Rainer Siebold

Successful Treatment of Painful Irreparable Partial Meniscal Defects With a Polyurethane Scaffold Two-Year Safety and Clinical Outcomes

Background: A novel, biodegradable, polyurethane scaffold was designed to fulfill an unmet clinical need in the treatment of patients with painful irreparable partial meniscal defects. Hypothesis: The use of an acellular polyurethane scaffold for new tissue generation in irreparable partial meniscal defects provides both pain relief and improved functionality. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Fifty-two patients with irreparable partial meniscal defects (34 medial and 18 lateral, 88% with 1-3 previous surgeries on the index meniscus) were implanted with a polyurethane scaffold in a prospective, single-arm, multicenter, proof-of-principle study. Safety was assessed by the rate of scaffold-related serious adverse events (SAEs) and the International Cartilage Repair Society articular cartilage scoring system comparing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 24 months to MRI at baseline (1 week). Kaplan-Meier time to treatment failure distributions were performed. Clinical outcomes were measured comparing visual analog scale, International Knee Documentation Committee, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and Lysholm scores at 24 months from baseline (entry into study). Results: Clinically and statistically significant improvements (P < .0001) compared with baseline were reported in all clinical outcome scores (baseline/24 months): visual analog scale (45.7/20.3), International Knee Documentation Committee (45.4/70.1), KOOS symptoms (64.6/78.3), KOOS pain (57.5/78.6), KOOS activities of daily living (68.8/84.2), KOOS sports (30.5/59.0), KOOS quality of life (33.9/56.6), and Lysholm (60.1/80.7), demonstrating improvements in both pain and function. The incidence of treatment failure was 9 (17.3%) patients, of which 3 patients (8.8%) had medial meniscal defects and 6 patients (33.3%) had lateral meniscal defects. There were 9 SAEs requiring reoperation. Stable or improved International Cartilage Repair Society cartilage grades were observed in 92.5% of patients between baseline and 24 months. Conclusion: At 2 years after implantation, safety and clinical outcome data from this study support the use of the polyurethane scaffold for the treatment of irreparable, painful, partial meniscal defects.

Assessment and Augmentation of Symptomatic Anteromedial or Posterolateral Bundle Tears of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) consists of 2 anatomic and functional bundles, the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundle. Depending on the mechanism of injury, there are different injury patterns to the AM and PL bundles, demonstrating a wide spectrum of partial ACL tears. Clinical interest has recently focused on establishing pre- and intraoperative ways of assessing the different types of symptomatic partial ACL injuries in order to perform an individual ACL augmentation according to the specific injury pattern. Theoretically, sparing the intact parts of the ACL may increase vascularization and proprioception, may optimize the accuracy of the ACL reconstruction, and may result in better stability and improved clinical outcome for the patient. However, an isolated reconstruction of the AM or PL bundle is an advanced arthroscopic procedure that requires a precise pre- and intraoperative diagnostic assessment of the injury pattern, an exact arthroscopic knowledge of the anatomic insertion sites, a careful debridement, and bone tunnel placement while preserving the intact parts of the ACL. This article will present the concept of partial ACL tears and will describe the clinical, radiologic, and arthroscopic assessment and the arthroscopic technique of isolated AM or PL bundle augmentation.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using patellar tendon versus hamstring tendon: a prospective comparative study with 9-year follow-up.

PURPOSE To analyze the long-term evaluation of clinical, functional, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results after implant-free press-fit anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with bone-patella tendon (BPT) versus quadrupled hamstring tendon (HT) grafts. METHODS Sixty-two ACL-insufficient patients were included in a prospective, randomized study (31 BPT and 31 HT). Both surgical procedures were performed without any implants by a press-fit technique by the senior author. The femoral tunnel was drilled through the anteromedial portal for anatomic placement. At 8.8 years after reconstruction, 53 patients (28 BPT and 25 HT) were examined by different clinical and functional tests. Bilateral MRI scans were performed and interpreted by an independent radiologist. RESULTS On follow-up, the score on the International Knee Documentation Committee evaluation form was significantly better in the HT group. The clinical examination including range of motion, KT-1000 test (MEDmetric, San Diego, CA), and pivot-shift test showed no significant differences. On isokinetic testing, the mean quadriceps strength was close to normal (96%) in both groups, but the hamstring strength was lower in the HT group (100.3%/95.1%). Kneeling (1.5/1.1, P = .002), knee walking (1.72/1.14, P = .002), and single-leg hop test (95.8%/99.1%, P = .057) were better in the HT group. The MRI findings about the mean degree of cartilage lesion (International Cartilage Repair Society protocol) of the operated (2.1/2.1) and nonoperated (1.4/1.8) knee showed no significant differences. No significant difference was found in the grade of medial or lateral meniscal lesion or the number of patients having meniscal lesions when the operated and nonoperated knees were compared. Tunnel measurements, Caton-Deschamps Index, and the sagittal ACL angle were similar. CONCLUSIONS The implant-free press-fit technique for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by use of bone-patellar tendon and hamstring grafts with anatomic graft placement is an innovative technique to preserve the cartilage and meniscal status without significant differences between the operated and nonoperated knees in the long term. Significantly less anterior knee pain was noted in the hamstring group, when testing for kneeling and knee walking. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level II, prospective comparative study.

Current concept of partial anterior cruciate ligament ruptures

A partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament is a frequent pattern of ACL injury, observed in 10 to 27% of isolated ACL lesions. There are three reasons to preserve these remnants: biomechanical, vascular and proprioceptive advantages for the patient. Good quality fibers work as graft protection during the healing process. Periligamentous and endoligamentous vessels present into the native ACL tissue may enhance the vascularization of the ACL augmentation. Mechanoreceptors still remaining in the residual ACL fibers may have proprioceptive function. Definition is controversial, based on anatomy, on clinical examination, on instrumental laxity assessment or on MRI findings. Continuous remnant ACL fibers bridging the femur and tibia, from native femoral ACL footprint to native tibial ACL footprint seem to be a good definition. Diagnostic is suspected by accumulation of arguments brought by a thorough clinical examination, precise MRI analysis and examination under anesthesia. But the final diagnostic needs an arthroscopic evaluation to confirm the presence of fibers in good position and to validate its good mechanical properties. The treatment of ACL partial tear is a demanding surgery; difficulties to visualize the graft insertion site, especially on the femoral side, require a perfect knowledge of the normal anatomy of the native ACL footprint. Adapted portals, perfect controls of the tunnel drilling process, intercondylar notch space management are the keys of success. The pivot shift test under anesthesia, a hard stop Lachman test, MRI findings, level and type of sport, arthroscopic aspects of the remnants and its mechanical properties, allow the surgeon decide between non operative treatment, ACL augmentation or standard ACL reconstruction.

Donor Site Morbidity and Return to the Preinjury Activity Level After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Ipsilateral and Contralateral Patellar Tendon Autograft A Retrospective, Nonrandomized Study

Aim To compare the donor site morbidity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using ipsilateral and contralateral bone–patellar tendon autograft. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2 Patients and Method Between 1997 and 1999, 100 patients underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autologous bone–patellar tendon graft. The reconstructions were performed using ipsilateral bone–patellar tendon graft in 52 patients (group Ip) and contralateral bone–patellar tendon graft in 48 patients (group Co). Group Co consisted of 2 subgroups: group Co-D consisted of the donor knees (n = 48) and group Co-ACL consisted of the anterior cruciate ligament–reconstructed knees (n = 48). Mean follow-up was 39.2 months. Donor site morbidity was evaluated with a questionnaire, computerized historical data, KT-2000 arthrometer measurements, the Cincinnati score, and the Tegner score. Results KT-2000 arthrometer evaluation showed a mean side-to-side difference of 0.6 mm in both groups. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups concerning the Cincinnati and Tegner scores. With regard to local tenderness, a significantly higher rate was found in group Ip (59.6%) and group Co-D (58.3%) compared with group Co-ACL (6.3%). In groups Ip and Co-D, high statistically significant differences were also found according to kneeling pain (69.2% and 70.8%, respectively) and knee-walking pain (76.9% and 70.8%, respectively) compared with group Co-ACL (6.3% and 10.4%, respectively). With regard to numbness, there was no statistical significance between the rates of all 3 groups: group Ip = 75%, group Co-D = 85.4%, and group Co-ACL = 64.6%. There was one rupture of the patellar tendon and one patient with chronic patellar tendinitis, both in the donor knee of group Co-D. Conclusion The contralateral bone–patellar tendon graft appears to present no advantage over the ipsilateral graft, as all symptoms concerning donor site morbidity are shifted from the injured into the healthy knee, and return to activity is not more rapid.

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.

Why perform an ACL augmentation

PurposeThe objective of this article is to determine the importance of an intact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stump and its role in the clinical outcome of an ACL reconstruction.MethodA PubMed database search was conducted using the key words “anterior cruciate ligament healing” and “double-bundle structure”. Articles concerning ACL healing, reconstruction, and rehabilitation were obtained. A total of 35 studies were incorporated in this article, and factors preset in the intact ACL stump were taken into consideration.ResultsFour factors were noted to be important in preserving the stump: protection in early rehabilitation, maintenance of vascular supply, preservation of proprioceptive receptors and may serve as reference for accurate tunnel placement. Also noted was the significance of the intact stump in the natural history, examination, and imaging of such injuries.ConclusionThis study provides a detailed justification in preserving ACL remnants and their vital role in surgical reconstruction of partial anterior cruciate ligament tears.Level of evidence Therapeutic study, expert opinion with review of Level II-V studies, Level V.

Hamstring graft fixation in MPFL reconstruction at the patella using a transosseous suture technique

Controversy still exists about fixation methods of a hamstring graft to the patella in case of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction. This article presents a surgical technique of hamstring tendon graft fixation to the anatomical MPFL insertion on the patella using transosseous sutures. A superficial bony sulcus is created at the anatomical MPFL insertion site on the medial patellar rim with a bur. A looped hamstring tendon graft is fixed to this superficial sulcus by a pair of nonresorbable transosseous sutures passed across the patella. The retinaculum is sutured on top of the hamstring tendon graft at the level of the patella for additional fixation. The technique avoids bone tunnels as well as hardware at the patella. It reduces the risk of intraoperative or postoperative patella fracture or implant-related complications. The stable transosseous fixation technique allows for early rehabilitation.

Arthroscopic extraarticular reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament with gracilis tendon autograft - surgical technique

AbstractThe standard approach to reconstruct the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is by mini-open incision at its patellar insertion and femoral origin. At the medial patella rim, the MPFL insertion may be visualized in most cases by dissection during surgery. On the femur, it is more difficult to localize the MPFL remnants by a mini-open incision due to soft tissue covering the anatomical origin. Therefore, the femoral MPFL origin is usually identified by intraoperative lateral fluoroscopy. However, the insertion and origin of the MPFL at the patella and femur might be directly visualized using an arthroscopic extraarticular approach from the knee joint through a window of the synovial layer. This is especially helpful on the femoral side but also at the patella to find the individual anatomical MPFL footprints. Arthroscopic extraarticular reconstruction may then be performed using one additional medial mid-parapatellar portal. The major advantages of this technique are an individualized anatomical procedure, which is minimal invasive and cosmetically appealing. The aim of this study was to describe the arthroscopic extraarticular approach to the MPFL insertion at the patella and origin at the femur through synovial windows and to explain the procedure of arthroscopic MPFL reconstruction with a gracilis tendon autograft. Level of evidence Expert opinion, surgical technique, Level V.

How to avoid the risk of intraoperative cartilage damage in anatomic four tunnel double bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Double bundle (DB) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is technically demanding. In order to create four anatomical anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bone tunnels many surgeons adopt new ways of tibial and femoral bone tunnel drilling. From surgical experience, these technical changes might increase the risk for intraoperative pitfalls. An intraoperative articular cartilage damage to the medial femoral condyle or the medial tibial plateau could be disastrous for the patient. It may be caused by an insufficient anteromedial portal technique for femoral AM and PL bone tunnel drilling or flat tibial AM or PL bone tunnel reaming. Potential pitfalls may be avoided by small modifications to the surgical technique. In this present technical note, a sequence of surgical steps are described, which may help to avoid articular cartilage damage to the medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau in anatomical four tunnel DB ACL reconstruction.