Philippe Neyret

Responsiveness of the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form

Background and Purpose The International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form was developed to measure change in symptoms, function, and sports activity in patients treated for a variety of knee conditions. Although previous research has demonstrated reliability and validity of the form, its responsiveness has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine responsiveness of the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form. Study Design Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 1. Methods Patients who participated in the original validation study for the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form completed the form and a 7-level global rating of change scale that ranged from greatly worse to greatly better after a mean of 1.6 years (range, 0.5-2.3 years). Analyses included calculation of the standardized response mean and mean change in International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form score compared to the patients perception of change on the global rating of change scale. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to determine the change in score that best distinguished patients who improved from those who did not. Results The overall standardized response mean was 0.94, which is considered large. With the exception of those who were slightly worse or unchanged, the mean change in the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form score compared to the patients’ perceived global ratings of change was as expected (greatly worse,–15.1; somewhat worse,–8.4; slightly worse, 20.6; no change, 10.7; slightly better, 5.9; somewhat better, 18.1; greatly better, 38.7). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a change score of 11.5 points had the highest sensitivity, and a change score of 20.5 points had the highest specificity to distinguish between those who were or were not improved. Conclusion The International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form is a responsive measure of symptoms, function, and sports activity for patients with a variety of knee conditions.

Osteoarthritis in patients with anterior cruciate ligament rupture: A review of risk factors

The risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in patients who have had an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture are reviewed. Although the principle arthrogenic factor is the increased anterior tibial displacement that is associated with the rupture, other direct and indirect factors contribute. Meniscal and chondral injuries can be present before, during, and develop after the index injury, making assessment of the relative importance of each difficult. Most studies concentrate on the radiological changes following ACL rupture and reconstruction. However the rate of significant symptomatic OA needing major surgical intervention is lower. This needs to be considered when advising patients on the management of their ruptured ACL. The long-term outcome in patients who are symptomatically stable following an ACL rupture is uncertain, although in a small cohort of elite athletes all had degenerative changes by 35 years and eight out of 19 (42%) had undergone total knee replacement. At 20 years follow-up the reported risk of developing osteoarthritis is lower after ACL reconstruction (14%-26% with a normal medial meniscus, 37% with meniscectomy) to untreated ruptures (60%-100%).

Arthroscopic stabilization for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation: Results of 59 cases

Fifty-nine patients with recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder underwent the Morgan arthroscopic stabilization with transglenoidal suture of the inferior glenohumeral ligament. All patients were followed-up for an average of 49 months (range, 29 to 71 months). Using Rowes scoring system, the overall objective results were disappointing. There were 33% excellent results, 9% good, 9% fair, and 49% poor. Twenty-six patients had a further dislocation, and 3 others had recurrent subluxation on average 13 months after the operation. The failures were associated with a preoperative clinical finding of inferior hyperlaxity as demonstrated by a positive sulcus sign, a preoperative radiological finding of a bony lesion on the anterior edge of the glenoid, or an arthroscopic finding of extended ligamentous lesions at the time of operation. The results of this study are clearly worse than those reported by other investigators. Direct comparison between the reported studies is problematic and is discussed. It was concluded that arthroscopic stabilization should only be performed by interested specialists as part of controlled clinical trials.

A comparative study of medial versus lateral arthroscopic partial meniscectomy on stable knees: 10-year minimum follow-up.

PURPOSE Our goal was to compare results of partial medial arthroscopic meniscectomy with results of partial lateral arthroscopic meniscectomy and to determine prognostic factors. TYPE OF STUDY Retrospective comparative study with statistical analysis. METHODS In this study, 362 medial and 109 lateral isolated arthroscopic meniscectomies are presented with a minimum follow-up time of 10 years. All knees were stable with no previous surgery or traumatic lesion. RESULTS In this study, 95% of the patients were very satisfied or satisfied with the results of the medial meniscectomy, and 95.5% with results of the lateral meniscectomy (P =.32). According to grades 1 and 2 of the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form, 85.8% of the medial meniscectomy group were free of any symptoms, as were 79.7% of the lateral meniscectomy group (P =.11). Radiologic changes after medial and lateral meniscectomy were found in 21.5% and 37.5%, respectively (P =.11). The rates of radiologic changes in patients in whom the contralateral knee was radiologically normal were 22.3% and 39%, respectively (P =.016). The rate of repeat surgeries for osteoarthritis was less than 0.2%. CONCLUSIONS Subjective and clinical results after medial or lateral meniscectomy are quite similar, but radiologic results are significantly worse after lateral meniscectomy. The most accurate way to determine the degeneration caused by the meniscectomy is to evaluate joint space narrowing in patients in whom the contralateral knee was radiologically normal. Otherwise, partial medial or lateral meniscectomy are well tolerated. A better prognosis can be predicted for a patient with an isolated medial meniscal tear with one or more of the following factors: age less than 35 years, a vertical tear, no cartilage damage, and an intact meniscal rim at the end of the meniscectomy. With an isolated lateral meniscal tear, a better prognosis can be predicted if the patient is young and has an intact meniscal rim at the end of the meniscectomy.

Results of partial meniscectomy related to the state of the anterior cruciate ligament. Review at 20 to 35 years

We reviewed 195 knees in 167 patients at least 20 years after a rim-preserving meniscectomy. They were considered in two groups: 102 knees had had an intact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and 93 had had an unrepaired rupture. More patients with a ruptured ACL had downgraded their sport activity by five years after meniscectomy. The incidence of radiographic osteoarthritis was about 65% at 27 years in patients with a ruptured ligament, and 86% in those followed up for over 30 years. In the ligament-deficient group 10% had had operations for osteoarthritis, and another 28% had had other operations, mainly further meniscectomies. Only 6% of those with an intact ligament had needed a second operation after meniscectomy and at long-term follow-up 92% of them were satisfied or very satisfied. Only 74% of the ligament-deficient patients were satisfied with their result. The long-term outcome after rim-preserving meniscectomy depends mainly upon the state of the anterior cruciate ligament.

Anterior cruciate reconstruction combined with valgus tibial osteotomy.

Forty-four of the first 50 knees to undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction combined with a valgus tibial osteotomy were reviewed retrospectively at an average of three and a half years later. The combined operation was performed on patients with symptomatic chronic ACL rupture who also had varus malalignment on unilateral weight bearing, usually secondary to a previous medial meniscectomy. All patients originally played regular sports, but before the combined operation, 31 did not play at all. The operation had a low morbidity, and significantly improved clinical symptoms, clinical stability, and functional stability. Postoperatively only one patient could play competitive sports, although a further 26 could play leisure sports. At review there was no radiological progression of osteoarthrosis, and 37 patients (91%) were satisfied or very satisfied with the operation. Performing a valgus tibial osteotomy improved the results of ACL reconstruction in patients with acquired varus malalignment and extended the indications of ACL reconstruction to include patients younger than 40 years of age with early medial compartment osteoarthrosis.

Long-Term Follow-Up of 24.5 Years After Intra-Articular Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Lateral Extra-Articular Augmentation

Background: Many studies have reported successful outcomes 10 to 15 years after ACL reconstruction. However, few authors report results at ultra long-term follow-up (more than 20 years of follow-up). Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine how the status of the medial meniscus and the medial compartment articular cartilage observed at the time of ACL reconstruction affects results more than 24 years after surgery. This article examines long-term outcome of ACL reconstruction with extra-articular augmentation (procedure performed through a medial arthrotomy). Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: One hundred of 148 patients reviewed at 11.5 years of follow-up could be reviewed at 24.5 years. Complete clinical and radiographic evaluation (International Knee Documentation Committee scale and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) was performed. Results: The radiographic International Knee Documentation Committee rating was as follows: grade A, 39%; grade B, 7%; grade C, 27%; and grade D, 27%. Onset of osteoarthritis was correlated with medial meniscal status and femoral chondral defects at time of surgery. Conclusion: Total medial meniscectomy and articular cartilage damage were risk factors for osteoarthritis.

Partial meniscectomy and anterior cruciate ligament rupture in soccer players A study with a minimum 20-year followup

A retrospective review of 77 soccer players with 91 affected knees that had undergone the same operation, a rim-preserving meniscectomy, was made with a min imum followup of 20 years and an average followup of 27 years. The patients were divided into groups based on the presence of an intact (Group 1) or ruptured (Group 2) anterior cruciate ligament. At 5 years after meniscectomy, 75% of Group 1 and 52% of Group 2 were still playing soccer, and 13% in Group 1 as opposed to 28% in Group 2 had given up sports. The sporting class assessment was good in 80% of the Group 1 knees and 62% in the Group 2 knees. By followup, 5% of Group 1 and 32% of Group 2 required further meniscectomies, and 2% of Group 1 and 16% of Group 2 required operations for osteo arthritis. Radiologically diagnosed osteoarthritis was present in 24% of Group 1 knees compared with 77% of Group 2. Functionally, 60% of the Group 1 knees were excellent at followup as opposed to 9% in Group 2 knees. In Group 1, 49% were still involved in sports compared with 22% in Group 2. However, 97% of Group 1 were satisfied with their knees compared with 74% of Group 2. All of these differences were statisti cally significant.

Extra-articular techniques in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

This annotation considers the place of extra-articular reconstruction in the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency. Extra-articular reconstruction has been employed over the last century to address ACL deficiency. However, the technique has not gained favour, primarily due to residual instability and the subsequent development of degenerative changes in the lateral compartment of the knee. Thus intra-articular reconstruction has become the technique of choice. However, intra-articular reconstruction does not restore normal knee kinematics. Some authors have recommended extra-articular reconstruction in conjunction with an intra-articular technique. The anatomy and biomechanics of the anterolateral structures of the knee remain largely undetermined. Further studies to establish the structure and function of the anterolateral structures may lead to more anatomical extra-articular reconstruction techniques that supplement intra-articular reconstruction. This might reduce residual pivot shift after an intra-articular reconstruction and thus improve the post-operative kinematics of the knee.

Interobserver reliability of the international society of arthroscopy, knee surgery and orthopaedic sports medicine (ISAKOS) classification of meniscal tears

Background: Consistency of arthroscopic evaluation and documentation in meniscal tears between investigators is essential to the validity of multicenter studies. A group of experts developed a classification of meniscal tears that may be used internationally. Hypothesis: The International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS) classification of meniscal tears provides sufficient interobserver reliability for pooling of data from international clinical trials designed to evaluate the outcomes of treatment for meniscal tears. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 1. Methods: A pilot study was performed by having 8 members of the committee grade 10 arthroscopic videos for classification of tear depth, rim width, location, tear pattern, and quality of the tissue. The results of the pilot study were used to change the instruction sheet and evaluation form. International interobserver reliability was determined by having 8 orthopaedic surgeons who practice in different countries evaluate 37 arthroscopic videos selected to represent different meniscal tear characteristics. The Spearman ρ correlation coefficient was used to compare the area of the meniscus excised, as drawn on the diagram, with the numeric percentage of meniscus excised. Results: There was an 87% agreement for anterior-posterior location of the tear (κ = .65); 79% agreement for tear pattern (κ = .72); 88% agreement for tear depth (κ = .52); 68% agreement for anterior, middle, and posterior location of the tear (κ = .46); and 72% agreement for tissue quality (κ = .47). There was 54% agreement for the rim width (κ = .25) and 67% agreement if the tear was central to the popliteal hiatus (κ = .36). Based on the Landis and Koch criteria for κ coefficients, there was substantial agreement for anterior-posterior location of the tear and tear pattern; moderate agreement for tear depth, anterior, middle, and posterior location of the tear, and tissue quality; and fair agreement for rim width and if the tear was central to the popliteal tear. Interobserver reliability based on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was good for tear length (ICC = .83) and moderate for percentage of meniscus that was excised (ICC = .65). The mean ρ for all raters was .92 (95% confidence interval [CI], .89-.94) comparing the values for percentage of meniscus excised with the area on the diagrams. Conclusion: The ISAKOS classification of meniscal tears provides sufficient interobserver reliability for pooling of data from international clinical trials designed to evaluate the outcomes of treatment for meniscal tears.