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IntroductionThe effectiveness of rotator cuff tear repair surgery is influenced by multiple patient-related, pathology-centred and technical factors, which is thought to contribute to the reported retear rates between 17% and 94%. Adequate patient selection is thought to be essential in reaching satisfactory results. However, no clear consensus has been reached on which factors are most predictive of successful surgery. A clinical decision tool that encompassed all aspects is still to be made. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms use complex self-learning models that can be used to make patient-specific decision-making tools. The aim of this study is to develop and train an algorithm that can be used as an online available clinical prediction tool, to predict the risk of retear in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair.Methods and analysisThis is a retrospective, multicentre, cohort study using pooled individual patient data from multiple studies of patients who have undergone rotator cuff repair and were evaluated by advanced imaging for healing at a minimum of 6 months after surgery. This study consists of two parts. Part one: collecting all potential factors that might influence retear risks from retrospective multicentre data, aiming to include more than 1000 patients worldwide. Part two: combining all influencing factors into a model that can clinically be used as a prediction tool using machine learning.Ethics and disseminationFor safe multicentre data exchange and analysis, our Machine Learning Consortium adheres to the WHO regulation ‘Policy on Use and Sharing of Data Collected by WHO in Member States Outside the Context of Public Health Emergencies’. The study results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Institutional Review Board approval does not apply to the current study protocol.

This study aimed to answer the following questions: do 3D-printed models lead to a more accurate recognition of the pattern of complex fractures of the elbow?; do 3D-printed models lead to a more reliable recognition of the pattern of these injuries?; and do junior surgeons benefit more from 3D-printed models than senior surgeons?A total of 15 orthopaedic trauma surgeons (seven juniors, eight seniors) evaluated 20 complex elbow fractures for their overall pattern (i.e. varus posterior medial rotational injury, terrible triad injury, radial head fracture with posterolateral dislocation, anterior (trans-)olecranon fracture-dislocation, posterior (trans-)olecranon fracture-dislocation) and their specific characteristics. First, fractures were assessed based on radiographs and 2D and 3D CT scans; and in a subsequent round, one month later, with additional 3D-printed models. Diagnostic accuracy (acc) and inter-surgeon reliability (κ) were determined for each assessment.Accuracy significantly improved with 3D-printed models for the whole group on pattern recognition (accThe use of 3D-printed models significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of recognizing the pattern of complex fractures of the elbow. However, the current long printing time and non-reusable materials could limit the usefulness of 3D-printed models in clinical practice. They could be suitable as a reusable tool for teaching residents.Cite this article

IntroductionShoulder instability is a common injury, with a reported incidence of 23.9 per 100 000 person-years. There is still an ongoing debate on the most effective treatment strategy. Non-operative treatment has recurrence rates of up to 60%, whereas operative treatments such as the Bankart repair and bone block procedures show lower recurrence rates (16% and 2%, respectively) but higher complication rates (Methods and analysisThis is a multicentre retrospective cohort study. Patients with traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations that were treated with an arthroscopic Bankart repair without remplissage will be included. This study includes two parts. Part 1, collecting all potential factors influencing the recurrence rate following an arthroscopic Bankart repair in patients using multicentre data, aiming to include data from >1000 patients worldwide. Part 2, the multicentre data will be re-evaluated (and where applicable complemented) using machine learning algorithms to predict outcomes. Recurrence will be the primary outcome measure.Ethics and disseminationFor safe multicentre data exchange and analysis, our Machine Learning Consortium adhered to the WHO regulation ‘Policy on Use and Sharing of Data Collected by WHO in Member States Outside the Context of Public Health Emergencies’. The study results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal. No Institutional Review Board is required for this study.

It is unclear if the collar and cuff treatment improve alignment in displaced surgical neck fractures of the proximal humerus. Therefore, this study evaluated if the neckshaft angle and extent of displacement would improve between trauma and onset of radiographically visible callus in non-operatively treated surgical neck fractures (Boileau type A, B, C).A consecutive series of patients (≥ 18 years old) were retrospectively evaluated from a level 1 trauma center in Australia (inclusion period: 2016-2020) and a level 2 trauma center in the Netherlands (inclusion period: 2004 to 2018). Patients were included if they sustained a Boileau-type fracture and underwent initial non-operative treatment. The first radiograph had to be obtained within 24 h after the initial injury and the follow-up radiograph(s) 1 week after trauma and before the start of radiographically visible callus. On each radiograph, the maximal medial gap (MMG), maximal lateral gap (MLG), and neck-shaft angle (NSA) were measured. Linear mixed modelling was performed to evaluate if these measurements would improve over time.Sixty-seven patients were included: 25 type A, 11 type B, and 31 type C fractures. The mean age (range) was 68 years (24-93), and the mean number (range) of follow-up radiographs per patient was 1 (1-4). Linear mixed modelling on both MMG and MLG revealed no improvement during follow-up among the three groups. Mean NSA of type A fractures improved significantly from 161° at trauma to 152° at last follow-up (p-value = 0.004).Apart from humeral head angulation improvement in type A, there is no increase nor reduction in displacement among the three fracture patterns. Therefore, it is advised that surgical decision-making should be performed immediately after trauma.Level IV, retrospective case series.

Pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures (pSCHFs) may be challenging injuries to treat because of the potential residual deformity. There is debate regarding the technical aspects of adequate closed reduction and crossed Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation.Do surgeons have an agreement on the aspects of the fixation of pSCHFs?Radiographs of 20 patients from a cohort of 154 patients with pSCHFs treated with closed reduction and crossed K-wire fixation were selected. Forty-four surgeons viewed the postoperative radiographs and diagnosed the presence or absence of technical flaws and made a recommendation for or against reoperation. An expert panel of three orthopedic and trauma surgeons provided a reference standard for technical factors. Furthermore, final outcome 2 years after trauma was assessed.There was limited agreement on potential technical flaws (ICC 0.15-0.28), radiographic measures of alignment (ICC for anterior humeral line and Baumann angle of 0.37 and 0.23 respectively), the quality of postoperative reduction, position of the elbow in cast, and recommendation for repeat surgery (ICCs between 0.23 and 0.40). Sensitivity and specificity for these questions ranged from 0.59 to 0.90. There was no correlation between the voted quality of postoperative reduction and loss of reduction or final function.Surgeons have limited agreement on the quality of postoperative results in pSCHFs and the indication for reoperation. Reviewing postoperative radiographs may present a good learning opportunity and could help improve skills, but it is not a validated method for quality control and has to be seen in light of clinical outcome.

Introduction It is unclear if the collar and cuff treatment improve alignment in displaced surgical neck fractures of the proximal humerus. Therefore, this study evaluated if the neckshaft angle and extent of displacement would improve between trauma and onset of radiographically visible callus in non-operatively treated surgical neck fractures (Boileau type A, B, C). Materials and Methods A consecutive series of patients (≥ 18 years old) were retrospectively evaluated from a level 1 trauma center in Australia (inclusion period: 2016–2020) and a level 2 trauma center in the Netherlands (inclusion period: 2004 to 2018). Patients were included if they sustained a Boileau-type fracture and underwent initial non-operative treatment. The first radiograph had to be obtained within 24 h after the initial injury and the follow-up radiograph(s) 1 week after trauma and before the start of radiographically visible callus. On each radiograph, the maximal medial gap (MMG), maximal lateral gap (MLG), and neck-shaft angle (NSA) were measured. Linear mixed modelling was performed to evaluate if these measurements would improve over time. Results Sixty-seven patients were included: 25 type A, 11 type B, and 31 type C fractures. The mean age (range) was 68 years (24–93), and the mean number (range) of follow-up radiographs per patient was 1 (1–4). Linear mixed modelling on both MMG and MLG revealed no improvement during follow-up among the three groups. Mean NSA of type A fractures improved significantly from 161° at trauma to 152° at last follow-up (p-value = 0.004). Conclusions Apart from humeral head angulation improvement in type A, there is no increase nor reduction in displacement among the three fracture patterns. Therefore, it is advised that surgical decision-making should be performed immediately after trauma. Level of clinical evidence Level IV, retrospective case series.

A visible mass around the sternoclavicular (SC) joint may be explained by a wide variety of diagnoses, each with its own diagnostic pathway and treatment options. Here we report three cases: a 56-year-old male with an anterior luxation of the right SC joint, a 59-year-old male with osteomyelitis of the left SC joint and a 78-year-old male with a painless swelling to the right medial clavicle, interpreted as sterno-costo-clavicular hyperostosis (SCCH) as part of his SAPHO syndrome. An atraumatic swelling of the SC joint is most often caused by osteoarthritis, characterized by a slowly progressing solid swelling. Acute swelling with concurrent redness and fever justifies an intra-articular- or bone aspiration, possibly CT guided, in combination with laboratory blood tests to differentiate between an infectious or rheumatologic cause. Since there are also multiple rare diseases that present specifically around the SC joint, a multidisciplinary review often proves helpful.

BackgroundNew surgical approaches have been developed to optimise elbow function after total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). Currently, there is no consensus on the best surgical approach. This study aims to investigate the functional outcomes, prosthetic component position and complication rates after a triceps-sparing and a triceps-detaching approach in TEA.Methods and analysisA multicentre prospective comparative cohort study will be conducted. All patients with an indication for primary TEA will enrol in either the triceps-sparing or the triceps-detaching cohort. Primary outcome measure is elbow function, specified as fixed flexion deformity. Secondary outcome parameters are self-reported and objectively measured physical functioning, including triceps force, prosthetic component position in standard radiographs and complications.DiscussionThe successful completion of this study will clarify which surgical approach yields better functional outcomes, better prosthetic component position and lower complication rates in patients with a TEA.Ethics and disseminationThe Medical Ethics Review Board of University Medical Center Groningen reviewed the study and concluded that it is not clinical research with human subjects as meant in the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO), therefore WMO approval is not needed (METc2019/544).Trial registration numberNTR NL8488.

Introduction. Range of motion (ROM) is closely monitored before and after surgery for stiff elbow and during rehabilitation. Measurements in the home environment may be helpful to increase involvement and adherence of the patient. Therefore, our objective is to investigate the validity and inter- and intraobserver reliability of 3 alternative methods to assess the ROM by the patient in a home-based situation, in comparison to the universal goniometer (UG). We hypothesize that all 3 alternative methods will be valid alternatives and show a level of reliability equivalent to UG. Methods. Goniometric measurements of elbow flexion, extension, pronation and supination using photography, movie, and a smartphone application were obtained. The validity of these measurement methods was compared to UG. The interobserver and intraobserver reliability were calculated for all measurement methods. Results. Photography and movie based goniometry of the elbow showed good validity in flexion and extension. The interobserver and intraobserver reliability were found to be good to excellent for photo and movie but moderate to poor for UG and the smartphone application. Conclusions. Photo or movie based goniometry seems to be a useful option for initial and follow-up measurement of the elbow ROM, both in the outpatient clinic and in a home environment. Based on our study, the smartphone application we used is not recommended.

Background To aid the interpretation of clinical outcome scores, it is important to determine the measurement properties. The aim of this study was to establish the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) for the Constant-Murley score and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score in patients with long-lasting rotator cuff calcific tendinitis treated with high-energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy and ultrasound guided needling. The secondary purpose was to assess the responsiveness of both questionnaires and to identify variables associated with achieving the MCID and SCB. Methods A prospective cohort of 80 patients with rotator cuff calcific tendinitis was analyzed. Two anchor-based methods were used to calculate the MCID and SCB. Effect sizes and standardized response means were calculated to assess the responsiveness. Additional univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the achievement of the MCID and SCB. Results For the Constant-Murley score, we found an MCID and SCB of 9.8 and 19.9, respectively, based on the mean change method and 5.5 and 10.5, respectively, based on receiver operating characteristic analysis. For the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, we found an MCID and SCB of –8.2 and –19.6, respectively, with the former and –11.7 and –12.5, respectively, with the latter. The responsiveness of both outcome measures was good, with large effect sizes and standardized response means. The radiographic resorption after 6 weeks and after 6 months appeared to be the most important positive predictor for achieving the MCID and SCB after 6 months. Conclusion This study established the MCID, SCB, and responsiveness for patients with long-lasting rotator cuff calcific tendinitis who were treated with minimally invasive treatment options. With this information, physicians can distinguish between a statistically significant difference and a clinically relevant benefit. Successful radiographic resorption after 6 weeks and after 6 months was associated with achieving clinically significant improvement after treatment.

BACKGROUND: Recognition of total elbow arthroplasties (TEAs) on plain radiographs is difficult due to a multitude of different types and models. Especially if surgery reports and documentation are not available, lost or when the primary surgery was performed in another hospital the prosthesis type may be undeterminable. Therefore we investigated in this platform study if a flowchart aids in recognition of thirteen different total elbow arthroplasty models on plain radiographs. METHODS: An online questionnaire on the Shoulder and Elbow Platform was developed. Plain radiographs of thirteen TEA models were shown with and without the help of an especially developed flowchart describing distinguishing features. RESULTS: Ten orthopedic surgeons specialized in upper extremity surgery completed the study. Recognition rates of the thirteen total elbow arthroplasty models ranged between 20 and 100 percent without the flowchart. Using the flowchart recognition varied between 40 and 90 percent. The recognition rates with the flowchart were not significantly higher. Inter-observer reliability did not increase on a significant level. CONCLUSION: Correct recognition of total elbow arthroplasty models with plain radiographs remains imperfect with our developed flowchart. The flowchart increased correct recognition rates and inter-observer reliability.

The use of eponymous terms in orthopedic trauma surgery is common. In an assessment pre-training versus post-training at an AO Advanced Elbow Trauma Course, we aimed to report on (1) the accuracy and (2) reliability of 10 common eponymous terms used for surgical approaches and fractures in elbow surgery. Before training, eponyms were described correctly in 38% of questions versus 47% after training. The percentage of correct answers only improved significantly in one question (P

Total elbow arthroplasty is a relatively uncommon type of arthroplasty, which has undergone several design changes in the past four decades. However, research on improvement requires knowledge of failure mechanisms that can be addressed. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review on modes of failure of total elbow arthroplasty. We conducted searches on PubMed/Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases to identify studies describing modes of failure of primary total elbow arthroplasties. The results were coupled per type of total elbow arthroplasty and individual arthroplasty models. A total of 70 articles were included in this systematic review. 9308 individual total elbow arthroplasties were identified with 1253 revisions (13.5%). Aseptic loosening was the most prevalent reason for revision (38%), followed by deep infection (19%) and periprosthetic fractures (12%). Revision rates have been found similar to a systematic review published in 2003. The revision percentage of total elbow arthroplasty for rheumatoid arthritis is significantly higher than for trauma and post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Aseptic loosening was seen less in linked implants. Infections and periprosthetic fractures did not differ between linkage design groups. Aseptic loosening remains the most frequent cause for revision of primary total elbow arthroplasty. Therefore, more research on the occurrence, progression and risk factors of aseptic loosening should be performed and lead to higher implant survival.

Isolated pubic ramus fractures are common fractures in the elderly, and treatment is typically non-operative. Up to 35 % of patients have a prolonged hospital stay due to pain. A small number of these patients do not respond to standard (non-operative) treatment. We retrospectively reviewed six patients with isolated pubic ramus fractures and persistent pain who were treated with percutaneous retrograde pubic ramus screw fixation. The study group consisted of six women with an average age of 81 years (72–86 years). Patients with symptomatic posterior pelvic ring injuries were excluded. All patients showed improvement after surgery, with three patients pain free and three patients with reduced pain. The mean time spent in the hospital was 9 days (range 3–18 days). There were complications post-operatively: two patients had pneumonia, two with confusional states, and one patient had a urinary tract infection. Despite these events, which are associated with surgery in patients with comorbidites from advanced age, retrograde pubic ramus screw fixation is an effective treatment option for patients with persistent pain from isolated pubic fractures.

Introduction To study the association between potential prognostic factors and functional outcome at 1 and 5 year follow-up in patients with femoral neck fractures treated with an arthroplasty. To analyze the reliability of the Harris hip score (HHS). Materials and methods A multicenter analysis which included 252 patients who sustained a femoral neck fracture treated with an arthroplasty. Functional outcome after surgery was assessed using a modified HHS and was evaluated after 1 (HHS1) and 5 (HHS5) years. Several prognostic factors were analyzed and reliability of the HHS was assessed. Results After 1 year the presence of co-morbidities was a significant (p = 0.002) predictor for a poor functional outcome (mean HHS1 71.8 with co-morbidities, and 80.6 without co-morbidities). After 5 years none of the potential prognostic factors had significant influence on functional outcome. Internal consistency testing of the HHS showed that when pain and function of the HHS were analyzed together, the internal consistency was poor (HHS1 0.38 and HHS5 0.20). The internal consistency of the HHS solely in function (without pain) improved to 0.68 (HHS1) and 0.46 (HHS5). Analyzing the functional aspect exclusively, age and the existence of co-morbidities could be defined as predictors for functional outcome of femoral neck fractures after 1 and 5 years. Conclusion After using the HHS in a modification, age and the existence of pre-operative co-morbidities appeared to be predictors of the functional outcome after 1 and 5 years. The HHS, omitting pain, is a more reliable score to estimate the functional outcome, than HHS analyzing pain and function in one scoring system.

This prospective cohort study compared opening wedge high tibial osteotomy with use of the Puddu plate and the Vitoss synthetic cancellous bone versus closing wedge high tibial osteotomy with use of the AO/ASIF L-plate, focusing on complications (nonunions, infections, loss of correction, reoperations) and patient satisfaction (visual linear analog scale). During a 10-month period, we performed high tibial osteotomy for 40 patients experiencing medial knee osteoarthritis and a varus deformity. The average follow-up was 11 months. The complication rate in patients treated with the opening wedge technique was significantly higher regarding tibial nonunion, loss of correction, and material failure. Patients in the closing wedge group were more satisfied with the postoperative result. This study found that the Puddu plate, despite 6 weeks of non-weight bearing facilitating the osseous consolidation with Vitoss cement, was not able to maintain the correction during the time required for bone healing.

This article describes the complications after medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) with the TomoFix plate. Between June 2003 and July 2005, 40 TomoFix medial opening wedge HTOs were performed. On average, radiological consolidation was reached after 10.4 months. Nonunions were not recorded. In 4 cases (10%), a superficial infection was found. Between operation and consolidation of the osteotomy, an average loss of correction of 0.3 degrees was observed. Loss of correction after removal of the implant was not observed. Excluding the breakage of 1 screw during extraction of the implant, failure did not occur. The fixation of the TomoFix with locking-head screws for the opening wedge HTO, as described in this study, is stable. The planned correction could be reached with high exactitude during the operation.

Background Long-term results of the 'classic’ low contact stress (LCS) total knee replacement (TKR) have been satisfactory; nonetheless, design changes have been made which resulted in the 'complete’ LCS TKR. The aim of this study is to compare the 5-year incidence of revision and midterm clinical performance before and after introduction of the 'complete’. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 100 primary uncemented TKRs of both designs. At 5-year follow-up, revision and reoperation rates were determined for these 200 TKRs. Knee Society score (KSS), the Oxford Knee score (OKS) and range of motion were determined for 143 TKRs. Results In the 'classic’ cohort, 3% of the TKRs were revised compared with 5% in the 'complete’ cohort (p = 0.72).The mean KSS was 134.1 (SD 38.3) in the 'classic’ cohort compared to 135.0 (SD 42.8) in the 'complete’ cohort (p = 0.89). Of the 'complete’ TKRs, 35.2% scored within the lowest quartile of the KSS knee compared to 16.7% of the 'classic’ TKRs (p = 0.01). The OKS was 23.3 (SD 9.3) in the 'classic’ cohort compared to 22.5 (SD 10.1) in the 'complete’ cohort (p = 0.45). More than 5° flexion contracture was only found in four patients in the 'complete’ cohort (p = 0.04). Conclusions No statistical difference in revision rate and average scores for midterm clinical performance was observed between the 'classic’ and the 'complete’. However, the 'complete’ cohort had a higher percentage of KSS Knee in the lowest quartile, which suggests a clinical relevant difference compared with the 'classic’. Further investigation in future studies with new designs is needed.

Background and purpose Fungal prosthetic joint infections are rare and difficult to treat. This systematic review was conducted to determine outcome and to give treatment recommendations. Patients and methods After an extensive search of the literature, 164 patients treated for fungal hip or knee prosthetic joint infection (PJI) were reviewed. This included 8 patients from our own institutions. Results Most patients presented with pain (78%) and swelling (65%). In 68% of the patients, 1 or more risk factors for fungal PJI were found. In 51% of the patients, radiographs showed signs of loosening of the arthroplasty. Candida species were cultured from most patients (88%). In 21% of all patients, fungal culture results were first considered to be contamination. There was co-infection with bacteria in 33% of the patients. For outcome analysis, 119 patients had an adequate follow-up of at least 2 years. Staged revision was the treatment performed most often, with the highest success rate (85%). Interpretation Fungal PJI resembles chronic bacterial PJI. For diagnosis, multiple samples and prolonged culturing are essential. Fungal species should be considered to be pathogens. Co-infection with bacteria should be treated with additional antibacterial agents. We found no evidence that 1-stage revision, debridement, antibiotics, irrigation, and retention (DAIR) or antifungal therapy without surgical treatment adequately controls fungal PJI. Thus, staged revision should be the standard treatment for fungal PJI. After resection of the prosthesis, we recommend systemic antifungal treatment for at least 6 weeks—and until there are no clinical signs of infection and blood infection markers have normalized. Then reimplantation can be performed.

Purpose To address the factors that surgeons use to decide between 2 options for treatment when the evidence is inconclusive. Methods We tested the null hypothesis that the factors surgeons use do not vary by training, demographics, and practice. A total of 337 surgeons rated the importance of 7 factors when deciding between treatment and following the natural history of the disease and 12 factors when deciding between 2 operative treatments using a 5-point Likert scale between "very important" and "very unimportant." Results According to the percentages of statements rated very important or somewhat important, the most popular factors influencing recommendations when evidence is inconclusive between treatment and following the natural course of the illness were "works in my hands," "familiarity with the treatment," and "what my mentor taught me." The most important factors when evidence shows no difference between 2 surgeries were "fewer complications," "quicker recovery," "burns fewer bridges," "works in my hands" and "familiarity with the procedure." Europeans rated "works in my hands" and "cheapest/most resourceful" of significantly greater importance and "what others are doing," "highest reimbursement," and "shorter procedure" of significantly lower importance than surgeons in the United States. Observers with fewer than 10 years in independent practice rated "what my mentor taught me," "what others are doing" and "highest reimbursement" of significantly lower importance compared to observers with 10 or more years in independent practice. Conclusions Surgeons deciding between 2 treatment options, when the evidence is inconclusive, fall back to factors that relate to their perspective and reflect their culture and circumstances, more so than factors related to the patient's perspective, although this may be different for younger surgeons. Clinical relevance Hand surgeons might benefit from consensus fallback preferences when evidence is inconclusive. It is possible that falling back to personal comfort makes us vulnerable to unhelpful commercial and societal influences.

We enjoyed reading the well-illustrated report of 2 cases published by Valkering et al. [6]. They describe 2 patients with persisting anterior ankle impingement after an ankle sprain due to a web-like intra-articular fibrous band. One year after arthroscopic dissection of these bands, both patients were free of complaints. The authors and also others suggest that these transarticular fibrous strands could be induced by the intra-articular accumulation of blood after a trauma [2, 6]. Therefore, they advise that considering the aetiology of these bands, the consequence of observing one should prompt a careful inspection of the ankle joint for additional post-traumatic pathology. However, we have two comments on this article, and the conclusions of the authors should be seen in this light. We agree that anterior ankle arthroscopy is of great value in the diagnostic work-up and treatment for these post-traumatic intra-articular bands; however, the authors did not discuss that these bands should be differentiated from a distal/associated fascicle of the antero-inferior tibiofibular ligament (one of the syndesmotic ligaments). The fibres of the accessory ligament descended obliquely from the lateral, anterior, and distal borders of the tibia to the anteromedial aspect of the lateral malleolus, approximating the fibular insertion of the anterior talofibular ligament [1, 7]. The incidence of the accessory fascicle differs very widely in several studies and could be a normal finding [5]. When the band restricts plantar flexion, the diagnosis of post-traumatic anterior fibrous bundle is more probable because this accessory ligament only causes pain complaints [4]. The anatomical and pathomechanical aspects of these two pathologies differ and are interesting for the ankle arthroscopist. The diagnosis with arthroscopy and treatment with resection are, however, very similar. The second comment is concerning the pathomechanism of the pain complaints. After non-operative treatment for ankle sprains, some degree of laxity will persist [3] and this could result in contact between the talus and the band in the ankles, which showed no contact previously [1, 7]. As Valkering et al. already suggested, an arthroscopic impingement test (bending of the band caused by impingement of the talus) could be performed and an anterior abraded articular region of the talus due to the impingement could be observed [6, 7]. The authors do not know whether the band already exists before the ankle sprain and becomes symptomatic due to the laxity caused by injury of the anterior talofibular joint and the subsequent altered biomechanics of the ankle joint. Can this band also be observed in (post-traumatic) ankles without an anterior impingement syndrome?

Dear Editors, We read with great interest the recent article of Horst and Laprade “Anatomic reconstruction of chronic symptomatic anterolateral proximal tibiofibular joint instability” [2]. The authors are to be complemented on a well-written and well-illustrated report of an operative technique with good results in two cases. The authors conclude that an anatomic reconstruction of the proximal posterior tibiofibular joint may be considered for patients with chronic, symptomatic proximal tibiofibular joint anterolateral subluxation. We would like to place some remarks that we feel should be discussed before accepting the above-mentioned conclusion. We will emphasize as already mentioned by the authors that there are 4 different types of instability, and the most frequent type (67%) is the anterolateral dislocation [4]. This type is mostly caused by a hyperflexion trauma of the knee with plantar flexion and inversion of the foot. In this type of injury, there is a rupture of the posterior and anterior capsular ligament and there could also be an injury of the lateral collateral ligament. These are the main stabilizers of the tibiofibular joint. Ogden identified two variants of the proximal tibiofibular joint, horizontal (coronal plane) and oblique configurations [4, 5]. The horizontal proximal tibiofibular joint lies in the coronal plane and, with a larger articular surface and greater mobility, is more flexible and theoretically more resistant to rotational forces tending to cause fibular dislocation [4, 5]. Peroneal nerve and ankle injuries can occur concomitantly with anterolateral proximal tibiofibular dislocation [10]. Evaluation of the distal syndesmotic ligaments and the interosseous membrane is advisable because the mechanism of trauma can cause a disruption of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis [3, 10]. In cases of syndesmotic instability, prompt stabilization of the distal tibiofibular joint is advocated [10]. An associated transient peroneal palsy is commonly seen in types II, III, and IV [7, 10]. In more rare cases, disorders at the proximal tibiofibular joint can be a possible cause of referred pain proximally [9]. In the two cases described, 3 months of physical therapy with an emphasis on knee strengthening was ineffective. We would suggest that 6 months is a more appropriate duration of non-operative treatment. We also think there are more non-operative options for patients with chronic instability which can be considered like modifications of a patient’s activity level and training programs, utilization of a supportive strap, lower leg strengthening, and modifications in the lower kinetic chain biomechanics [6]. A supportive strap placed 1 cm below the fibular head can offer relief in many cases. Care should be taken not to apply the strap too tightly or for too long, as this could cause peroneal nerve palsy. The strap should be worn during activities that cause the symptoms [6–8]. Strengthening exercises should consist of: Strengthening of lateral and rotational stability and coordination on a balancing disk or a trampoline. Stretching exercises for m. biceps femoris, m. soleus, and m. gastrocnemius. Strengthening exercises of the peroneal muscles with a dynaband. The affected foot is moved in eversion against the resistance of the band. It is important to avoid activities involving hyperflexion of the knee [1, 6]. We agree with the authors that the ideal treatment for patients requiring surgical intervention has not been well defined. As this is a rare problem, there is a lack of data and no large series are available concerning the outcome of the different treatment possibilities [5]. The reader should also be aware of the technique described in our previous article using screw fixation [8]. The advantage of this technique is that it is much less invasive and less extensive and requires only a minimal incision compared to the technique of the Horst and LaPrade [2] and other ligament reconstructions. For all techniques described, the preliminary results are good, but the surgery is technically demanding, with large incisions and extensive soft tissue dissection and the risk of damaging the common peroneal nerve [10]. We performed a temporary screw fixation (3–6 months) of the proximal tibiofibular joint and a release of the peroneal nerve. In general, the results in our series (>10 athletes) performing this “more simple” technique are good. The disadvantage of this technique is the need for screw removal as it is known that arthrodesis of the proximal tibiofibular joint causes increased rotational forces in the ankle and often leads to pain and instability of the ankle joint [4, 5]. In summary, we agree with Horst and Laprade that an anatomic reconstruction of the proximal posterior tibiofibular joint may be considered for patients with chronic, symptomatic proximal tibiofibular joint anterolateral subluxation, but we think there are other less extensive alternative surgical options. A comparative study should answer this last question. We would be interested to further discuss this with the authors.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of radiographic osteoarthritis in the operated knee in comparison with the contralateral knee ten years after a bone-tendon bone patellar autograft ACL-reconstruction and to evaluate to which level patients regain activity ten years after reconstruction.MethodsFifty-three patients with ACL instability were operated arthroscopically using the central third of the patellar tendon as a bone-tendon-bone autograft. At a minimum of 10 year follow up 28/44 patients matched the inclusion criteria and could be reached for follow-up. Evaluation included a patient satisfaction evaluation using a Visual Analog Scale, physical examination (International Knee Documentation Committee score, Tegner score, Lysholm score, KT-1000 stabilometry) and a radiological evaluation (Kellgren and Fairbanks classification).ResultsThe patients' satisfaction, at a mean of 10,3 year follow-up, measured with a VAS score (0–10) was high with a mean of 8.5 (range 4 to 10). The KT 1000 arthrometer laxity measurements revealed in 55% of the patients an A rating (1–2 mm), in 29% a B rating (3–5 mm) and in 16% a C rating (6–10 mm). According to the Tegner score 54% of the patients were able to perform at the same activity level as pre-operatively. The mean pre-operative Tegner score was 6.8 and the mean post-operative Tegner score was 6.0 at final follow up. The Lysholm score showed satisfactory results with a mean of 91 points (range 56 to 100). According to the Kellgren and Fairbank classifications, there is a significant difference (p < 0.05) in development of OA between the ACL injured and subsequently operated knee in comparison to the contralateral knee.ConclusionThe patellar BTB ACL reconstruction does not prevent the occurrence of radiological OA after 10 years but does help the patient to regain the pre-operative level of activity.

Arthroscopic debridement has been used to treat patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis, although there is sometimes conflicting evidence documenting its efficacy. This study evaluates the success of arthroscopic debridement in elderly patients with grade III and IV chondromalacia of the knee as measured by patient satisfaction and the need for additional surgery. From December 1998 to August 2001, a total of 102 consecutive cases of knee arthroscopy in 99 patients > 60 years were performed. Average follow-up was 34 months (range: 7-104 months). Patients were asked about their satisfaction using a visual analog scale, and the presence of meniscal lesions during arthroscopy and the treatment for these lesions were evaluated. Knees also were assessed for articular surface degeneration using Outerbridge's classification for chondromalacia. The need for and type of additional surgery was evaluated. During arthroscopy, meniscal lesions requiring a partial meniscectomy were found in 95 knees. Chondromalacia was found in 92 knees; 53 knees had grade I or II chondromalacia and 39 knees had grade III or IV chondromalacia. Additional surgery was performed in 17 knees. Mean patient satisfaction score was 73 (range: 50-100) in the 39 knees with grade III or IV chondromalacia after arthroscopic debridement was performed. These findings suggest arthroscopic debridement in elderly patients has a place in the treatment algorithm for grade III or IV chondromalacia of the knee.

Osteoarthritis of the hip is a frequent joint disorder in adults aged 50 years and older. The management focuses on pain reduction, by means of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics, physical therapy and weight reduction. When these treatments fail, total hip replacement can be considered. Viscosupplementation is a local therapeutic approach with the objective to decrease pain and to improve joint mobility. The treatment consists of injecting hyaluronic acid or hyaluronate derivatives intra-articularly. Although this approach is frequently used in young sportive adults to avoid knee surgery, its use in the severe osteoarthritic hip is less well documented. Moreover the injection of the hip joint is more difficult than injection of the knee joint, and on another hand the general condition of the patients is often already compromised. In this article we present a literature review on the subject and report the results in 60 patients who received intraarticular viscosupplementation of the hip with the objective to delay total hip replacement surgery.

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of cultures of preoperative aspiration samples with those of swabs taken intra-operatively. The records of 70 revision arthroplasties of the knee from 69 patients, 49 females and 20 males, were reviewed. The mean age of the patients at time of revision arthroplasty was 67 years (range: 34 to 89). Sixty-eight knees from 67 patients were included. There were 32 true positives, 17 true negatives, 6 false positives and 13 false negatives. This led to a specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of 57%, 84% and 72%, respectively. Based on these findings, pre-operative aspiration has a positive predictive value of 71% and a negative predictive value of 74%. When the aspiration sample yields a positive culture, the chances are high that the prosthetic knee is infected. When aspiration is negative, infection cannot be ruled out. Our study suggests that, in such cases, a coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS) infection has to be considered.

The authors retrospectively evaluated two comparable groups of patients who underwent either open (103 patients) or endoscopic decompression (86 patients) of the carpal tunnel with the two portal technique. There were 95 patients available for follow-up in the open group and 79 in the endoscopic group. The average follow-up period was 38 months (range: 12 to 60). Each patient received a questionnaire in order to determine if there was any difference in severity of symptoms and functional status, patient satisfaction and time to return to activities of daily living. The questionnaire also focused on complications and on readiness to undergo the same operation again. There was no significant difference between the two techniques in any of the outcome measurements.

Proximal tibiofibular instability is a symptomatic hypermobility of this joint possibly associated with subluxation. It is a rare condition both in clinical practice and in literature. The treatment of choice for proximal tibiofibular instability remains conservative, using a brace 1 cm underneath the head of the fibula. If no improvement is noted after six months of conservative treatment, surgical intervention can be considered: there are several options, such as resection of the head of the fibula, permanent arthrodesis of the proximal tibiofibular joint, reconstruction using either the tendon of the biceps femoris or a portion of the iliotibial tract, or temporary (three to six months) fixation using a screw together with release of the peroneal nerve.

Injuries to the lateral ligament complex of the ankle are common problems in acute care practice. We believe that a well-developed knowledge of the anatomy provides a foundation for understanding the basic mechanism of injury, diagnosis, and treatment, especially surgical treatment, of lateral collateral ankle ligament injury. To address this issue we performed this review with regard to the anatomy of the lateral collateral ankle ligaments. Clin. Anat. 21:619–626, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Impingement syndromes of the ankle involve either osseous or soft tissue impingement and can be anterior, anterolateral, or posterior. Ankle impingement syndromes are painful conditions caused by the friction of joint tissues, which are both the cause and the effect of altered joint biomechanics. The distal fascicle of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL) is possible cause of anterior impingement. The objective of this article was to review the literature concerning the anatomy, pathogenesis, symptoms and treatment of the AITFL impingement and finally to formulate treatment recommendations. The AITFL starts from the distal tibia, 5 mm in average above the articular surface, and descends obliquely between the adjacent margins of the tibia and fibula, anterior to the syndesmosis to the anterior aspect of the lateral malleolus. The incidence of the accessory fascicle differs very widely in the several studies. The presence of the distal fascicle of the AITFL and also the contact with the anterolateral talus is probably a normal finding. It may become pathological, due to anatomical variations and/or anterolateral instability of the ankle resulting from an anterior talofibular ligament injury. When observed during an ankle arthroscopy, the surgeon should look for the criteria described to decide whether it is pathological and considering resection of the distal fascicle. The presence of the AITFL and the contact with the talus is a normal finding. An impingement of the AITFL can result from an anatomical variant or anteroposterior instability of the ankle. The diagnosis of ligamentous impingement in the anterior aspect of the ankle should be considered in patients who have chronic ankle pain in the anterolateral aspect of the ankle after an inversion injury and have a stable ankle, normal plain radiographs, and isolated point tenderness on the anterolateral aspect of the talar dome and in the anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament. The impingement syndrome can be treated arthroscopically.