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Background: Discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) is the most common congenital abnormality of the meniscus. Tears are common; treatment is frequently not definitive, often requiring reoperation. Purpose: To report the clinical manifestations, physical characteristics, operative treatments and findings, complications, and reoperations of DLM in pediatric patients from multiple centers across North America. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent treatment for symptomatic DLM at 9 institutions between 2000 and 2020 were included. Patient data, presenting symptoms and signs, surgical findings, treatments rendered, and postoperative complications, including reoperation rates, were collected. Means with ranges and counts with proportions are reported for continuous and categorical variables, respectively, and comparisons were made using either the chi-square or Fisher exact test. Results: In total, 784 patients (867 knees) were included with a mean age at diagnosis of 12 years (range, 1-22 years) and a mean follow-up of 22.6 months (range, 0-154 months). Common preoperative symptoms were locking (33%) and snapping (30%). At surgery, tears in the DLM were present in 647 knees (594 patients [76%]); 95 knees (11%) had multiple tears; and in 140 knees, tears extended into >1 zone. Tears, when present, were more common within the posterior horn (41%) or body (34%) than the anterior horn (25%). Peripheral rim instability was reported in 241 knees (28%). Significantly more knees had instability posteriorly (15%; P =.0004) and anteriorly (9%; P =.0013) than along the body (3%). Tear type was most commonly complex (38%) or horizontal (34%). A total of 358 knees in 333 patients with tears (42% of all patients) underwent repair (55% of knees with tears). A total of 175 complications were reported, occurring in 139 knees in 134 patients (17%); 116 of these knees with complications (83%) had a single complication, while 23 (17%) had >1. Of the 784 patients, 105 (13%) underwent reoperation, undergoing 135 additional procedures related to their DLM. Of those, 60 (44%) were repeat arthroscopy and meniscal trim; 40 (30%), arthroscopy and meniscal repair; and 17 (13%), an articular cartilage procedure. Conclusion: Locking and snapping were common presenting symptoms. Over three-quarters of patients had meniscal tears, which were most often complex and located posteriorly. Seventeen percent of patients experienced complications, and a sixth of patients with complications had >1. Reoperation was typically for persistent symptoms or meniscal retear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patellofemoral instability is associated with chondral injuries to the patella, trochlea, and lateral femoral condyle. Although studies have demonstrated an association between patellar dislocations and chondral injuries, the influence of the number of dislocations on chondrosis is not established. Purpose: To elucidate the precise association between the number of patellar dislocation events and the severity of chondral injuries in a multicenter cohort study at the time of patellar stabilization procedures. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study (JUPITER [Justifying Patellar Instability Treatment by Early Results]) database was queried for cases of primary patellofemoral instability procedures from December 2016 to September 2022. Cartilage lesions were classified using the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) classification system during an arthroscopic or open evaluation (direct visualization), with grades 2 to 4 considered abnormal. The number of dislocations was categorized as 1, 2-5, and >5. Categorical variables were compared with the chi-square test, and binary logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of the presence of chondral lesions. Results: A total of 938 knees (mean age, 16.2 ± 3.8 years; 61.4% female) were included, with 580 (61.8%) demonstrating a chondral injury. The most affected region was the patella (n = 498 [53.1%]), followed by the lateral femoral condyle (n = 117 [12.5%]) and trochlea (n = 109 [11.6%]). There were no differences in the presence (P =.17) or grade (P =.63) of patellar lesions by the number of dislocations. Patients with >5 dislocations more frequently had trochlear chondral lesions (19.8%) compared with those with fewer dislocations (1, 7.6%; 2-5, 11.0%; P <.001). More dislocations were also associated with a higher proportion of ICRS grade 2 to 4 trochlear lesions (>5, 15.3%; 2-5, 10.0%; 1, 6.9%; P =.015). Combined patellar and trochlear lesions were also more common in those with >5 dislocations (P =.001). In multivariable regression, >5 dislocations was the only variable predictive of a trochlear lesion (odds ratio, 3.03 [95% CI, 1.65-5.58]; P <.001). Conclusion: This large prospective cohort study demonstrated that recurrent patellar dislocations can lead to more severe chondral damage in specific locations in the knee. More than 5 dislocations was associated with a >3-fold increase in the incidence and severity of trochlear chondral injuries. There were no differences in the presence or grade of patellar lesions by the number of dislocations. These findings should caution surgeons regarding prolonged nonoperative treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric patellar instability can impair function and restrict activity participation. If left untreated, it can lead to a degenerative knee. The incidence of patellar dislocations is highest in adolescents between 10 and 17 years of age; more than half of all first-time patellar dislocations occur during sports. This article reviews the evidence of risk factors for traumatic patellar instability, surgical interventions, and return-to-sport (RTS) considerations for pediatric and adolescent athletes. Anatomic risk factors for patellar instability in pediatric and adolescent patients include trochlear dysplasia, elevated tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance, patella alta, genu valgum, femoral anteversion and tibial torsion, and hyperlaxity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hemi-epiphysiodesis procedures in skeletally immature patients are commonly done to correct genu valgum over time. This study seeks to demonstrate the average rate of deformity correction for genu valgum using hinged tension band plates, while examining different age groups and sex-related differences. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent hemi-epiphysiodesis with hinged tension band plates for valgus knee deformity from 2012 to 2022 by one pediatric orthopaedic surgeon was performed. Expected time of growth remaining was calculated as the difference between age of skeletal maturity and bone age at time of surgery. The mechanical lateral distal femoral angle, mechanical medial proximal tibial angle, mechanical femoral tibia angle, screw divergence angle, and hinge angle were measured immediately after implant placement and prior to implant removal. Results: 54 skeletally immature patients were treated for pathologic genu valgum. The mean age at time of surgery was 12.5 ± 1.9 years. The radiographic measurement of the valgus deformity between the beginning and end of treatment showed significant correction (p = 0.002). The lower limb axis of the younger cohort corrected significantly faster (7.5 ± 4.6°/year) than the older cohort (5.3 ± 2.8°/year) (p = 0.030). The mechanical lateral distal femoral angle correction rate was also significantly different between the two cohorts (7.0 ± 4.7°/year vs. 4.8 ± 2.8°/year, respectively (p = 0.002)). The group with greater expected time of growth remaining demonstrated a significantly faster rate of correction than the group with less than 2 years of growth remaining (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study reaffirms the finding that timing is essential when performing temporary hemi-epiphysiodesis for valgus knee deformity in skeletally immature patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in active, skeletally immature patients is increasing. Although hamstring tendon autograft (HTA) was previously deemed the gold standard, recent studies have shown HTA to have a high failure rate in this high-risk population of young competitive athletes, and quadriceps tendon autograft (QTA) has yielded excellent preliminary outcomes in some studies examining this population. Purpose: To evaluate 3-year clinical and patient-reported functional outcomes of primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR) with soft tissue QTA in skeletally immature patients. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Skeletally immature patients who underwent ACLR with a full-thickness soft tissue QTA were included. Preoperative patient and surgical data were collected. The ACLR technique was selected predicated upon skeletal age and included all-epiphyseal and complete transphyseal techniques. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years with successive clinical visits or were contacted via telephone. Patients who did not have minimum 2-year follow-up after 3 contact attempts via telephone were excluded. Information regarding return to sports (RTS) and concomitant or subsequent surgical procedures was collected. Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (Pedi-IKDC), Hospital for Special Surgery Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS), and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) scores were collected. Results: Of 85 adolescent patients aged 11.1 to 17.6 years (mean age, 14.1 ± 1.2 years), 2 patients were determined to be lost to follow-up after 3 failed contact attempts. Of the patients included in this study (N = 83), 26 patients (31%) underwent all-epiphyseal and 57 patients (69%) underwent complete transphyseal ACLR. Additionally, 48 patients (58%) underwent concomitant lateral extra-articular tenodesis using the iliotibial band with a modified Lemaire technique. The mean follow-up time was 3.7 ± 1.2 years (range, 2-7 years). Twenty (24%) patients had subsequent surgical procedures, of which 3 (4%) were due to graft failures. At a mean 3-year follow-up, the mean Pedi-IKDC, HSS Pedi-FABS, and SANE scores were 90, 23, and 94 respectively; the RTS rate was 100%; and the rate of RTS at the previous level of performance was 93%. Conclusion: Use of a soft tissue QTA for ALCR in a high-risk skeletally immature population of athletes resulted in excellent postoperative outcomes with low rates of graft failure and high return to sport rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]