Posterior oblique ligament of the knee: state of the art

The posterior oblique ligament (POL) is the predominant ligamentous structure on the posterior medial corner of the knee joint. A thorough understanding of the anatomy, biomechanics, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of POL injuries will aid orthopaedic surgeons in the management of these injuries. The resulting rotational instability, in addition to valgus laxity, may not be tolerated by athletes participating in pivoting sports. The most common mechanism of injury – accounting for 72% of cases – is related to sports activity, particularly football, basketball and skiing. Moreover, three different injury patterns have been reported: those associated with injury to the capsular arm of the semimembranosus (SM), those involving a complete peripheral meniscal detachment and those involving disruption of the SM and peripheral meniscal detachment. The hallmark of an injury related to POL lesions is the presence of anteromedial rotatory instability (AMRI), which is defined as ‘external rotation with anterior subluxation of the medial tibial plateau relative to the distal femur’. In acute settings, POL lesions can be easily identified using coronal and axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) where the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and POL appear as separate structures. However, MRI is not sensitive in chronic cases. Surgical treatment of the medial side leads to satisfactory clinical results in a multi-ligamentous reconstruction scenario, but it is known to be associated with secondary stiffness. In young patients with high functional demands, return to sports is allowed no earlier than 9–12 months after they have undergone a thorough rehabilitation programme. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:364-371. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200127

Allograft Deltoid Reconstruction for Chronic Deltoid Disruption in a High-Level Military Operator: A Case Report

ABSTRACT We present a unique case of chronic deltoid ligament disruption in a 34-year-old high-level military operator with a 12-month history of acute-onset medial ankle pain. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an isolated chronic disruption of the superficial and deep deltoid ligament. The patient was managed operatively with a semitendinosus allograft. No complications were observed during the intra- or perioperative periods. At 12-month follow-up, the patient reported near-complete pain resolution and was able to return to unrestricted active duty. Use of allograft ligamentous reconstruction of the deltoid ligament in a highly active soldier was successful, allowing return to unrestricted active duty.

Isolated Scaphoid Dislocation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background Isolated scaphoid dislocation is an exceedingly rare event with only 55 cases described. Closed reduction followed by operative intervention with Kirschner's wires (K-wire) fixation and ligamentous reconstruction are the mainstays of treatment. Case Description We describe a patient with a solitary scaphoid dislocation treated with initial closed reduction and urgent open reduction with K-wire stabilization and ligamentous repair. The patient was immobilized for 6 weeks and on 24-month follow-up, the patient was doing well with no limitations in his daily living, no pain, and acceptable range of motion. Literature Review A literature review was performed on the 55 cases described in the English language. The majority of the patients were males, aged between 18 and 79 years, and presented with motor vehicle accidents as the most common mechanism. Historically, isolated scaphoid dislocations were treated with closed reduction. However, K-wire fixation and, now, K-wire fixation coupled with ligamentous injury repair remain the current treatments of choice. Avascular necrosis of the scaphoid remains a rare event with only one documented case. Overall, patients do well with only minor pain and limited wrist movements. Notably, only eight cases were associated with type-II lunates. Type-II lunates appear to be protective for carpal injury. Clinical Relevance Although isolated scaphoid dislocations remain a rare event, understanding the anatomy and the current ability to restore carpal anatomy is important. Type-II lunates appear to confer protection from carpal injuries.

Knee Dislocation with Ipsilateral Tibial Fracture Treated with an Intramedullary Locked Nail and Simultaneous Transtibial Tunnel Knee Ligament Reconstruction: A Case Report of Autografts and Limited Resources

Knee dislocations associated with ipsilateral tibial shaft fracture represent one of the most challenging injuries in trauma surgery. This injury occurs in only 2% of all tibial fractures in several series. With the use of intramedullary nail (IMN) of the tibia, current practice paraments suggest that transtibial tunnels should be avoided and ligamentous knee surgery be delayed until healing of the shaft fracture occurs. We report a novel case which was successfully managed by delayed IMN and multiligamentous transtibial posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and posterolateral corner (PLC) autograft reconstructions. A 27-year-old male sustained a Gustilo-Anderson grade IIIa tibial shaft fracture and a Schenck IIIL knee dislocation (KD3L) in the ipsilateral knee. At 2 weeks, the patient was then taken back to the operating theater to undergo definitive bone fixation and ipsilateral simultaneous knee ligamentous reconstruction. The knee was stabilized by open reconstruction of the PCL under fluoroscopic control using an ipsilateral quadriceps autograft fixed with metallic interference screws. The PLC was reconstructed with ipsilateral semitendinosus autograft harvested through a separate 1.5-cm standard anteromedial incision using the technique described by Stannard et al. After graft fixation, the 90 degree posterior and posterolateral drawer and 0 and 30 degrees varus stress tests were negative. After 12 months follow-up, the patient had no complaints regarding pain or instability. The tibial fracture had healed and no knee axis deviation could be noted. The patient had returned to recreational low demand activities and motorcycle riding. Treatment of a combined tibial shaft fracture with an ipsilateral knee dislocation may be satisfactorily accomplished with an IMN for the tibia and transtibial tunnel fixation for knee ligament reconstruction allowing for a single rehabilitation course and a shorter recovery without having to use a third stage for knee ligamentous reconstruction.

THE CHALLENGES OF TREATING FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS WITH ACL INJURIES: IS THERE A BEST GRAFT CHOICE?

Introduction: While Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are common in female soccer players, the optimal graft option is currently unclear. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of female soccer players undergoing an ACL reconstruction with either hamstring tendon autograft versus bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autograft. Methods: A retrospective review of all skeletally mature adolescent female soccer players who underwent a primary ACL reconstruction with either hamstring tendon or BTB autograft between 2013 and 2016 was performed. Patients who had a multi-ligamentous reconstruction, a prior ACL injury, or had follow-up less than 2 years were excluded. Demographic, injury, and surgical variables were documented. Outcome measures included the Lysholm, Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE), Tegner activity, visual analog pain, and satisfaction scores. Ability to return soccer as well as their pre-injury level of play and any reason that they could not return was documented. Results: Ninety-three female soccer players met the inclusion criteria of which 76% (41 BTB and 30 hamstring) were available for a minimum 2 year follow-up or had a documented graft failure prior to this time. The mean age of the cohort was 15.4±1.3 years. The BTB group had a Body Mass Index (BMI) that was significantly lower than the hamstring group (23±3 vs 25±4; p=0.02). There were no other differences in demographic, injury, or surgical variables between groups. Patient reported outcomes demonstrated that most patients did well with a mean Lysholm, SANE, Satisfaction, and pain scores of 92, 88, 8.9, and 1.1 respectively with no differences between groups. The BTB autograft group did achieve a significantly higher Tegner score (6.0 vs 4.3; p=0.004). Although not reaching significance, the BTB group had a greater percentage return to pre-injury level of play (44% vs 30%; p=0.31), or return to any level of soccer play (71% vs 53%; p=0.21 and. Of the patients that returned to soccer, 30% sustained another ACL injury (retear or contralateral tear) with no differences identified based on graft selection. Conclusion: Adolescent female soccer players undergoing an ACL reconstruction have relatively high satisfaction and outcome scores independent of autograft choice. Patients and families, however, need to be counseled that less than half of patients will return to their pre-injury level of sport and if an athlete attempts to return there is a high risk of further ACL injury.

Traumatic Dorsoradial Trapezium-Metacarpal Joint Dislocation

A trapezium-metacarpal joint dislocation is a rare pathology reported in <1% of all hand injuries. Due to the rarity of this type of injury, no clear standard of treatment exists. Various treatment approaches are reported in the relevant literature, mainly consisting of anterior and posterior dislocation of the trapezium-metacarpal joint. In this case, a 38-year-old patient was treated for dorsoradial trapezium-metacarpal joint dislocation through open reduction with ligamentous reconstruction. Gradual improvement of the patient’s thumb mobility was observed following several physiotherapy sessions.

Predictors of Knee Arthrofibrosis and Outcomes after Arthroscopic Lysis of Adhesions following Ligamentous Reconstruction: A Retrospective Case–Control Study with Over Two Years' Average Follow-Up

Arthrofibrosis can be a devastating complication after ligamentous knee reconstruction. Beyond early range of motion (ROM), manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) and arthroscopic lysis of adhesions (LOAs) are the most frequently employed interventions for the condition. There is a paucity of data regarding predictive factors of arthrofibrosis requiring MUA and LOA, and even less data regarding changes in validated patient-reported outcome measures following the procedure. A retrospective case–control study was performed at an academic, urban Level I trauma center of patients that developed arthrofibrosis requiring MUA and LOA following ligamentous reconstruction. The indication for LOA was failure to achieve a 90° arc of ROM by 6 weeks. Seventeen cases and 141 controls were identified. Follow-up for cases was 26.9 ± 17.1 months (mean ± standard deviation). Time from initial reconstruction to LOA was 75.2 ± 27.9 days. Cases had higher body mass indices by a mean of 2.9 (p = 0.024). The most significant risk factors for stiffness were concomitant anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, and posterolateral corner/lateral collateral ligament injury (odds ratio [OR], 17.08), knee dislocation (OR, 12.84), and use of an external fixator (OR, 12.81, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.03–54.20) (all p < 0.0026). Mean Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Indices, and International Knee Documentation Committee scores improved by 47.5, 50.5, and 47.3% (all p < 0.0038), respectively. All patients reported improvement in pain, with maximum daily pain scores improving by a mean of 4.1 points on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (p < 0.001). Mean ROM arc improved by 38.8° (p < 0.001). All 17 cases were satisfied with the procedure. Twelve cases (70.59%) reported a full return to preinjury level of activity. No factors were identified that predicted success from the procedure, likely due to inadequate sample size. Arthrofibrosis following knee injury and ligamentous reconstruction can be predicted by the severity of injury and early intervention with MUA and arthroscopic LOA can lead to a satisfactory outcome for the patient.