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To evaluate whether preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of multiple tendon autograft sources could be used to improve estimates of intraoperative hamstring tendon autograft (HTA) diameter.Patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with HTA at our institution were identified through electronic health records. Preoperative MRI tendon measurements of the patellar tendon (PT) length, PT width, PT thickness, quadriceps tendon thickness, semitendinosus tendon (ST) cross-sectional area (CSA), and gracilis tendon (GT) CSA were conducted by 2 independent evaluators using digital imaging measurement tools.A total of 53 patients met the inclusion criteria, with a mean HTA diameter of 7.98 ± 0.7 mm. Height greater than 1.63 m, weight greater than 63.4 kg, PT length greater than 4.2 cm, PT thickness greater than 0.33 cm, ST CSA greater than 10.8 mmBy combining PT length and PT thickness measurements with GT CSA measurements in a logit function model, we were able to show improved overall specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of estimated HTA diameters in our data set when compared with assessments of anthropometric, ST CSA, GT CSA, or combined ST-GT CSA measurements in isolation.Preoperative MRI measurements may be used to screen whether a patient is likely to have an 8-mm graft in the setting of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with HTA and thus may help guide graft choice.

Background: Despite increased awareness for promoting diversity, orthopaedics remains one of the least diverse specialties. Studying health care providers in women’s professional sports provides a unique opportunity to analyze gender and racial diversity. Hypotheses: There would be low female and minority representation across the various women’s professional sports leagues. There would be an increased number of female head certified athletic trainers (ATCs) when compared with head team physicians (HTPs). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: We evaluated the perceived race and sex of designated HTPs and ATCs in the Women’s National Basketball Association, National Women’s Soccer League, and National Women’s Hockey League. Type of doctorate degree, specialty, and years in practice were also collected. Kappa (κ) coefficient measurements were used to determine interobserver agreement on race. Categorical and continuous variables were analyzed using chi-square and t tests, respectively. Results: There were significantly more female ATCs than female HTPs (74.1% vs 37.5%; P = .01). Minority representation between HTPs and ATCs was not significantly different (20.8% vs 40.7%; P = .13). Black HTPs (12.5%) and Black ATCs (22.2%) composed the largest proportion among the minority groups. There was high interobserver agreement of perceived race across HTPs (κ = 1.0) and ATCs (κ = 0.95). Conclusion: Although there were more female ATCs than HTPs in women’s professional sports leagues, both cohorts lack perceived racial diversity. These data suggest an opportunity for diversification in medical and training staff of women’s professional sports.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly disrupted athletic activities, including those in the Pacific 12 (Pac-12) Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It is currently unknown how the disruption in training and competition impacted athletes’ risk of injury upon resumption of activities. Purpose: To describe and compare the rate, timing, mechanism, and severity of injuries among collegiate athletes across multiple sports in the Pac-12 Conference before and after the COVID-19 pandemic–associated hiatus of intercollegiate athletic activities. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Descriptive and injury data among intercollegiate athletes from both the season before the hiatus and the season after the hiatus were acquired from the Pac-12 Health Analytics Program database. Injury elements (timing of injury onset, injury severity, mechanism, recurrence, outcome, need for procedural intervention, and event segment during which the injury took place) were compared by time using the chi-square test and a multivariate logistic regression model. Subgroup analyses were performed on knee and shoulder injuries among athletes participating in sports with traditionally high rates of knee and shoulder injuries. Results: A total of 12,319 sports-related injuries across 23 sports were identified, with 7869 pre-hiatus injuries and 4450 post-hiatus injuries. There was no difference in the overall incidence of injury between the pre-hiatus and post-hiatus seasons. However, the proportion of noncontact injuries was higher in the post-hiatus season for football, baseball, and softball players, and the proportion of nonacute injuries in the post-hiatus season was higher among football, basketball, and rowing athletes. Finally, the overall proportion of injuries sustained by football players in the final 25% of competition or practice was higher in the post-hiatus season. Conclusion: Athletes competing in the post-hiatus season were observed to have higher rates of noncontact injuries and injuries sustained in the final 25% of competition. This study demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic has had varied effects on athletes from different sports, suggesting that many factors must be considered when designing return-to-sports programs for athletes after an extended absence from organized training.

Chronic patellar dislocation in the setting of severe knee osteoarthritis is a rare clinical problem. Surgical management often consists of total knee arthroplasty combined with realignment of the extensor mechanism. Several techniques have been described to anatomically restore the extensor apparatus, and literature regarding this topic consists mainly of case reports. We describe a technique using combined medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction using allograft tissue and total knee arthroplasty with patellar resurfacing for the treatment of chronic patellar dislocation and severe osteoarthritis.

Operative procedures near the distal femoral physis can result in iatrogenic damage if one is not familiar with the complex anatomy of the growth plate. The purpose of this study was to use physeal-specific MRI sequences to delineate the anatomic dimensions of the distal femoral physis.Sixty patients underwent physeal-specific spoiled gradient 3-D fat saturated (SPGR) MRI analysis of a single knee. Three age groups (eight to 10, 11-13, and 14-16 years) comprised of equal numbers (n = 20) of boys and girls were evaluated. Using the SPGR coronal sequence, the distance of the physis to the femoral articular cartilage was recorded at the medial, mid-medial, notch, mid-lateral and lateral margins of the knee. Coronal measurements were recorded at four locations along the sagittal sequence, as the anteroposterior dimension of the knee was divided into equal quartiles.While little variation in shape was observed in the anterior quartile, the remaining quartiles demonstrated significant variability that increased moving posteriorly (p .001), therefore reflecting a more concave shape in the posterior aspect of the femur. These observations were statistically significant for age at the posterior two quartiles.These MRI data suggest that while the physis is linear in the anterior part of the femur, it possesses a more concave shape in the posterior aspect of the medial and lateral condyles. Findings were preserved across gender and age. Ultimately, these data can aid in preoperative planning and should be considered when performing operative procedures in the skeletally immature knee.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the current basic science and clinical literature on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy for articular cartilage defects and osteoarthritis of the knee. RECENT FINDINGS: MSCs derived from bone marrow, adipose, and umbilical tissue have the capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into the chondrocyte lineage. In theory, MSC therapy may help restore cartilage focally or diffusely where nascent regenerative potential in the intra-articular environment is limited. Over the last several years, in vitro and animal studies have elucidated the use of MSCs in isolation as injectables, in combination with biological delivery media and scaffolding, and as surgical adjuvants for cartilage regeneration and treatment of knee degenerative conditions. More recently, clinical and translational literature has grown more convincing from early descriptive case series to randomized controlled trials showing promise in efficacy and safety. Studies describing MSC for knee cartilage regeneration applications are numerous and varied in quality. Future research directions should include work on elucidating optimal cell concentration and dosing, as well as standardization in methodology and reporting in prospective trials. SUMMARY: Backed by promise from in vitro and animal studies, preliminary clinical evidence on MSC therapy shows promise as a nonoperative therapeutic option or an adjuvant to existing surgical cartilage restoration techniques. While higher quality evidence to support MSC therapy has emerged over the last several years, further refinement of methodology will be necessary to support its routine clinical use.

Background: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a rare injury that affects Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers and is often corrected with surgical resection of the first rib. There are limited return-to-play (RTP) data for this surgery in MLB pitchers. Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that MLB pitchers who undergo first rib resection for TOS will show (1) a high rate of RTP, (2) no difference in postoperative career length compared with controls, (3) no difference in pre- and postoperative performance, and (4) no difference in postoperative performance compared with controls. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated MLB pitchers with neurogenic or vascular TOS who underwent rib resection surgery between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2019. Players were identified through public injury reports from press releases, the MLB website, MLB team injury reports, and blogs. A demographics- and performance-matched control group was generated for comparison. Each player in the control group was given an index year that corresponded to the surgery year of the case group. Performance data included innings pitched (IP), games played (GP), earned run average (ERA), complete GP, shutouts, saves, hits, runs, home runs (HR), walks, strikeouts (K), walks plus hits per IP (WHIP), and earned runs (ER). Results: We identified 26 MLB pitchers who underwent rib resection for neurogenic or vascular TOS; 21 players (81%) had a successful RTP. Pitchers were 30 ± 3.6 years old at the time of surgery and had played 6.2 ± 3.5 seasons before undergoing surgery. Average postoperative career length was 3.1 ± 2.0 seasons, with an average time from surgery to RTP being 10 ± 4.7 months. Pitchers who RTP showed no significant differences in performance metrics compared with controls. Players pitch 0.94 ( P < .05) more IP/GP in the season directly following RTP compared with the season before surgical intervention. Conclusion: MLB pitchers undergoing rib resection for TOS demonstrated (1) high RTP rates following rib resection, (2) no difference in postoperative career length compared with controls, (3) improvement in postoperative performance, and (4) no difference in postoperative performance compared with controls.

Background: The ability to predict meniscus tear reparability based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is desirable for postoperative planning; however, the accuracy of predictive methods varies widely within the orthopaedic and radiology literature. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose was to determine if the higher resolution offered by 3-T MRI improves the accuracy of predicting reparability compared with previous investigations using 1.5-T MRI. Our hypothesis was that a higher field strength of 3-T MRI would result in improved reliability assessments and predictions of meniscus tear reparability compared with previous studies utilizing a 1.5-T MRI platform. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 44 patients who underwent meniscus repair were matched by age, sex, and body mass index to 43 patients who underwent partial meniscectomy. Overall, 2 orthopaedic surgeons and 2 musculoskeletal radiologists independently and blindly reviewed the preoperative MRI scans for all 87 patients. For each meniscus tear, reviewers evaluated the following criteria: tear pattern, tear length, tear distance from the meniscocapsular junction, tear thickness, and integrity of any inner meniscal fragment. The resultant data were then applied to 5 different approaches for predicting meniscal reparability. Results: The accuracy for all examined prediction methods was poor, ranging from 55% (3-point method) to 72% (classification tree method) among all reviewers. Interobserver reliability for examined criteria was also poor, with kappa values ranging from 0.07 (inner meniscal fragment status) to 0.40 (tear pattern). Conclusion: MRI continues to be a poor predictor of meniscus tear reparability as assessed by arthroscopic criteria, even when using higher resolution 3-T scanners. Interobserver reliability in this setting can be poor, even among experienced clinicians.

Although most patients who undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction achieve long-term functional stability and symptom relief, graft rupture rates range from 2% to 10%(1,2). A small subset of these patients require a 2-stage revision ACL reconstruction because of tunnel osteolysis or tunnel malposition that will interfere with the planned revision tunnel placement(3). In the present article, we describe the hybrid use of arthroscopically delivered injectable allograft matrix in the femur and pre-shaped bone dowels in the tibia for the treatment of lower-extremity bone deficiencies. DESCRIPTION: After induction of anesthesia, approximately 60 cc of bone marrow aspirate is harvested from the anterior iliac crest with use of sterile techniques and is processed to obtain bone marrow aspirate concentrate. Routine diagnostic knee arthroscopy is performed via the standard anterolateral and anteromedial portals. Any additional intra-articular pathology is addressed, followed by excision of the remnant graft material, removal of existing femoral hardware as needed, and exposure of the existing bone tunnels. The femoral tunnel is debrided arthroscopically, removing all soft-tissue remnants. The existing tibial tunnel is exposed via the previous anteromedial tibial incision when possible. Again, any existing tibial hardware is removed. The tibial tunnel is then prepared with use of a combination of sequential reaming and dilation. A shaver and curets are utilized to debride the sclerotic walls of the tunnel and remove the remnant graft material. A cannulated allograft bone dowel is then impacted into place over a guidewire, ensuring that the graft is not proud within the joint space. An injectable bone allograft matrix composite is prepared by manually mixing 5 mL of StimuBlast demineralized bone matrix (Arthrex) and 5 mL of FlexiGraft cortical fibers (Arthrex), along with the previously obtained bone marrow aspirate concentrate. Under dry arthroscopy, this bone graft is delivered into the femoral tunnel via a cannula with use of the anteromedial portal. Finally, a Freer elevator is used to contour the graft at the aperture of the tunnel. Graft osteointegration is mandatory prior to proceeding with the second stage of the procedure. Typically, a minimum 3-month follow-up is necessary to confirm adequate graft incorporation on computed tomography. ALTERNATIVES: As an alternative to the 2-stage procedure, previous studies have suggested the use of a single-stage revision utilizing cylindrical allografts or multiple “stacked screws.”(4-6) In addition, a number of bone allograft and autograft options have been described. Autologous bone graft can be harvested from the ipsilateral iliac crest or proximal aspect of the tibia with use of a variety of techniques(7-10). Allograft bone options include cancellous bone chips and commercially available bone matrices or dowels(11-14). Finally, another viable option is calcium phosphate bone graft substitutes(15). There is a paucity of high-quality studies comparing available bone graft materials for revision ACL reconstruction; thus, no consensus exists regarding the optimal choice(16). RATIONALE: A 2-stage approach is typically indicated for cases that demonstrate tunnel enlargement (>12 mm) that would compromise graft fixation or non-anatomic tunnel placement that will interfere with placement of the revision tibial tunnel(3). The aim of the first stage is to re-establish adequate bone stock to optimize future tunnel placement and healing of the ACL graft during the second stage. We believe that this 2-stage approach is a reliable and safe method of treating enlarged, irregularly shaped bone tunnel defects while minimizing the risk of complications. Furthermore, the use of allograft material avoids the donor-site morbidity and volume limitations associated with the use of autograft bone. In the case of the femoral tunnel, the injectable bone graft composite has the advantage of being easily delivered arthroscopically while completely filling irregularly shaped tunnels. The use of bone marrow aspirate concentrate may improve the rate of graft healing as well as a hydrating substance to reduce viscosity and facilitate the flow of the bone graft material through the cannula(16,17). For the tibia, especially in cases of lengthy tibial bone deficiencies, allograft bone dowels are commercially available off-the-shelf in a variety of different lengths and diameters to allow for adequate fill of bone defects. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: It is well known that outcomes following revision ACL reconstruction are inferior to those following primary ACL reconstruction, with a number of variables, beyond those associated with the surgical technique, influencing clinical outcomes(18). Few studies have reported on the results of 2-stage revision ACL reconstruction with use of allograft bone; however, a high rate of allograft bone integration and improved bone quality at the time of revision ACL reconstruction have been reported(13). Moreover, Mitchell et al. reported no differences in either subjective outcomes or failure rates between the 1-stage and 2-stage revision ACL reconstruction groups(11). IMPORTANT TIPS: Utilize computed tomography for preoperative assessment and measurement of the extent of osteolysis. If possible, obtain the operative report for the index ACL procedure in order to identify any preexisting hardware and to obtain any instrumentation that may be needed to facilitate hardware removal. Multiple bone dowel sizes are available off the shelf. A 70° arthroscope can aid in visualization of the entire tibial and femoral tunnel. Although the bone graft matrix can be injected while the joint is filled with irrigation fluid, we find it easier to administer the graft under dry arthroscopic conditions. Place the scope inside the tibial tunnel to confirm appropriate removal of soft tissue and hardware. Circumferential native cancellous bone should be visualized. It is acceptable to retain previous hardware if it does not interfere with the new tunnel placement. Utilize prior incisions to access the tibial tunnel. Do not underestimate the amount of bone graft needed for each tunnel. Avoid excessive force during impaction of the dowels. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS: ACLR = Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. BMAC = Bone marrow aspirate concentrate. MRI = Magnetic resonance imaging. CT = Computed tomography. BTB = Bone-patellar tendon-bone. DVT = Deep vein thrombosis. ROM = Range of motion.

Objectives: The ability to predict meniscus tear reparability based on pre-operative MRI is desirable for pre-operative patient counseling. However, the accuracy of MRI-based predictive methods varies widely within the orthopedic and radiology literature. We hypothesized that modern higher resolution 3-Tesla (T) MRI improves the accuracy of predicting reparability compared to prior investigations using 1.5T MRI assessments. Methods: We identified 44 patients (age 16 to 40 years) who were known to have undergone arthroscopic meniscal repair at our institution between the dates of January 1, 2013 and June 1, 2019. The MRI characteristics of this meniscus repair group were then compared to 43 age- and sex-matched patients who underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy during the same time period. 3T MRI images from the repair (Figure 1A) and the partial meniscectomy (Figure 1B) groups were all obtained pre-operatively at the author’s institution. Images from all 87 patients were independently reviewed by two fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists and one orthopedic surgery fellow specializing in sports medicine. Each examiner was blinded with regard to meniscus tear treatment (repair versus partial meniscectomy). Meniscal tear MRI characteristics were evaluated based on established arthroscopic criteria including tear length greater than 10 mm, tear location within 3 mm of the menisco-synovial junction, tear greater than 50% thickness, and the presence of an intact inner meniscal fragment. We then analyzed the predictive accuracy and interrater reliability of this method. Results: With regards to accurately predicting meniscal reparability using the established criteria, the three MRI examiners accurately predicted repair 58% (orthopedist), 60% (radiologist 1), and 63% (radiologist 2) of the time, with respective positive predictive values of 60%, 62%, and 70%. The three examiners agreed upon tear reparability (i.e., a score of 4 versus not 4) only 41% of the time (κ = 0.173, p = .005). For 2 of the examiners (orthopedist and radiologist), none of the individual criteria were significantly predictive of tear reparability. For the 3rd examiner (radiologist), tear location within 3mm of the meniscosynovial junction was the most predictive individual criterion and the only criteria that reached statistical significance (OR = 9.83, p = .04). Conclusions: Although 3T MRI is higher resolution than 1.5T MRI, 3T MR imaging assessments performed by experienced examiners demonstrated a poor ability to predict the reparability of meniscus tears based on the application of previously established arthroscopic criteria. In addition, inter-observer reliability in this setting was also poor. Arthroscopic inspection remains the gold standard for the determination of meniscus tear reparability.

Background: Arthroscopic-assisted meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) has become a viable and effective treatment option for young active patients with postmeniscectomy pain. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is imperative to evaluate the clinical significance of surgical interventions and inform clinical practice guidelines in orthopaedic surgery. Purpose: To perform a systematic review of clinical outcome studies of patients undergoing MAT and compare postoperative improvement with established MCID thresholds. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A systematic review was performed using the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. A meta-analysis was performed using data obtained from studies reporting patient-reported outcomes. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients undergoing isolated lateral MAT using fresh-frozen grafts. Weighted mean postoperative improvements in the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm, and visual analog scale for pain (VAS pain) were calculated and compared with MCID values to determine if they met the MCID threshold. Results: A total of 35 studies were identified, including 1658 unique patients. Weighted mean postoperative score improvements exceeded MCID thresholds for the VAS pain, IKDC, and Lysholm. Subgroup analysis of patients undergoing isolated lateral fresh-frozen MAT demonstrated postoperative improvements exceeding the MCID for the Lysholm and VAS pain. Conclusion: Evaluating postoperative PROMs with respect to the MCID is crucial to evaluate the effect of MAT on functional improvement. The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that postoperative improvements after MAT are clinically meaningful as reflected by PROMs exceeding the MCID threshold for the IKDC, Lysholm, and VAS pain.

Background: Discrepancies in race, ethnicity, and sex among health care providers and their patients have been shown to affect the patient-provider relationship as well as the quality of care. Currently, minority and female representation among orthopaedic surgeons remains low. Given the large proportion of minority athletes and their degree of public visibility, professional sports serves as an important arena within which to analyze the diversity of health care providers. Purpose: To describe and evaluate the current level of diversity of head team physicians (HTPs) and head athletic trainers (ATCs), primarily in terms of race and sex, within men’s professional sports leagues in the United States. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Five major US professional sports leagues were evaluated: National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, and Major League Baseball. Publicly available data were collected to identify the HTPs and head ATCs for each team within these leagues. Two independent observers analyzed photographs and names of these individuals to determine his or her perceived race and sex, with disagreements being resolved by a third independent observer. Other physician data collected included graduate degree(s), specialty, and number of years in practice. Kappa coefficients (κ) were employed to evaluate interobserver reliability. Chi-square, Fisher exact, and t tests were used for statistical comparisons across leagues. Results: The κ values for perceived race were 0.85 for HTPs and 0.89 for head ATCs, representing near-perfect interobserver agreement. Minorities comprised 15.5% of HTPs and 20.7% of ATCs ( P = .24). Women comprised 3.9% of HTPs and 1.3% of head ATCs ( P = .017). The majority of HTPs were orthopaedic surgeons with medical doctorates. Female HTPs had significantly fewer years in practice compared with male HTPs (15.0 ± 4.9 vs 23.1 ± 9.6; P = .04). Conclusion: The lead physicians and athletic training providers for men’s professional sports teams demonstrated low rates of minority and female representation, denoting a highly visible area for discussing the role of increased diversity in health care.

Background: Recent studies demonstrated a 5% increase in cartilage repair procedures annually in the United States. There is currently no consensus regarding a superior technique, nor has there been a comprehensive evaluation of postoperative clinical outcomes with respect to a minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Purpose: To determine the proportion of available cartilage repair studies that meet or exceed MCID values for clinical outcomes improvement over short-, mid-, and long-term follow-up. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review was performed via the Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Available studies were included that investigated clinical outcomes for microfracture (MFX), osteoarticular transfer system (OATS), osteochondral allograft transplantation, and autologous chondrocyte implantation/matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI/MACI) for the treatment of symptomatic knee chondral defects. Cohorts were combined on the basis of surgical intervention by performing a meta-analysis that utilized inverse-variance weighting in a DerSimonian-Laird random effects model. Weighted mean improvements in International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm, and visual analog scale for pain (VAS pain) scores were calculated from preoperative to short- (1-4 years), mid- (5-9 years), and long-term (≥10 years) postoperative follow-up. Mean values were compared with established MCID values per 2-tailed 1-sample Student t tests. Results: A total of 89 studies with 3894 unique patients were analyzed after full-text review. MFX met MCID values for all outcome scores at short- and midterm follow-up with the exception of VAS pain in the midterm. OATS met MCID values for all outcome scores at all available time points; however, long-term data were not available for VAS pain. Osteochondral allograft transplantation met MCID values for IKDC at short- and midterm follow-up and for Lysholm at short-term follow-up, although data were not available for other time points or for VAS pain. ACI/MACI met MCID values for all outcome scores (IKDC, Lysholm, and VAS pain) at all time points. Conclusion: In the age of informed consent, it is important to critically evaluate the clinical outcomes and durability of cartilage surgery with respect to well-established standards of clinical improvement. MFX failed to maintain VAS pain improvements above MCID thresholds with follow-up from 5 to 9 years. All cartilage repair procedures met MCID values at short- and midterm follow-up for IKDC and Lysholm scores; ACI/MACI and OATS additionally met MCID values in the long term, demonstrating extended maintenance of clinical benefits for patients undergoing these surgical interventions as compared with MFX.

Background: The wide range of clinical applications and controversial scientific evidence associated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in musculoskeletal medicine requires an examination of the most commonly cited studies within this field. Purpose: To identify the 50 most cited articles on PRP, assess their study design, and determine any correlations between the number of citations and level of evidence (LoE) or methodological quality. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The Web of Science database was queried to identify the top 50 most cited articles on PRP in orthopaedic surgery. Bibliometric characteristics, number of citations, and LoE were recorded. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Modified Coleman Methodology Score (MCMS), Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS), and Minimum Information for Studies Evaluating Biologics in Orthopaedics (MIBO). The Pearson correlation coefficient and Spearman correlation coefficient ( r S) were used to determine the degree of correlation between the number of citations or citation density and LoE, MCMS, MINORS score, and MIBO score. Student t tests were performed for 2-group comparisons. Results: The top 50 articles were published between 2005 and 2016 in 21 journals. The mean number of citations and citation density were 241 ± 94 (range, 151-625) and 23 ± 8, respectively, and the mean LoE was 2.44 ± 1.67, with 15 studies classified as LoE 1. The mean MCMS, MINORS score, and MIBO score were 66.9 ± 12.6, 16 ± 4.7, and 12.4 ± 3.7, respectively. No correlation was observed between the number of citations or citation density and LoE, MCMS, MINORS score, and MIBO score. A significant difference ( P = .02) was noted in LoE in articles from the United States (3.56 ± 1.7) versus outside the United States (2 ± 1.5). Seven of the 8 in vivo studies were published between 2005 and 2010, whereas 19 of the 25 clinical outcome investigations were published between 2011 and 2016. Studies that were published more recently were found to significantly correlate with number of citations ( r S = –0.38; P = .01), citation density ( r S = 0.36; P = .01), and higher LoE ( r S = 0.47; P = .01). Conclusion: The top 50 most cited articles on PRP consisted of high LoE and fair methodological quality. There was a temporal shift in research from in vivo animal studies toward investigations focused on clinical outcomes.

Chondral lesions of the hip in young patients are frequently associated with additional articular pathology. Parafoveal osteochondral lesions have been reported to be a manifestation of cam lesions in the setting of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Although arthroscopic surgery is useful to treat intra- and extra-articular pathology, large lesions located in areas that are difficult to access represent a limitation of the technique. Open surgical dislocation and osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) allow treatment of larger surface areas and underlying morphologic abnormalities such as cam lesions. We present our technique for open surgical dislocation of the hip through a stepped trochanteric osteotomy, osteochondral transplantation of fresh-stored femoral head allograft, and osteoplasty of the head/neck junction.

Background: Fresh osteochondral allograft transplant (OCA) has good outcomes in the knee. However, donor tissue for patellar OCA is limited. Outcomes after nonorthotopic OCA of the patella using more readily available femoral condylar allograft (FCA) tissue have not been previously reported. Purpose: To assess short-term magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and minimum 2-year clinical outcomes of nonorthotopic patellar OCA using an FCA donor. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A prospective institutional cartilage registry was reviewed to identify patients treated with patellar OCA using an FCA donor between August 2009 and June 2016. OCA plugs were obtained from the FCA at its trochlear-condylar junction and implanted into the recipient patellar lesion. Early postoperative MRI scans were graded by a blinded musculoskeletal radiologist using the Osteochondral Allograft MRI Scoring System (OCAMRISS). International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form (IKDC), Knee Outcomes Survey–Activities of Daily Living (KOS-ADL), and pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores were collected preoperatively and at minimum 2 years postoperatively, and outcomes were compared using the paired t test. Results: A total of 25 patients were included for clinical outcome analysis and 20 patients for MRI analysis. MRI scans obtained at a mean of 11.4 months (range, 6-22 months) postoperatively showed a mean total OCAMRISS score of 9.0 (range, 7-11); mean bone, cartilage, and ancillary subscores were 2.6, 3.7, and 2.6, respectively. At the latest follow-up (mean, 46.5 months; range, 24-85 months), postoperative improvements were noted in IKDC (from 45.0 to 66.2; P = .0002), KOS-ADL (from 64.3 to 80.4; P = .0012), and VAS (from 5.1 to 3.4; P = .001) scores, with IKDC and KOS-ADL scores above the corresponding previously reported minimal clinically important difference. Conclusion: In this study, patellar OCA using nonorthotopic FCA led to significant short-term improvements in pain and patient-reported outcomes. The majority of nonorthotopic patellar grafts demonstrated full osseous incorporation and good restoration of the articular surface on MRI at short-term follow-up.

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the current practice trends for managing symptomatic cartilage lesions of the knee with microfracture among ICRS (International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Repair Society) members. Design A 42-item electronic questionnaire was sent to all ICRS members, which explored indications, surgical technique, postoperative management, and outcomes of the microfracture procedure for the treatment of symptomatic, full thickness chondral and osteochondral defects of the knee. Responses were compared between surgeons from different regions and years of practice. Results A total of 385 surgeons answered the questionnaire. There was a significant difference noted in the use of microfracture among surgeons by region ( P < 0.001). There was no association between the number of years in practice and the self-reported proportion of microfracture cases performed ( P = 0.37). Fifty-eight subjects (15%) indicated that they do not perform microfracture at all. Regarding indication for surgery, 56% of surgeons would limit their indication of microfracture to lesions measuring 2 cm2 or less. Half of the surgeons reported no upper age or body mass index limit. Regarding surgical technique, 90% of surgeons would recommend a formal debridement of the calcified layer and 91% believe it is important to create stable vertical walls. Overall, 47% of surgeons use biologic augmentation, with no significant difference between regions ( P = 0.35) or years of practice ( P = 0.67). Rehabilitation protocols varied widely among surgeons. Conclusions Indications, operative technique, and rehabilitation protocols utilized for patients undergoing microfracture procedures vary widely among ICRS members. Regional differences and resources likely contribute to these practice pattern variations.

Background: Quantifying native cartilage thickness in pediatric and adolescent knees can help match donor and recipient sites for articular cartilage restoration procedures such as osteochondral autograft transplantation (OATS) and osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA). Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to quantify articular cartilage thickness in pediatric and adolescent knees using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We hypothesized that cartilage thickness is inversely correlated with skeletal maturity and age. Methods: One hundred and twenty MRI scans were evaluated in a cohort of patients 9 to 18 years old without osteochondral lesions, chondral wear or pathology, intraarticular fractures, history of knee surgery, or inflammatory arthropathy. Measurements of articular cartilage thickness at the medial femoral condyle, lateral femoral condyle, lateral trochlea, and patella were made on axial, coronal, and sagittal MRI scans (Figure 1). Skeletal maturity was categorized as ‘open’, ‘closing’, or ‘closed’ based on the status of the proximal tibial and distal femoral growth plates. Descriptive statistics was used to evaluate cartilage thickness by age and sex. Independent samples t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression were performed to investigate for associations with sex, skeletal maturity, and age. Results: On the femur, cartilage was thickest at the lateral trochlea with mean articular thickness of 4.2 ± 1.4 mm in males and 3.6 ± 1.3 mm in females (p=0.015) (Table 1). Skeletally immature patients with open physes had significantly thicker cartilage at the medial femoral condyle, lateral femoral condyle, and lateral trochlea compared to patients with closing and closed physes (Figure 2). Linear regression analysis also revealed a significant association between femoral cartilage thickness and age (Figure 3). Age explained 63% of the variance at the medial femoral condyle (B=6.1, p

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the results of a biphasic synthetic scaffold (TruFit, Smith & Nephew) to microfracture for the treatment of knee cartilage defects and identify patient- and lesion-specific factors that influence outcomes. Design Prospectively collected data from 132 patients (mean age, 41.8 years; 69% male) with isolated chondral or osteochondral femoral defects treated with biphasic synthetic scaffolds ( n = 66) or microfracture ( n = 66) were reviewed. Clinical outcomes were evaluated longitudinally over 5 years with the Short Form–36 (SF-36), Activities of Daily Living of the Knee Outcome Survey (KOS-ADL), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and Marx Activity Scale. Cartilage-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to evaluate osseous integration and cartilage fill in a subgroup of patients. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify predictors of clinical outcomes within the scaffold group. Results Both groups demonstrated clinically significant improvements in knee clinical scores over 5 years ( P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in KOS-ADL and IKDC scores between groups up to 5 years postoperatively. Marx activity level scores in the microfracture group declined over time, while significant improvements in activity level scores were observed in the scaffold group over 5 years ( P < 0.01). Good-quality tissue fill and cartilage isointensity were more often observed in the scaffold group compared with the microfracture group, particularly with longer time intervals. Increasing age, high body mass index, prior microfracture, and traumatic etiology were predictors for inferior outcomes in the scaffold group. Conclusions Activity level and MRI appearance following treatment of cartilage lesions with the biphasic synthetic scaffold were superior to microfracture over time in this nonrandomized, retrospective comparison.

Objective To assess the quality and variability of osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation rehabilitation protocols associated with academic orthopedic programs in the United States. Design A systematic review was performed to collect all publicly available online rehabilitation protocols for femoral condyle OCA transplant from US academic orthopedic programs participating in the Electronic Residency Application Service. These protocols were evaluated for inclusion of different rehabilitation components as well as timing of suggested initiation of these activities. Results A total of 22 protocols were included. Although 91% of protocols recommended bracing, wide variation exists in total time of utilization. Median time for full weight bearing (FWB) was 7 weeks (range 4-8). On average, each protocol mentioned 9 (range 2-18) different strengthening exercises. The median time suggested to return to high-impact activities was 9 months (range 8-12). Only 3 protocols (14%) offered criteria of advancement for each phase as well as criteria for discharge. Conclusion Very few of the academic orthopedic programs have published online rehabilitation protocols following OCA transplantation. Although there is wide variation between the protocols, it allowed the identification of trends or patterns that are more common. However, there is need for more standardized evidence-based rehabilitation protocols which are easy to understand and follow by patients.

Background: For the treatment of femoral condyle cartilage defects with osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA), many surgeons have relaxed their graft-recipient size-matching criteria given the limited allograft supply. However, since the anteroposterior (AP) length is typically correlated with the radius of curvature for a given condyle, a large mismatch in graft-recipient AP length can indicate a corresponding mismatch in the radius of curvature, leading to articular incongruity after implantation. Purpose: To evaluate the association between femoral condyle graft–recipient AP mismatch and clinical outcomes of OCA. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients treated with OCA for femoral condyle chondral defects from 2000 to 2015. Graft characteristics, including AP and mediolateral dimensions, were gathered from vendor-specific allograft offering documents. Patient condyle dimensions were measured on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Reoperations and patient responses to validated outcome measures were reviewed. Failure was defined by any partial removal/revision of the allograft or conversion to knee arthroplasty. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to examine the association of AP mismatch with OCA failure while adjusting for patient age and number of previous ipsilateral knee surgical procedures. Results: A total of 69 knees from 69 patients (mean age, 35.7 years; 71% male) met the inclusion criteria. Mean duration of follow-up was 4 years (range, 2-16 years). The mean absolute graft-recipient AP mismatch was 6.7 mm (range, 0-20 mm; P < .01). At final follow-up, 19 knees had failed. There was no significant difference in the mean absolute AP mismatch between failures (8.1 mm) and nonfailures (6.2 mm; P = .17). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that AP mismatch was not associated with graft failure ( P = .14). At final follow-up, significant improvements were noted in the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective form, and Knee Outcome Survey–Activities of Daily Living ( P < .01 for all). Magnitude of AP mismatch was not associated with postoperative outcome scores or achievement of minimal clinically significant differences in outcome scores. Conclusion: Magnitude of graft-recipient AP mismatch was not associated with midterm OCA failure rates or patient-reported outcome scores, suggesting that AP length mismatch within the limits measured here is not a contraindication for graft acceptance.

Objective To perform a systematic review of clinical outcomes following microfracture (MFX), autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA), and osteochondral autograft transplantation system (OATS) to treat articular cartilage lesions in pediatric and adolescent patients. We sought to compare postoperative improvements for each cartilage repair method to minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds. Design MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies reporting MCID-validated outcome scores in a minimum of 5 patients ≤19 years treated for symptomatic knee chondral lesions with minimum 1-year follow-up. One-sample t tests were used to compare mean outcome score improvements to established MCID thresholds. Results Twelve studies reporting clinical outcomes on a total of 330 patients following cartilage repair were identified. The mean age of patients ranged from 13.7 to 16.7 years and the mean follow-up was 2.2 to 9.6 years. Six studies reported on ACI, 4 studies reported on MFX, 2 studies reported on OATS, and 1 study reported on OCA. ACI ( P < 0.001, P = 0.008) and OCA ( P < 0.001) showed significant improvement for International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores with regard to MCID while MFX ( P = 0.66) and OATS ( P = 0.11) did not. ACI ( P < 0.001) and OATS ( P = 0.010) both showed significant improvement above MCID thresholds for Lysholm scores. MFX ( P = 0.002) showed visual analog scale (VAS) pain score improvement above MCID threshold while ACI ( P = 0.037, P = 0.070) was equivocal. Conclusions Outcomes data on cartilage repair in the pediatric and adolescent knee are limited. This review demonstrates that all available procedures provide postoperative improvement above published MCID thresholds for at least one reported clinical pain or functional outcome score.

Background: Osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation is used to treat large focal femoral condylar articular cartilage defects. A proud plug could affect graft survival by altering contact forces (CFs) and knee kinematics. Hypothesis: A proud OCA plug will significantly increase CF and significantly alter knee kinematics throughout controlled knee flexion. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Human cadaver knees had miniature load cells, each with a 20-mm-diameter cylinder of native bone/cartilage attached at its exact anatomic position, installed in both femoral condyles at standardized locations representative of clinical defects. Spacers were inserted to create proud plug conditions of +0.5, +1.0, and +1.5 mm. CFs and knee kinematics were recorded as a robot flexed the knee continuously from 0° to 50° under 1000 N of tibiofemoral compression. Results: CFs were increased significantly (vs flush) for all proudness conditions between 0° and 45° of flexion (medial) and 0° to 50° of flexion (lateral). At 20°, the average increases in medial CF for +0.5-mm, +1-mm, and +1.5-mm proudness were +80 N (+36%), +155 N (+70%), and +193 N (+87%), respectively. Corresponding increases with proud lateral plugs were +44 N (+14%), +90 N (+29%), and +118 N (+38%). CF increases for medial plugs at 20° of flexion were significantly greater than those for lateral plugs at all proudness conditions. At 50°, a 1-mm proud lateral plug significantly decreased internal tibial rotation by 15.4° and decreased valgus rotation by 2.5°. Conclusion: A proud medial or lateral plug significantly increased CF between 0° and 45° of flexion. Our results suggest that a medial plug at 20° may be more sensitive to graft incongruity than a lateral plug. The changes in rotational kinematics with proud lateral plugs were attributed to earlier contact between the proud plug’s surface and the lateral meniscus, leading to rim impingement with decreased tibial rotation. Clinical Relevance: Increased CF and altered knee kinematics from a proud femoral plug could affect graft viability. Plug proudness of only 0.5 mm produced significant changes in CF and knee kinematics, and the clinically accepted 1-mm tolerance may need to be reexamined in view of our findings.

To review the current practices of nonoperative management of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries, the natural history of conservative care, and the latest PCL rehabilitation strategies. PCL injuries often occur as part of a multiligamentous knee injury and occasionally occur in isolation. Although patients may be able to tolerate or compensate for a PCL-deficient knee, long-term outcomes after conservative care demonstrate a high rate of arthrosis in the medial and patellofemoral compartments resulting from altered knee kinematics and loads. Good subjective outcomes and a high rate of return to sport have been reported after nonoperative treatment of isolated PCL injuries. However, PCL laxity grade on objective exam does not typically correlate with subjective outcomes, nor does it correlate with the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Although more research is needed on the optimal PCL rehabilitation strategies, general principles include avoiding posterior tibial translation in the initial period to optimize ligament healing, followed by progressive range of motion and strengthening of the quadriceps and core musculature. At 12 weeks, patients may begin an interval running program, followed by agility work and progressive sports-specific training to allow for return to sports. Nonoperative treatment of isolated PCL injuries results in good subjective outcomes and high rate of return to sport.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:To review the current literature on clinical outcomes following open tibial inlay posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction and provide the reader with a detailed description of the author's preferred surgical technique. RECENT FINDINGS:Despite earlier biomechanical studies which demonstrated superiority of the PCL inlay technique when compared to transtibial techniques, recent longitudinal cohort studies have shown no significant differences in clinical or functional outcomes at 10-year follow-up. Furthermore, no significant clinical differences have been shown between graft types used and/or single- versus double-bundle reconstruction methods. The optimal treatment for the PCL-deficient knee remains unclear. Open tibial inlay PCL reconstruction is safe, reproducible, and avoids the "killer turn" that may potentially lead to graft weakening and failure seen in transtibial reconstruction methods. No significant differences in subjective outcomes or clinical laxity have been shown between single-bundle versus double-bundle reconstruction methods.

Purpose To critically evaluate the quality, accuracy, and readability of readily available Internet patient resources for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a treatment modality for musculoskeletal injuries. Methods Using the 3 most commonly used Internet search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo), the search term "platelet rich plasma" was entered, and the first 50 websites from each search were reviewed. The website's affiliation was identified. Quality was evaluated using 25-point criteria based on guidelines published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and accuracy was assessed with a previously described 12-point grading system by 3 reviewers independently. Readability was evaluated using the Flesch-Kincaid (FK) grade score. Results A total of 46 unique websites were identified and evaluated. The average quality and accuracy was 9.4 ± 3.4 (maximum 25) and 7.9 ± 2.3 (maximum 12), respectively. The average FK grade level was 12.6 ± 2.4, which is several grades higher than the recommended eighth-grade level for patient education material. Ninety-one percent (42/46) of websites were authored by physicians, and 9% (4/46) contained commercial bias. Mean quality was significantly greater in websites authored by health care providers (9.8 ± 3.1 vs 5.9 ± 4.7, P = .029) and in websites without commercial bias (9.9 ± 3.1 vs 4.5 ± 3.2, P = .002). Mean accuracy was significantly lower in websites authored by health care providers (7.6 ± 2.2 vs 11.0 ± 1.2, P = .004). Only 24% (11/46) reported that PRP remains an investigational treatment. Conclusions The accuracy and quality of online patient resources for PRP are poor, and the information overestimates the reading ability of the general population. Websites authored by health care providers had higher quality but lower accuracy. Additionally, the majority of websites do not identify PRP as an experimental treatment, which may fail to provide appropriate patient understanding and expectations. Clinical Relevance Physicians should educate patients that many online patient resources have poor quality and accuracy and can be difficult to read.

Objective To perform a systematic review of clinical outcomes following microfracture augmented with biological adjuvants (MFX+) compared with microfracture (MFX) alone. Design The MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched for clinical studies on MFX+ for chondral defects of the knee. Study characteristics and clinical outcome score data were collected. Subjective synthesis was performed using data from randomized controlled studies to determine effect size of MFX+ procedures performed with either injectable or scaffold-based augmentation compared with MFX alone. Results A total of 18 articles reporting on 625 patients (491 MFX+, 134 MFX) were identified. Six studies were level II evidence and 1 study was level I evidence. Mean patient age range was 26 to 51 years, and mean follow-up ranged from 2 to 5 years. All studies demonstrated significant improvement in reported clinical outcome scores at follow-up after MFX+ therapy, and 87% of patients reported satisfaction with treatment. The most commonly reported treatment complication was postoperative stiffness (3.9% of patients). Subjective synthesis on randomized controlled trials demonstrated that 2/2 injectable MFX+ interventions had significantly greater improvements in International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC; P = 0.004) and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS; P = 0.012) scores compared with MFX alone, while 2/2 trials on scaffolding MFX+ adjuvants showed comparable postoperative improvements. Conclusions MFX+ biological adjuvants are safe supplements to marrow stimulation for treating cartilage defects in the adult knee. Early literature is heterogenous and extremely limited in quality. Individual trials report both equivalent and superior clinical outcomes compared with MFX alone, making definitive conclusions on the efficacy of MFX+ difficult without higher quality evidence.

Bone defects caused by femoral and tibial tunnel enlargement can pose a significant technical challenge when planning to perform revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A number of options have been described for managing osseous deficiencies, including the use of large autograft or allograft bone dowels to provide sufficient tunnel fill and subsequent structural support for revision surgery. These techniques can be time-consuming and technically demanding to ensure proper tunnel fill and press-fit stability of the bone graft. We describe our preferred technique for arthroscopic bone grafting using a mixture of demineralized cortical bone graft augmented with platelet-rich plasma delivered through a simple delivery system.

Osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation is a safe and reliable cartilage restoration procedure that has significantly increased in use over the last decade. As clinical studies report improved patient outcomes, sustained return to high-demand physical activity, and excellent long-term graft survivorship, OCA transplantation has become a popular first-line treatment option for symptomatic cartilage defects of the femoral condyle. Unfortunately, the rise in demand has not been met by a concomitant increase in supply, and OCAs remain a limited resource that must be used in a short window of time, or risk being wasted. As such, several studies are now exploring the use of nonorthotopic (e.g., lateral donor for medial defect) OCA grafts to expand graft use and provide more convenient surgical treatment. Imaging studies have proven the capability of nonorthotopic OCA grafts to restore the articular surface within acceptable limits, and midterm clinical studies have had successful patient outcomes, thereby suggesting significant promise for this surgical strategy.

BACKGROUND Condyle-specific matching for osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) pairs donor and recipient condyles in an attempt to minimize articular incongruity. While the majority of cartilage defects are located on the medial femoral condyle, lateral femoral condyles are more commonly available as a graft source. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of patients treated with non-orthotopic (lateral-to-medial condyle or medial-to-lateral condyle) OCA with those treated with traditional orthotopic (medial-to-medial condyle or lateral-to-lateral condyle) OCA. We hypothesized that clinical outcomes would be similar between groups at midterm follow-up. METHODS A retrospective review of prospectively collected data on patients treated with OCA from 2000 to 2014 was conducted. Seventy-seven patients with a full-thickness cartilage defect of a femoral condyle were treated with either orthotopic (n = 50) or non-orthotopic (n = 27) OCA. A minimum follow-up of 2 years was required for analysis. Patients in each group were matched according to sex, age, and total chondral defect size. Reoperations and patient responses to validated outcome measures were reviewed. Failure was defined as any revision cartilage procedure or conversion to knee arthroplasty. RESULTS The mean duration of follow-up was 4.0 years (range, 2 to 16 years). The orthotopic and non-orthotopic OCA groups were comparable in terms of demographics, the mean number of prior ipsilateral knee operations, and the percentage of concomitant procedures at baseline. Reoperation (p = 0.427) and failure (p = 0.917) rates did not differ significantly between groups. Both groups demonstrated significant increases in the Short Form-36 (SF-36) physical functioning and pain, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living (KOS-ADL) scores compared with baseline (p < 0.004). Outcome scores (baseline and postoperative) and change scores did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS Clinical outcomes do not differ between patients treated with orthotopic OCA and those treated with non-orthotopic OCA, suggesting that condyle-specific matching may not be necessary. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: A single cylindrical graft plug is commonly used for large focal femoral defects during osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation. Excessive contact force (CF) on a proud plug could compromise initial healing. CFs during forced knee extension are of particular interest because this maneuver is used by therapists to restore early postoperative range of motion. Hypothesis: A proud OCA plug will significantly increase the CF and significantly decrease the knee extension angle (KEA). Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Eleven human knee specimens had miniature load cells installed in both femoral condyles at standardized locations representative of clinical defects. Each load cell had a 20-mm–diameter cylinder of native bone/cartilage attached at its precise anatomic location. Four spacers, 0.5 mm in thickness, were inserted sequentially between each load cell and its mounting bracket to create proud plug conditions of 0.5 to 2 mm. Measurements of the CF and KEA were recorded at extension moment levels up to 8 N·m. Results: At 8 N·m, the mean CFs for flush plugs were 149 ± 18 N (lateral) and 34 ± 13 N (medial). The mean increases in the medial CF (compared with flush) for 0.5-mm, 1-mm, 1.5-mm, and 2-mm proud conditions were 31 N (+91%), 64 N (+188%), 111 N (+325%), and 154 N (+451%), respectively. Corresponding increases for lateral proud plugs were 55 N (+37%), 120 N (+81%), 162 N (+109%), and 210 N (+141%), respectively. The CFs (and CF increases) for lateral grafts were significantly ( P < .05) higher than corresponding values for medial grafts at each proudness condition. Medial plug proudness had no consistent effect on the KEA. A 1-mm proud lateral plug significantly reduced the KEA by −1.6° (0 N·m) and −0.9° (2 N·m). Conclusion: Graft proudness of only 0.5 mm significantly increased CFs during forced knee extension, emphasizing the surgical precision necessary to achieve normal CF levels. Clinical Relevance: It is believed that some amount of CF is beneficial in the early stages of graft healing, and our findings suggest that forced knee extension may be well suited for this purpose. However, the surgeon should be aware that large extension moments can also generate relatively high CFs, especially if the plug is proud.

Purpose The purpose of this observational study of social media in sports medicine was to investigate and analyze the presence and shared content of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) patients, sports surgeons, and top orthopaedic hospitals on popular social media streams. Methods A search of 2 public domains (Instagram and Twitter) was performed over a 6-month period. ACL surgery ("#aclsurgery") was selected for the Instagram-based patient analysis after exclusion of veterinary ACL operations. A binary scoring system was used for media format, time (preoperatively or postoperatively), perioperative period (within 1 week of surgery), tone (positive or negative), return-to-work reference, return-to-play reference, rehabilitation reference, surgical-site reference, satisfaction reference, and dissatisfaction reference; perspective of the media was noted as well. A sample of 97 National Football League team surgeons was used for analysis of physician use in social media outlets and quantified by the number of posts. Hospital analysis categorized a sample of the top 50 orthopaedic hospitals by average number of posts and monthly posting rates with regard to orthopaedics, research, education, and personnel focus. Results In the patient analysis, 3,145 public posts of human subjects were shared on Instagram. Of these, 92% were personal recovery stories, with an emphasis on postoperative photographs (93%) with a positive tone (88%) more than 1 week after surgery (73%). Posts focused on surgical site (25%), return to play (30%), and postoperative rehabilitation (37%). Of the physicians, 16% had Twitter accounts, with an average of 94 posts per surgeon; none had Instagram accounts. Of the hospitals, 96% had Twitter accounts and 32% had Instagram accounts. Most of the hospital-based Instagram content in the sample was centered on patients or celebrities. Conclusions Orthopaedic surgery has a large social media presence. Patients emphasize wound appearance, the rehabilitation process, and return to play. Ninety-six percent of hospitals are represented in social media outlets, whereas physicians are relatively under-represented. Clinical Relevance Social media offers a unique window into what truly matters to patients after surgery and may help us better manage expectations, enhance health care delivery, and improve marketing strategies.

Objective To identify preoperative imaging-based indicators of knee degeneration that correlate with graft failure risk and postoperative clinical outcome scores after osteochondral graft treatment for chondral defects of the knee. Design Prospectively collected data from 113 patients (mean age, 34 years; 65% male) treated with mosaicplasty or osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) was reviewed. Four different aspects of knee degeneration were examined based on preoperative radiographs or magnetic resonance imaging: (1) Osteoarthritis using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading system, (2) meniscus volume, (3) meniscus quality, and (4) synovitis. Primary outcomes included graft failure, defined by removal/revision of the graft or conversion to arthroplasty, and patient responses to clinical outcome scores. Results Forty-one knees (36%) underwent mosaicplasty, and 72 knees (64%) underwent OCA. Mean duration of follow-up was 4.5 years (range, 2-14 years). A preoperative KL grade of ≥3 was correlated with increased failure rates ( P = 0.01), lower postoperative International Knee Documentation Committee form (IKDC), Activities of Daily Living of the Knee Outcome Survey (KOS-ADL), and Overall Condition scores ( P < 0.01), and decreased improvement in Overall Condition scores ( P = 0.01). Within an individual tibiofemoral compartment, a preoperative meniscus volume grade of ≥3 (indicating Conclusions Greater preoperative osteoarthritis and meniscus volume loss were correlated with increased graft failure rates after osteochondral graft treatment for chondral defects of the knee.

Background:Double-row transosseous-equivalent (TOE) rotator cuff repair techniques have been widely accepted because of their superior biomechanical properties when compared with arthroscopic single-row repair. Concerns regarding repair overtensioning with medial-row knot tying have led to increased interest in knotless repair techniques; however, there is a paucity of clinical data to guide the choice of technique.Hypothesis:Arthroscopic TOE repair techniques using knotless medial-row fixation will demonstrate lower retear rates and greater improvements in the Constant score relative to conventional knot-tying TOE techniques.Study Design:Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:A systematic review of 3 databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase) was performed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Inclusion criteria were English-language studies that examined repair integrity or Constant scores after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with TOE techniques. Two investigators independently screened results for relevant articles. Data regarding the study design, surgical technique, retear rate, and Constant shoulder score were extracted from eligible studies. A quality assessment of all articles was performed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) criteria.Results:The systematic review identified a total of 32 studies (level of evidence, 1-4) that met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of the 32 studies, 5 reported on knotless TOE techniques, 25 reported on knot-tying TOE techniques, and 2 reported on both. In the knotless group, retear rates ranged from 6% to 36%, and Constant scores ranged from 38-65 (preoperative) to 73-83 (postoperative). In the knot-tying group, retear rates ranged from 0% to 48%, and Constant scores ranged from 42-64 (preoperative) to 55-96 (postoperative).Conclusion:Despite several theoretical advantages of knotless TOE repair, both knotless and knot-tying techniques reported considerable improvement in functional outcomes after rotator cuff repair. Although tendon failure rates showed a downward trend in knotless studies, additional prospective studies are warranted to better understand the role of medial-row fixation on tendon repair integrity and postoperative clinical outcomes.