Innovative Surgical Concept for Septic Sternoclavicular Arthritis: Case Presentation of a Simultaneous Joint Resection and Stabilization with Gracilis Tendon Graft Including Literature Review

Introduction Septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) is a rarity in everyday surgical practice with 0.5 – 1% of all joint infections. Although there are several risk factors for the occurrence of this disease, also healthy people can sometimes be affected. The clinical appearance is very variable and ranges from unspecific symptoms such as local indolent swelling, redness or restricted movement of the affected shoulder girdle to serious consequences (mediastinitis, sepsis, jugular vein thrombosis). Together with the low incidence and the unfamiliarity of the disease among practicing doctors in other specialties, this often results in a delay in the diagnosis, which in addition to a significant reduction in the quality of life can also have devastating consequences for the patient. Patient and Method According to a stage-dependent procedure, the therapy strategies range from antibiotic administration only to radical resection of the SC joint and other affected structures of the chest wall in severe cases with the following necessity for flap reconstruction. The aspect of possible post-interventional instability after resection of the SCJ receives little or no attention in the current literature. In the present case report of a 51-year-old, otherwise healthy gentleman with isolated monoarthritis of the right SCJ with Escherichia coli (E. coli) shortly after two prostatitis episodes, the possibility of a new surgical approach with a one-stage eradication and simultaneous stabilization of the SCJ is presented. Therefore, a joint resection including extensive debridement is performed while leaving the posterior joint capsule and inserting an antibiotic carrier. In the same procedure, the SCJ is then stabilized with an autologous gracilis tendon graft by using the “figure of eight” technique, which has become well established particularly for anterior instabilities of the SCJ in recent years. Results and Conclusion One year after operative therapy, the patient presented symptom-free with an excellent clinical result (SSV 90%, CS89 points, CSM 94 points, TF 11 points, DASH 2.5 points). It is concluded that in selected cases with an infection restricted to the SCJ without major abscessing in the surrounding soft tissues, the demonstrated procedure leads to good and excellent clinical results with stability of the joint. If the focus of infection and germ are known, stabilization using an autologous graft can be carried out under antibiotic shielding. To the best of the authorsʼ knowledge, this surgical procedure has not yet been described in the current literature. Depending on the extent of the resection, an accompanying stabilization of the SCJ should be considered to achieve stable conditions and an optimal clinical outcome.

The Effect of Graft Harvest and Skin Incision Angle on Sensory Disturbance in ACL Reconstruction With Semitendinosus-Gracilis Tendon Graft: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Cadaveric Study

Background: Injury to the inferior branch of the saphenous nerve (IBSN) and the subsequent loss of skin sensation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are common. The literature suggests that the incision angle may affect the incidence and area of loss of skin sensation. Purpose: To determine whether there is a difference in the incidence and area of altered sensory loss on the tibia between vertical (VI) and oblique (OI) incisions for semitendinosus-gracilis tendon graft harvest during ACL reconstruction. The cadaveric component was designed to determine whether there is a “safe zone” for incision by identifying the location and number of branches of the IBSN. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Patients (n = 37) were randomized to receive either VI or OI. Incidence and area of altered skin sensation were documented during at least 1 postoperative visit. In addition, 18 cadaveric knees were dissected. Results: The presence or absence of hypoesthesia did not differ between groups postoperatively. Although no statistical differences between groups were seen in the total area of perceived altered skin sensation at 3 ( P = .57), 6 ( P = .08), 12 ( P = .65), and 24 months ( P = .27), data demonstrated a trend toward VI participants having a larger area of hypoesthesia at every time point. Among the 18 cadaveric specimens, 4 variations in the distribution of IBSN were noted: 18 (100%) had 1 branch, 14 (78%) had 2 branches, 6 (33%) had 3 branches, and 1 (6%) had 4 branches. No safe zone for incision could be identified. Conclusion: No difference was found between a vertical and an oblique incision with respect to incidence or area of sensory loss. Furthermore, it was not possible to identify a safe zone that would prevent transection of all nerves branches of the IBSN based on the cadaveric component of this study.

Posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner reconstruction in patient with multiple ligament injury of the knee: a case report

The treatment of posterolateral corner (PLC) knee injuries has always been a challenging topic due to the low healing capacity of PLC injuries. Authors performed posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using semitendinosus tendon graft and reconstruction procedure of PLC using free gracilis tendon graft with LaPrade technique in a patient with multiple ligament injury of the knee. A 36-years-old male patient complained of pain on his right knee. On physical examination, the posterior drawer test, dial test, and varus stress test were positive. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on right knee showed that the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), lateral collateral ligament, and popliteofibular ligament were injured but the popliteus tendon was still intact. A semitendinosus tendon was harvested from the ipsilateral pes anserinus region for posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Posterolateral corner reconstruction was done by grafting two gracilis tendons from ipsilateral and contralateral sides using LaPrade technique. The semitendinosus tendon graft had been used for PCL reconstruction in some cases besides the hamstring tendon graft and provides a clinically evident reduction in symptoms and restores satisfactory stability. The LaPrade technique for PLC reconstruction was one of the earliest descriptions of a surgical option to recreate the anatomy of the three main static stabilizers of the PLC. We reported a reconstructive procedure for PCL and PLC injury of the knee by using semitendinosus and gracilis tendon graft with LaPrade technique.

Functional outcome following coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction using a gracilis tendon graft for acute type III acromioclavicular dislocation: a case report

The acromioclavicular joint is stabilized by two ligaments: the acromioclavicular ligaments and coracoclavicular ligaments. AC joint dislocations account for 9% to 10% of all shoulder injuries. Tossy and Allman classified acromioclavicular dislocations into three types (I, II and III). This classification was modified by Rockwood (types IV, V, and VI). Type I and II dislocations are treated conservatively. Surgery is indicated for certain Rockwood type III and for all type IV, V, and VI injuries. A 45 years old man yoga trainer presented to our emergency department with a chief complaint of pain over his left shoulder after had traffic accident 3 hours prior to admission. Physical examination revealed left lateral clavicular end prominent and tenderness over the left shoulder with limited range of motion due to pain. A Zanca view X-Ray of left shoulder was performed and revealed dislocation of acromioclavicular joint. The patient was diagnosed with suspect Left AC joint disruption grade III. We performed coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction using a gracilis tendon graft 2 days after the accident. Before the surgery, constant score of the patient left shoulder was 25 (Fair). The constant score measured was 63 after 10 month follow up. Coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction with an autogenous gracilis tendon graft was feasible and safe in physically active patients with acute type-III acromioclavicular joint dislocation.