Necip Cesur

Tunnel enlargement after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Comparison of bone-patellar tendon-bone and hamstring autografts

Bone tunnel enlargement associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has recently become a topic of interest in the literature. This association was examined, along with the effect of femoral and tibial tunnel enlargement on the clinical results of ACL reconstruction performed with either bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) or hamstring (HST) autografts. Forty-six patients underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction (23 receiving BPTB autograft and 23 HST) between March 1999 and July 2001. Thirty patients (13 receiving BPTB autograft and 17 HST) completed the last clinical and radiologic evaluations and were included in the study. The mean age of patients in the HST group was 29.8 years (range 18–39) and that in the BPTB group was 27.6 years (range 20–37). The mean follow-up period was 24.6 months (range 12–36) in HST group and 18.5 months (range 12–40) in BPTB group. The effect of tunnel enlargement on the clinical results was evaluated by comparing preoperative and postoperative Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee scores and ligament laxity measurements between and within the groups. Postoperative femoral and tibial tunnel diameters in both groups were significantly larger than their corresponding preoperative tunnel diameters. In an intergroup evaluation, the enlargement of the tibial tunnel was similar in both groups (P=.556), but the femoral tunnel diameter was significantly larger in the HST group than in the BPTB group (P>.001). Preoperative laxity of the knees significantly improved after the operations in both groups, but no difference between the groups was evident at the final follow-up visit. No correlation between tunnel widening and the clinical results of the BPTB and HST procedures was observed.

Synovial cysts of proximal tibiofibular joint causing peroneal nerve palsy: report of three cases and review of the literature

IntroductionSynovial cyst of the proximal tibiofibular joint is a very rare condition, for which there is no consensus regarding treatment. Case presentationWe present three patients who had synovial cysts of proximal tibiofibular joint that caused peroneal nerve palsy. We discuss the special features of synovial cysts and review the literature. ConclusionWe consider the best treatment of synovial cysts originating from proximal tibiofibular joint and causing peroneal nerve palsy to be total surgical removal as soon as possible after the diagnosis is made. It should be kept in mind that despite surgical treatment the neurological symptoms may not recover.

Prospective evaluation of the functional and anatomical results of arthroscopic repair in small and medium-sized full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to analyze the relation between tendon integrity and functional results following the arthroscopic treatment of small- and medium-sized rotator cuff tears. METHODS Arthroscopic repair was performed on 26 consecutive patients (21 women, 5 men;mean age: 55.9 years; range: 33-72 years) with small- and medium-sized tears of the supraspinatus tendon. Patients were postoperatively evaluated at 12 and 24 months using the Constant and UCLA functional outcome scores and ultrasound examinations. RESULTS The supraspinatus tendon did not heal in nine patients (34.6%) and was partially healed in three (11%), 12 months after surgery. Mean postoperative Constant and UCLA scores of these patients were 73.1 and 27.8, respectively, which were not significantly different from those with an intact tendon on the final follow-up (Constant: 78 and UCLA: 30; p=0.107 and p=0.164). Both rating systems reflected significant improvement with treatment (p<0.01). The mean age of patients with a re-tear was 66.8 years, which was significantly higher than those with an intact repair (54 years; p<0.01). CONCLUSION The arthroscopic repair of small and medium-sized supraspinatus tendon tears yields good long-term results independent of tendon integrity. Healing potential may be decreased with increased age.

Arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic type D medial plica

We aimed to review the results of subtotal arthroscopic resection of symptomatic type D medial plica. We retrospectively evaluated 23 knees with symptomatic type D medial plica in 22 patients without other intra-articular pathology. All patients complained of chronic knee pain that had not been alleviated by medical treatment or physical therapy. In only three (13%) of the patients studied was the plica diagnosed pre-operatively with magnetic resonance imaging. The type D medial plicae in our series were classified as fenestrated (14 knees), torn (5 knees), or reduplicated (4 knees). Fibrotic changes in the plicae and degenerative changes on the medial femoral condyle were found in 16 knees Patellofemoral chondromalacia was present in three knees Arthroscopic partial resection was performed in all patients. Comparative Lysholm Knee Scale scores before and after surgery revealed a significant clinical improvement (pre-operative status, 67.19 ± 8.05 vs. post-operative status, 90.57 ± 9.80; P < 0.001). Type D medial plica should be considered as a possible cause of chronic knee pain. Arthroscopic partial resection of the plicae in symptomatic patients gives satisfactory results.RésuméNous avons revu, pour cette étude, les résultats de la résection arthroscopique des plica internes symptomatiques de type B. Cette étude rétrospective a évalué 23 genoux présentant une telle pathologie dont 22 patients sans autre anomalie intra-articulaire. Tous les patients se plaignaient de douleurs chroniques du genou non améliorées par le traitement médical ou kinésithérapique. Seulement 3 patients (13%) ont bénéficié d’un diagnostic pré-opératoire par IRM. Ceux-ci étaient classés dans notre série comme « fenestré » (14 genoux), rompus (5 genoux) et redupliqués (4 genoux). Des modifications fibreuses et dégénératives du condyle fémoral interne ont été trouvées dans 16 genoux de même qu’une chondramalasie fémoro patellaire (3 genoux). Une résection arthroscopique a été réalisée chez tous les patients. Ceux-ci ont été évalués selon le score de Lysholm en pré et post-opératoire. L’amélioration a été significative (en préopératoire, 67,19 ± 8,05, post-opératoire 90,57 ± 9,80 , P < 0,001). Le plica interne de type B peut donc être considéré comme une cause possible de douleur chronique du genou, sa résection arthroscopique entraîne des résultats parfaitement satisfaisants.

The effects of two different fixation methods on femoral bone tunnel enlargement and clinical results in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon graft

OBJECTIVES We investigated the effects of anatomic and non-anatomic tunnel fixations on femoral tunnel widening and clinical results in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated 35 patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with quadrupled hamstring tendon graft. Fixation was performed in the tunnel using the transcondylar RigidFix pin (group 1) in 18 patients (mean age 32 years), and from outside the tunnel using the EndoButton-CL device (group 2) in 17 patients (mean age 30 years). The patients were assessed using the IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) and Lysholm knee scores and tunnel widening was assessed by computed tomography. Ligament laxity was measured bilaterally using the Rolimeter knee tester. The mean follow-up was 24 months (range 21 to 38 months) in group 1, and 24.6 months (range 12 to 36 months) in group 2. RESULTS The two groups were similar with respect to age and sex distribution, operated side, the size of the tunnel created, and follow-up period (p>0.05). Postoperative knee scores did not show a significant difference (p>0.05). There was marked and excessive tunnel enlargement in 14 patients (77.8%) in group 1, and in 15 patients (88.2%) in group 2, with no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). Ligament laxity exceeded 3 mm in eight patients (44.4%) in group 1, and in three patients (17.7%) in group 2 (p<0.001). There was no relationship between tunnel widening and ligament laxity (p>0.05; r=0.175 and r=-0.01 for group 1 and group 2, respectively). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that differences in the localization of the tunnel fixation have no effect on tunnel enlargement and that joint laxity may be affected by biomechanical properties of fixation materials.