Takahiro Ida

Arthroscopic Bone Marrow Stimulation Techniques for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: Prognostic Factors for Small Lesions

Background: The defect size of an osteochondral lesion of the talus is one of the most important prognostic factors for deciding clinical outcomes. However, the prognostic factors for small osteochondral lesions of the talus are unknown. Purpose: To investigate the significant prognostic factors for small osteochondral lesions of the talus using arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation techniques. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Fifty ankles in 50 patients treated with arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation techniques for an osteochondral lesion of the talus (<150 mm2) were evaluated for prognostic factors. The patients were 22 men and 28 women (mean age, 35.0 years). Outcomes were measured using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, Berndt and Harty scale, and Saxena criteria. Results: The mean lesion size was 62 mm2 (range, 7-119 mm2). The mean AOFAS score improved from 74 (range, 18-90) preoperatively to 90 (range, 67-100) postoperatively. The Saxena criteria results were excellent, good, fair, and poor in 36 (72%), 8 (16%), 5 (10%), and 1 (2%) patients, respectively. The Berndt and Harty scale results were good in 34 (68%), fair in 6 (12%), and poor in 10 (20%) patients. Linear regression analyses showed prognostic significance for lesion depth and outcome. Medial lesions had a significantly higher incidence of poor outcomes than lateral lesions (P < .05). Among the medial lesions, lesions uncovered with the medial malleolus had inferior outcomes compared with covered lesions (P < .0001). There was no association between clinical outcome and lesion size or body mass index. In older patients (≥40 years), there was a significant trend toward inferior clinical outcomes (P < .05). Conclusion: Arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation techniques provided satisfactory clinical outcomes. However, older patients, deep lesions, and medial lesions uncovered with the medial malleolus were associated with inferior clinical outcomes.

Prevalence and characteristics of cam-type femoroacetabular deformity in 100 hips with symptomatic acetabular dysplasia: a case control study

BackgroundCam-type femoroacetabular deformity in acetabular dysplasia (AD) has not been well clarified. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of femoroacetabular deformity in symptomatic AD patients.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the cases of 86 women (92 hips) and eight men (eight hips) with symptomatic AD. The mean patient age was 37.9 (range, 14-60) years. All participants underwent lateral cross-table and lateral whole-spine radiographic examinations to measure the alpha angle and pelvic tilt. Pelvic computed tomography scans were used to measure femoral anteversion. The patients were classified into two groups: AD only group, containing hips with an alpha angle less than 55°; and AD with cam-type femoroacetabular deformity (AD + cam-type deformity) group, containing hips with an alpha angle greater than or equal to 55°.ResultsOf the patients with AD, 40 hips displayed additional radiographic evidence of cam-type morphology, while 60 hips had exclusive AD morphology. The patients in the AD + cam-type deformity group had significantly increased forward pelvic tilt in the standing position (p =0.023) and decreased femoral anteversion (p =0.047) compared with the AD only group.ConclusionsOur data revealed that 40% of patients with AD also had radiographic evidence of cam-type femoroacetabular deformity. Greater forward pelvic tilt in the standing position and decreased femoral anteversion seemed to be associated with the cam-type deformity in these patients. These results indicate the morphological features that are most likely to induce secondary symptoms to developmental hip dysplasia. It is suggested that the symptoms in the AD + cam-type deformity group could arise through femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) after periacetabular osteotomy, because a predisposition was present preoperatively.

The Effect of Screw Position and Number on the Time to Union of Arthroscopic Ankle Arthrodesis

PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence the time to union after arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis. METHODS From June 2005 to October 2010, 46 patients (50 ankles) underwent arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis with 6.0-mm cannulated cancellous screws. There were 22 men and 24 women (mean age, 63 years). Medical records and radiographs were retrospectively reviewed. Screw configurations used were as follows: 3 transmedial and translateral malleolar screws (ML3) in 12 ankles (24%), 2 transmedial and translateral malleolar screws (ML2) in 4 ankles (8%), 3 transmedial malleolar screws (M3) in 23 ankles (46%), and 2 transmedial malleolar screws (M2) in 11 ankles (22%). RESULTS Radiographic fusion was achieved in 46 (92%) of the 50 ankles. The mean time to fusion was 11.0 ± 4.5 weeks for ML3, 13.1 ± 3.3 weeks for ML2, 9.7 ± 2.7 weeks for M3, and 12.5 ± 3.5 weeks for M2 (P < .05). The mean American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society scores were 81.3 ± 2.2 for ML3, 83.5 ± 4.4 for ML2, 88.3 ± 1.5 for M3, and 85.3 ± 2.2 for M2. The mean time until radiographic fusion was 10.2 ± 3.4 weeks for correction angles of less than 10° and 13.2 ± 3.4 weeks for angles of 10° or greater (P < .01). In obese patients a significant difference in ankle fusion time was observed (12.6 ± 3.5 weeks for patients with body mass index ≥25 v 9.4 ± 2.9 weeks for patients with body mass index <25, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study showed that arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis achieves a high rate of union, with fastest union achieved with 3 parallel screws placed medially from the distal tibia into the talus. Care should be taken when one is designing treatment strategies for obese patients and/or patients with large correction angles. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV, retrospective case series.

Arthroscopic findings in Maisonneuve fractures

BackgroundA Maisonneuve fracture consists of a proximal fibular fracture with associated syndesmotic ligament disruption and injury to the medial ankle structures. The treatment outcome is good in most cases, although poor results have also been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate intra-articular lesions in Maisonneuve fractures.MethodsThe subjects consisted of four patients (four ankle joints) who had suffered a Maisonneuve fracture and had undergone surgical treatment between June 2005 and November 2005. The mean age was 24. 2 years. At the time of surgery, we performed ankle arthroscopy and determined the presence of tibiofibular syndesmosis disruption, cartilaginous damage, and ligament damage. Lesions of the articular cartilage were graded by depth as determined by inspection and probing.ResultsAll four of the cases had cartilaginous damage to the medial section of the talar dome. Lateral lesions were not observed. Chondral debris and hemarthrosis were noted in virtually all cases, and each ankle had a tear on the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and interosseous tibiofibular ligament. No patients had a tear of the posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament.ConclusionsArthroscopy was useful in identifying associated intra-articular lesions in Maisonneuve fractures.

Assessing the safe direction of instruments during posterior ankle arthroscopy using an MRI model.

Background: The safety of posterior ankle arthroscopy is still the subject of debate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomical relationship between the posterior portals and the neurovascular structures using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the safety of posterior portals in posterior ankle arthroscopy. Methods: Forty ankles from 38 patients who had undergone MRI scanning for ankle disorders were assessed (18 males, 20 females). For each ankle, the angles of the presumed position of the portals to the posterior neurovascular structures and the malleoli were measured on 4-mm proximal slices from the anterior tip of the fibula. The shortest distance from the sural nerve and the tibialis posterior neurovascular bundle to the position of the posterior portals was measured. Results: The average distance between the posteromedial portal and the tibialis posterior neurovascular bundle was 18 ± 3 mm, whereas the average distance between the posterolateral portal and the sural nerve was 15 ± 3 mm. In 100% of ankles, there were no neurovascular structures lying within the region between the anterior tip of fibula and the posteromedial portal or between the posterior tip of fibula and the posteromedial portal. In 32 ankles (80%), the medial neurovascular structures were present on the medial side of the line running between the anterior tip of medial malleolus and the posteromedial portal. Conclusion: The posterior neurovascular structures were not in immediate proximity to where we estimated the posteromedial and posterolateral portals to be located. Clinical Relevance: The findings of the present MRI-based study suggest that arthroscopic instruments oriented toward the fibula may be safely introduced into the posterior ankle without injuring the neurovascular structures.

Simultaneous Use of Lateral Calcaneal Ostectomy and Subtalar Arthroscopic Debridement for Residual Pain After a Calcaneal Fracture

Inadequate primary treatment of calcaneal fractures frequently results in persistent, residual pain. This can be caused by subtalar arthritis, an increased calcaneal width, and/or calcaneal fibular impingement of the peroneal tendons. Many patients experience multiple disorders simultaneously, requiring a combination of procedures to treat the injury. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic debridement with lateral calcaneal ostectomy for residual pain after a calcaneal fracture. Four feet (4 patients) were treated with arthroscopic debridement and lateral calcaneal ostectomy. The patients were 3 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 55.3 ± 14.1 years. The mean follow-up duration was 33.5 ± 10.5 months postoperatively. Three patients received workers compensation as a result of their condition. The patients were examined for improvement in pain levels using the numeric pain intensity scale and healing was assessed using the Japanese Society of Surgery of the Foot score. The mean Japanese Society of Surgery of the Foot score improved from 64.5 ± 13.8 preoperatively to 82.5 ± 7.1 postoperatively. The mean postoperative numeric pain intensity scale score was 2.3 ± 1.9. No complications, such as deep infection or problems with wound healing, were observed in any of the patients. The simultaneous use of arthroscopic subtalar debridement and lateral calcaneal ostectomy is a valuable intervention for the treatment of residual pain after a calcaneal fracture in patients who present with increased calcaneal width and mild or no degenerative changes in the subtalar joint.

Arthroscopic treatment for an osteochondral defect of the talus after necrosis associated with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: A case report

Osteonecrosis is a serious complication of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy. The spontaneous regression or healing of osteonecrosis is rare. An unusual case of an osteochondral defect of the talus secondary to osteonecrosis is herein presented. We treated a 26-year-old female who presented with an osteochondral defect of the talus after necrosis. ALL had previously been diagnosed in 1994 and the patients had been treated with chemotherapy included corticosteroid. She was thereafter diagnosed to have bilateral osteonecrosis of the talus in 1996, and thus had been treated with weight-bearing restriction using a patellar tendon bearing brace. She felt pain in her right ankle in 2006. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an osteochondral defect in the lateral aspect of the talus and normal bone marrow signal in the right ankle. We performed arthroscopic treatment by means of a bone marrow stimulation technique. At second-look arthroscopy, the aspect of the talus was completely covered by fibrocartilage like tissue. This procedure is therefore considered to be one option for the treatment of an osteochondral defect of the talus after necrosis in young patients.