Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common in contact athletics and have a significant effect on the athletic performance and well-being of affected players. The prevalence, timing, and characteristics of ACL tears in National Football League (NFL) athletes are lacking.

In conclusion, ACL injury incidence was fairly consistent across all years studied and occurred more frequently in players with ≤3 years of NFL experience. Tears were more common during games, special teams play, and the preseason.

Click here to read the article.

The risk of a second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury when participating in pivoting sports after ACL reconstruction is high. Risk factors associated with a second ACL injury are complex.

In conclusion, the risk profiles selected by CART could accurately identify female soccer players at high risk for a second ACL injury. There was an interaction between functional performance, clinical assessment, and psychological factors, and it is reasonable to include these factors in return-to-sport decisions and in athlete screening after ACL injury.

Click here to read the article.

Recurrent shoulder instability is a prevalent condition, with glenoid bone loss as a common cause. Arthroscopic repair using distal tibial allografts provides long-lasting treatment by restoring glenoid surface area and presumably avoids risks of sensitization against donor human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Two case studies have challenged this assumption, suggesting that small bone allografts are able to induce host adaptive immune responses to donor HLA. The incidence of small bone allograft HLA sensitization and its effects on resorption and patient outcomes are unclear.

In conclusion, sensitization against donor HLA after small bone graft allografting was not previously considered but has been brought to light as a possibility. Aside from potential complications for future organ transplants, HLA sensitization does not introduce a risk for adverse outcomes or higher grades of resorption compared with nonsensitized patients after small bone allografting for shoulder instability.

Click here to read the article.

This special edition podcast highlights the top 10 articles of 2020  that caught the most public attention based on their Altmetric scores.

1. A Majority of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries Can Be Prevented by Injury Prevention Programs: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Cluster–Randomized Controlled Trials With Meta-analysis

2. The Use of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone to Protect Against Muscle Weakness in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Pilot, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

3. Foot Core Training to Prevent Running-Related Injuries: A Survival Analysis of a Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

4. Video Confirmation of Head Impact Sensor Data From High School Soccer Players

5. Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tear Treatment: A Matched Cohort Comparison of Nonoperative Management, Partial Meniscectomy, and Repair

6. Lower Limb Kinetic Asymmetries in Professional Soccer Players With and Without Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Nine Months Is Not Enough Time to Restore “Functional” Symmetry or Return to Performance

7. Association Between Concussion History and Factors Relating to Cognitive, Behavioral, and Emotional Health Among American High School Athletes: A Cross-sectional Analysis

8. The Effect of Psychological Impairment on Outcomes in Patients With Prearthritic Hip Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

9. Shoe Cushioning Influences the Running Injury Risk According to Body Mass: A Randomized Controlled Trial Involving 848 Recreational Runners

10. Knee Extension Deficit in the Early Postoperative Period Predisposes to Cyclops Syndrome After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Risk Factor Analysis in 3633 Patients From the SANTI Study Group Database

Patellofemoral joint degeneration and dysfunction after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are increasingly recognized as contributors to poor clinical outcomes.

In conclusion, patellofemoral deep cartilage matrix disruption, as assessed by MRI UTE-T2*, was associated with reduced sports and recreational function and with gait metrics reflective of altered patellofemoral loading. As such, the findings provide new mechanistic information important to improving clinical outcomes related to patellofemoral dysfunction after ACLR.

Click here to read the article.

Correction of high posterior tibial slope is an important treatment option for revision of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) failure as seen in clinical and biomechanical studies. In cases with moderate to severe medial compartment arthritis, an additional varus correction osteotomy may be added to improve alignment.

In conclusion, combined varus and slope correction led to a relevant decrease of ATT in the ACL-deficient and ACL-reconstructed cadaveric knee. ACL graft forces were significantly decreased after combined varus and slope correction. Thus, our biomechanical findings support the treatment goal of a perpendicular-aligned tibial plateau for ACL insufficiencies, especially in cases of revision surgery.

Click here to read the article.

Bone stress injuries (BSIs) occur in up to 20% of runners and military personnel. Typically, after a period of unloading and gradual return to weightbearing activities, athletes return to unrestricted sports participation or military duty approximately 4 to 14 weeks after a BSI diagnosis, depending on the injury location and severity. However, the time course of the recovery of the bone’s mechanical competence is not well-characterized, and reinjury rates are high.

Bone density declined in both the injured and the uninjured legs and, on average, did not return to baseline for 3 to 6 months after a tibial BSI diagnosis. The observed time to the recovery of baseline vBMD, coupled with the high rate of recurrent BSIs, suggests that improved return-to-sports and military duty guidelines may be in order.

Click here to read the article.

Adult medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction techniques are not appropriate for the skeletally immature patient given the proximity of the distal femoral physis. Biomechanical consequences of reconstructions aimed at avoiding the physis have not been adequately studied.

In conclusion, in this cadaveric simulation, the epiphyseal technique allowed for a more isometric ligament until midflexion, when the patella engaged within the trochlear groove. The adductor sling and adductor transfer grafts became tighter in flexion, resulting in potential loss of motion, pain, graft stretching, and failure. Marginal between-condition differences in patellofemoral contact mechanics and patellar kinematics were observed in late flexion.

Click here to read the article.

Blood flow restriction therapy (BFRT) has been increasingly applied to improve athletic performance and injury recovery. Validation of BFRT has lagged behind commercialization, and currently the mechanism by which this therapy acts is unknown. BFRT is one type of ischemic therapy, which involves exercising with blood flow restriction. Repetitive restriction of muscle blood flow (RRMBF) is another ischemic therapy type, which does not include exercise.

In conclusion, ischemic therapy did not induce gains in muscle mass, contractility strength, fiber cross-sectional area, or satellite cell density locally or systemically in this model, although the RRMBF group did have elevated GH levels on ELISA.

Click here to read the article.

Tibial spine fractures (TSFs) are relatively rare pediatric injuries. Postoperative arthrofibrosis remains the most common complication, with few studies having examined factors associated with its development.

In conclusion, surgeons should be cognizant of arthrofibrosis risk in younger patients with concomitant ACL tears and traumatic injuries not resulting from athletics. Furthermore, postoperative immobilization in a cast should be avoided given the high risk of arthrofibrosis. Concomitant ACL injury is associated with a higher return to the operating room for MUA.

Click here to read the article.

The acetabular labrum has been found to provide a significant contribution to the distractive stability of the hip. However, the influence of labral height on hip suction seal biomechanics is not known.

In conclusion, smaller height (<6 mm) of the acetabular labrum was significantly associated with decreased distance to suction seal rupture and decreased peak negative pressure. A new strategy to increase the size of the labrum, such as labral augmentation, could be justified for patients with smaller labra in order to optimize the hip suction seal.

Click here to read Part I.

The acetabular labrum contains free nerve endings, and an unstable labrum can result in increased femoral head movement during hip motion. This can be caused by chondrolabral junction (CLJ) separation, especially in association with pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement, and may contribute to hip pain.

In conclusion, rim trimming did not change the biomechanical properties of the labral suction seal. Labral refixation resulted in a shorter distance to break the labral suction seal. This indicates that labral mobility is reduced by the labral refixation procedure, which could be beneficial in postoperative pain relief and labral healing.

Click here to read Part II.

The molecular mechanism of how femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) morphology leads to hip osteoarthritis (OA) is yet to be determined. Expression and location of inflammation-related molecules during early- and late-stage FAI have not been previously described. Moreover, characterization of intraarticular inflammation away from cam deformity as well as the nature of the adjacent synovial tissue has also not been extensively characterized.

In conclusion, hip cartilage exhibits an osteoarthritic phenotype in patients with early FAI similar to what was observed in hip OA secondary to FAI. Severe synovitis was only evident in late-stage disease.

Click here to read the article.

Injuries to the hamstring complex most commonly involve the proximal musculotendinous junction of the long head
of the biceps femoris (MTJ-BFlh). Nonoperative management of these injuries is associated with prolonged rehabilitation and high
risk of recurrence. To our knowledge, the surgical management of acute MTJ-BFlh injuries has not been previously reported.

In conclusion, surgical repair of acute MTJ-BFlh injuries enables return to preinjury level of sporting function with low risk of recurrence at short-term follow-up.

Click here to read the article.

Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) with a bone–patellar tendon–bone graft (BTB) is a reliable surgical option for the control of anterior knee laxity after ACL injury. The addition of a lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) may improve control of rotation knee laxity and improve short-term graft survival in high-risk patients.

In conclusion, there were no significant differences in long-term patient-reported outcomes after ACLR with or without an LET. LET may increase the risk of lateral compartment osteoarthritis at long-term follow-up. There was a trend toward decreased graft failure risk with the addition of LET but this study was underpowered to assess this outcome.

Click here to read the article.

Preclinical studies suggest that for complete midsubstance anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, a suture repair of the ACL augmented with a protein implant placed in the gap between the torn ends (bridge-enhanced ACL repair [BEAR]) may be a viable alternative to ACL reconstruction (ACLR).

In conclusion, BEAR resulted in noninferior patient-reported outcomes and AP knee laxity and superior hamstring muscle strength when compared with autograft ACLR at 2-year follow-up in a young and active cohort. These promising results suggest that longer-term studies of this technique are justified.

Click here to read the article.

Safe return to play (RTP) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is critical to patient satisfaction. Enhanced rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction with appropriate objective criteria for RTP may reduce the risk of subsequent injury. The cost-effectiveness of an enhanced RTP (eRTP) strategy relative to standard post-ACL reconstruction rehabilitation has not been investigated.

In conclusion, the eRTP strategy in this study adds additional neuromuscular retraining and additional physician follow-up—as well as advanced testing goals upon which RTP is contingent—to traditional physical therapy. Our data suggest that these additions are cost-effective, even assuming only modest associated decreases in ACL graft failure. This study also determined that the only variable that had the potential to change the cost-effectiveness conclusion based on predetermined ranges was the additional cost of rehabilitation based on 1-way sensitivity analysis.

Click here to read the article.

Although a sex-based balance in US graduate medical education has been well-documented, a discrepancy remains in orthopaedic surgery. In orthopaedic sports medicine, the representation of women as team physicians has not previously been characterized.

In conclusion, women comprise a minority of team physicians in select NCAA Division I collegiate and professional sports organizations. When compared with the composition of AOSSM orthopaedic surgeon membership, expected female orthopaedic surgeon representation varies between conferences and leagues with little statistical significance. Although efforts have been made to increase sex-based diversity in orthopaedic surgery, results of this study suggest that barriers affecting female orthopaedic surgeons as team physicians should be identified and addressed.

Click here to read the article.

*This podcast features Drs. Frances T. Sheehan and Camila Grant, and Cameron N. Fick from the NIH Clinical Center Rehabilitation Medicine.

Developing bone is highly adaptable and, as such, is susceptible to pathological shape deformation. Thus, it is imperative to quantify if changes in patellofemoral morphology are associated with adolescent-onset patellofemoral pain, as a pathway to improve our understanding of this pain’s etiology.

In conclusion, this study provides direct evidence that patellofemoral morphology is altered and influences maltracking in adolescents with patellofemoral pain, highlighting the multifactorial etiology of this pain. Neither morphology nor kinematics (measured during active flexion-extension) correlated with pain. Both increases and decreases in these parameters likely lead to pain, negating a direct linear correlation.

Click here to read the article.

Women are 2 to 9 times more likely to experience an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury than men. Various hormones including relaxin, progesterone, and estrogen influence ACL strength. Oral contraceptives (OCs) alter these hormone levels; however, studies have yet to comprehensively compare different OCs’ effects on the ACL.

In conclusion, OC formulations with higher progestin-to-estrogen ratios may be more protective for the ACL than formulations with lower ratios.

Click here to read the article.

This special edition podcast highlights the top 10 articles of 2019  that caught the most public attention based on their Altmetric scores.

1. Platelet-Rich Plasma for Patellar Tendinopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Leukocyte-Rich PRP or Leukocyte-Poor PRP Versus Saline

2. Evidence-Based Best-Practice Guidelines for Preventing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Young Female Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

3. Activity Modification and Load Management of Adolescents With Patellofemoral Pain: A Prospective Intervention Study Including 151 Adolescents

4. Exposure to American Football and Neuropsychiatric Health in Former National Football League Players: Findings From the Football Players Health Study

5. Higher Rates of Lower Extremity Injury on Synthetic Turf Compared With Natural Turf Among National Football League Athletes: Epidemiologic Confirmation of a Biomechanical Hypothesis

6. Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Nonsurgical Treatment Options for Enthesopathy of the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials

7. Implementation of the FIFA 11+ Injury Prevention Program by High School Athletic Teams Did Not Reduce Lower Extremity Injuries: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

8. A 6-Week Transition to Maximal Running Shoes Does Not Change Running Biomechanics

9. A 10% Increase in Step Rate Improves Running Kinematics and Clinical Outcomes in Runners With Patellofemoral Pain at 4 Weeks and 3 Months

10. Coper Classification Early After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture Changes With Progressive Neuromuscular and Strength Training and Is Associated With 2-Year Success: The Delaware-Oslo ACL Cohort Study

Previous studies have shown that runners demonstrate elevated T2 and T1ρ values on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after running a marathon, with the greatest changes in the patellofemoral and medial compartment, which can persist after 3 months of reduced activity. Additionally, marathon running has been shown to increase serum inflammatory markers. Hyaluronic acid (HA) purportedly improves viscoelasticity of synovial fluid, serving as a lubricant while also having chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.

Increased T2 and T1ρ relaxation times have been observed in marathon runners, suggesting early cartilage injury. The addition of intra-articular HA did not significantly affect relaxation times in all areas of the knee when compared with an NS control.

Click here to read the article.

This special edition podcast highlights the 2019 Systematic Review Award winning article.

An infection after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a relatively rare but challenging complication. There are no meta-analyses comparing the incidence of infections after ACL reconstruction with the various available graft choices.

The findings of this meta-analysis demonstrate a significantly lower incidence of deep infections after ACL reconstruction with BPTB autografts compared with hamstring autografts but not compared with allografts.

Click here to read the article.

Limited in vivo kinematic information exists on the effect of clinical-based partial medial and lateral meniscectomy in the context of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Before ACL reconstruction, partial medial meniscectomy increased AP laxity at 30° and 90° and lateral meniscectomy increased dynamic PS laxity with respect to intact menisci. Anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction decreased laxities, but a residual anterior translation of 1.3 mm at 90° remained in patients with partial medial meniscectomy, with respect to those with intact menisci.

Click here to read the article.

Lower extremity injuries are common in high school sports and are costly, and some have poor outcomes. The FIFA 11+ injury prevention program has been shown to decrease injuries in elite athletes by up to 72%.

This study did not demonstrate a reduction in lower extremity injuries in schools randomized to use the FIFA 11+ program compared with schools using their usual prepractice warm-up program. Coach-reported compliance with performing the FIFA 11+ program at least twice a week was low.

Click here to read the article.

Studies on the effect of partial- and full-thickness chondral damage of the hip on outcomes and the ability to achieve meaningful clinical outcomes are limited.

Patients with grade IV chondral defects experienced worse functional outcomes, lower satisfaction, and increased pain when compared with both patients without chondral damage or grade I-III chondromalacia at 2-year follow-up. Several predictors were associated with achieving clinically significant function in patients undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery for FAIS.

Click here to read the article.

The ability of lateral meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) to improve knee stability and the meniscal load-bearing function in patients after meniscectomy is critical for surgical success.

Lateral MAT partially restored medial translation of the tibia, and the resultant forces in the meniscal allograft were only 50% to 60% of the intact lateral meniscus forces in the cadaver model. In the majority of testing conditions, no significant changes of the in situ force in the anterior cruciate ligament were observed. Surgeons should consider the potential benefits of lateral MAT when deciding the appropriate treatment for symptomatic patients after lateral meniscectomies. Both lateral MAT techniques functioned similarly.

Click here to read the article.

Nearly three-quarters of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur as “noncontact” failures from routine athletic maneuvers. Recent in vitro studies revealed that repetitive strenuous submaximal knee loading known to especially strain the ACL can lead to its fatigue failure, often at the ACL femoral enthesis.

The authors found evidence of accumulated damage to collagen fibrils and fibers at the ACL femoral enthesis at the time of surgery for noncontact ACL failure. This tissue damage was similar to that found in donor knees subjected in vitro to repetitive 4 times–body weight impulsive 3-dimensional loading known to cause a fatigue failure of the ACL.

Click here to read the article.

The effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the risk of meniscal repair failure is unclear. Current evidence is limited to small studies without comparison between isolated repairs and meniscal repairs with concomitant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. It is also unclear whether the efficacy of PRP differs between preparation systems in the setting of meniscal repair.

Both PRP preparations used in the current study had a substantial protective effect in terms of the risk of isolated meniscal repair failure over 3 years. In the setting of concomitant ACL reconstruction, PRP does not reduce the risk of meniscal repair failure.

Click here to read the article.

Traumatic anterior shoulder instability is a common condition affecting sports participation among young athletes. Clinical outcomes after surgical management may vary according to patient activity level and sport involvement. Overhead athletes may experience a higher rate of recurrent instability and difficulty returning to sport postoperatively with limited previous literature to guide treatment

Primary arthroscopic anterior shoulder stabilization in overhead athletes is associated with a low rate of recurrent stabilization surgery. Return to overhead athletics at short-term follow-up is lower than that previously reported for the general athletic population.

Click here to read the article.

The purpose of the study was to identify (1) the proportion of opioid-naïve patients undergoing elective shoulder surgery, (2) the rates of postoperative opioid use among these patients, and (3) the risk factors associated with long-term postoperative opioid use.

Most patients were opioid naïve before elective shoulder surgery; however, among opioid-naïve patients, 1 in 7 patients were still using opioids beyond 180 days after surgery. Among all variables, a history of mental illness most significantly increased the risk of long-term opioid use after elective shoulder surgery.

Click here to read the article.

To evaluate the capability of conventional glenoid bone loss measurement techniques to provide an adequate estimation of the actual biomechanical effect of glenoid defects.

Current glenoid bone loss measurements are unable to provide an adequate estimation on the actual biomechanical effect of glenoid defects because (1) the relation between the glenoid defect size and its biomechanical effect is nonlinear and (2) patients with shoulder instability have constitutional biomechanically relevant glenoid concavity shape differences

Click here to read the article.

To evaluate the effect of the estrogen-deficient state on tendon-to-bone healing after rotator cuff repair in an ovariectomized rat model.

The estrogen-deficient state by ovariectomy, compared with control rats, led to decreased biomechanical properties and poor development of chondroid tissue that influenced the repair of the tendon insertion after surgery.

Click here to read the article.

To assess the association of previously identified candidate SNVs in genes encoding for collagen and the risk of ACL injury in a population of elite female athletes from high-risk team sports.

The study does not support a role of the 6 selected SNVs in genes encoding for collagen proteins as risk factors for ACL injury.

Click here to read the article.

To determine if there are discriminating factors present between patients who redislocated their patellas and those who did not after a first-time lateral patellar dislocation and (2) to use this information to develop a model that can predict the recurrence risk of lateral patellar dislocation in this population.

This model demonstrates a high risk of lateral patellar redislocation when a patient presents with skeletal immaturity as well as magnetic resonance measurements of sulcus angle ≥154° and patellar height as measured by Insall-Salvati ratio ≥1.3. A patient will have a low risk of lateral patellar redislocation with the inverse findings.

Click here to read the article.

To determine the return-to-work, pain relief, and perioperative complication rates in a high-demand athletic cohort undergoing patellofemoral ACI.

For patellofemoral chondral defects without a failed primary procedure, second-generation ACI successfully returned to work 78% of patients of moderate to very heavy occupational demand with significantly decreased patient-reported knee pain. Risk factors after ACI for patellofemoral articular lesions for overall failure were age <30 years, female sex, and tobacco use, while surgical and overall failures were associated with periosteal patch use.

Click here to read the article.

Anterolateral complex injuries are becoming more recognized. While these are known to affect tibiofemoral mechanics, it is not known how they affect patellofemoral joint behavior.

This work did not find that an anterolateral injury altered patellofemoral mechanics or kinematics, but adding a lateral tenodesis can elevate lateral contact pressures and induce lateral patellar tilting if the tibia is pulled into external rotation by the tenodesis. Although these in vitro changes were small and might not be relevant in a fully loaded knee, controlling the position of the tibia at graft fixation is effective in avoiding overconstraint at time zero in a lateral tenodesis.

Click here to read the article.

Recent literature correlated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction failure to smaller diameter of the harvested hamstring (HS) autograft. However, this approach may be a simplification, as relation of graft size to native ACL size is not typically assessed and oversized grafts may impart their own complications.

In conclusion, ACL insertion size and the CSAs of 3 commonly used grafts vary greatly for each patient and are not correlated with one another. Thus, if the reconstructed ACL size is determined by the harvested autograft size alone, native ACL size may not be adequately restored. PT grafts tended to undersize the native ACL, while QT might oversize it.

Click here to read the article.

A lateral patellar dislocation (LPD) is the most common traumatic knee injury with hemarthrosis in children. The redislocation rate is high. Varying operative and nonoperative treatments have been advocated with no consensus on the best treatment.

Operative repair of an MPFL injury in the acute phase in skeletally immature children with a primary traumatic LPD significantly reduced the redislocation rate but did not improve subjective or objective knee function compared with a knee brace without repair. The majority of the patients in both groups were satisfied with their knee function. There was a high representation of APIFs, which needs to be considered when evaluating the risk of redislocations.

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After ACLR in knees with a concurrent partial MCL injury, the absence of loading on the G/ST did not significantly alter anterior stability. Simulated G/ST harvest did lead to increased valgus motion. These results may have important clinical implications and warrant further investigation to better outline the role of the medial hamstrings, particularly among patients with a concomitant ACL and MCL injury.

Click here to read the article.

Patients with a Segond fracture are at no higher risk to require revision ACL reconstruction compared with patients without a Segond fracture. This may be attributable to its high union rate. At the time of primary ACL reconstruction, if a Segond fracture is identified, it can be ignored (not repaired or reconstructed), and this approach does not appear to predispose to early ACL graft failure.

Click here to read the article.

The surgical repair of distal biceps tendon ruptures has an overall low rate of serious complications, regardless of approach or technique. However, the double-incision technique has a higher rate of posterior interosseous nerve palsy, heterotopic bone formation, and reoperation rate. Surgeon’s years of practice, fellowship training, and case volume do not affect the rate of major complications.

Click here to read the article.

Transplantation of fresh osteochondral allografts (OCAs) is an attractive treatment option for symptomatic articular cartilage lesions in young, healthy patients. Because the lack of OCA bone integration can be a cause of treatment failure, methods for speeding and enhancing OCA bone integration to mitigate this potential complication are highly desirable.

Large femoral condylar OCAs treated with autogenous BMC before implantation showed superior radiographic integration to bone and less sclerosis during the initial 6-month postoperative period. BMC treatment of OCAs may mitigate the failure of OCA bone healing.

Click here to read the article.

Advancements in instrumentation and techniques have extended the scope of hip arthroscopic surgery to treat complex osseous deformities that were previously best addressed with an open approach. Global pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement is an example of an abnormality requiring osseous correction with a technically challenging access point.

Hip arthroscopic surgery for the management of symptomatic labral tears in patients with combined overcoverage and coxa profunda is associated with improvements in patient outcomes and pain at a minimum 2-year follow-up. However, the degree of improvement is of lower magnitude compared with a matched cohort with normal coverage undergoing the arthroscopic management of symptomatic labral tears. While hips with lateral overcoverage combined with coxa profunda may have a smaller potential for improvement compared with hips with normal coverage, this type of osseous morphology is still repairable with arthroscopic treatment.

Click here to read the article.

Radial meniscus tears disrupt the circumferential fibers and thereby compromise meniscus integrity. Historically, radial tears were often treated with meniscectomy because of an incomplete understanding of the biomechanical consequences of these tears, limited information regarding the biomechanical performance of repair, and the technical difficulty associated with repair. There is a paucity of studies on the outcomes of the repair of radial meniscus tears.

The purpose was to determine the outcomes of 2-tunnel transtibial repair of radial meniscus tears and compare these results to the outcomes of patients who underwent the repair of vertical meniscus tears with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. The hypothesis was that radial and vertical meniscus tear repair outcomes were comparable.

The 2-tunnel transtibial pullout technique for the repair of radial meniscus tears produces similar clinical outcomes when compared with the repair of vertical meniscus tears at a mean 3.5 years’ follow-up.

Click here to read the article.

Five articles from the July 2017 issue summarized in five minutes, with the addition of a brief editorial commentary. The 5-in-5 feature is designed to give readers an overview of articles that may pique their interest and encourage more detailed reading. It may also be used by busy readers who would prefer a brief audio summary in order to select the articles they want to read in full.

The featured articles for this month are "The Effect of Subcritical Bone Loss and Exposure on Recurrent Instability After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair in Intercollegiate American Football", "Femoroacetabular Impingement in Professional Football Players: Return to Play and Predictors of Career Length After Hip Arthroscopy", "High Rate of Osteoarthritis After Osteochondritis Dissecans Fragment Excision Compared With Surgical Restoration at a Mean 16-Year Follow-up", "Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Patients After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction", and "Intratendon Delivery of Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma Improves Healing Compared With Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma in a Rabbit Achilles Tendinopathy Model".

Click here to read the articles.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur commonly in football. Recent work has reported ACL reconstruction (ACLR) as one of several orthopaedic procedures with unfavorable outcomes for professional athletes. The performance impact to defensive players after surgery has not been quantified.

Approximately 74% (28/38) of athletes who underwent ACLR returned to play at least 1 NFL game, and 61% (23/38) successfully returned to play at least half a season (ie, 8 games). Players who successfully returned were above-average NFL players before their injury but comparatively average after their return.

Click here to read the article.

Graft failure and low rates of return to sport are major concerns after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, particularly in a population at risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between reconstruction techniques and subsequent graft rupture and return-to-sport rates in patients aged 16 to 30 years participating in pivoting sports.

In conclusion, in a high-risk population of young patients participating in pivoting sports, the rate of graft failure with HT+ALL grafts was 2.5 times less than with B-PT-B grafts and 3.1 times less than with 4HT grafts. The HT+ALL graft is also associated with greater odds of returning to preinjury levels of sport when compared with the 4HT graft.

Click here to read the article.

The use of allograft tissue for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare the risk of aseptic revision between bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) autografts and BPTB allografts.

In conclusion, when BPTB allograft tissue was used for ACLR, an overall 4.54 times adjusted higher risk of revision was observed compared with surgery performed with a BPTB autograft. Whether the tissue was irradiated with either high- or low-dose radiation, chemically processed, or not processed at all made little difference in the risk of revision. The differences in the revision risk were also consistent in younger and older patients. Surgeons and patients should be aware of the increased risk of revision when a BPTB allograft is used for ACLR.

Click here to read the article.

Quantitative magnetic resonance (qMR) can be used to measure macromolecules in tissues and is a potential method of observing early cartilage changes in the development of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. We hypothesized that specific patient and surgical factors affecting cartilage matrix composition after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) can be detected using T1ρ and T2 relaxation times. Our purpose was to demonstrate this ability in a multicenter feasibility study.

We concluded that prolonged relaxation times in multiple regions demonstrate how the injury affects the entire joint after an ACL tear. Changes observed in the uninjured knee may be caused by increased loading during rehabilitation, especially in the patellofemoral articular cartilage and distal femur. Relaxation times in the tibial regions may be predictive of patient symptoms at 6 months. These same regions are affected by surgical timing as early as 30 days after injury, but this may partially be reflective of the severity of the preoperative injury and the choice of treatment of meniscal tears.

Click here to read the article.

Patient selection is critical when choosing between arthroscopic joint preservation and total shoulder arthroplasty in young patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA). The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors predictive of early failure in patients undergoing comprehensive arthroscopic management (CAM) for GHOA.

The CAM procedure has been shown to reliably improve pain and function in active patients with advanced GHOA; however, it is important to inform patients about the limitations of the procedure. Patients with less joint space and abnormal posterior glenoid shape were significantly more likely to progress to early failure.

Click here to read the article.

The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) has demonstrated mixed clinical outcomes in randomized controlled trials when compared with hyaluronic acid(HA), an accepted nonsurgical treatment for symptomatic OA. Biological analysis of PRP has demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect on the intra-articular environment.

We found no difference between HA and PRP at any time point in the primary outcome measure: the patient-reported WOMAC pain score. Significant improvements were seen in other patient-reported outcome measures, with results favoring PRP over HA. Preceding a significant difference in subjective outcomes favoring PRP, there was a trend toward a decrease in 2 proinflammatory cytokines, which suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of PRP may contribute to an improvement of symptoms.

Click here to read the article.

Pectoralis minor (PM) tightness has been linked to pain and dysfunction of the shoulder joint secondary to anterior tilt and internal rotation of the scapula, thus causing secondary impingement of the subacromial space.

In most patients, PM tightness can be successfully treated with a nonoperative focused PM stretching program. However, in refractory and pathologically tight PM cases, this series demonstrates predictable return to function with notable improvement in shoulder symptoms after surgical release of the PM. Additional research is necessary to evaluate the long-term efficacy of isolated PM treatment.

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Shoulder pain is a common problem in competitive swimmers, but the structural alterations in elite-level competitive swimmers are not well known.

We found a high prevalence of rotator cuff and biceps tendinopathy, which was associated with increased symptoms. Tendinosis was also more common in swimmers with a positive sulcus sign, suggesting a role for shoulder laxity.

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Patients who suffer anterior shoulder dislocations are at higher risk of developing glenohumeral arthropathy, but little is known about the initial cartilage damage after a primary shoulder dislocation. T1ρ is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that allows quantification of cartilage proteoglycan content and can detect physiologic changes in articular cartilage.

This study concluded that humeral head cartilage sustained greater damage than glenoid cartilage in primary dislocation. T1ρ values were higher in glenohumeral zones associated with Bankart and Hill-Sachs lesions. Widespread initial cartilage damage may predispose patients to glenohumeral arthropathy.

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Recent radiographic data have suggested that medialized conoid tunnel placement greater than 25% of absolute clavicular length is correlated with early failure after anatomic coracoclavicular ligament reconstructions. A comparison with a larger active duty military cohort of clinical and radiographic outcomes can serve as a basis for standardizing surgical technique.

The optimal technique for treating acromioclavicular separations has yet to be determined. Recently, anatomic coracoclavicular reconstruction has demonstrated biomechanical superiority to previously described methods. The findings of optimal tunnel positioning in anatomic reconstructions from this large active-duty military cohort can assist preoperative planning to reduce failure rates when treating these difficult injuries.

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Prior attempts to quantify the pivot-shift examination have been too invasive or impractical for clinical use. A noninvasive method for quantifying rotatory knee laxity is needed.

The inertial sensor and image analysis techniques were able to detect differences between low- and high-grade pivot-shift test results. A quantitative assessment of the pivot-shift test could augment the diagnosis of an ACL injury and improve the ability to detect changes in rotatory knee laxity over time.

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Limited research is available regarding return-to-running (RTR) time after femoral neck stress fractures. While studies have shown the prognostic value of image-based grading scales for stress fractures at other sites, few have included femoral neck stress fractures.

This study found that grade 2 to 4 femoral neck stress fractures require longer RTR time than do grade 1 injuries. Also, patients with lower BMI tend to require a longer RTR time.

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Pectoralis major tendon ruptures are commonly described as rare injuries affecting men between 20 and 40 years of age, with generally excellent results after surgical repair. However, this perception is based on a relatively small number of case series and prospective studies in the orthopaedic literature.

Among military personnel, Army soldiers and junior officer/enlisted rank were at highest risk of pectoralis major tendon ruptures, and junior personnel were at highest risk of being unable to return to duty after surgical treatment. Although increasing time from injury to surgery was not a risk factor for treatment failure or inability to return to duty, it did significantly increase the risk of a postoperative complication.

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With rising participation in youth sports such as baseball, proximal humeral epiphysiolysis, or Little League shoulder (LLS), is being seen with increasing frequency. However, there remains a paucity of literature regarding the causes, natural history, or treatment outcomes of LLS.

Little League shoulder is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. While most common in male baseball pitchers, the condition can occur in females, youth catchers, other baseball positions players, and tennis players. Concomitant elbow pain may be seen in up to 13%. After rest and physical therapy, recurrent symptoms may occur in a small subset of patients (7%), generally 3 to 6 months after return to sports. Almost one-third of LLS patients had GIRD, and this group had approximately three times higher probability of recurrence compared with those without GIRD.

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Short-term outcomes for patients with large, engaging Hill-Sachs lesions who underwent remplissage have demonstrated good results. However, limited data are available for longer term outcomes. The redislocation rate after remplissage was 11.8% at an average of 5 years, with 95.5% of patients returning to full sports at an average of 7 months. For throwing sports, 65.5% of patients complained of decreased range of motion during throwing. The results should be considered preoperatively in candidates for remplissage who are engaged in throwing sports.

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Impairments in motor control may predicate the paradigm of chronic ankle instability (CAI) that can develop in the year after an acute lateral ankle sprain (LAS) injury. No prospective analysis is currently available identifying the mechanisms by which these impairments develop and contribute to long-term outcome after LAS.  This study found that an inability to complete jumping and landing tasks within 2 weeks of a first-time LAS and poorer dynamic postural control and lower self-reported function 6 months after a first-time LAS were predictive of eventual CAI outcome.

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There are limited and inconsistent data regarding return-to-sport outcomes after revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). This study hypothesized that return-to-sport rates will be lower after revision ACLR when compared with primary ACLR.

After evaluating a study cohort of 136 eligible patients, this study concluded that return-to-sport rates of patients after revision ACLR were similar to those after their primary surgery but were still lower than the reported rates of ACLR patients who did not need revision surgery. Greater chondral pathologic abnormalities at revision surgery were associated with reduced function at follow-up.

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With an active aging population, more patients expect to return to previous activities and work after surgery.  This was a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent shoulder hemiarthroplasty from 2007 to 2013, to determine the rate and timing to return of sports and employment after shoulder hemiarthroplasty. In this hemiarthroplasty cohort, there was a 67.2% rate of return to 1 or more sports at an average of 6.5 months postoperatively. Patients older than 65 years experienced similar improvements in ASES scores compared with patients younger than 65 years, although absolute scores were lower on average. Those who returned to higher demand sports were younger on average. Of patients working preoperatively, 69.4% returned to their previous employment at an average of 1.4 months. Patients who did not return to employment had significantly higher body mass index on average. These findings will help surgeons manage expectations of shoulder hemiarthroplasty candidates preoperatively.

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Microfracture is the most commonly applied arthroscopic marrow stimulation procedure. This controlled laboratory study found that small-diameter microfracture awls improve articular cartilage repair in the translational sheep model more effectively than do larger awls. These data support the use of small microfracture instruments for the surgical treatment of cartilage defects and warrant prolonged clinical investigations.

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As the demand increases for demonstration of competence in surgical skill, the need for validated assessment tools also increases. The results of this study provide evidence that the performance of an ACLR in a dry model is a reliable method of assessing a resident’s knowledge of the steps and instrumentation required, and the method shows evidence of validity.

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Accumulating case reports have described tendon rupture in men who use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). However, no controlled study has assessed the history of tendon rupture in a large cohort of AAS users and comparison nonusers.  AAS abusers, compared with otherwise similar bodybuilders, showed a markedly increased risk of tendon ruptures, particularly upper-body tendon rupture.  

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Articular reconstruction is recommended for some unstable capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions. Capitellar osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) through an open approach for optimal visualization and perpendicular graft implantation has been advocated. However, arthroscopic capitellar OAT may achieve the same treatment goals with decreased morbidity and ability to treat the entire joint for pathologic changes.

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Multiple techniques have been suggested for the treatment of isolated knee articular cartilage injuries. For smaller lesions (<2-5 cm2), microfracture and osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) are commonly used options. With an increasing focus on health care efficiency, analyzing the cost-effectiveness of treatment modalities has become increasingly important. Published level 1 and 2 clinical studies with a 10-year follow-up demonstrated that the net cost and cost-effectiveness of microfracture and OAT are comparable for the treatment of isolated articular cartilage lesions of the distal femur.

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Excessive physiological anterior and rotational knee laxity is thought to be a risk factor for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and inferior reconstruction outcomes, but no thresholds have been established to identify patients with increased laxity. The healthy contralateral knees of patients with noncontact ACL injuries display different laxity values both for internal rotation and anterior displacement compared with healthy control knees. The identification of knee laxity profiles may be of relevance for primary and secondary prevention programs of noncontact ACL injuries. 

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Recent publications have described significant variability in the femoral attachment and overall anatomy of the anterolateral ligament (ALL). Additionally, there is a paucity of data describing its structural properties. Defined ALL attachment locations can be reproducibly identified with intraoperative landmarks or radiographs. The biomechanical analysis suggests that most traditional soft tissue grafts are sufficient for ALL reconstruction.

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While the preparticipation evaluation (PPE) is widely used by medical practitioners, its overall effectiveness is unknown, in part because there are no standardized or centralized mechanisms to collect and analyze medical historyinformation. While some data in this population are self-evident, we were not aware of the high frequency of past injuries, the magnitude of time lost from sport, the high frequency of past surgery, and the number of participants still symptomatic from injuries. The ePPE is a valuable tool for collecting and analyzing aggregate injury and illness data in athletes, such as the finding that 11% of injuries that were reported were unresolved and still symptomatic.

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Distal biceps brachii tendon repairs performed with a tension slide technique using a cortical button (CB) and interference screw are stronger than those based on suture fixation through bone tunnels (BTs) in biomechanical studies. However, clinical comparison of these 2 techniques is lacking in the literature. Both the single-incision CB and double-incision BT techniques provided excellent clinical results. Complications were more common in the single-incision CB group and most commonly involved paresthesias of the superficial radial nerve.

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The tibial tubercle–trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance and trochlear structure have become important radiographic measurements in the evaluation and management of patients with patellar instability. Many orthopaedic surgeons, however, do not have access to musculoskeletal radiologists and therefore must make such measurements independently. The results of this study suggest that the intra- and interobserver reliability in the MRI measurement of the TT-TG distance and TDI is high for both orthopaedic surgeons and musculoskeletal radiologists. In addition, the TT-TG distance may be lower than previously thought in patients with patellar instability.

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Recent prospective randomized trials support primary plate fixation of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures. However, the safety and efficacy of this practice have not been well documented in athletes, nor has the time to return-to-sport. The Latarjet procedure can provide satisfactory outcomes, including a low recurrence rate and reliable functional recovery. Defects at the anteroinferior glenoid were restored to nearly normal after coracoid transfer by use of the Latarjet procedure, which is an anatomically matched reconstruction.

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Rotator cuff tears are common, and rotator cuff repair represents a major health care expense. While patients often benefit from rotator cuff repair, anatomic failure of the repair is not unusual. In spite of a dramatic increase in the number of publications per year, there is little evidence that the results of rotator cuff repair are improving. The information needed to guide the management of this commonly treated and costly condition is seriously deficient. To accumulate the evidence necessary to inform practice, future clinical studies on the outcome of rotator cuff repair must report important data relating to each patient’s condition, the surgical technique, the outcome in terms of integrity, and the change in patient self-assessed comfort and function.

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There has been an increase in minimally invasive surgery for chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS), despite the potential for incomplete compartment release and iatrogenic injuries. To our knowledge, no study has examined the effect of the length of fascial release on compartment pressures. This study demonstrates a strong correlation between fasciotomy length and a reduction in intracompartmental pressures in a swine model. Our study suggests that 90% fascial release may represent a possible watershed zone, returning the intracompartmental pressure to a value at or near baseline values. 

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Ankle sprains are the most common sports-related injury, associated with a high rate of recurrence and societal costs. Recent studies have emphasized the effectiveness of both neuromuscular training and bracing for the secondary prevention of ankle sprains. Bracing was found to be the dominant secondary preventive intervention over both neuromuscular training and the combination of both measures.

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A Hill-Sachs lesion is a common injury associated with anterior glenohumeral instability, and a Hill-Sachs lesion that engages with the anterior glenoid rim is 1 factor related to recurrent instability. In a cadaveric study in 2007, a new concept, the glenoid track, was proposed to evaluate the risk of engagement of Hill-Sachs lesions with the glenoid. The existence and widths of the glenoid track were confirmed in vivo.

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The effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on chondrocytes has been studied in cell and tissue culture, but considerably less attention has been given to the effect of PRP on synoviocytes. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) compose 80% of the normal human synovium and produce cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases that can mediate cartilage catabolism. Treatment of synovial cells with LR-PRP and RBCs resulted in significant cell death and proinflammatory mediator production.

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The presence of a cam deformity represents a significant risk factor for the development of hip pain. An elevated alpha angle at the 1:30 clock position and decreased internal rotation are associated with an increased risk of developing hip pain. However, not all patients with a cam deformity develop hip pain, and further research is needed to better define those at greater risk of developing degenerative symptoms.

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There is a high rate of RTP in professional baseball after UCL reconstruction. Performance declined before surgery and improved after surgery. When compared with demographic-matched controls, patients who underwent UCL reconstruction had better results in multiple performance measures. Reconstruction of the UCL allows for a predictable and successful return to the MLB.

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Femoral tunnel enlargement after MPFL reconstruction is common, with patients with patella alta at an increased risk. The influence of tunnel malposition and trochlear dysplasia on this condition requires further research. Recurrent instability and patient-reported outcome scores are not affected by tunnel enlargement.

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Early recognition of the clinical signs of ruptures of the pectoralis major muscle (PMM) in athletes by orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists, and physical trainers may prove to be critical for patient access to surgical treatment while the injury is still in the acute phase.  Total ruptures of the PMM exhibit better outcomes with surgical treatment than with nonoperative treatment based on the Bak criteria in athletes.

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Multiple concussions have been associated with prolonged symptoms, recovery time, and risk for future concussions. However, very few studies have examined the effect of multiple concussions on neurocognitive performance and the recently revised symptom clusters using a large database. Concussed athletes with a history of ≥3 concussions take longer to recover than athletes with 1 or no previous concussion. Future research should concentrate on validating the new symptom clusters on multiple concussed athletes, examining longer recovery times (ie, >8 days) among athletes with multiple concussions.

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It is commonly accepted that the anterolateral (AL) bundle of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is tight in flexion and that the posteromedial (PM) bundle is tight in extension. However, a recent in vivo study showed that both bundles were tight in extension. Both bundles of the PCL may serve a greater functional role in flexion than in extension. The PM bundle might be more important for the control of rotation than the AL bundle. Posterior translation at 90° of knee flexion could be the most stressful condition for both bundles of the PCL, which may have implications for an injury mechanism.

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While a vast body of literature exists describing biceps tenodesis techniques and evaluating the biomechanical aspects of tenodesis locations or various implants, little literature presents useful clinical outcomes to guide surgeons in their decision to perform a particular method of tenodesis. Both ASPBT and OSPBT yield excellent clinical and functional results for the management of isolated superior labrum or long head of the bicepslesions. No significant differences in clinical outcomes as determined by several validated outcome measures were found between the 2 tenodesis methods, nor were any significant range of motion or strength deficits noted at a minimum 2years postoperatively.

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Most surgeons believe that graft choice for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is an important factor related to outcome; however, graft choice for revision may be limited due to previously used grafts. Improved sports function and patient-reported outcome measures are obtained when an autograft is used. Additionally, use of an autograft shows a decreased risk in graft rerupture at 2-year follow-up. No differences were noted in rerupture or patient-reported outcomes between soft tissue and bone–patellar tendon–bone grafts. Surgeon education regarding the findings of this study has the potential to improve the results of revision ACL reconstruction.

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An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury greatly increases the risk for premature knee osteoarthritis (OA). Improved diagnosis and staging of early disease are needed to develop strategies to delay or prevent disabling OA.  This study shows that novel UTE-T2* mapping demonstrates changes in cartilage deep tissue health according to joint injury status as well as a potential for articular cartilage and menisci to heal deep tissue injuries. Further clinical studies of UTE-T2* mapping are needed to determine if it can be used to identify joints at risk for rapid degeneration and to monitor effects of new treatments to delay or prevent the development of OA.

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Author William Bugbee discusses "Revision Osteochondral Allograft Transplantations: Do They Work?" from the November 2013 issue of AJSM.

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Author Andreas Imhoff discusses "Osteochondral Autologous Transfer Combined With Valgus High Tibial Osteotomy: Long-Term Results and Survivorship Analysis" from the October 2013 issue.

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Author Patrick McCullough discusses "Does High Knee Flexion Cause Separation of Meniscal Repairs?" from the September 2013 issue of AJSM.

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Author James Bradley discusses "Operative Management of Partial-Thickness Tears of the Proximal Hamstring Muscles in Athletes" from the June 2013 issue of AJSM.

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