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Background: An increased tibial slope (TS) has been identified as a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and graft failure after ACL reconstruction. However, different imaging modalities are used to determine the TS, resulting in divergent values. Consequently, no reference values and no consensus on thresholds can be reached, which in turn is mandatory for indicating correction osteotomies when facing outlier TS. Purpose: To determine the mean values of the TS and the incidence of their outliers in large cohorts of patients with ACL-injured and noninjured knees and to determine the feasibility of measuring TS on conventional lateral radiographs (CLRs). Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence 3. Methods: TS of ACL-injured knees (n = 1000, group A) and ACL-intact knees (n = 1000, group B) was measured by 3 experienced examiners. Medial TS was measured on CLRs using the technique of Dejour and Bonnin. Patients with radiographs with poor image quality, osteoarthritis, previous osteotomies, or nondigital radiographs were excluded. The intra- and interrater reliability was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: The mean TS was significantly higher in group A than in group B (10.04°± 3° [range, 2°-22°] vs 9.02°± 2.9° [range, 1°-18°], respectively; P <.001). Significantly more participants in group A had TS larger than 12° (≥12°, 32.2% vs 19.8%, P <.001; ≥13°, 20.9% vs 11.1%, P <.001; ≥14°, 13.5% vs 5.7%, P <.001; ≥15°, 8% vs 2.7%, P <.001; ≥16°, 3.7% vs 1.4%, P =.0005), respectively. In contrast, significantly more participatns in group B had TS 8° or less (≤8°, 32.1% vs 42.7%, P <.001; ≤7°, 20% vs 30.9%, P <.001; ≤6°, 12.4% vs 19.8%, P <.001; ≤5°, 6.6% vs 12%, P =.0003; ≤4°, 2.8% vs 5.3%, P =.0045). The intraclass correlation coefficient revealed a good to excellent reliability throughout measurements. Conclusion: Median values for the TS were 9° for uninjured and 10° for ACL-injured knees on CLRs. Notwithstanding its statistical significance, this finding might be negligible in clinical practice. However, a significantly larger number of outliers were found in the ACL-injured group exceeding a TS of 12° and demonstrating an incremental proportion with increasing TS, serving as a potential threshold for correction osteotomy. Furthermore, CLRs in the largest cohort to date exhibited high reproducibility, proving the feasibility of CLRs as a routine measurement for TS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The anterior half of the peroneus longus tendon (AHPLT) has been reported to be a suitable autograft for ligament reconstruction with low donor-site morbidity. However, clinical data on graft size are limited. Purpose: To determine (1) if there is any difference in size between the AHPLT and semitendinosus tendon (ST) and (2) whether anthropometric measurements can predict autograft size. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 128 consecutive patients scheduled for knee ligament reconstruction were prospectively enrolled. Patients were treated with AHPLT (50%) or ST (50%). Data included anthropometric measurements and intraoperatively recorded graft size. A Student t test was used to determine differences between the groups. Bivariate correlation coefficients and multivariate regression analyses were calculated to identify relationships between graft size and anthropometric measurements. Results: The AHPLT and ST groups were equally distributed according to age, sex, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). The quadrupled graft length for the AHPLT was 7.3 ± 0.6 cm as compared with 7.5 ± 0.7 cm for the ST (P <.05). The quadrupled graft diameter was 7.7 ± 0.8 mm for the AHPLT and 8.0 ± 0.7 mm for the ST (P <.05). Height had a moderate (r = 0.57) to high (r = 0.68) correlation with AHPLT and ST length, respectively (P <.01). Weight had a moderate correlation (r = 0.43) with AHPLT diameter (P <.01) but only a weak correlation (r = 0.19) with ST diameter (P >.05). A significant interaction effect of BMI and thigh circumference on ST graft diameter was found, which showed that the effect of thigh circumference on ST graft diameter decreased significantly as BMI increased (P <.05). This moderating effect of BMI could not be observed for the coefficient of shank circumference on AHPLT graft diameter (P >.05). Conclusion: (1) The peroneus longus split tendon provides a reliable autograft size for knee ligament reconstructions. It was prone to be slightly shorter and thinner than the ST. (2) Patient height was the strongest predictor for AHPLT and ST graft length. However, predicting graft diameter based on thigh or shank circumference was more challenging, with higher BMIs affecting the ability to predict ST more than AHPLT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study on analyzing rotational limb alignment in patients with patellofemoral instability using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and comparing them with the reports of individuals with a previous patellar dislocation. It concludes that few patients with nontraumatic patellar instability have greater internal femoral and greater knee rotation, and a tendency for genu valgum as compared to healthy individuals.

Background: Sterilization of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) allografts is an important prerequisite to prevent disease transmission. However, mechanical tissue properties are compromised by most current sterilization procedures, so that uncompromised sterilization of allografts is difficult to achieve. Hypothesis/Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the novel electron beam sterilization procedure on the biomechanical properties of human patellar tendon allografts at various irradiation dosages. Electron beam sterilization may be an appropriate alternative to gamma sterilization. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Thirty-two human 10-mm wide bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts were randomized into 4 groups of sterilization with 15, 25, or 34 kGy of electron beam irradiation, respectively. The grafts' biomechanical properties were evaluated at time zero. Unsterilized grafts functioned as controls. Biomechanical properties were analyzed during cyclic and load-to-failure testing. Results: Strain and cyclic elongation response showed no significant differences between the groups. Electron beam irradiation had no significant effect on stiffness and failure load with the exception of 34 kGy, which resulted in a significant decrease in failure load (1300.6 ± 229.2 N) compared with unsterilized grafts (1630.5 ± 331.1 N). Conclusion: This study showed that electron beam might be an appropriate alternative in sterilization of patellar tendon allografts with minimal effect on mechanical properties of tendon grafts in vitro. Future studies will have to evaluate the effect of the process on the biological properties of allografts in vitro and in vivo. Clinical Relevance: Terminal sterilization of patellar tendon allografts with electron beam irradiation can ensure higher safety of transplanted grafts and hence improve patient safety and acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts of studies related to sports medicine. The studies include "Treatment of Patellofemoral Cartilage Defects Utilizing a 3D Collagen Gel: Two-Year Clinical Results," "Graft Type-Related Versus Graft Type-Unrelated ACL Treatment: Influence on Adaptation of Muscle Strength and Motor Skills" and "Combined Treatment of Medial Gonarthrosis and ACL Insufficiency With Unicondylar Knee Replacement and ACL Reconstruction."

The article presents abstracts on sports medicine research-related topics which include the clinical outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in skeletally immature children and adolescents, the possibility of return to preinjury activities following surgical stabilization of the patellofemoral joint after patellar dislocation, and the muscular imbalances of the trunk in professional volleyball players.