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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze clinical outcomes in patients who underwent posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (PCLR) with and without remnant preservation., Methods: A search of the literature was performed with the established medical databases Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Register. Two authors screened the selected articles for title, abstract, and full text in accordance with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were as follows: English-language articles on isolated posterior cruciate ligament injury; clinical trials with a clear description of surgical technique; outcome evaluation using a well-defined knee score, arthrometry, and posterior stress radiography; follow-up longer than 2 years; and a Coleman Methodology Score (CMS) of 65 points or greater. The methodologic quality of all articles was assessed by 2 authors according to the CMS., Results: Eleven studies were included, with a mean CMS of 78.9 points (SD, 5.37 points). There was no direct comparative study between remnant-preserving PCLR and standard PCLR. At final follow-up, the knees of 72% to 100% of patients who underwent remnant-preserving PCLR and 41% to 95% of patients who underwent standard PCLR were rated as normal or nearly normal on the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee assessment. Patients who underwent remnant-preserving PCLR showed an increase of 16.4 to 47 points in Lysholm scores, and patients who underwent standard PCLR showed an increase of 22 to 29 points. The ranges of mean postoperative side-to-side differences on KT-1000 (MEDmetric, San Diego, CA) testing were 0.7 to 2.8 mm in patients who underwent remnant-preserving PCLR and 1 to 3.5 mm in patients who underwent standard PCLR. The ranges of mean postoperative side-to-side differences on stress radiography were 2.2 to 5 mm in patients who underwent remnant-preserving PCLR and 4.7 to 6 mm in patients who underwent standard PCLR., Conclusions: All studies on PCLR with remnant preservation showed satisfactory outcomes despite using numerous surgical techniques, graft types, intervals from injury to surgery, and follow-up periods., Level of Evidence: Level IV, systematic review of Level II through IV studies., (Copyright © 2015 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was (1) to evaluate the radiographic features to differentiate arthroscopically confirmed complete and incomplete discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) (2) to determine the cutoff values for any parameter that was found to differentiate complete from incomplete DLM., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed plain knee radiographs of 130 arthroscopically proven DLM. Seventy-nine patients had complete DLM and 51 patients incomplete DLM. Knee radiographs from 52 patients with arthroscopically proven normal lateral meniscus acted as control group. Radiographic parameters measured included fibular height, lateral joint space, condylar cutoff sign, height of lateral tibial spine, obliquity of lateral tibial spine, squaring of the lateral femoral condyle, and cupping of the lateral tibial plateau., Results: Among radiographic parameters, high fibular head, widening of the lateral joint space and femoral condylar cutoff sign showed statistically significant (p<0.0001) differences between complete and incomplete DLM. At specific threshold points of fibular height<11 mm, lateral joint space>6 mm and condylar cutoff sign<0.80, the diagnosis of complete DLM revealed 87.3% sensitivity, 81.6% specificity and 78.4% positive predictive value (PPV) for the fibular height, 81.0% sensitivity, 86.6% specificity and 83.1% PPV for the lateral joint space, and 86.1% sensitivity, 83.5% specificity and 80% PPV for the condylar cutoff sign., Conclusions: Radiographic features of fibular height, lateral joint space and condylar cut off sign can be used for screening of a complete type of DLM. However, radiographs are not a reliable screening tool for an incomplete DLM., Level of Evidence: IV, Case Series., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The purpose of this prospective, randomized, computed tomography-based study was to investigate whether the press-fit technique reduces tunnel volume enlargement (TVE) and improves the clinical outcome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction at a minimum follow-up of 1 year compared with conventional technique., Methods: Sixty-nine patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction using hamstring autografts were randomly allocated to either the press-fit technique group (group A) or conventional technique group (group B). All patients were evaluated for TVE and tunnel widening using computed tomography scanning, for functional outcome using International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm scores, for rotational stability using the pivot-shift test, and for anterior laxity using the KT-2000 arthrometer at a minimum of 1-year follow-up., Results: There were no significant differences in TVE between the 2 groups. In group A, in which the press-fit technique was used, mean volume enlargement in the femoral tunnel was 65% compared with 71.5% in group B (P = .84). In group A, 57% (20 of 35) of patients developed femoral TVE compared with 67% (23 of 34) of patients in group B (P = .27). Both groups showed no significant difference for functional outcome (mean Lysholm score P = .73, International Knee Documentation Committee score P = .15), or knee laxity (anterior P = .78, rotational P = .22) at a minimum follow-up of 1 year., Conclusions: In a comparison of press-fit and conventional techniques, there were no significant differences in TVE and clinical outcome at short-term follow-up., Level of Evidence: Level II, therapeutic study, prospective randomized clinical trial., (Copyright © 2013 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We present a case of a 13-year-old male patient with hip pain and limp. Inconclusive investigations and persistent symptoms resulted in the patient undergoing hip arthroscopy. At arthroscopy, a large focal cartilaginous defect of the femoral head with synovitis was seen and synovial biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Arthroscopic debridement of the lesion, synovectomy and non-weight bearing for 6 weeks resulted in relief of symptoms. Transient synovitis is a common diagnosis in young children, but the extent of damage to the femoral head has not been previously described. Transient synovitis may not always respond to symptomatic treatment and hip arthroscopy may be useful in detecting the actual lesion and plan the treatment.

Synovial cysts are well-defined fluid filled cysts that can extend for a variable distance outside the joint space. These cysts can sometimes grow to a large size making its treatment challenging especially when associated with intra-articular pathologies. We describe a case of giant synovial cyst arising from the left knee and extending to the medial proximal calf in a 77-year old female who presented with knee joint pain, episodes of locking and calf mass occurring within 2 months of onset. Imaging studies also showed associated medial and lateral meniscal tears with medial compartment and patellofemoral osteoarthritis. The cyst was treated by disrupting the valvular mechanism using a standard posteromedial portal and complete excision of the cyst wall via a posteromedial cystic portal. The meniscal lesions were dealt with through the standard anterior portals. At 25-month follow up there were no signs of recurrence of the cyst clinically or with MRI. The cystic portal technique is effective in treating a giant synovial cyst of the knee even in the presence of meniscal tears and high grade chondral lesions.

Abstract: Ganglion cysts of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are uncommon lesions found incidentally on MRI and arthroscopy. Twenty patients (11 males and nine females) with the mean age of 35 years presenting with a variety of knee signs and symptoms were found to have PCL cysts on MRI. Out of these, thirteen patients (65%) had isolated symptomatic PCL cysts and seven patients had associated chondral and meniscal lesions. Eight out of the 20 patients (40%) gave a history of antecedent trauma. On arthroscopy, the majority of the cysts were situated at the midsubstance of the ligament with inter-cruciate distension and no involvement of the substance of the ligament. The content of the cysts varied with the majority having yellowish viscous fluid and three containing serous and bloody fluid. All cysts were successfully treated arthroscopically through standard anterior, posteromedial and posterolateral portals with no signs of recurrence on MRI at a mean followup of 24 months. PCL cysts may clinically mimic meniscal or chondral lesions and preoperatively, MRI is essential for the diagnosis of ganglion cysts arising from the PCL. Ganglion cysts of the PCL can be successfully treated arthroscopically using standard portals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An isolated symptomatic posterior cruciate ligament cyst is uncommon, and extra-articular communication of this cyst is extremely rare. We report a case of a symptomatic communicating posterior cruciate ligament cyst presenting as a central popliteal mass. In view of the large extra-articular extension of this cyst and its close proximity to the popliteal neurovascular structures, we successfully treated this cyst with a combined arthroscopic and open approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was (1) to evaluate the radiographic features to differentiate arthroscopically confirmed complete and incomplete discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) (2) to determine the cutoff values for any parameter that was found to differentiate complete from incomplete DLM. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed plain knee radiographs of 130 arthroscopically proven DLM. Seventy-nine patients had complete DLM and 51 patients incomplete DLM. Knee radiographs from 52 patients with arthroscopically proven normal lateral meniscus acted as control group. Radiographic parameters measured included fibular height, lateral joint space, condylar cutoff sign, height of lateral tibial spine, obliquity of lateral tibial spine, squaring of the lateral femoral condyle, and cupping of the lateral tibial plateau. Results: Among radiographic parameters, high fibular head, widening of the lateral joint space and femoral condylar cutoff sign showed statistically significant (p < 0.0001) differences between complete and incomplete DLM. At specific threshold points of fibular height< 11mm, lateral joint space > 6mm and condylar cutoff sign< 0.80, the diagnosis of complete DLM revealed 87.3% sensitivity, 81.6% specificity and 78.4% positive predictive value (PPV) for the fibular height, 81.0% sensitivity, 86.6% specificity and 83.1% PPV for the lateral joint space, and 86.1% sensitivity, 83.5% specificity and 80% PPV for the condylar cutoff sign. Conclusions: Radiographic features of fibular height, lateral joint space and condylar cut off sign can be used for screening of a complete type of DLM. However, radiographs are not a reliable screening tool for an incomplete DLM. Level of evidence: IV, Case Series [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]