Citations

Background: Despite the growing clinical relevance of obesity in the context of multiligament knee injuries, there remains a paucity of data evaluating patient-reported outcomes in this population. Purpose: To compare clinical and functional outcomes, including postoperative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and complication/revision rates, of multiligament knee reconstruction (MLKR) in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m 2 versus <30 kg/m 2 at a minimum 2-year follow-up. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify all patients who underwent MLKR between 2001 and 2022 at a single institution. Patients with a BMI >30 kg/m 2 were propensity-matched to patients with a BMI <30 kg/m 2 on a 1:1 basis by age, sex, laterality, and Schenck classification (knee dislocation). Medical records were reviewed for patient characteristics, time to surgery, year of surgery, number and type of ligament interventions, graft choice, single versus staged reconstruction, and concomitant injuries. Postoperative clinical examination findings and PROMs for each cohort, including visual analog scale score, Tegner activity scale score, Lysholm score, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score, were analyzed and compared. Postoperative complication and revision rates were evaluated and compared. Results: Of 158 patients, 79 patients with a BMI <30 kg/m 2 (mean age, 31.0 ± 11.5 years; mean BMI, 25.8 ± 3.0 kg/m 2 ) were matched to 79 patients with a BMI >30 kg/m 2 (mean age, 32.8 ± 9.5 years; mean BMI, 37.1 ± 5.8 kg/m 2 ). There were no significant differences between cohorts regarding age, sex, laterality, and Schenck classification ( P ≥ .100); however, patients in the BMI >30 kg/m 2 group had greater numbers of posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The mean follow-up was 7.5 ± 4.8 years for the BMI <30 kg/m 2 cohort and 7.2 ± 4.8 years for the BMI >30 kg/m 2 cohort ( P = .229). Patients with a lower BMI (<30 kg/m 2 ) had significantly better postoperative mean IKDC (79.3 ± 18.7 vs 67.9 ± 21.2; P = .004), Lysholm (85.1 ± 17.1 vs 75.7 ± 21.0; P = .007), and Tegner (5.1 ± 2.0 vs 4.4 ± 1.7; P = .041) scores. The BMI >30 kg/m 2 group also had significantly more postoperative complications ( P = .028). However, there was no significant difference between the 2 cohorts in terms of reoperation rate or conversion to total knee arthroplasty ( P ≥ .189). Conclusion: Patients who undergo MLKR and have a BMI >30 kg/m 2 demonstrate significantly decreased postoperative PROMs when compared to patients with a BMI <30 kg/m 2 . Increasing BMI significantly increased the incidence of complication rates after MLKR.

Abstract The lateral and medial meniscus play vital roles in load distribution across the knee joint and in the prevention of knee osteoarthritis. As such, every effort should be made to save and repair the meniscus when possible, as partial and total meniscectomies have been shown to impair the meniscus’ ability to effectively dissipate shock. Recently, an algorithm—coined the “ABCs of meniscal repair”—has emerged as a blueprint for optimizing the success of a meniscal repair. The “ABCs of meniscal repair” refer to anatomic reduction, biologic augmentation, and circumferential compression across the meniscus tear, respectively. In this technique, we describe a modified use of the arthroscopic skid that allows for access to difficult‐to‐reach peripheral meniscal tears while simultaneously aiding in the anatomic reduction of the tear.

Abstract Medial meniscus root tears are among the most painful and disabling injuries in knee preservation practice, frequently presenting with substantial functional decline, particularly in female patients. Recent research associates increased posterior tibial slope with both root tears and worse pain scores. Although biomechanically plausible, posterior tibial slope should be interpreted as an association rather than a primary causal driver, as small variations in slope alone are unlikely to fully account for symptom burden or structural progression. Pain and functional decline in this population more likely reflects a multifactorial mechanical environment, in which posterior tibial slope interacts with other determinants of joint loading, including meniscal extrusion, limb alignment, cartilage health, body mass index, subchondral bone response, and degenerative meniscal changes. In our view, posterior tibial slope is one contributor within a broader mechanical environment rather than the primary driver. However, the key clinical message is clear: root tears represent a critical joint‐failure event that demands early recognition and treatment.

Abstract A posterior tibial slope (PTS) greater than 12° is an established risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament graft reconstruction failure. Reducing PTS is thus considered protective to the anterior cruciate ligament graft, and it can be achieved through an anterior closing‐wedge osteotomy. Prior to the procedure, PTS should be accurately measured to determine the amount of correction that is needed. Radiographic films remain the gold standard for measuring PTS. The purpose of this presentation is to show validated and reproducible step‐by‐step techniques for measuring PTS and anterior tibial translation for anterior closing‐wedge osteotomy using monopedal full‐length weight‐bearing tibia standing radiographs.

Abstract Tunnel convergence in multiligament knee surgery remains a technical challenge. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) femoral sockets/tunnels and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) femoral sockets/tunnels during anatomic posterolateral corner (PLC) reconstructions are particularly vulnerable to convergence. This is secondary to the limited amount of bony real estate available on the lateral distal femur. Previous studies have attempted to define a specific angle to direct the LCL tunnel away from the ACL tunnel. However, inconsistency with ACL femoral socket creation and variability in bony architecture can make this strategy unreliable. This surgical technique describes how to minimize the risk of ACL and LCL tunnel convergence during ACL and PLC reconstructions.

Background: Acute traumatic patellar dislocations may cause intra-articular derangements of the knee in the setting of acute and chronic instability which may not always be appropriately identified on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Purpose: To determine the rates of coexisting intra-articular pathology in patients with patellar instability requiring medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction and to report discrepancies between preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and diagnostic arthroscopy results. Study Design: Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patients who underwent MPFL reconstruction at a single institution between 2010 and 2023 were identified. Operative reports and preoperative MRIs were reviewed. Records without full MRI reports as read by a radiologist or cases in which a diagnostic arthroscopy was not conducted were excluded. Intra-articular pathologies noted on MRI and confirmed by arthroscopy were documented. MRI findings were considered to be discordant from arthroscopic findings if a lesion was identified on diagnostic arthroscopy that was not present in the full MRI report and that lesion resulted in additional surgical procedures. Results: There were 331 arthroscopic procedures conducted within the study population of 508 patients who underwent diagnostic arthroscopy at the time of their patellar stabilization procedures. These procedures included 180 loose body removals, 95 osteochondral lesions treated via a variety of interventions including open reduction and internal fixation (26 cases), particulated allograft chondral grafting (30 cases), osteochondral allograft transplantation (9 cases), and microfracture (30 cases), and 39 meniscal tears resulting in 33 partial meniscectomies and 6 meniscal repairs. Among these 508 patients, 105 (21%) demonstrated discordance of preoperative MRI and arthroscopic findings that necessitated additional procedures. This discordance was responsible for a total of 109 (33%) of the 331 arthroscopic procedures. These included 75 loose body removals, 2 osteochondral fracture fixation procedures, 2 microfractures for full-thickness cartilage loss, 16 partial meniscectomies, and 2 meniscal repairs, among others. Conclusion: Among patients undergoing patellar stabilization, 21% had intra-articular lesions not identified on preoperative MRI detected at the time of diagnostic arthroscopy that resulted in surgical intervention. This study, representing the largest cohort to date of patellar stabilization surgeries with both MRI and arthroscopy findings, underscores the importance of diagnostic arthroscopy for improving diagnostic accuracy and addressing associated intra-articular pathology.

Background: Arthrofibrosis is seen in 1.7% to 38% of patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and has been associated with worse postoperative patient-reported outcomes. There are limited data regarding the optimal time to intervene in cases of arthrofibrosis after ACLR. Purpose: To assess if timing of arthrofibrosis treatment after ACLR affects final knee range of motion (ROM) and to help establish guidelines with regard to timing of intervention for arthrofibrosis after ACLR. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Databases were retrospectively screened at 2 high-volume practices for patients who underwent lysis of adhesions (LOA; Current Procedural Terminology [CPT] 29884 and 29875) with or without manipulation under anesthesia (CPT 27570) after ACLR (CPT 29888). Clinical ROM assessments were collected at multiple time points. Patients were grouped into cohorts based on timing of LOA. Comparative analysis was performed to assess for relationships between ROM and timing of intervention. Results: Seventy-nine patients underwent LOA after ACLR: 25 patients who had a time from ACLR to LOA <3 months, 23 patients between 3 and 6 months, and 31 patients >6 months. Earlier LOA was associated with greater total loss of motion before LOA. The final total arc of motion was 132.7°, 133.7°, and 131.8° for patients who had a time from ACLR to LOA <3 months, between 3 and 6 months, and >6 months, respectively. There were no significant differences among groups in final flexion ( P = .8), extension ( P = .746), or total arc of motion ( P = .781). Linear regression modeling did not identify time from ACLR to LOA as a predictive variable ( P = .982) in final ROM. Conclusion: This study failed to demonstrate a linear relationship between the timing of LOA and final ROM. Regardless of the time to intervention, ROM improved significantly; however, patients with more severe arthrofibrosis underwent LOA at earlier time points.

Objectives: Historically, horizontal cleavage meniscus tears have been debrided with single leaflet preservation, but more recently this has been challenged by repair of these tear types. While circumferential meniscus repair with all-inside and inside-out instrumentation has been described, there remains a paucity of literature regarding the clinical outcomes of this technique. Our purpose was to assess clinical outcomes and reoperation rates of circumferential meniscus repair for horizontal cleavage tears at minimum 2-year follow-up. Methods: Patients with isolated horizontal cleavage tears of the meniscus (Fig. 1a) undergoing primary circumferential meniscus repair (Fig. 1b), including both inside-out and all-inside suturing techniques, at a single institution between 2015 and 2022 were eligible for inclusion and analyzed retrospectively. Arthroscopic images and operative notes were examined to confirm circumferential meniscal repair. Patient demographics, surgery details, and clinical findings were extracted from the institutional electronic medical records. Exclusion criteria consisted of patients not consenting for research, less than 2-years of clinical follow-up, and concurrent ipsilateral repair of a non-horizontal cleavage tear. Patients were not excluded if they had a concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Thirty-seven patients met the criteria for inclusion in this study. Knees were analyzed for laterality, number of sutures, suturing technique, concurrent injuries, concurrent procedures, and surgical history. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores were collected at minimum 2-year follow-up and analyzed. Return to sport (RTS) and revision surgery were analyzed. Results: Thirty-seven patients (25 male, 12 female; mean age, 29.4 ± 12.4 years) who underwent circumferential meniscal repair of a horizontal cleavage tear were included in the study and followed for a mean of 6.2 years (range, 2.2-9.3 years, Table 1). There was a total of 38 knees (23 right, 15 left). One patient (3%) had bilateral circumferential meniscal repair surgeries done at separate times. Three (16%) patients failed primary repair and had secondary partial meniscectomy. Similar numbers of circumferential meniscal repairs were performed on lateral and medial menisci, 21 (55%) and 17 (45%), respectively. An average number of 3 ± 2 sutures were used at the time or repair with one of 38 menisci (3%) having a hybrid combination of both all-inside and inside-out suture technique, 24 menisci (63%) had all-inside technique, and 13 menisci (34%) had inside-out technique. Concurrent procedures included 4 ACL reconstructions (3 autograft, 1 allograft), and 8 chondroplasties (4 patella, 2 trochlea, 1 medial femoral condyle, and 1 unspecified, Table 2). At the time of final follow-up, patients reported mean Tegner activity scores of 6.2 ± 2.3, VAS pain with rest of 1.0 ± 2.0, VAS pain with use of 2.5 ± 2.7, and IKDC of 81.6 ± 18.6. When asked, using a VAS Five Point scale, how their knee is currently compared to before their surgery, 14 (74%) feel much better than before surgery, 2 (11%) feel slightly better than before surgery, 1 (5%) feels no change when compared to before their surgery, 2 (11%) feel slightly worse than before surgery, and no one felt much worse than before surgery. Sixteen patients were involved in sports before their surgery. Of those that played sports before their surgery, 14 (88%) returned to sport (Table 3). The most common sports played were hockey (19%), volleyball (19%), tennis (13%), and football (13%). Levels of sport played before surgery included 7 (44%) recreational, 6 (38%) high school, 2 (13%) college, and 1 (6%) club. Levels of sport played after surgery for those who returned to sport included 6 (43%) recreational, 2 (14%) high school, 5 (36%) college, and 1 (7%) club with a significant increase in levels of sport played after surgery ( p ≤ 0.006) compared to before surgery. Conclusions: At an average of 6-years of follow up, there was an 84% success rate of circumferential meniscal repair for horizontal cleavage tears. Most patients who play sports, return to sport and do so at the same or higher level and report successful PROMs. Circumferential meniscal repairs should be considered for patients with horizontal cleavage tears.

Objectives: Value based decision making regarding nonoperative management vs. early surgical stabilization for first-time anterior shoulder instability (ASI) events remains controversial. Thus, the purpose of this study was to perform 1) a systematic review of the current literature and 2) a Markov model-based cost-effectiveness analysis comparing an initial trial of nonoperative management to arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) for first-time ASI. Methods: A Markov Chain Monte Carlo probabilistic model (Figure 1) was developed to evaluate the outcomes and costs of 1,000 simulated patients (average age » 20 years old) with first-time ASI undergoing nonoperative management vs. ABR. Utility values, recurrence rates, and transition probabilities were derived from the published literature. Costs were determined based on the typical patient undergoing each treatment strategy at our institution. Outcome measures included costs, quality-adjust life-years (QALYs), and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Probabilities of recurrence as well as the utility of each treatment strategy were obtained from the literature search as described above. Probabilities were pooled across studies to obtain a weighted average for both nonoperative treatment and ABR. Similarly, studies reporting scores on the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) scale were utilized to approximate shoulder-related quality of life after each treatment strategy and outcome. Costs for each treatment strategy and transition state in the model were considered from the payer perspective (commercial or government) and obtained from institutional data at a large, academic medical center. Results: The Markov model with Monte Carlo microsimulation demonstrated average (± standard deviation) costs for nonoperative management and ABR of $38,649 ± 10,521 and $43,052 ± 9,352, respectively. Total QALYS acquired over the 10-year time horizon were 7.7 ± 0.4 and 8.4 ± 0.5 for nonoperative management and ABR, respectively. The ICER comparing ABR to nonoperative management was found to be just $5,725/QALY, which falls substantially below the $50,000 willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold (Figure 2). The mean number of recurrences were 2.6 ± 0.3 and 1.2 ± 0.2 for patients initially assigned to the nonoperative and ABR treatment groups, respectively. Out of 1,000 samples run over 1,000 trials, ABR was the optimal strategy in 98.7% of cases, with nonoperative management the optimal strategy in 1.3% of cases (Figure 3). Conclusions: The primary findings of this systematic review and cost-effectiveness analysis were as follows: 1) when compared to nonoperative management, arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) substantially reduces the risk of recurrent dislocations, 2) ABR results in greater shoulder function and higher WOSI scores than does nonoperative management, and 3) despite substantially higher upfront costs, ABR proved to be more cost-effective than an initial trial of nonoperative management, which can be attributed to both fewer recurrent dislocations and greater utility over the long-term.

Objectives: Traumatic lateral patellar dislocation is frequently associated with cartilage lesions, particularly of the patella and lateral femoral condyle (LFC). Multiple treatment options to address these chondral lesions including debridement, microfracture, cartilage restoration with allo- or autograft, and osteotomies can be utilized at the index patellar stabilization surgery, or in a staged fashion. However, these additional procedures are not without increased morbidity and long-term benefit has not been well elucidated. In patients with traumatic chondral lesions associated with patellofemoral instability (PFI), meniscal coverage of the lesion and intervention to eliminate further patellar instability may be all that is required for a successful outcome. Thus rendering the increased time, morbidity, and cost of chondral procedures unjustified in this setting. The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes of patients with LFC chondral lesions after traumatic patellar dislocations and whether meniscus coverage of the lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has an impact on patient outcomes. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to compare outcomes for patients with LFC lesions following acute patellar dislocation treated surgically at a single institution. MRI, operative reports, and intraoperative imaging were reviewed to assess for LFC lesions. Size of the LFC lesion and evaluation of meniscus coverage was measured in the coronal plane on T2 MRI sequences (Figure 1). Patient charts were reviewed to follow postoperative rehabilitation and clinical course. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) were obtained using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm Knee score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Tegner Activity score. Results: A total of 228 patients underwent surgical stabilization for patellar instability from 2001 to 2022, 81 of which had an LFC lesion identified on MRI and confirmed intraoperatively. Seven of these patients underwent a concomitant cartilage restoration procedure (3 internal fixation of osteochondral fragment, 2 microfracture, 1 osteochondral allograft, and 1 MACI) and they were excluded from the study leaving 74 patients. In assessing meniscus coverage of the chondral lesion, 10 of these lesions had no meniscus coverage, 8 had 1-50% coverage, and 56 had 51-100% coverage. The average size of the chondral lesion was 7.1 ± 2.9 mm and the majority were in the anterior one-third of the LFC. Average follow up from the index surgery was 7.6 years (range, 2.2-15.2 years). During this time frame, 12 patients had subsequent knee surgeries, none of which were to address the LFC lesion (Table 2). Postoperatively, nearly all patients reported improvement in their pain with an average VAS pain decrease of 3.7 points. There were no significant differences in PROMs in patients with meniscus coverage versus those without (Table 2). At the time of final follow-up, four patients had radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) within the lateral compartment, and one underwent a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The patient that underwent a TKA had no meniscal coverage of their chondral lesion at the time of their index procedure. Conclusions: Cartilage lesions secondary to traumatic lateral patellar dislocation are common; however, appropriate management of these lesions remains unclear. The present findings suggest that not surgically addressing chondral lesions in patients with overlying meniscus coverage can allow for high functional outcomes and minimal pain after patellar stabilization procedures. Although only four patients progressed to radiographic evidence of OA, long term data will be valuable to understand whether overlying meniscus coverage is also protective against the development of OA and progression to TKA.