Tommaso Roberti di Sarsina

Is Sport Activity Possible After Arthroscopic Meniscal Allograft Transplantation? Midterm Results in Active Patients

Background: Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) has produced good to excellent results in the general population; however, few investigations have examined MAT in athletes and sport-related outcomes. Purpose: To report midterm clinical outcomes of MAT and the rate of return to sport in a physically active population. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The study included all physically active patients who underwent arthroscopic MAT without bone plugs and had a minimum of 2 years of follow-up at a single institution. Clinical evaluation was performed with the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the Tegner activity scale, and a 0- to 100-point subjective scale for knee function and satisfaction. Outcomes evaluated included ability to return to sport, time to return to sport, level of sport activity upon return compared with preinjury level, and level of decrease in sport participation or reasons for not returning to sport participation. Comparisons were made between patients who did or did not return to sport and between patients who returned to the same level or a decreased level. Regression analysis was performed to determine the variables affecting the outcomes. Results: Eighty-nine patients, whose mean ± SD age at surgery was 38.5 ± 11.2 years, were evaluated to a mean follow-up of 4.2 ± 1.9 years. Total KOOS improved from a mean ± SD of 39.5 ± 18.5 preoperatively to 84.7 ± 14.8 at the latest follow-up (P < .001). The Tegner score improved significantly from a median of 2 (interquartile range [IQR], 1-4) preoperatively to a median of 4 (IQR, 3-6) at the latest follow-up (P < .001), although it did not reach the preinjury level of 6 (IQR, 5-7) (P < .001). Older age at surgery was correlated with the worst clinical results. Sixty-six patients (74%) were able to return to sport after 8.6 ± 4.1 months. Forty-four (49%) returned to the same level as preinjury. Patients who did not return to sport activity and those who reduced their activity level at follow-up had inferior subjective outcomes compared with those who returned to sport and those who returned to their preinjury levels, respectively. Only 11 patients (12%) underwent a surgical procedure during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Arthroscopic MAT without bone plugs improved knee function and reduced pain, allowing sport resumption in 74% of patients and return to the preinjury activity level in 49% of patients at midterm follow-up. Of all the demographic and surgical variables, only age at surgery seemed to affect outcomes.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a novel porcine xenograft: The initial Italian experience

At the current state of the art in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, multiple techniques have been presented but none has given clearly defined and improved results. One of the main issues concerns the choice of graft. The concept of using xenograft tissue, defined as a graft tissue from one species and destined for implantation in an unlike species, was introduced in order to try to overcome the mechanical and biological concerns associated with synthetic materials and the safety and quality concerns and availability problems of allograft tissue. Xenograft tissue carries the risk of producing an immunological reaction. In order to try to overcome or attenuate the immune response against porcine xenograft tissue, the Z-Process® (Aperion Biologics Inc, San Antonio, Texas, USA) has been developed and used to produce the Z-Lig® family of devices for ACL reconstruction procedures. Z-Lig® is a tendon graft with or without bone blocks, sourced from animal tissue in a manner consistent with what has normally been sourced from human tissue, and processed to overcome anti-Gal-mediated rejection and to attenuate other immunological recognition in humans. All this while ensuring sterility, viral inactivation and preservation of mechanical proprieties appropriate for an ACL reconstruction device. The Z-Lig® device has been tested in skeletally mature monkeys and given interesting and promising results from the preclinical performance and safety profile point of view. On this basis, it was possible to proceed with the first clinical trial involving humans, which gave similar encouraging results. The Z-Lig® device has also been implanted in Italy at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute in Bologna, as a part of international multicenter prospective randomized blinded controlled study aimed at comparing xenograft with allograft tissue.

Surgical treatment of infected shoulder arthroplasty. A systematic review

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the best surgical management of infected shoulder arthroplasty.MethodsA literature review from 1996 to 2016 identified 15 level IV studies that met inclusion criteria. Persistent infection (PI) was considered as treatment failure. Success was regarded as the absence of symptomatic PI without necessity for further treatment. Surgical outcomes were reported according to the mean weighted Constant and Murley score (CMS) for each treatment group.ResultsOverall, 287 patients (146 males/141 females) were identified at a mean follow-up of 50.4 (range 32–99.6) months. The PI in the whole population was 11.5%. The pooled mean CMS, available for 218 patients, was 39 ± 13. Twenty-seven patients (9.4%) were treated with debridement (PI 29.6%, CMS 41 ± 12), 52 patients (18.1%) with resection arthroplasty (PI 11.5%, CMS 29 ± 16), 33 patients (11.5%) with permanent spacers (PI 6.1%, CMS 31 ± 14), 98 patients (34.2%) with two-stage revisions (PI 14.3%, CMS 42 ± 12) and 77 patients (26.8%) with one-stage revisions (PI 3.9%, CMS 49 ± 11).Debridement showed the highest PI rate (29.6%) and one-stage revisions reported the lowest PI rate (3.9%). Resection arthroplasty and spacers showed the poorest CMS when compared to the other procedures (p ≤ 0.0001). The debridement PI rate was significantly higher than almost any other procedure. CMS was significantly higher in patients undergoing revision compared to non-revision procedures (45 ± 12 vs. 35 ± 14) (p < 0.0001). One-stage revisions achieved significantly better results in terms of the PI rate compared to two-stage revisions (p = 0.0223), but not in terms of CMS.ConclusionDebridement showed the highest PI rate (29.6%) and should not be recommended for the management of infected shoulder arthroplasty. Revisions reported better functional outcomes compared to non-revision procedures. The presence of a significantly lower PI rate with comparablely high mean CMS values suggests that one-stage (where technically applicable) could be superior to two-stage revisions.Unfortunately, well-designed randomized controlled trials using validated patient-based outcomes are lacking in this field. Level of evidence: Systematic Review of level IV studies, Level IV

Over-the-top ACL Reconstruction Plus Extra-articular Lateral Tenodesis With Hamstring Tendon Grafts: Prospective Evaluation With 20-Year Minimum Follow-up:

Background: There are few published studies with very long-term follow-up of combined intra- and extra-articular anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Purpose: To analyze clinical and radiographic outcomes of over-the-top ACL reconstruction plus extra-articular lateral tenodesis with autologous hamstrings at minimum 20-year follow-up. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Of 60 originally eligible patients who underwent over-the-top ACL reconstruction with double-stranded hamstring tendon (leaving intact graft tibial insertions) and extra-articular lateral plasty (performed with the remnant part of tendons), 52 were prospectively evaluated at a minimum 20-year follow-up (mean follow-up, 24 years; 41 men, 11 women; mean age at time of surgery, 25.5 ± 7.6 years). Twenty-nine patients were available for prospective evaluations: clinical (Lysholm, Tegner, and objective International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC]), instrumented (KT-2000), and radiographic (standard, long-standing, and Merchant views). Subjective KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) and objective inertial sensor pivot-shift analysis (KiRA) were carried out at final follow-up. Twenty-three patients were investigated by phone interview for subjective Tegner score and documented complications, rerupture, or revision surgery. Results: At final follow-up, mean Lysholm score was 85.7 ± 14.6; median Tegner score, 4 (range, 3-5); sport activity resumption, 86.2%; and objective IKDC score, good or excellent in 86% of patients (31%, A; 55%, B). Only 3 of 26 patients (12%) had >5-mm manual maximum KT-2000 side-to-side difference. KiRA system documented positive pivot-shift (>0.9-m/s2 tibial acceleration side-to-side difference) in these 3 of 26 patients (12%). Statistically significant changes were as follows: decrease in Tegner score from 7 (range, 6-8) at 5-year follow-up to 4 (range, 3-5) at 10 years (P < .0001) and decrease in Lysholm score from 96.1 ± 7.3 at 10-year follow-up to 85.7 ± 14.6 at 20 years (P = .0003). Radiographic evaluation demonstrated significant difference of medial joint space between injured and healthy knees in patients with concomitant medial meniscectomy (n = 8, 3.2 ± 0.6 vs 5.0 ± 1.8 mm, P = .0114). No significant differences were reported regarding lateral or patellofemoral joint space. One patient (2%) experienced rerupture, with 3 of 52 (5.8%) having a contralateral ACL injury (excluded from KT-2000 and radiographic evaluations). Overall, 4 of 29 clinical failures (objective IKDC, KT-2000) and 1 rerupture among 52 patients were registered at final follow-up. Conclusion: Studied surgical technique demonstrated good results in laxity control at 20-year minimum follow-up. The lateral extra-articular plasty associated with ACL reconstruction did not generate lateral knee or patellofemoral osteoarthritis. The factor increasing osteoarthritis was meniscectomy.

Editorial Commentary: The Medial Patellar Ligaments: A Step Closer to the Knee Surgeon's “Rubik's Cube” Solution

Recent cadaveric research analyzing the medial patellar ligaments and their contribution to patellar stability points out not only the need for reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament, but also the medial tibiofemoral ligament to restore normal patellar stability and biomechanics.

Revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction does not prevent progression in one out of five patients of osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of prevalence and progression of osteoarthritis

Purpose To summarise all the up-to-date evidence related to knee osteoarthritis (OA) after revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and to determine the overall average postoperative OA, its progression and its prevalence in each knee compartment after a minimum 4 years, independent from patients’ characteristics and surgical techniques. Methods A systematic review was performed in PubMed and EMBASE. All the studies that reported knee OA at preoperative status, at final follow-up or both were considered for the meta-analysis. A random-effect meta-analysis was used to obtain the incidence and CIs of postoperative OA, OA progression from preoperative status to final follow-up, and OA prevalence in each compartment. Cut-off values for all OA-grading scales were used to dichotomise the outcomes in a normal knee or knee with OA signs. Results Overall, 19 studies reported the radiographic outcomes after revision ACL in 776 patients, at a mean pooled follow-up of 5.8 years. Age at surgery was 30.2 years. The overall postoperative OA incidence was 61% (CI 50% to 70%). Progression from a normal knee to OA was reported in 20% (CI 10% to 32%) of the participants. Considering single compartments, OA incidence was 46% (CI 41% to 52%) in the medial compartment, 23% (CI 13% to 36%) in the lateral compartment and 27% (CI 18% to 38%) in the patellofemoral compartment. Conclusions Knee OA was present in almost 60% of the patients at a mean of 6.2 years follow-up after ACL revision, with an almost double-fold incidence in the medial compartment compared to both lateral compartment and patellofemoral compartment. Progression from normal status to OA status was reported in about 20% of cases. These findings highlight the OA as a concrete problem after revision ACL surgery, which could affect clinical results, sport participation and daily life activities.

Residual rotatory laxity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: How do we diagnose it and prevent it?

Despite the continuous advances in anterior cruciate ligament surgery, residual rotatory laxity still represents a concrete issue that could be responsible for unsatisfactory results in over 10% of patients. Rotational laxity has been correlated with poor outcomes, degenerative changes, meniscal lesions, and premature graft failure. Residual rotatory laxity is quite difficult to diagnose, and new noninvasive devices have been developed to improve clinical diagnosis and permit an individualized approach based on constant evaluation of the specific condition. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a lateral plasty has been proposed for better rotational control and is gaining acceptance in the last few years. The menisci are secondary restraints to tibial anteroposterior translation and when lacking require attention to improve clinical results. This article is focused on the importance of the residual rotatory laxity after anterior cruciate ligament surgery, how to improve it, how to diagnose it using new available tools, and finally how this information influences the surgical approach in order to decrease the failure rate.

Soft tissues contribution to hip joint kinematics and biomechanics

Purpose To quantitatively describe the kinematic behaviour of the hip joint with particular interest in the contribution of the periarticular soft tissues to the stability. To quantitatively assess the sealing function of the acetabular labrum of an intact labrum, the effect of a labral-chondral separation and different surgical approaches. The biomechanics of the joint during specific clinical examinations was also assessed. Methods All the kinematics tests, manually performed, have been acquired using a navigation systems. For the first part of the study, 4 hemi-corpse specimens were evaluated with the hip in 36 different positions with all the soft tissues intact, after removal of skin and muscles and after partial capsulectomy. During the second and the third part of the analysis 8 fresh frozen hips were analysed. They were tested during 3 different positions used for femeroacetabular impingement (FAI) diagnosis, during pivoting motion and distraction test. Contact area between acetabulum and femoral head, range of movement (RoM) and hip joint centre (HJC) displacement were evaluated. Results Femoral head displacement occured in all 3 directions and increased as more tissue was removed. Considering both pivoting motion and distraction test there was an increase of the HJC displacement after labral tear. Analogously, the tested surgical approaches showed different results compared to intact condition. Our analysis confirmed that the hip position with Hyperextension-External Rotation is specific for the analysis of the posteriorsuperior region of the acetabulum. Conclusions The study showed that hip joint does not act as a true ball-and-socket joint and the femoral head anatomical displacement is strongly affected by the removal of periarticular soft tissues, labral repair as well as labrectomy.

In-vivo pivot-shift test measured with inertial sensors correlates with the IKDC grade

Objectives Kinematic Rapid Assessment (KiRA) is a wireless, non-invasive, inertial system with a single tibial sensor developed to measure the pivot-shift (PS) test. The purpose of this study was to in-vivo compare acceleration values acquired by KiRA to the objective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) clinical grading of PS. The comparison was performed in non-anaesthetised patients before and after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. We hypothesised the existence of a correlation between the side-to-side difference in the measured acceleration range by KiRA and the objective IKDC clinical grading of the PS. Methods Between 2010 and 2014, 60 non-professional football players (male/female ratio: 42/18; mean age 34±15.4 years, range 14–51 years) with ACL lesion were enrolled. They underwent over-the-top ACL reconstruction plus lateral extra-articular plasty with autologous hamstrings. All the patients were evaluated before the reconstruction and re-evaluated at 12-month follow-up. Each patient underwent a clinical examination and then was subjected to the instrumental PS examination by KiRA. The difference in the acceleration range between injured/reconstructed and contralateral limb (Δarange) was used in the analysis. Correlations between Δarange values and objective IKDC clinical grades of PS were calculated using Spearman correlation analysis. Results All subjective scores improved from preoperative to follow-up (P≤0.01). Objective IKDC clinical grading of the PS improved from 4B, 40C and 16D to 50A, 8B and 2C (P<0.0001). The mean Δarange measured by KiRA improved from 2.0±1.0 to 0.2±0.4 m/s2 (P<0.0001). A very strong correlation was displayed between the overall Δarange measured by KiRA and overall objective IKDC clinical grading of the PS (r=0.86, P<0.0001); correlation was strong for preoperative data (r=0.71, P<0.0001) and moderate for postoperative data (r=0.53, P<0.0001). The mean Δarange resulted 0.3±0.3 m/s2 for the IKDC A subgroup, 0.8±0.3 m/s2 for the IKDC B subgroup, 1.7±0.8 m/s2 for the IKDC C subgroup and 2.9±0.9 m/s2 for the IKDC D subgroup. Conclusion The side-to-side difference in the measured acceleration range by KiRA shows a correlation with objective IKDC clinical grading of PS. Study design Case series; level of evidence: 4.

Does Donor Age of Nonirradiated Achilles Tendon Allograft Influence Mid-Term Results of Revision ACL Reconstruction?

Purpose  The purpose of the present study was to investigate if the donor age of nonirradiated Achilles tendon allograft could influence the clinical results of revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods  All patients that underwent ACL revision between 2004 and 2008 with at least 4 years of follow-up were included. For all the patients that met the inclusion criteria, the age of the graft donor was obtained from the tissue bank. Lysholm score was administered to patients that met inclusion criteria. In addition, patients were divided in two groups based on the donor age (<45 years vs. ≥45 years), and the baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared. Results  Fifty-two patients were evaluated at a mean 4.8 ± 0.8 years follow-up with Lysholm score. The Lysholm significantly improved from 62.3 ± 6.6 at preoperative status to 84.4 ± 12.3 at final follow-up. The mean donor age was 48.7 ± 8.4 years; a significant difference in Lysholm score was noted between patients that received an allograft with a donor age <45 years (14 patients; 27%) and those receiving an allograft with a donor age ≥45 years (38; 73%) (89.5 ± 3.2 vs. 80.1 ± 11.1, respectively; p  = 0.0469). The multiple regression model showed the donor age, the final follow-up, and the preoperative Lysholm score as significant predictors of postoperative Lysholm score ( p  < 0.0002). Conclusion  Donor age of nonirradiated Achilles tendon allograft influenced the mid-term results of revision ACL reconstruction, thus advising the use of grafts from young donors. Level of Evidence  Level III, retrospective comparative study.