Vipul Mandalia

The management of patients with painful total knee replacement

The management of patients with a painful total knee replacement requires careful assessment and a stepwise approach in order to diagnose the underlying pathology accurately. The management should include a multidisciplinary approach to the patients pain as well as addressing the underlying aetiology. Pain should be treated with appropriate analgesia, according to the analgesic ladder of the World Health Organisation. Special measures should be taken to identify and to treat any neuropathic pain. There are a number of intrinsic and extrinsic causes of a painful knee replacement which should be identified and treated early. Patients with unexplained pain and without any recognised pathology should be treated conservatively since they may improve over a period of time and rarely do so after a revision operation.

Evaluation of patients with a painful total knee replacement

Evaluation of patients with painful total knee replacement requires a thorough clinical examination and relevant investigations in order to reach a diagnosis. Awareness of the common and uncommon problems leading to painful total knee replacement is useful in the diagnostic approach. This review article aims to act as a guide to the evaluation of patients with painful total knee replacement.

The measurement of patellar height: A REVIEW OF THE METHODS OF IMAGING

Many radiographic techniques have been described for measuring patellar height. They can be divided into two groups: those that relate the position of the patella to the femur (direct) and those that relate it to the tibia (indirect). This article looks at the methods that have been described, the logic behind their conception and the critical analyses that have been performed to test them.

The early outcome of kinematic versus mechanical alignment in total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomised control trial.

AIMS Our aim was to compare kinematic with mechanical alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a prospective blinded randomised controlled trial to compare the functional outcome of patients undergoing TKA in mechanical alignment (MA) with those in kinematic alignment (KA). A total of 71 patients undergoing TKA were randomised to either kinematic (n = 36) or mechanical alignment (n = 35). Pre- and post-operative hip-knee-ankle radiographs were analysed. The knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), American Knee Society Score, Short Form-36, Euro-Qol (EQ-5D), range of movement (ROM), two minute walk, and timed up and go tests were assessed pre-operatively and at six weeks, three and six months and one year post-operatively. RESULTS A total of 78% of the kinematically aligned group (28 patients) and 77% of the mechanically aligned group (27 patients) were within 3° of their pre-operative plan. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean KOOS (difference 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) -9.4 to 12.1, p = 0.80), EQ-5D (difference 0.8, 95% CI -7.9 to 9.6, p = 0.84), ROM (difference 0.1, 95% CI -6.0 to 6.1, p = 0.99), two minute distance tolerance (difference 20.0, 95% CI -52.8 to 92.8, p = 0.58), or timed up and go (difference 0.78, 95% CI -2.3 to 3.9, p = 0.62) between the groups at one year. CONCLUSION Kinematically aligned TKAs appear to have comparable short-term results to mechanically aligned TKAs with no significant differences in function one year post-operatively. Further research is required to see if any theoretical long-term functional benefits of kinematic alignment are realised or if there are any potential effects on implant survival. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1360-8.

Traumatic bone bruising--a review article.

The radiological assessment and classification of bone bruising are reviewed. Most of the literature relates to the knee and the effect of various injuries and their pattern of bone bruising is reviewed. The natural history of bone bruising and biochemical changes are also considered.

The Use of Radiofrequency Energy for Arthroscopic Chondroplasty in the Knee

We present a review of the current literature surrounding the use of radiofrequency energy for arthroscopic chondroplasty in the knee. This review article summarizes basic science, clinical efficacy, and recent advances in the understanding of radiofrequency energy use for the treatment of chondral lesions. Laboratory evidence of increased mechanical stability and decreased release of inflammatory mediators associated with the use of radiofrequency energy chondroplasty is described with clinical evidence of decreased pain and increased functional scores when compared with mechanical chondroplasty. We re-examine concerns about the immediate side effects of radiofrequency energy use, including damage to local structures, in light of new potentially contradictory results, as well as the progression of techniques and probe design. However, although reported complications are few, because the quality of clinical evidence about safety and efficacy remains low, we suggest cautious and judicious use of this technology until future research has clearly defined the long-term clinical outcomes and risks.

Adolescent patellar instability: current concepts review.

Patellar instability most frequently presents during adolescence. Congenital and infantile dislocation of the patella is a distinct entity from adolescent instability and measurable abnormalities may be present at birth. In the normal patellofemoral joint an increase in quadriceps angle and patellar height are matched by an increase in trochlear depth as the joint matures. Adolescent instability may herald a lifelong condition leading to chronic disability and arthritis. Restoring normal anatomy by trochleoplasty, tibial tubercle transfer or medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction in the young adult prevents further instability. Although these techniques are proven in the young adult, they may cause growth arrest and deformity where the physis is open. A vigorous non‐operative strategy may permit delay of surgery until growth is complete. Where non‐operative treatment has failed a modified MPFL reconstruction may be performed to maintain stability until physeal closure permits anatomical reconstruction. If significant growth remains an extraosseous reconstruction of the MPFL may impart the lowest risk to the physis. If minor growth remains image intensifier guided placement of femoral intraosseous fixation may impart a small, but acceptable, risk to the physis. This paper presents and discusses the literature relating to adolescent instability and provides a framework for management of these patients.

Tibial tubercle osteotomy for patello-femoral joint disorders

Abstract Tibial tubercle osteotomy has a long history in the management of patella instability and patello-femoral arthritis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive review of the literature describing the biomechanics of the patello-femoral joint and the rationale behind the use of the tibial tubercle osteotomy in modern day practice. Several different tibial tubercle osteotomies are available and we aim to detail the concepts behind their use and the subsequent clinical results. With continued developments of chondrocyte implantation techniques, the potential to fill defects on the chondral surface of either the patella or trochlea in conjunction with a tibial tubercle osteotomy may well become more commonplace in a group that is commonly young and difficult to manage. Level of evidence III.

Combined Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction and Tibial Tubercle Transfer Results at a Follow-Up of 2 years.

Abstract There is limited data on the effectiveness of combined medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction and tibial tubercle transfer (TTT) in patients with patella instability. The aim of our study was to analyze the functional outcome in patients treated with MPFL reconstruction and TTT. Between July 2008 and April 2013, 18 patients (21 knees) underwent combined MPFL reconstruction and TTT; 15 patients (16 knees) with a mean age of 24 years (16‐41) had a mean follow‐up of 30 months (26‐55). There was significant improvement in outcome scores in 12 out of 15 patients. KOOS score improved from 68.25 (44‐93.9) to 77.05 (48.8‐96.4) and KUJALA score improved from 63.3 (41‐88) to 78.06 (45‐99). Nine patients achieved at least a preinstability level of activity. Out of these nine patients, four had activity level better than the preinstability level. The remaining six patients had a lower activity level than preinstability level (2—lack of confidence and 4—lifestyle modification). Fourteen patients were satisfied and happy to recommend this procedure. There were three postoperative complications, with two cases of stiffness and one case of nonunion of the tibial tuberosity. Thus, the restoration of tibial tubercle to trochlear groove distance, patella height, and MPFL reconstruction yields good results in carefully selected patients.

Posterior Tibial Slope: Effect on, and Interaction with, Knee Kinematics.

&NA; ≫ Posterior tibial slope should be measured on a long lateral or an expanded lateral radiograph. ≫ Posterior tibial slope decreases the quadriceps force needed to exert knee extension moment. ≫ Posterior tibial slope parallel to natural tibial slope minimizes tibial component subsidence. ≫ Posterior tibial slope should be increased rather than releasing the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) to restore normal kinematics in a knee that is tight in flexion. ≫ Larger tibial slope widens the flexion gap in posterior stabilized total knee replacement.