Amar Mutnal

Surgical Outcome Following Arthroscopic Fixation of Acromioclavicular Joint Disruption With the TightRope Device

The objective of this study was to evaluate the preliminary radiographic and clinical results of grade IV and V acromioclavicular joint disruption repair using the arthroscopic Arthrex acromioclavicular TightRope (Naples, Florida) fixation technique. Numerous procedures have been described for surgical management of acromioclavicular joint disruption. The TightRope device involves an arthroscopic technique that allows nonrigid anatomic fixation of the acromioclavicular joint. A cohort of 10 men and 2 women with a mean age of 43 years (range, 25-61 years) underwent the acromioclavicular joint TightRope procedure between April 2007 and October 2009. Eleven patients had either Rockwood grade IV or V disruptions and 1 sustained a distal third clavicle fracture with acromioclavicular joint disruption. Data was collected from a chart review. Patients were evaluated clinically, radiographically, by the simple shoulder test, and by overall satisfaction. There were 2 failures of reduction and 1 loss of reduction at final radiographic follow-up. The rate of fixation failure was 16.6%. All patients had >110° of total elevation. The majority of patients obtained satisfactory functional results according to the Simple Shoulder Test averaging 11 of 12 questions answered positively (range, 7-12; standard deviation, 1.50) and 11 of 12 patients were satisfied with the procedure. At final phone interview at approximately 2 years postoperatively, 6 patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining patients were all satisfied with the procedure and no patients reported subjective loss of reduction or deterioration of function. Simple Shoulder Test average was maintained with 11 of 12 positively answered questions (range, 7-12; standard deviation, 2.0) This case series revealed a high rate of fixation failure with the TightRope system. Still, most patients were satisfied with the procedure and achieved high functional shoulder results.

Comprehensive approach to the evaluation of groin pain

&NA; Groin pain is often related to hip pathology. As a result, groin pain is a clinical complaint encountered by orthopaedic surgeons. Approximately one in four persons will develop symptomatic hip arthritis before age 85 years. Groin injuries account for approximately 1 in 20 athletic injuries, and groin pain accounts for 1 in 10 patient visits to sports medicine centers. Many athletes with chronic groin pain have multiple coexisting pathologies spanning several disciplines. In treating these patients, the orthopaedic surgeon must consider both musculoskeletal groin disorders and nonorthopaedic conditions that can present as groin pain. A comprehensive history and physical examination can guide the evaluation of groin pain.

Biomechanical Analysis of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Aperture Femoral Fixation

The goal of this study was to determine whether single-tunnel-double-bundle-equivalent posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction using an aperture femoral fixation device better replicated normal knee kinematics than single-bundle reconstruction. Eight fresh-frozen human cadaver knees underwent arthroscopically assisted PCL reconstruction and were examined with a robotic testing system to assess knee joint kinematics under combinations of applied internal, neutral, and external rotational tibial torque and anteroposterior translational forces at 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120° flexion. Three conditions were tested: (1) intact PCL; (2) single-tunnel PCL reconstruction with anterolateral and posteromedial bundle fixation at 90°/90° (single bundle); and (3) 90°/0° (double-bundle equivalent), respectively. Posterior tibial translation was the primary outcome measure. Compared with the intact knee, double-bundle-equivalent reconstruction under external tibial torque allowed greater posterior translation across the flexion arc as a whole (P=.025) and at 30° flexion (P=.027) when results were stratified by flexion angle. No other kinematic differences were found with single-bundle or double-bundle-equivalent fixation, including mediolateral translation and both coupled and isolated tibial rotation (P>.05). Single-bundle PCL reconstruction closely approximated native knee rotational and translational kinematics, whereas double-bundle-equivalent reconstruction permitted increased posterior translation with applied external tibial torque, particularly at lower flexion angles. Single-bundle PCL reconstruction provides knee stability similar to the intact condition, making it a practical alternative to conventional double-bundle PCL reconstruction. The authors found that double-bundle-equivalent reconstruction provided no advantage to justify its clinical use.

Prospective randomised evaluation of a collagen/thrombin and autologous platelet haemostatic agent during cementless total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Total hip arthroplasty (THA) can be associated with substantial peri-operative blood loss which can negatively influence a patients clinical outcome. Few haemostatic agents have been tested in THA. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of a collagen/thrombin/ autologous platelet haemostatic agent would result in a significant decrease of blood transfusions for patients undergoing primary THA. MATERIALS AND METHODS THA patients meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria (n=109) were enrolled in this prospective, double-blind trial and randomised to a treatment arm (standard haemostatic methods plus haemostatic agent) or control arm (standard haemostatic methods only). The primary outcome was transfusion. Secondary outcome measures included peri-operative narcotic usage and post-operative haemoglobin levels, pain scores, function, and general health quality of life. RESULTS Transfusions were required by 5/60 (8.3%) patients in the treatment group and 7/49 (14.3%) in the control group (p=0.33). The mean number of units transfused was not significantly different between the treatment group (2.2±1.3) and the control group (1.6±0.5) (p=0.36). Haemoglobin values on post-operative days 1, 2, and 3 were significantly higher in the treatment group (p=0.002, 0.04, and 0.02, respectively). Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and Short Form-12 scores were not different between the two groups. DISCUSSION In relatively healthy patients undergoing primary cementless THA there was no significant difference in number of transfusions or number of units transfused. It is unlikely that we will routinely use the investigated haemostatic agent to reduce blood loss in a healthy patient undergoing THA. The product may have some benefit in patients who refuse blood transfusions, have minimal ability to increase blood volume, are undergoing total joint revision, or have markedly low pre-operative haemoglobin levels, but this needs to be demonstrated.

Periprosthetic Propionibacterium granulosum Joint Infection After Direct Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty

We report a case of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) caused by Propionibacterium granulosum less than one year after primary total hip arthroplasty performed through the modified Hueter direct anterior approach. A related species, Propionibacterium acnes , has notoriety as a cause of periprosthetic shoulder infection but is seldom a source of lower-extremity PJI1,2. Because of the similarities in bacterial skin flora between the groin and the axilla, there may be an association between the direct anterior approach and Propionibacterium - species infection. The patient was informed that data concerning her case would be submitted for publication, and she provided consent. A seventy-year-old woman with a body mass index of 36.1 kg/m2 and type-2 diabetes mellitus presented to our clinic with a painful right hip in August 2010. She had undergone a primary cementless total hip arthroplasty through a direct anterior approach at an outside institution in July 2009. After the index procedure, she had progressed well until about three months postoperatively, at which time she noted the insidious onset of pain in the proximal part of the right thigh with weight-bearing and hip movement. A cortisone injection for presumed greater trochanteric bursitis provided no relief. The symptoms continued for several months. A subsequent workup revealed an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and a loose femoral stem suggestive of failure of bone ingrowth was seen on radiographs. An attempted hip aspiration resulted in an insufficient quantity of aspirate for a cell count, although cultures were negative. She subsequently underwent revision arthroplasty due to a loose femoral component in May 2010. The diagnosis of a loose implant was confirmed intraoperatively, and the femoral stem was revised to a cemented implant by the original surgeon through the same surgical approach. All intraoperative cultures were negative. There were no …