Faculty Bibliography

Objectives: Patients with a superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) tear of the shoulder are often initially treated non-operatively, but many do not respond and require surgery. Identifying patients who are likely to fail non-operative management and would benefit from early surgical intervention can shorten time of disability and limit resources utilized on unsuccessful treatments. The purpose of this study is to create a clinical prediction model to determine which patients are likely to fail non-operative treatment of SLAP tears and require surgical intervention.
Method(s): This was a case-control study consisting of patients treated at a single institution for isolated, non-degenerative SLAP tears. Patients with concomitant rotator cuff tears were excluded from this analysis. Patients were retrospectively surveyed using the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) system regarding clinical features of their shoulder injury, non-operative treatments that they received, and key functional outcomes during their post-injury period. Responders underwent additional medical record review to identify other variables related to the clinical presentation and treatment of their shoulder injury. In order to simplify the predictive model and optimize its interpretability, the lasso (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) method of penalized logistic regression analysis was used to identify the characteristics that were most closely associated with failure of nonoperative treatment. The data was randomly split into a training set and test set. Using the training set, the value of lambda which minimized cross-validation prediction error rate was determined (Figure 1). The final lasso model was then computed. The predictive accuracy of the final model was assessed using the test data set.
Result(s): Overall, 189 patients were contacted and included in the analysis. The mean age of included patients was 29.9 +/- 6.7 years. Thirty-eight patients (20.1%) were female. One hundred and six patients (56.1%) failed non-operative management and required surgical intervention. The final lasso model identified a total of 9 variables that were significantly associated with failure of non-operative management of SLAP tears (Table 1). These predictors included pre-injury overhead sports participation, presence of specific symptoms, severity of pain, and the type of non-operative treatment modalities used. Injury to the dominant extremity, history of prior shoulder injury, patient age, use of NSAIDs, and occupation involving manual labor or overhead work were not associated with failure of nonoperative treatment. The predictive accuracy of the model was 70.3% (95% CI 53.0%, 84.1%). Sensitivity of the model was 81.0% and specificity was 56.3%.
Conclusion(s): A clinical prediction model consisting of variables describing patient characteristics, specific symptoms, and the type of non-operative treatment modalities utilized was found to predict failure of non-operative management of SLAP tears with moderate accuracy. Further refinements of this prediction model, including the inclusion of additional physical examination and imaging variables, will be required before future iterations are tested in clinical practice

Objectives: Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) using allograft tissue has several potential benefits including the absence of donor site morbidity, ability to predict graft parameters, and decreased operative time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients following MPFLR with allograft. Our hypothesis was that there would be a low rate of recurrent instability, and excellent clinical outcomes reported.
Method(s): A retrospective review of athletes who underwent MPFL Reconstruction, with a minimum of 12-month follow-up was performed. Recurrent instability (including re-dislocation and subluxation), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, Kujala score, satisfaction, and whether they would undergo the same surgery again, were evaluated.
Result(s): Overall, follow up was attained for 131 patients with 141 knees (73.4%). The mean patient age of 25.0 years, 67.4% females, and mean time to follow-up was 46.8 months (12-111). At final follow up, the mean VAS score was 1.4 +/- 2.0, the mean Kujala score was 84.8 +/- 15.6, the mean satisfaction score was 84% +/- 26.0, and 117 (83.0%) would undergo the same procedure again if required. There was 17 (12.0%) patients that had recurrent instability, with 2 being re-dislocations (1.4%). A further procedure was performed in 14 patients (9.9%). There were no intra-operative complications in our series.
Conclusion(s): There was a low rate of recurrent instability following MPFLR with allograft, with excellent patient reported outcomes, and a low complication rate

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is a term synonymous with orthopaedic clinical research over the past decade. The term represents the smallest change in a patient-reported outcome measure that is of genuine clinical value to patients. It has been derived in a myriad of ways in existing orthopaedic literature. PURPOSE/UNASSIGNED:To describe the various modalities for deriving the MCID. STUDY DESIGN/UNASSIGNED:Narrative review; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:The definitions of common MCID determinations were first identified. These were then evaluated by their clinical and statistical merits and limitations. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:There are 3 primary ways for determining the MCID: anchor-based analysis, distribution-based analysis, and sensitivity- and specificity-based analysis. Each has unique strengths and weaknesses with respect to its ability to evaluate the patient's clinical status change from baseline to posttreatment. Anchor-based analyses are inherently tied to clinical status yet lack standardization. Distribution-based analyses are the opposite, with strong foundations in statistics, yet they fail to adequately address the clinical status change. Sensitivity and specificity analyses offer a compromise of the other methodologies but still rely on a somewhat arbitrarily defined global transition question. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:This current concepts review demonstrates the need for (1) better standardization in the establishment of MCIDs for orthopaedic patient-reported outcome measures and (2) better study design-namely, until a universally accepted MCID derivation exists, studies attempting to derive the MCID should utilize the anchor-based within-cohort design based on Food and Drug Administration recommendations. Ideally, large studies reporting the MCID as an outcome will also derive the value for their populations. It is important to consider that there may be reasonable replacements for current derivations of the MCID. As such, future research should consider an alternative threshold score with a more universal method of derivation.

OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of osteochondral allograft (OCA) in patients older than 45 years of age, particularly with respect to return to sport. DESIGN/UNASSIGNED:A retrospective review was performed to evaluate patients greater than 45 who underwent an OCA for a symptomatic osteochondral defect of the knee between June 2011 and January 2019. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:< 0.01). Furthermore, the mean Visual Analogue Scale while playing sport was 3.4 ± 3.2, and the mean Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score was 77.5 ± 12.7 at final follow-up. Overall, 11 patients (78.6%) were able to return to their desired sport. No clinical failures were identified during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:In our series of patients 45 years and older who were treated with OCA for focal osteochondral injuries of the knee, we found a significant improvement in clinical outcome scores at a midterm follow-up of 37 months with no revision OCA procedures or conversion to any form of knee arthroplasty. In addition, a high percentage of patients were able to return to their preferred level of athletic activity.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating joint disease characterized by progressive loss of articular cartilage. Intra-articular injections are a mainstay of nonoperative treatment, however, there is controversy as to the optimal injectable for these patients. The purpose of the current study is to perform a network meta-analysis of the randomized control trials in the literature to ascertain whether there is a superior injectable nonoperative treatment for knee OA. METHODS:The literature search was conducted based on the PRISMA guidelines. Randomized control trials (RCTs) evaluating intra-articular injectables in osteoarthritic knees were included. Data was extracted and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, where available were analyzed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Clinical outcomes were compared using a frequentist approach to network meta-analysis, with statistical analysis performed using R. The treatment options were ranked using the P-Score. RESULTS:Seventy-nine RCTs with 8761 patients were included in this review. Intra-articular injectables evaluated included autologous conditioned serum (ACS), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), botulinum toxin, corticosteroids (CS), hyaluronic acid (HA), mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), ozone, saline placebo, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), plasma rich in growth factor (PRGF), and stromal vascular fraction (SVF). At 4-6 weeks and 3 months of follow-up, the treatment with the highest P-Score for WOMAC score was high molecular weight (HMW) HA + CS [P-Score = 0.9500 and 8503, respectively]. At 6-months follow-up, the treatment with the highest P-Score for WOMAC score was PRP [P-Score = 0.7676]. At all post-injection time points, the treatment with the highest P-Score for VAS score [P-Score Range = 0.8631-9927] and Womac score at 12 Months [P-Score = 0.9044] was SVF. CONCLUSIONS:The current evidence shows that SVF injections result in the greatest improvement in pain and functional outcomes in patients with knee OA at up to 1 year of follow-up.

Although anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a generally successful procedure, failure is still relatively common. An increased posterior tibial slope (PTS) has been shown to increase the anterior position of the tibia relative to the femur at rest and under load in biomechanical studies. Increased PTS has also been shown to increase forces on the native and reconstructed ACL. Clinical studies have demonstrated elevated PTS in patients with failed ACLR and multiple failed ACLR, compared with control subjects. Anterior closing-wedge osteotomies have been shown to decrease PTS and may be indicated in patients who have failed ACLR with a PTS of ≥12°. Available clinical data suggest that the procedure is safe and effective, although evidence is limited to case series. This article presents the relevant biomechanics, clinical observational data on the effects of increased PTS, and an algorithm for evaluating and treating patients with a steep PTS.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease; however, the indeterminate nature of mechanisms by which OA develops has restrained advancement of therapeutic targets. TNF signalling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of OA. TNFR1 primarily mediates inflammation, whereas emerging evidences demonstrate that TNFR2 plays an anti-inflammatory and protective role in several diseases and conditions. This study aims to decipher TNFR2 signalling in chondrocytes and OA. METHODS:Biochemical copurification and proteomics screen were performed to isolate the intracellular cofactors of TNFR2 complex. Bulk and single cell RNA-seq were employed to determine 14-3-3 epsilon (14-3-3ε) expression in human normal and OA cartilage. Transcription factor activity screen was used to isolate the transcription factors downstream of TNFR2/14-3-3ε. Various cell-based assays and genetically modified mice with naturally occurring and surgically induced OA were performed to examine the importance of this pathway in chondrocytes and OA. RESULTS:Signalling molecule 14-3-3ε was identified as an intracellular component of TNFR2 complexes in chondrocytes in response to progranulin (PGRN), a growth factor known to protect against OA primarily through activating TNFR2. 14-3-3ε was downregulated in OA and its deficiency deteriorated OA. 14-3-3ε was required for PGRN regulation of chondrocyte metabolism. In addition, both global and chondrocyte-specific deletion of 14-3-3ε largely abolished PGRN's therapeutic effects against OA. Furthermore, PGRN/TNFR2/14-3-3ε signalled through activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent Elk-1 while suppressing nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in chondrocytes. CONCLUSIONS:This study identifies 14-3-3ε as an inducible component of TNFR2 receptor complex in response to PGRN in chondrocytes and presents a previously unrecognised TNFR2 pathway in the pathogenesis of OA.

OBJECTIVE:The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes at early to midterm follow-up between fresh precut cores versus hemi-condylar osteochondral allograft (OCAs) in the treatment of symptomatic osteochondral lesions. DESIGN/METHODS:A retrospective review of patients who underwent an OCA was performed. Patient matching between those with OCA harvested from an allograft condyle/patella or a fresh precut allograft core was performed to generate 2 comparable groups. The cartilage at the graft site was assessed with use of a modified Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) scoring system and patient-reported outcomes were collected. RESULTS:= 0.93). CONCLUSIONS:This study found that there was no difference in patient-reported clinical outcomes or MOCART scores following OCA implantation using fresh precut OCA cores or size matched condylar grafts at early to midterm follow-up.

BACKGROUND:Prior research has demonstrated that physician desire to optimize patient satisfaction is a cause of over-prescription of opioid medications in the healthcare setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate what effect, if any, decreased opioid prescribing following arthroscopic meniscectomy had on Press-Ganey (PG) satisfaction survey scores. METHODS:A retrospective review of prospectively-collected data was conducted on patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy between October2014-October2019. Inclusion criteria consisted of complete PG information, no history of trauma, connective tissue disease, or prior knee surgery. Groups were separated based on date of surgery relative to implementation of an institutional opioid reduction policy which occurred on October 1, 2018. Prescriptions were converted to milligram-morphine-equivalents (MME) for direct comparison between opioids. Minimal-Detectable-Change (MDC) was calculated to evaluate clinical significance of any statistically significant findings. RESULTS:554 patients were included in this analysis (452pre-protocol, 102post-protocol). The groups did not differ statistically (p > 0.05) with respect to any patient demographics (age, BMI, sex, prior opioid use, opioid naivete) with the exception of smoking history; 54.4% in the pre-protocol group and 32.4%in the post-protocol group; p < 0.001. Mean discharge dose for the pre-protocol group was 229.3 ± 141MME, and 80.05 ± 82.7MME post-protocol; P < 0.0001. There were no statistically significant differences between pre-and-post-protocol satisfaction with pain control scores; P = 0.15. The differences between satisfaction with pain control did not meet clinical or statistical significance, based on a calculated MDC = 0.368. Among pre-protocol patients, 372(82.3%) gave a "top box" response to the question "degree-to-which-your-pain-was-controlled", compared to 91(89.2%) from the post-protocol group; P = 0.10. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:A reduction in opioids prescribed after arthroscopic meniscectomy was not associated with any difference in patient satisfaction with pain management, as measured by the Press-Ganey survey. LOE: 3.