Heikki Mäenpää

Patellar Dislocation The Long-term Results of Nonoperative Management in 100 Patients

One hundred patients were treated nonoperatively for primary acute patellar dislocations, either by plaster cast (N = 60), by posterior splint (N = 17), or by patellar bandage or brace (N = 23). Follow-up exam inations were performed at an average of 13 years later (range, 6 to 26 years). Overall, there were 0.17 redislocations per follow-up year; the redislocation fre quencies per follow-up year for each patient group were 0.29, patellar bandages or braces; 0.12, plaster cast; and 0.08, posterior splint. In addition, there were fewer recurrences and subsequent problems (patel lofemoral pain or subluxations) in the group treated with posterior splints compared with the two other treatment groups. The most marked restrictions of knee joint movements were seen in the patients treated with plaster casts. Subjective assessment of treatment, however, did not differ significantly between the groups. Patients were also evaluated in relation to the treatment of redislocations and management of subsequent problems (i.e., patellofemoral pain or sub luxations). Patients who were treated operatively for their redislocations exhibited better outcomes than pa tients treated nonoperatively. In the patients who had subsequent problems, the operation did not relieve the symptoms.

Patellofemoral osteoarthritis after patellar dislocation.

Clinical and radiographic studies were done for 85 patients treated conservatively for acute primary patellar dislocation occurring an average 13 years (range, 6-26 years) previously. Osteoarthritic changes in the patellofemoral joint were evaluated with special reference to the primary conservative treatment and treatment of redislocations (operative or conservative) or treatment for other subsequent problems such as pain and/or subluxations (late surgery). The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of findings in the unaffected knee and other joints. There were 56 patients (66%) with predisposing factors such as an abnormal quadriceps angle, positive apprehension test, quadriceps muscle atrophy, or generalized joint laxity common to all patients. Patients with or without predisposing factors did not differ from each other in terms of arthritic changes. Patellofemoral joint degeneration was found in the affected knee in 19 patients (22%) and in the unaffected knee in nine (11%). Conservative treatment without subsequent redislocations resulted in osteoarthritic changes in 29% of the cases and in 13% of cases with occasional redislocations. Osteoarthritic changes were found in 17% of patients treated operatively and in 12% of patients treated conservatively for redislocations. Of the patients who underwent late surgery for patellofemoral pain or subluxations, 35% showed osteoarthritic changes. In general, there were more degenerative changes in patients with stable patellae (no redislocations) than in those with occasional recurrences, especially in older and heavier patients.

Treatment with and without Initial Stabilizing Surgery for Primary Traumatic Patellar Dislocation A Prospective Randomized Study

BACKGROUND There is no consensus about the management of acute primary traumatic patellar dislocation in young physically active adults. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes after treatment with and without initial stabilizing surgery for primary traumatic patellar dislocation in young adults. METHODS Forty young adults, thirty-seven men and three women with a median age of twenty years (range, nineteen to twenty-two years), who had an acute primary traumatic patellar dislocation were randomly allocated to be treated with initial surgical stabilization (eighteen patients, with each receiving one of two types of initial stabilizing procedures) or to be managed with an orthosis (twenty-two patients, including four who had osteochondral fragments removed arthroscopically). After a median of seven years, thirty-eight patients returned for a follow-up examination. Redislocations, subjective symptoms, and functional limitations were evaluated. Radiographs and magnetic resonance images were obtained at the time of randomization, and twenty-nine (76%) patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging at the time of final follow-up. RESULTS A hemarthrosis as well as injuries of the medial retinaculum and the medial patellofemoral ligament were found on magnetic resonance imaging in all patients at the time of randomization. During the follow-up period, six of the twenty-one nonoperatively treated patients and none of the seventeen patients treated with surgical stabilization had a redislocation (p = 0.02). Four nonoperatively treated patients and two patients treated with surgical stabilization reported painful patellar subluxation. The median Kujala scores were 91 points for the surgically treated patients and 90 points for the nonoperatively treated patients. Thirteen patients in the surgically treated group and fifteen in the nonoperatively treated group regained their former physical activity level. At the time of follow-up, a full-thickness patellofemoral articular cartilage lesion was detected on magnetic resonance imaging in eleven patients; the lesions were considered to be unrelated to the form of treatment. CONCLUSIONS In a study of young, mostly male adults with primary traumatic patellar dislocation, the rate of redislocation for those treated with surgical stabilization was significantly lower than the rate for those treated without surgical stabilization. However, no clear subjective benefits of initial stabilizing surgery were seen at the time of long-term follow-up.

Arthroscopic Surgery for Primary Traumatic Patellar Dislocation: A Prospective, Nonrandomized Study Comparing Patients Treated with and without Acute Arthroscopic Stabilization with a Median 7-Year Follow-up

Background No data exist whether patients with primary traumatic patellar dislocation benefit from initial arthroscopic medial repair surgery. Purpose To compare long-term outcomes of patients treated with acute arthroscopic stabilization for patellar dislocation with those treated nonoperatively except for removal of loose bodies. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods The study group included 76 consecutive military recruits (72 men, 4 women), with a median age of 20 years (range, 19–22) at the time of dislocation. Thirty patients (group 1) underwent initial arthroscopic medial retinacular repair, and 46 patients (group 2) were treated without stabilizing surgery, including 11 who had osteochondral fragments arthroscopically removed. Patients with previous patellar dislocations or instability were excluded. Aftercare was identical in both groups. Redislocations, subjective symptoms, and functional limitations were evaluated after a median 7-year follow-up. Results Sixty-one (80%) patients participated in a follow-up examination. At final follow-up, 8 (23%) redislocations occurred in group 2 and 5 (19%) in group 1 (P = .84). Eight (23%) patients in group 2 and 3 (12%) in group 1 reported patellar subluxations (P = .18). In group 1, 81% regained their preinjury activity level compared with 56% in group 2 (P = .05). Functional outcomes were good in both groups (Kujala scores: 87 for group 1 and 90 for group 2) (P = .22). Regarding the presence of osteoarthritic characteristics in the patellofemoral joint, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups. Conclusions Initial arthroscopic medial retinacular repair was not followed by improved patellar stability nor reduced incidence of redislocations compared with nonoperative (except for removal of loose bodies) treatment. Acute arthroscopic medial retinacular repair allowed patients to better regain preinjury activity level than in patients not undergoing retinacular repair. The decision to stabilize the patella by initial arthroscopic surgery should be made with caution.

What went wrong in triple arthrodesis? An analysis of failures in 21 patients.

Three hundred seven triple arthrodeses were done on 282 patients with rheumatic diseases between 1995 and 1999. Solid and painless fusion was achieved in 261 patients (93%, 286 arthrodeses). Twenty-one arthrodeses (in 21 patients) that failed were analyzed. Fourteen (66%) malunions, six (29%) nonunions, and one (5%) painful foot without malunion or nonunion were found. Of the failed procedures, valgus alignment was present in 13 feet and varus alignment was present in eight feet. The most common cause of failure was a misjudgment in the surgical technique, which occurred in 12 of 21 (57%) patients based on inadequate correction and repositioning of hindfoot deformity. In four (19%) patients, additional ankle destruction and instability was overlooked as a cause of malalignment. Revision triple arthrodesis was successful in 18 of 21 (86%) patients. Triple fusion offers challenges in surgical technique, postoperative treatment, and rehabilitation. Understanding the complexity of the rheumatic hindfoot is important when performing triple arthrodesis in patients with severe deformities manifesting typically as calcaneovalgus and pes planus.

Why do ankle arthrodeses fail in patients with rheumatic disease

Solid and painless fusion was achieved in 117/130 patients (90%) with rheumatic diseases after primary ankle arthrodesis at the authors’ institution. Operations were performed using internal fixation according to the Adams technique. Critical retrospective analysis of failures in 13 patients (11 nonunions, one postoperative low-grade infection, and one painful arthrodesis) revealed errors in the primary operative technique in 10/13 ankles (77%), resulting typically from the surgeons attempt to overcompensate a malaligned ankle while ignoring correction of the hindfoot deformity (subtalar complex). The optimum of 0–5° of valgus was found in only 5/13 patients (38%). All four patients with varus alignment presented with malleolar pain. Bone grafting was adequate even in those patients with failure, whereas immobilization time was suboptimal in one patient (eight weeks). Patient satisfaction was lowered in every case of nonunion. Revision arthrodesis of failed primary fusion was successful in 10/13 patients (77%), however three additional stress fractures, two painful ankles without nonunions, and one superficial wound infection were detected. Ankle arthrodesis is a demanding procedure, and the operation should always be performed by an experienced surgeon, taking into account the alignment, ligament, and muscle balance of the rheumatoid ankle and hindfoot. Correction and rebalancing of these factors and the use of bone grafts are of crucial importance when considering the optimal conditions for fusion. Nonunions, infections, and stress fractures occurring after the primary arthrodesis are severe complications, leading eventually to revision operations and problems with osteoporotic bone, fragile soft tissues, and skin.

First-Time Patellar Dislocation: Surgery or Conservative Treatment?

Primary patellar dislocation injures the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), the major soft-tissue stabilizer of the patella, which may lead to recurrent patellar instability. Recurrent patellar dislocation are common and may require surgical intervention. The variation in location of injury of the MPFL and the presence of an osteochondral fracture produces challenges in clinical decision making between nonoperative and operative treatment, including the surgical modality, to repair or reconstruct the MPFL. Current evidence suggests that not all primary dislocations should undergo the same treatment. MPFL reconstruction may theoretically be more reliable than repair, but the optimal time to perform additional bony corrections is not known. A normal or minor dysplastic patellofemoral joint may be suitable for nonoperative treatment, whereas a higher grade of trochlear dysplasia or other significant abnormalities may benefit from surgical treatment. In this paper, we present a treatment algorithm for primary patellar dislocation.

Patellar dislocation has predisposing factors

One hundred patients with the diagnosis of an acute patellar dislocation treated conservatively and 30 healthy control subjects were studied roentgenographically by lateral and tangential views. The aim of the study was to determine the distribution and incidence of predisposing factors in different study groups. Three study groups were formed as follows: 67 patients (group A) without late problems or operative treatment of redislocation: 33 patients (group B) who underwent a surgical realignment procedure for redislocations or late problems; and 30 healthy control subjects (group C). A statistically significant difference was observed between the patient groups (A, B) and control group (C) when the means, medians and distributions of patellar tendon length (LT), patellar length (LP), tendon to patellar length ratio (LT/LP), tendon to patellar articular surface ratio (LT/LAS), sulcus angle (SA), lateral patellar displacement (LPD), lateral patellofemoral angle (LPA) and morphological classification of the patella (1–5, Jägerhut) were compared. In group A, LPD was also significantly greater than in group B. This study demonstrates a considerably high rate of predisposing factors associated with patellar dislocation.

The Effect of Zoledronic Acid on the Clinical Resolution of Charcot Neuroarthropathy: A pilot randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical efficacy of zoledronic acid in patients with diabetes and acute Charcot neuroarthropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Thirty-nine consecutive patients were randomly assigned to placebo or three intravenous infusions of 4 mg zoledronic acid. The primary outcome was clinical resolution of acute Charcot neuroarthropathy determined by total immobilization time (casting plus orthosis). RESULTS At baseline, there was no significant difference between the randomly assigned groups with respect to Charcot disease activity or other baseline values. In the zoledronic acid group, the median time for total immobilization was 27 weeks (range 10–62), and in the placebo group it was 20 weeks (20–52) (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Zoledronic acid had no beneficial effect on the clinical resolution of acute Charcot neuroarthropathy in terms of total immobilization time. It is possible that it may prolong the time to clinical resolution of Charcot neuroarthropathy.

Stress Fractures of the Ankle and Forefoot in Patients with Inflammatory Arthritides

Twenty-four stress fractures occurring in the metatarsal bones and ankle region were examined in 17 patients with inflammatory arthritides. There were 16 metatarsal, four distal fibular, two distal tibial, and two calcaneus fractures. Radiographic analyses were performed to determine the presence of possible predisposing factors for stress fractures. Metatarsal and ankle region stress fractures were analyzed separately. Stress fractures occurred most frequently in the second and third metatarsals. In metatarsal fractures, there was a trend for varus alignment of the ankle to cause fractures of the lateral metatarsal bones and valgus alignment of the medial metatarsal bones. Valgus deformity of the ankle was present in patients with distal fibular fractures in the ankle region group. Calcaneus fractures showed neutral ankle alignment. Malalignment of the ankle and hindfoot is often present in distal tibial, fibular, and metatarsal stress fractures. Additionally, patients tend to have long disease histories with diverse medication, reconstructive surgery and osteoporosis. If such patients experience sudden pain, tenderness, or swelling in the ankle region, stress fractures should be suspected and necessary examinations performed.