Allison G. McNickle

Prospective Evaluation of Concurrent Meniscus Transplantation and Articular Cartilage Repair Minimum 2-Year Follow-Up

Background Recognition of the symbiotic relationship between the meniscus and articular cartilage is critical to the success of meniscal allograft transplantation. Simultaneous combined meniscal allograft transplantation and cartilage restoration procedures have been proposed for patients with a symptomatic postmeniscectomy knee with a focal chondral defect that would have traditionally been considered a contraindication to meniscal allograft transplantation. Hypothesis Combined meniscal allograft transplantation and cartilage restoration procedures can be used to neutralize traditional contraindications to meniscal allograft transplantation with results comparable to either procedure performed in isolation. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Thirty patients underwent 31 combined meniscal allograft transplantation and cartilage restoration procedures between 1997 and 2004. These patients were prospectively studied, and completed standardized outcome surveys (including Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee, and Short Form-12 scales) preoperatively and annually thereafter for a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Patients were grouped according to concomitant procedure: 16 (52%) underwent meniscal allograft transplantation combined with autologous chondrocyte implantation; 15 (48%) had meniscal allograft transplantation combined with an osteochondral allograft. Two patients were lost to follow-up, leaving 29 procedures for review. Results As a combined group, statistically significant improvements were observed in all standardized outcomes scores and satisfaction scales, except Short Form-12 mental, at a mean 3.1-year follow-up. Excluding the 2 lost to follow-up, 76% of all study participants (80% autologous chondrocyte implantation; 71 % osteochondral allograft) reported that they were completely (31 %) or mostly (45%) satisfied with their results. Overall, 48% of patients (60% autologous chondrocyte implantation; 36% osteochondral allograft) were classified as normal or nearly normal at their most recent follow-up using the International Knee Documentation Committee examination score. Ninety percent of patients would have the surgery again. Conclusion Combined meniscal allograft transplantation and cartilage restoration offers a safe alternative for patients with persistent symptoms after meniscectomy and focal cartilage injury. Results of combined procedures were comparable to published reports of these procedures performed in isolation. Long-term follow-up is needed to define the survivorship of these procedures in a young patient population.

Overview of existing cartilage repair technology.

Currently, autologous chondrocyte implantation and osteochondral grafting bridge the gap between palliation of cartilage injury and resurfacing via arthroplasty. Emerging technologies seek to advance first generation techniques and accomplish several goals including predictable outcomes, cost-effective technology, single-stage procedures, and creation of durable repair tissue. The biologic pipeline represents a variety of technologies including synthetics, scaffolds, cell therapy, and cell-infused matrices. Synthetic constructs, an alternative to biologic repair, resurface a focal chondral defect rather than the entire joint surface. Scaffolds are cell-free constructs designed as a biologic “net” to augment marrow stimulation techniques. Minced cartilage technology uses stabilized autologous or allogeneic fragments in 1-stage transplantation. Second and third generation cell-based methods include alternative membranes, chondrocyte seeding, and culturing onto scaffolds. Despite the promising early results of these products, significant technical obstacles remain along with unknown long-term durability. The vast array of developing technologies has exceptional promise and the potential to revolutionize the cartilage treatment algorithm within the next decade.

Outcomes of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation in a Diverse Patient Population

Background Autologous chondrocyte implantation is indicated as a second-line treatment of large, irregularly shaped chondral defects after failure of first-line surgical intervention. This study examines the clinical results of a patient cohort undergoing autologous chondrocyte implantation and elucidates factors associated with subjective improvement after implantation. Hypothesis Autologous chondrocyte implantation will result in long-term functional and symptomatic improvement. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods The cohort included 137 subjects (140 knees) who underwent autologous chondrocyte implantation of the knee. Mean defect size per patient was 5.2 ± 3.5 cm2 (range, 0.8-26.6 cm2). Patients averaged 30.3 ± 9.1 years of age (range, 13.9-49.9 years) and were followed for 4.3 ± 1.8 years (range, 2.0-9.7 years). Outcomes were assessed via clinical assessment and established outcome scales, including the Lysholm scale, International Knee Documentation Committee scale, and Short Form-12. Results A significant improvement after surgery was observed in all outcome assessments including the Lysholm (41 to 69; P < .001) and International Knee Documentation Committee (34 to 64; P < .001) scales. Subjectively, 75% of patients indicated they were completely or mostly satisfied with the outcome and 83% would have the procedure again. Preoperatively, 32% of patients had a Tegner score of 6 or greater, compared with 82% before injury and 65% at most recent follow-up. Multivariate analysis identified age (P < .021) and receiving workers’ compensation (P < .018) as independent predictors of follow-up Lysholm score. Twenty-one patients (16%) required debridement of the autologous chondrocyte implantation site secondary to persistent symptoms, whereas 9 knees (6.4%) clinically failed and underwent a revision procedure. Conclusion Autologous chondrocyte implantation is a viable treatment option for chondral defects of the knee, resulting in durable functional and symptomatic improvement. Age and workers’ compensation status are independent predictors of outcome.

Postsurgical Glenohumeral Arthritis in Young Adults

Background Chondrolysis has been reported as a sequela of arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Although the causes have yet to be fully elucidated, basic science and clinical evidence suggest a multifactorial origin. Surgical treatment in young patients with glenohumeral chondrolysis is particularly challenging, with little outcome data. Hypothesis Glenohumeral chondrolysis has several causes and patterns of presentation. Biological resurfacing is a viable treatment option for symptomatic glenohumeral arthritis. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Twenty patients (mean age, 19.7 years; range, 13.1-33.8) were referred for management of extensive glenohumeral arthritis after arthroscopy glenohumeral surgery (mean time postoperatively, 26 months; range, 3-73). Sixteen patients had an intra-articular pain pump placed for 2 to 3 days; 2 patients demonstrated prominent implants; and 2 had thermal treatment. Patients underwent revision surgery, including 7 biological resurfacings of the glenoid and humeral head, 4 biological resurfacings of the humeral head alone, and 7 other procedures. Eight patients having biological resurfacing were assessed just before the revision surgery, at a mean time of 3.1 years after revision (range, 1.9-6.5), with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon scale and Simple Shoulder Test, Short Form 12 (physical and mental components), and visual analog scale score for pain. Results Patient outcomes scores improved from 51 to 71 (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon scale, P < .01), 7 to 10 (Simple Shoulder Test, P < .02), and 5 to 3 (visual analog scale, P < .01). Preoperative range of motion demonstrated modest improvements from 119° to 132° of flexion, 42° to 41° of external rotation, and internal rotation from L2 to T12 level. Two patients required an additional surgery: 1 total shoulder arthroplasty and 1 capsular release with debridement. Conclusion Severe glenohumeral arthritis is a devastating postoperative complication of glenohumeral arthroscopy. Although not a universal finding, the use of glenohumeral pain pumps is a concern, as well as suboptimal anchor placement. Biological resurfacing permits modest functional improvement in a challenging shoulder condition.

Biceps tendinitis in chronic rotator cuff tears : A histologic perspective

Patients with chronic rotator cuff tears frequently have anterior shoulder pain attributed to the long head of the biceps brachii (LHBB) tendon. In this study, tenodesis or tenotomy samples and cadaveric controls were assessed by use of immunohistochemical and histologic methods to quantify inflammation, vascularity, and neuronal plasticity. Patients had moderate pain and positive results on at least 1 clinical test of shoulder function. The number of axons in the distal LHBB was significantly less in patients with biceps tendinitis. Calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P immunostaining was predominantly within nerve roots and blood vessels. A moderate correlation (R = 0.5) was identified between LHBB vascularity and pain scores. On the basis of these results, we conclude that, in the context of rotator cuff disease, the etiology of anterior shoulder pain with macroscopic changes in the biceps tendon is related to the complex interaction of the tendon and surrounding soft tissues, rather than a single entity.

Midterm Results of Surgical Treatment for Adult Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee

Background Determination of appropriate treatment options for adult osteochondritis dissecans is difficult, as most published papers on surgical osteochondritis dissecans treatment report outcomes in a population consisting of both adult and juvenile patients. Purpose This study examines the outcomes of surgical procedures in patients with adult osteochondritis dissecans. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods The cohort included 46 adult patients (48 knees) with adult osteochondritis dissecans of the knee who had undergone surgical treatment (debridement, drilling, loose-body removal, arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation, microfracture, osteo-chondral allograft, or autologous chondrocyte implantation). The average patient age was 34 6 9.5 years (range, 20-49) and patients were followed for 4.0 6 1.8 years. The mean defect size was 4.5 6 2.7 cm2. Outcomes were assessed via clinical assessment and established outcome scales, including the Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Tegner, Cincinnati, and Short Form-12. Results Statistically significant improvement (P<05) was noted in all outcome scales, including Noyes, Tegner, Lysholm, IKDC, KOOS (subdivided into 5 categories including Pain, Symptoms, Activities of Daily Living, Sport, and Quality of Life), Short Form-12 Physical, and Short Form-12 Mental. Seven knees (14%) had clinical failure of the initial treatment and underwent a revision procedure at a mean follow-up of 14 months. Patients treated with arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation and loose-body removal demonstrated a statistically higher postoperative percentage score increase for the KOOS Sport (P 5 .008) and KOOS Quality of Life (P 5 .03) categories than those treated with an osteochondral allograft. Conclusion Patients with adult osteochondritis dissecans of the knee, treated with surgical cartilage procedures, show durable function and symptomatic improvement at a mean 4.0 years of follow-up. Patients treated with arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation and loose-body removal demonstrated a greater improvement in outcome scores than those treated with osteochon-dral allograft.

Articular and Meniscal Pathology Associated with Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

BACKGROUND The abnormal kinematics, contact pressures, and repeated episodes of instability observed in chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency suggest that these patients may be predisposed to early degenerative changes and associated pathologies such as meniscal tears and chondral injury. Injury to the cartilage and associated structures at the time of ACL rupture, in combination with the inflammatory mediators released at the time of injury, may create irreversible damage to the knee despite restoration of normal knee kinematics with an ACL reconstruction. HYPOTHESIS Patients undergoing acute ACL reconstruction have a higher incidence of lateral meniscal tears and less severe chondral changes when compared with patients undergoing late ACL reconstruction. Older patients likely have a higher incidence of chondral and meniscal pathology compared with younger patients. METHODS A retrospective chart review of a single surgeons ACL practice over 20 years was performed. A surgical data packet was used to record patient demographics, location, grade, and number of chondral injuries as well as location and pattern of meniscal injuries at the time of ACL reconstruction. Patients (N = 709) were divided into three subgroups according to their time from injury to surgery; acute (less than 4 weeks, N = 121), subacute (4 to 8 weeks, N = 146), and chronic (8 weeks or more, N = 442). RESULTS Older patients had a higher incidence of more severe chondral grade and number of chondral injuries at the time of ACL reconstruction. Patients undergoing surgery more than 8 weeks after injury had a statistically significant more severe chondral grade in the medial compartment when compared with those that had surgery less than 8 weeks after injury. A similar observation was not found in the lateral compartment. With regard to meniscal pathology, full-thickness medial meniscal tears were likely to be bucket-type tears regardless of the chronicity of the injury. Similarly, full-thickness lateral meniscal tears were more often flap-type tears independent of the time interval between injury and surgery. Partial-thickness tears were common both medially and laterally. CONCLUSIONS Patients age and chronicity of ACL tear greater than 8 weeks are both significant factors in medial compartment chondral pathology. Patients with delayed reconstruction may have greater associated pathology.

Medial Versus Lateral Supraspinatus Tendon Properties Implications for Double-Row Rotator Cuff Repair

Background Rotator cuff repair retear rates range from 25% to 90%, necessitating methods to improve repair strength. Although numerous laboratory studies have compared single-row with double-row fixation properties, little is known regarding regional (ie, medial vs lateral) suture retention properties in intact and torn tendons. Hypothesis A torn supraspinatus tendon will have reduced suture retention properties on the lateral aspect of the tendon compared with the more medial musculotendinous junction. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Human supraspinatus tendons (torn and intact) were randomly assigned for suture retention mechanical testing, ultrastructural collagen fibril analysis, or histologic testing after suture pullout testing. For biomechanical evaluation, sutures were placed either at the musculotendinous junction (medial) or 10 mm from the free margin (lateral), and tendons were elongated to failure. Collagen fibril assessments were performed using transmission electron microscopy. Results Intact tendons showed no regional differences with respect to suture retention properties. In contrast, among torn tendons, the medial region exhibited significantly higher stiffness and work values relative to the lateral region. For the lateral region, work to 10-mm displacement (1592 ± 261 N-mm) and maximum load (265 ± 44 N) for intact tendons were significantly higher (P < .05) than that of torn tendons (1086 ± 388 N-mm and 177 ± 71 N, respectively). For medial suture placement, maximum load, stiffness, and work of intact and torn tendons were similar (P >. 05). Regression analyses for the intact and torn groups revealed generally low correlations between donor age and the 3 biomechanical indices. For both intact and torn tendons, the mean fibril diameter and area density were greater in the medial region relative to the lateral (P ≤. 05). In the lateral tendon, but not the medial region, torn specimens showed a significantly lower fibril area fraction (48.3% ± 3.8%) than intact specimens (56.7% ± 3.6%, P < .05). Conclusion Superior pullout resistance of medially placed sutures may provide a strain shielding effect for the lateral row after double-row repair. Larger diameter collagen fibrils as well as greater fibril area fraction in the medial supraspinatus tendon may provide greater resistance to suture migration. Clinical Relevance While clinical factors such as musculotendinous integrity warrant strong consideration for surgical decision making, the present ultrastructural and biomechanical results appear to provide a scientific rationale for double-row rotator cuff repair where sutures are placed more medially at the muscle-tendon junction.

A case of recurrent giant cell tumor of bone with malignant transformation and benign pulmonary metastases

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a locally destructive tumor that occurs predominantly in long bones of post-pubertal adolescents and young adults, where it occurs in the epiphysis. The majority are treated by aggressive curettage or resection. Vascular invasion outside the boundary of the tumor can be seen. Metastasis, with identical morphology to the primary tumor, occurs in a few percent of cases, usually to the lung. On occasion GCTs of bone undergo frank malignant transformation to undifferentiated sarcomas. Here we report a case of GCT of bone that at the time of recurrence was found to have undergone malignant transformation. Concurrent metastases were found in the lung, but these were non-transformed GCT.

A Randomized, Prospective, Double-Blind Study to Investigate the Effectiveness of Adding DepoMedrol to a Local Anesthetic Injection in Postmeniscectomy Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Background Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee are at risk for poorer outcomes after arthroscopic meniscectomy. Intra-articular corticosteroid injections have been shown to be efficacious both in patients with osteoarthritis and postarthroscopy patients. Hypothesis A postoperative, intra-articular methylprednisolone and lidocaine injection in patients with chondromalacia undergoing meniscectomy will improve patient-rated pain and function compared with control patients. Study Design Randomized, controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods A total of 58 patients (59 knees) were randomized in a double-blinded fashion to receive either saline plus lidocaine (saline) or methylprednisolone plus lidocaine (steroid) after arthroscopic meniscectomy in which chondromalacia (modified Outerbridge grade 2 or higher) was confirmed. Preoperatively and at follow-up—6 weeks and 6, 9, and 12 months—patients underwent an examination and completed a subjective functioning survey. Scores were calculated using several validated scoring systems including the Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and Short Form–12 (SF-12). Results No statistically significant differences were observed between the saline (n = 30) and steroid (n = 29) groups in their demographics and preoperative scores. At 6 weeks, the steroid group had higher scores than the saline group on multiple scales, including the IKDC. No differences in outcome scores existed at later time points. At 12 months, 86% of the steroid and 69% of the saline group were completely or mostly satisfied with the procedure (P = .01). In the saline group, 4 patients required reinjection and 2 underwent joint replacements within 12 months, while the steroid group had 3 reinjections and 2 meniscus transplants. Conclusion The addition of a postoperative corticosteroid injection resulted in improved pain and function at an early time point; however, it provided no lasting difference compared with only local anesthetic injection.