Sesamoid bones of the hallux play a major role in the biomechanics of the metatarsophalangeal complex. Due to the deformations resulting from hallux valgus, the sesamoid system is exposed to abnormal stress forces. Mapping the degenerative cartilage shows the significant prevalence of these lesions and their relation with the anatomic deformation. The purpose of this work was to determine the impact of these metatarsosesamoidal joint changes on the results of Scarf procedure for hallux valgus. This series included 89 patients (100 feet) who underwent Scarf osteotomy with complementary phalangeal osteotomy. We distinguished two groups in this cohort: 78 cases of surgery not involving the lateral metatarsals (group A), and 22 cases with associated lateral metatarsal osteotomy (group B). Mean follow-up was 2.3 years; minimal follow-up 16 months. The study protocol was prospective, with preoperative and last follow-up radiological and clinical assessment by an independent operator. Joint lesions noted intraoperatively by one senior operator were noted. The clinical work-up included the AOFAS score. A 15 degrees anteroposterior weight-bearing view was used to determine the degree of sesamoid dislocation and measure the following angles: first metatarsophalangeal angle (M1P1), first intermetatarsal space (M1M2), proximal articular set angle (PASA). Eleven zones were described to map the joint surfaces. The statistical analysis was used to search for links between joint lesions and the radiographic and clinical findings. The joint cartilage analysis revealed lesions involving the sesamoid bones in 72 cases, with a preferential involvement of the medial sesamoid bone (67%). The plantar joint surface of the first metatarsal presented lesions in the medial gutter in 72 cases, and in the lateral gutter in 68. Complete absence of the intersesamoid crest was noted in 38%. The metatarsophalangeal compartment presented degenerative lesions in 15 cases. The preoperative assessment noted a positive significant correlation between the AOFAS overall score and the absence of lesions involving the lateral sesamoid bone (p=0.015), between the AOFAS pain score and the absence of lesions involving the lateral sesamoid bone (p=0.022), between the AOFAS pain score and the complete absence of the intersesamoid crest (p=0.001), between the AOFAS deviation score and the absence of lesion involving the lateral gutter (p=0.001), between the M1P1 angle and the absence of an intersesamoid crest (p=0.001). At last follow-up, there was a positive significant correlation between the absence of lesions involving the medial sesamoid bone and a better overall AOFAS score (p=0.014), between absence of a lateral sesamoid lesion and better postoperative sentering of the sesamoids (p=0.014), between the absence of lesion in the medial gutter and a higher postoperative M1P1 angle (p=0.002), between the absence of lesions involving the lateral gutter and more favorable overall AOFAS score (p=0.005) for function (p=0.022), and deviation (p=0.018), between the absence of intersesamoid crest lesions and better radiographic sesamoid recentering (p=0.020). Distinct analysis of groups A and B did not demonstrate a significant difference compared with the overall cohort. Comparison of the two groups only demonstrated three significant differences involving radioclinical parameters. Hallux valgus is associated with very frequent metatarsosesamoid lesions. The distribution of these lesions is a function of the anatomic and biomechanical features of the metatarsosesamoid joint surfaces. Lesions to the lateral compartment would be a poor prognostic factor for Scarf procedure.
Scapula alata resulting from a deficient musculus serratus anterior leads to shoulder instability, pain and loss of elevation. Etiologies include fascioscapulohumeral dystrophy and lesion of the thoracicus longus nerve. Dynamic (muscle transfer) or static (scapulopexia or scapulothoracic arthrodesis) stabilization methods can be proposed. The purpose of this study was to assess fusion and function after eight scapulothoracic arthrodeses performed in five patients. We used cerclage with compression after intercostal avivement to increase the contact surface. This retrospective study included four men and one woman. Three patients had fascioscapulohumeral dystrophy who underwent bilateral arthrodeses and two patients with post-traumatic injury to one thoracicus longus nerve. All scapulothoracic joints were unstable; six were painful. There was a cosmetic prejudice in all cases. Preoperative function was 71+/-6 degrees antepulsion (range: 60-80 degrees ) and 71+/-7 degrees abduction (range: 60-80 degrees ). Postoperative assessment included: reduction of the scapula alata, gain in motion, Constant score (raw and weighed), subjective assessment of daily activity, complications, respiratory function in patients with double arthrodesis and bone fusion on the CT scan. Patient follow-up was 21.5 months on average. The scapula alata was reduced in all cases. Mean gain in motion was 39+/-21 degrees antepulsion and 41+/-26 degrees abduction. The raw Constant score was 77.75+/-11.4/100 and the weighted score was 81.5+/-9.1/100. Daily activity was scored 100% in four of five patients. Complications were transient intercostal dysesthesia, mild exercise-induced pain, one pneumothorax which did not require drainage. There was no evidence of an impact on respiratory function. The control scans revealed fusion in five shoulders and nonunion in three. Scapulothoracic arthrodesis enabled reduction of the scapula alata and improved shoulder function for elevation and daily activities. The gain in motion and Constant score were satisfactory and similar to other results in the literature. The main drawback was deficient external rotation. Pain was mild and resulted from the deafferentation. It resolved six months postoperatively. Secondary exercise-related pain was mild with little impact. Technically, authors have proposed using different ribs for the fusion, depending on the patient's morphology and searching for a good position for the scapula for external rotation. There have been few postoperative complications: we had one pneumothorax and no neurological, vascular or pulmonary complications. Our results are the first reporting CT fusion findings. Indirect signs of nonunion on plain x-rays reported in earlier studies are not fully reliable, since our CT scans demonstrated nonunion in three shoulders. The lack of fusion does not mean poor function, as was also noted by others, since function was improved (mean gain 27 degrees flexion and 25 degrees abduction).
This retrospective multicentric study was designed to assess the outcome of quadriceps and hamstrings muscles two years after Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction and compare muscles recovery depending on the type of graft and individual variables like age, gender, level of sport, but also in terms of discomfort, pain and functional score. The results focused on the subjective and objective IKDC scores, SF36, the existence or not of subjective disorders and their location. The review included isokinetic muscle tests concentric and eccentric extensors/flexors but also internal rotators/external rotators with analysis of mean work and mean power. One hundred and twenty-seven patients were included with an average age 29 years (+/-10). They all had an ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon or hamstring tendon with single or double bundles. In the serie, the average muscles deficit at two years was 10% for the flexors and extensors but with a significant dispersion. Significant differences were not noted in the mean values of all parameters in term of sex or age (over 30 years or not), neither the type of sport, nor of clinical assessment (Class A and B of objective IKDC score), nor the existence of anterior knee pain. There was a relationship between the level of extensor or flexor recovery and the quality of functional results with minimal muscle deficits close to 5% if the IKDC score was over 90 and deficits falling to 15% in the group with IKDC score less than 90. The type of reconstruction (patellar tendon versus hamstrings) had an influence on the muscle deficit. For extensors, the recovery was the same in the two groups, more than 90% at two years and the distribution of these two populations by level of deficit was quite the same. For flexors, residual deficits were significantly higher in the hamstrings group on the three studied parameters whatever the speed and the type of contraction (concentric or eccentric) with an average deficit of 14 to 18%, while, in the patellar tendon group, there was a dominance over the opposite side of 2 to 3% in concentric contraction. The hamstrings deficit appears to be "harvest dependent". For internal rotators, a significantly higher deficit is observed in eccentric contraction for the hamstrings group. The residual hamstrings deficits were related to the number of tendons harvested: -7% when there was no harvest, 7% with one tendon harvested and 17% with two tendons harvested. The relationship between the level of recovery of the quadriceps muscle and hamstrings at two years and the quality of functional results incite, regarding the significantly higher deficit of flexors in ACL reconstructions with hamstrings, to change the rehabilitation programs and especially on early rehabilitation of hamstrings in eccentric mode in the early weeks postoperative considering the harvest site as an equivalent of muscle tear.
Free-hip movement is necessary for good spinal function. Limitation generally affects extension. The range of hip extension from the standing position can be considered as the hip's "extension reserve". The amplitude of this reserve must be known because any deficit requires a pathological solicitation of the vertebral column. Measurement of the extension reserve of the hip is useful for analyzing spinal disease and for preoperative planning. Physical examination can measure extension, but cannot differentiate movement produced by the hip from that originating in the spine. We have been unable to locate any radiographic method in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate radiographic measurements and to propose a novel method. The study was conducted with 37 patients with spinal disease. Two radiographic methods were compared. Four lateral views, including the lumbar spine, the pelvis and the femur were obtained in each patient: neutral position, retroversion of the pelvis and extension of each hip in lunge position. The X-rays were digitalized for computer processing. The extension reserve of the hip was calculated for each radiographic method. Extension reserve was defined as the difference in the pelvis-femoral angle between the neutral position and extension. There was a positive correlation between the two methods (p<0.0006; p<0.0009). Mean extension using the pelvis retroversion method was 1.8 degrees +/-6.77; with the hip-extension method, it was hip I (side with the superior value): 15.9 degrees +/-6.57; hip II 10.0 degrees +/-7.89. The pelvis-retroversion method gave a lower measurement compared with the lunge position method (p<0.0001). For 13 of 37 subjects (35%), this method gave negative values, that is, failure of the measurement method. The method of hip extension in lunge position was superior to the pelvis-retroversion method, which gave lower measurements that were often incoherent and unable to provide specific information for each hip. The method using the lunge position for hip extension appears to be preferable. We are currently conducting a clinical trial to include extension reserve in the analysis of sagittal balance and for determining curvature corrections. We propose a mathematical formula using extension reserve for determining sagittal correction. Radiographic determination of extension reserve of the hip joint is of major importance for assessing spinal disease in addition to its contribution to the analysis of hip and pelvic disease. The methods presented here enable radiographic measurement of the extension reserve of the hip.
Despite a rise in the number of women in orthopedic surgery over recent decades, their representation in academic and leadership roles remains limited. Authorship in research journals serves as a key indicator of academic involvement. We conducted a retrospective study to assess: (1) the rate of publications by women first and senior authors from 1990 to 2024, and (2) indexed publications and citation impact (3) gender differences in authorship by subspecialty and study type. The authorship gender disparity may no longer persist over the past 30 years in a high-impact French orthopedic journal. This study analyzed all articles published in Revue de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Réparatrice de l'Appareil Moteur (RCOT) and Orthopaedic and Traumatology Surgery and Research (OTSR) during four periods (1990-1994, 2000-2004, 2010-2014, 2020-2024). The gender of first and senior authors, subspecialties, gender ratios, and their evolution over time were assessed. Indexed publications and citation impact were also reported. A total of 3,256 articles were included. Over the 30 years, the proportion of women first and senior authors increased significantly from 15/402 (3.7%) in 1990-1994, to 35/502 (7%) in 2000-2004, 120/950 (12.6%) in 2010-2014, and 306/1,402 (21.8%) in 2020-2024 (p < 0.0001). Specifically, the rate of female first authorship rose from 10/392 (2.5%) to 114/1,210 (13.7%) and senior authorship from 5/367 (1.2%) to 114/1,233 (8.1%) (p < 0.0001). Citation impact improved, with 24 articles reaching the top 10% most cited in the latest period, including 4 in the top 1%. Subspecialty analysis showed increased female authorship across all fields, particularly in paediatrics (+48.4%), hand (+32.5%), elbow (+29.2%), and tumor/infection (+35%) from 2020-2024. Significant increases were observed in most subspecialties (p < 0.05), except knee, shoulder, comment, elbow, and infection. This study shows a growing female presence in orthopedic publications, with notable subspecialty preferences. Sustaining this trend requires leaders of all genders to mentor and support future candidates. By fostering an inclusive environment that values gender diversity, the field can continue to progress, ensuring equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender, and ultimately enriching the discipline. III.
As part of the 2006 symposium of the French Hip and Knee Society devoted to the dual mobility socket, we report a retrospective multicentric series of 438 first-intention total hip prostheses with a dual mobility socket at a mean 17 years follow-up. The purpose of our report was to ascertain the 15-year survival of this socket and analyze failures. The series included 438 primary replacements. This was a homogeneous multicentric series. The cementless sockets were 80 Novae-1 titanium Serf cups and 358 Novae-1 stainless steel Serf cups. All stems were inserted without cement: 185 Pf((R)) stainless steel screwed Serf stems, 228 PRO titanium screwed Serf stems, and 25 Corail stems. The mobile polyethylene insert was retaining. All of the heads were 22.2-mm chromium-cobalt heads. Degenerative hip disease was the main etiology and mean follow-up was 17 years (range, 12-20). Mean age at implantation was 54.8 years (range, 23-87). The actuarial method with a 95% confidence interval was used to determine the 15-year cup survival rate. At the last follow-up, none of the patients had presented an episode of early or late instability. Analysis of the socket at last follow-up showed 13 aseptic loosenings, 23 intraprosthetic dislocations, and seven replacements of the polyethylene insert for wear. The overall 15-year prosthesis survival rate was 89.2+/-8.7%. The overall 15-year socket survival rate was 96.3+/-3.7%. The fact that, at last follow-up, none of the implants had shown instability confirms the long-term stability of the dual mobility socket. The results in terms of 15-year survival confirm earlier reports. The main cause of failure was cup fixation, which is the weak point of this technique with the initial Novae cup design, which did not have hydroxyapatite coating. The second leading cause was intraprosthetic dislocation, which can be divided into three main categories. The first is intraprosthetic dislocation in a context of pure wear with normal function of the dual mobility socket; the retaining feature of the insert loses its efficacy due to wear. The second category is intraprosthetic dislocation in a context of cup loosening with a third-body effect and increased retention wear, in which case we consider that cup loosening is the primary event leading to rapid secondary wear and subsequent intraprosthetic dislocation. The third category is intraprosthetic dislocation caused by a blockage in a context of fibrosis or impingement involving severe heterotopic ossifications. We had only two femoral failures related to aseptic loosening, most certainly related to use of noncemented implants, which limits the extension of granulomas to the polyethylene. Studying the three series from Saint-Etienne more specifically, where three different configurations were used, it would appear that the titanium cup has a better survival rate and that the titanium used for the thinner necks may be an unfavorable factor for intraprosthetic dislocation.
Dislocation is a well-known complication of total hip arthroplasty. The risk can be reduced to one or two cases per thousand using a dual-mobility cup. The survival rate achieved with the Bousquet implant is 95% at 10 years. The complications with this implant are early mobilization and inguinal pain. An overly-large cup and insufficient primary and secondary fixation can be implicated. The design of the original implant was later modified to limit these early complications. The purpose of this study was to check the validity of these design changes. The chromium-cobalt moulded cementless cup was used. The outer surface of this cup presents large geometric striations and is coated with hydroxyapatite. The cup has the shape of a 180 degrees half sphere and a posterior wall prolongation measuring 6.5mm. Three mechanisms were used for the primary fixation: an asymmetrical growth ring, four anchorage stems and a superior screw. Two hundred cementless cups were implanted in 194 patients. The femoral piece was a Charnley stainless-steel implant (n=139), a titanium SEM implant (n=59) or another implant (n=12). Cement was used for femoral fixation in 193 implantations. The series included 97 women and 103 men with osteoarthritis (n=180), necrosis (n=16) and surgery for fracture and primary arthroplasty (n=9). The Harris and Postel-Merle-d'Aubigné scores were noted. Eight radiographic criteria were analyzed to assess the position of the cup and the radiological course of the interface. The mean follow-up was six years and the minimum was five years. The mean age at surgery was 70 years (range, 32 to 91). At last follow-up, 17 patients had died, eight were lost to follow-up and five were bedridden. Three patients underwent revision surgery. Thus, this analysis included 170 prostheses followed for more than five years (mean, six years; range, five to seven years). The Harris score improved from 48 to 92 and the Postel-Merle-d'Aubigné score from 2/5/4 to 5.8/5.9/5.5 (range, 4 to 6/5 to 6/1 to 6). None of the patients complained of anterior pain during active hip flexion in supine position (related to ilio-psoas irritation). Cup inclination was 46 degrees on average (range, 62 to 22 degrees ). Medialization, lateralization or ascension greater than 10mm from the center of rotation was not observed on the postoperative films. At the last follow-up, no measurable mobilization or migration could be identified on plain X-rays. Radiolucent lines, condensations and bony defects around the cup, when visible postoperatively, were not found on the last follow-up X-rays. There were two cemented femoral pieces that developed a radiolucent line in the nonspecific metaphyseal area. There were no cases of granuloma and no cam effect. Three patients underwent revision for femoral loosening, fracture of the femur below the prosthesis and hematogenous infection. There were no cases of dislocation. Changing the design of the implant to modify its volume, material and primary fixation has eliminated the early mobilizations and inguinal pain described for the original Bousquet cup. These options have not had any deleterious effect on prosthesis stability. The question of long-term wear remains an important problem and requires optimization: a neck as thin as possible, optimized surfacing, elimination of laser marks, extraction leads and head skirts.
Recurrent anterior dislocations associated with full thickness rotator cuff tear (RCT) carry a difficult therapeutic problem: should we treat instability and rotator cuff tear at the same time or only one of both pathologies? The goal of this study was to analyse a retrospective series of patients operated on to try to answer this question. Twenty-eight shoulders (27 patients) were operated on between 1988 and 2002. The mean age at first dislocation was 47 years (16-65), the average delay between first dislocation and operation was 6.1 years. Twenty-four shoulders presented with recurrent dislocations and four shoulders with recurrent subluxations; the average number of dislocations was 2.6 (1-20). Preoperatively, Hill-Sachs lesion was present in 96%, anterior glenoid rim fracture in 53.5% and glenohumeral osteoarthritis was observed in 37.5%. All the cases had full thickness rotator cuff tears: isolated supraspinatus in 43%,, Supra- plus infraspinatus in 35%, supraspinatus plus subscapularis in 4% and rupture of the three tendons in 18%. An isolated open stabilization with the technique of Trillat was performed in 19 cases when the cuff was not repairable or when the patient was not willing to accept rotator cuff (RC) repair (age and motivation); the mean age of the patients was 59.3 years in this group. Whereas an open anterior stabilization (Latarjet procedure) associated with RC repair was done in nine cases (average age at operation: 40 years). All the patients were followed up and had clinical-radiographic examinations more than two years after the operation. With a mean follow-up of 73.5 months (24-178), the average Constant score progressed from 63.1 to 78.1 points (p<0.05). Three patients who had isolated anterior stabilization had recurrence of instability (16%) whereas none of the patients with both anterior stabilization and RC repair had recurrence. Subjectively, 96% of the patients were satisfied with their operation. Postoperatively, the rate of osteoarthritis progressed to 64.3%. The decision not to repair the RCT in 19 cases was justified by the size of the tear, the muscular fatty infiltration of the RC muscles and the age-motivation of the patients. This decision lead to a greater rate of recurrence (16%) and less satisfactory functional results but the age at FU was 20 years higher in this group than in the group with cuff repair. No patient had an isolated RC repair because 92.5% of the patients in this series had either a bony Bankart (53.5%) or a Bankart type lesion (39%). The recurrent instability in this series was clearly under the dependence of the "anterior mechanism" and not under the dependence of the "posterior mechanism". Therefore, isolated repair of the cuff has never been performed because of the fear of higher rate of postoperative instability leading to RC re-tear. In case of recurrent dislocations associated with rotator cuff tear, treatment of instability should be proposed whereas the concomitant repair of the cuff depends upon the possibility to perform it: size of the rupture, fatty infiltration, age and motivation of the patients.
This review article provides a current concepts overview of osteochondral defects of the talus, with special emphasis on treatment options, their indications and future developments. Osteochondral defects of the talar dome are mostly caused by a traumatic event. They may lead to deep ankle pain on weight-bearing, prolonged swelling, diminished range of motion and synovitis. Plain radiographs may disclose the lesion. For further diagnostic evaluation, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have demonstrated similar accuracy. Computed tomography is preferred for preoperative planning. Treatment options are diverse and up to the present there is no consensus. Based on the current literature, we present a treatment algorithm that is mainly guided by the size of the lesion. Asymptomatic or low-symptomatic lesions are treated nonoperatively. The primary surgical treatment of defects up to 15 mm in diameter consists of arthroscopic debridement and bone marrow stimulation. For large cystic talar lesions, retrograde drilling combined with a bone graft is an important alternative. In adolescents or in (sub)acute situations, in which the fragment is 15 mm or larger, fixation of the fragment is preferred. Osteochondral autograft transfer and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), with or without a cancellous bone graft, are recommended for secondary cases as well as large lesions.
Most studies have reported a significant decrease in periacetabular bone stock one year after implantation of a cementless cup. The purpose of this work was to study the bone-implant interface of the tantalum cup using plain X-rays and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This retrospective analysis concerned 42 patients with a tantalum cup, Trabecular Metaltrade mark (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN, USA). All hips had primary implantations, performed by one surgeon via the same approach and with the same postoperative rehabilitation protocol. Minimum follow-up was two years. The Harris clinical score, and radiographic (lucent lines and acetabular position) and densitometric (analysis of 3.3mm of periacetabular bone in the three DeLee and Charnley zones) were recorded. At follow-up, the mean Harris score was 81. There were no implant malpositions (horizontal, vertical, inclination). Lucent lines were noted for 14% of the cups. Bone mineral density (BMD) was higher than generally observed with cementless cups (1.290+/-0.309g/cm(2)). The clinical and radiographic results are similar to data in the literature regarding correct implant position. The higher rate of lucent lines around the tantalum cup is also reported in the literature and is the result of the pressfit, resolving at one year. The greater BMD in zone 1 might reflect better force transfer to the weight-bearing zone. As biomaterial recently introduced in orthopedic surgery, tantalum appears to provide a better force transfer to the central part of the iliac bone and thus possibly better preservation of pelvic bone stock.
Despite many papers and instructional course lectures, therapeutic guidelines are not clearly defined about treatment of femoral neck fractures. The aim of this multicentric French symposium was to prospectively study the results of current therapeutic options in order to propose scientifically proven options. Three prospective studies were carried out in order to answer to these questions: (1) is it possible with anatomical reduction and stable fixation to lower the non union and osteonecrosis rate? (2) is functional treatment of Garden 1 fractures successful in more than 65 years patients? (3) what criteria are useful to choose the kind of arthroplasty for more than 65 years patients? For the 64 patients between 50 and 65 years old included in the first study, 44 ORIF and 17 prostheses were performed. No open reduction was performed in this series despite a 34% malreduction rate. The risk for displacement after functional treatment of Garden 1 fractures is 31%. For patients over 65 years old, almost fractures are treated in this series by an arthroplasty. The one-year mortality rate after displaced femoral neck fracture was 17%. Functional results were better in total hip prosthesis group than in bipolar or unipolar group. Non cemented stems were not safer than cemented ones in frail patients. For young patients, ORIF should be the treatment of choice: the initial displacement and its effects on the femoral head vascularisation, the quality of reduction and fixation are the two most significant factors for good outcome. For Garden 1, fractures in patients 65 years old or more, it is proposed to performed an internal fixation despite in two thirds of the cases, it should be unnecessary because non identification of predictive factors of failure. For patients over 65 years old, the type of arthroplasty to perform in displaced fractures is to be chosen according to the preoperative mobility and comorbidities. Because of acetabular erosion with long-term follow-up, it is clearly indicated to perform total hip replacement for patients with life expectancy of 10 years or more. For frail patients, unipolar arthroplasty is the best option. The place for bipolar or uncemented implants is not yet well-defined and more prospective trials are needed. In this multicentric study, results appear quite different in terms of mortality, or functional status. These differences seem to be related to technical choice, geriatric care, nutritional consideration or surgical organisation, all factors that may be of major importance for prognostic.
To assess the mid term patient outcome after operative treatment of a displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture using the modified Palmer technique. Eighteen operatively treated intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus in 16 patients (nine males, seven females) were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age at surgery was 35 years (range, 17-61 years). Two patients had a bilateral fracture. Following Utheza, five fractures (28%) were classified as vertical, three as horizontal (17%) and 10 (55%) as combined. Mean preoperative Böhler angle was -4 degrees (range, -42 to 26 degrees ). An extended lateral approach to the calcaneus was used in each case. A cortical bone autograft was firmly impacted in the subthalamic void after reduction. Stabilization was achieved by two or three axial Kirschner wires and one or two screws inserted in a transverse position. Patients were evaluated at the last follow-up by physical examination and by the functional score described by Kitaoka. Böhler's angle was measured on the immediate postoperative radiographs and at the last follow-up, and compared when possible with the noninjured side. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 38 months (mean, 23 months). One patient required a subtalar arthrodesis for advanced osteoarthritis. One patient experienced reflex sympathetic dystrophy. No skin complication was noted. At the last follow-up evaluation, the mean Kitaoka score was 74 (range, 34-98). The functional score was considered good or excellent in 11 cases (64.7%), fair in three (17.6%), and poor in three (17.6%). The mean Böhler angle was 23.4 degrees (range, 5-40 degrees ) postoperatively and 22.7 degrees (range, 0-38 degrees ) at the last follow-up. A modest loss of correction was observed in four cases. The final Böhler angle was at least 85% compared to the healthy side in 10 cases out of 14 unilateral fractures. The functional score correlated well with restoration of Böhler's angle. Operative treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures following a modified Palmer technique provided encouraging results, since restoration of Böhler's angle was obtained. The main advantages include an absence of hardware prominence, resulting in an absence of skin complications, and a stable fixation.
Calcifying tendinitis is a frequent shoulder disease but the surgical treatment is still debatable. The authors of this symposium reviewed retrospectively 450 patients treated by arthroscopal excision for calcifying tendinitis. Imaging were used to assess the cuff status in every case. The minimum follow-up was five years except for subscapularis and infraspinatus calcification (minimum two years). At the same time, we led a prospective study evaluating the prevalence of the calcifications on 1276 asymptomatic shoulders. The prevalence of rotator cuff calcification was 7.3%, with a female predominance specially in the operated group. Calcifications have been found as well in patients more than 70 years old. The inter- and intraobserver agreement for the A-B-C classification was poor, specially to differentiate the type A and B calcifications. The long-term follow-up allows to prove that the calcifying tendinitis is temporary without any relation with rotator cuff rupture. Recurrence of the calcific deposit after complete disappearance was never observed and the rate of full thickness tears was 3.9% at an average of nine years follow-up (mean age 56 years). These findings allowed to conclude than cuff suture after removing the deposit is not mandatory. However, the preoperative cuff status had a significant influence on the functional results at follow-up. Preoperative associated partial tear of the cuff or a preoperative positive Jobe test affected significantly the results and increased the rate of full thickness tear at follow-up. The subscapularis calcifications were rare (6% of the calcifications) and were associated with further deposit on the cuff. Infraspinatus calcifications were more frequent (20%), mostly associated to over tendons calcifications. The arthroscopic treatment obtained good results independently from the calcification location but the surgical approach should be adapted. Functional results were lower after removing a type C calcification. Acromioplasty improved the results when the calcification was associated with an aggressive acromion or a partial cuff tear.
The main reason for revision of Charnley type total hip arthroplasty is socket loosening related to high polyethylene wear and periacetabular osteolysis. In these situations, the monobloc cemented stem is frequently not loosened and it is not clear whether the femoral component can be retained during the revision procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate surface and sphericity damage to the femoral head of a prospective and consecutive series of revision total hip arthroplasties during which the cemented monobloc femoral component has been systematically revised. We performed 22 revisions of both components of Charnley type cemented total hip arthroplasties. In all cases, the 22.2 mm head of the monobloc femoral component was made of 316 L stainless steel. The international standard for such femoral heads includes an average surface roughness (Ra) of 0.05 microm, a total roughness (Rt) value of 0.5 microm and a sphericity of +/-5 microm. The mean age of the patients at the time of the index arthroplasty was 51.3 years. The average time to revision was 14.8 years (seven to 25 years). The reasons for revision included isolated socket loosening (12), extensive periacetabular osteolysis without socket loosening (two), recurrent dislocation associated with socket loosening (one), sepsis without implant loosening (one), loosening of both components (one), and isolated loosening of the femoral component (five). Hence, 15 of the 22 (68.2%) femoral components could theoretically have been retained. The surface roughness of the femoral heads was evaluated using a contact-type profilometer. For each head, the apex and two zones, either macroscopically scratched or with loss of the mirror finish, were analyzed. Moreover, the sphericity of the heads was measured using a spherometer. The stem explanted after recurrent dislocation was analyzed separately as the femoral head had major scratches. The mean Ra and Rt of the series at the apex was 0.029 and 0.876 microm, respectively. The mean Ra and Rt of the series for the macroscopically damaged areas was 0.05 microm and 1.540 microm, respectively. The mean sphericity of the series was 7.2 microm. Hence among the 22 explanted stems, 10 femoral heads (45.4%) had Ra or Rt apex and 18 (81.8%) Ra or Rt scratched area values beyond ISO standards, respectively. Sphericity was greater than +/-5mm for 13 of the 22 femoral heads (59.1%). With the numbers available, the age at the time of the index arthroplasty, the BMI, the time and the reason for revision were not significantly associated with the degree of femoral head damage for both roughness and sphericity parameters. Retaining the femoral component during revision of the total hip arthroplasty including a monobloc femoral component is theoretically an interesting alternative. However, femoral head surface damage occurring in vivo would have lead us to retain severely scratched heads in over 80% of the hips, and heads with abnormal roughness and sphericity values in over 90% of the hips. Bases upon our results, we recommend systematically revising the femoral component during revision THA including a monobloc stem, irrespective of the reason for revision.
Congenital pes valgus is a rare and complex deformity of the foot raising serious diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The purpose of our work was to present the surgical procedures used in our series and to analyze outcome. Ten feet presenting congenital convex pes valgus treated surgically over a six-year period using the same operative technique were reviewed at minimum five years follow-up. Idiopathic deformities were excluded from this series. Deformities were secondary to arthrogryposis in five feet, multiple malformative syndrome in four, and diastematomyelia in one. The surgical technique used two approaches: a posteromedial incision to release the dorsal flexors, disinsert the tibialis posterior, open the talonavicular joint, release the Achilles tendon and release the posterior tibiotalar capsule; a lateral incision to lengthen the fibular tendons and perform an osteotomy of the anterior process of the calcaneum. A talonavicular pin and a calcaneocuboid pin maintained the correction. The tibialis posterior tendon was reinserted on the anterior aspect of the talonavicular capsule after incision of the dislocation chamber. Outcome was considered good in five cases and fair in five. Outcome was fair in the arthrogryposis feet. Under correction was observed in two feet and valgus flatfoot in three. Talar necrosis occurred in one foot and navicular necrosis in two. Simultaneous correction of the different anomalies observed in the congenital convex foot was achieved in this series. The anatomic and functional results were satisfactory. We recommend avoiding overly extensive release in order to decrease the risk of talar and navicular necrosis. It is also important to check the reduction radiographically during the operation. Patients should use an orthesis for several months postoperatively to avoid recurrence.
This study is a synthesis of three series. The first study was prospective on 418 patients with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear (group I). Two population of ACL ruptures were identified. One population with a postero-lateral bundle preserved in 16%, the mean medial anterior tibial translation side to side was 4.97 mm, the Lachman test was delayed in 40% with no or glide pivot shift in 73%. The second population with a complete ACL tear had a mean medial anterior tibial translation side to side of 7.93 mm, the Lachman test was soft in 98% with gross pivot shift in 80%. The second study was a retrospective study on 258 patients (group II) at 26 months follow-up, it correlated the impact of the type of graft on the clinical objective and subjective results. Twenty-eight percent had anterior knee pain, 33% for the patellar tendon and 25% for the hamstrings, the subjective IKDC was significantly lower for the painful knees, and 68% of the patellar tendon had a hypoesthesia and only 32% for the hamstrings. The ability to walk on the knee was 68% for the hamstrings and 35% for the patellar tendon. The third study was retrospective on 127 patients, 24 months after ACL reconstruction (group III), all were tested on a isokinetic machine for the extensor, the flexor and the internal rotator. In the total population, a 10% extensor and flexor deficit and a 5% rotator deficit was noted. A significant difference between patellar tendon and hamstrings in terms of muscular recovery was found. It pointed out that a more specific rehabilitation should be done on the hamstring group. The muscular recovery was correlated to the highest subjective score. This study allowed the surgeon to be more specific in the ACL tear definition, to adapt the graft choice to the type of sport activity but also to the type of work the patient does and finally to modify the rehabilitation protocol for the hamstring technique.
We studied a cementless anatomic stem combination with a cementless press-fit cup. The purpose of this work was to assess prospectively in a homogeneous consecutive series of patients, the clinical and radiological outcome of this prosthesis at five years follow-up. The series included 176 hips with a total hip arthroplasty implanted between September 1997 and December 1998 by the same surgeon through an antero-lateral approach (Watson-Jones). We retained for study first intention implantations for primary or secondary joint degeneration. Fractures and revisions were excluded from the analysis. At last follow-up the survival was 93.2%. Patients were revised clinically (satisfaction Harris score). An independent surgeon unaware of the clinical results performed the radiological analysis (Engh and Ara score, Brooker classification). The Kaplan-Meier method was used for the survival curve expressed with 95% confidence interval and considering revision for all causes as failure. The five-year survival of the prosthesis was 98.8%. Clinically, the Harris score varied significantly (p<0.0001) from 32.9+/-1.2 preoperatively to 93.1+/-0.8 at last follow-up. Among the score items, pain exhibited the greatest improvement since at five years only, 10.2% of patients complained of mild pain. Thigh pain, often associated with cementless stems, was very low, 1.3%. Radiologically, the femoral implant was very stable with excellent bone remodelling as illustrated by the high Engh and Ara scores, 20.7+/-0.5 and 5+/-0.2 respectively. Polyethylene wear, 0.075mm/year, was below the usually observed levels. We noted a high rate of heterotopic ossifications, 65.1%, most Brooker I. The SPS stem has shown good results at five years, both clinically and radiographically. The objectives of a stable fixation over time and harmonious remodelling appear to be achieved. These promising results should be reexamined in a series with a longer follow-up.
The treatment of full thickness articular defects remains a challenging problem for the orthopaedic surgeon. Beside bone marrow stimulation techniques (microfractures) and autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty, a variety of procedures have been proposed to promote the healing of articular lesions by cultured competent cells. Tissue engineering is an emerging field, whose goal is to repair or replace tissues and organs by delivering the appropriate cells, biomaterials and signaling factors to diseased or damaged areas. In this article, we review the preclinical and clinical literature reported on the fabrication of implantable cartilage structures from chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells and discuss potential areas of development in the field of cartilage repair. Before routine use of engineered cartilage grafts in the clinic, the safety and efficacy of these therapies need to be validated in prospective human clinical trials.
We report the first case of paraplegia observed after epidural steroid injection in the upper spine. The patient was a 42-year-old male who underwent surgery two years earlier for stenosis of the lumbar spine from L2 to the sacrum leading to early manifestations of an equina cauda syndrome. This first operation provided satisfactory function with complete resolution of the objective neurological symptoms. The patient later developed bilateral radiculalgia involving the L3 and L4 territories and was treated by radio-guided epidural steroid injection (125 mg hydrocortancyl) delivered in the L1-L2 interlaminar space. The injection was achieved with no technical difficulty and there was no injury to the dural sac. Immediately after the injection, the patient developed complete motor and sensorial paraplegia from T12. CT and MRI performed 30 min and 4h, respectively, after the accident revealed a medium-sized discal herniation behind the L2 body. No other lesion was observed. Emergency surgery was performed for radicular release but to no avail. The patient's neurological status remained unchanged and four days later the T2 MRI sequence revealed a high-intensity intramedullar signal in the cone. The diagnosis of ischemia of the medullary cone was retained, hypothetically by injury to the dominant radiculomedullary artery via an undetermined mechanism. This complication has been previously described after upper foraminal steroid injections but not after intralaminar epidural steroid injection.
Knee pain can be a problem after unicompartmental arthroplasty, compromising the long-term outcome. Arthroscopy may be useful to treat some of the causes such as cement extrusion, fibrous interposition between prosthetic elements, meniscal regeneration, hypertrophic synovitis, or arthroscopic degeneration. We evaluated the results of these procedures. Seven patients, mean age of 75 years (range 70-79), underwent knee arthroscopy. These patients were among a series of 214 unicompartmental knee prostheses implanted from 1988 to 2005. Arthroscopy was undertaken because of persistent pain after prosthesis implantation. Repeated physical examinations, X-rays and laboratory work-ups were negative for infection or mechanical anomaly. Medical treatment was attempted. The delay before recourse to arthroscopy was 16.3 months (range 9-36 months). The series was composed of five women and two men. Arthroscopy after unicompartmental prosthesis enabled the discovery of chondral, meniscal, and synovial lesions which had not been diagnosed with the usual imaging and laboratory tests. Meniscal regeneration, neomeniscus, and fibrous interpositions were observed. Biopsies were obtained. The arthroscopic procedures performed were: regularization of degenerative contralateral menisci, resection of neomenisci, and synovectomy. Arthroscopic treatment by washout shaving of the cartilage lesions and regularization of the meniscal lesions provided good results. Outcome was scored excellent or good in five knees, and insufficient in two due to progressive degeneration. For one of these two knees, the non-prosthesis femorotibial compartment progressed to overt degeneration. The IKS knee score improved 13 points in the seven patients and the function score 20 points at one to five years follow-up. Arthroscopy after unicompartmental prosthesis for knee pain can give good results for unexplained pain, both in terms of diagnosis and in terms of etiological treatment. In certain knees, diagnostic arthroscopy can enable identification of the cause of pain after unicompartmental prosthesis. Therapeutic arthroscopy avoids repeated arthrotomy and shortens recovery time.