have an acute, traumatic wound dehiscence following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods From January 2002 to December 2018, 16,134 primary TKAs were performed at a single institution. A total of 26 patients (0.1%) had a traumatic wound dehiscence within the first 30 days. Mean age was 68 years (44 to 87), 38% (n = 10) were female, and mean BMI was 34 kg/m2 (23 to 48). Median time to dehiscence was 13 days (interquartile range (IQR) 4 to 15). The dehiscence resulted from a fall in 22 patients and sudden flexion after staple removal in four. The arthrotomy was also disrupted in 58% (n = 15), including a complete extensor mechanism disruption in four knees. An irrigation and debridement with component retention (IDCR) was performed within 48 hours in 19 of 26 knees and two-thirds were discharged on antibiotic therapy. The mean follow-up was six years (2 to 15). The association of wound dehiscence and the risk of developing a PJI was analyzed. Results Patients who sustained a traumatic wound dehiscence had a 6.5-fold increase in the risk of PJI (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6 to 26.2; p = 0.008). With the small number of PJIs, no variables were found to be significant risk factors. However, there were no PJIs in any of the patients who were treated with IDCR and a course of antibiotics. Three knees required reoperation including one two-stage exchange for PJI, one repeat IDCR for PJI, and one revision for aseptic loosening of the tibial component. Conclusion Despite having a traumatic wound dehiscence, the risk of PJI was low, but much higher than experienced in all other TKAs during the same period. We recommend urgent IDCR and a course of postoperative antibiotics to decrease the risk of PJI. A traumatic wound dehiscence increases risk of PJI by 6.5-fold. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(6 Supple A):191–195.