Faculty Bibliography

Introduction Autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is a treatment for osteochondral lesions with known concerns, including histological degradation of the graft and poor cartilage integration. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) have been described has having the potential to improve results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PRP and HA on AOT in a rabbit model. Methods Thirty-six rabbits underwent bilateral knee AOT treated with either the biological adjunct (PRP, n = 12; HA, n = 12; PRP + HA, n = 12) or saline (control). PRP and HA were administered as an intra-articular injection. The rabbits were euthanized at 3, 6, or 12 weeks postoperatively. The graft sections were assessed using the modified International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) scoring system. The results from the PRP alone group is from previously published data. Results The mean modified ICRS histological score for the PRP-treated group was higher than its control ( P = 0.002). The mean modified ICRS histological score for the HA-treated group showed no difference compared with its control ( P = 0.142). The mean modified ICRS histological score for the PRP + HA-treated group was higher than its control ( P = 0.006). There was no difference between the mean modified ICRS scores of the PRP- and the PRP + HA-treated grafts ( P = 0.445). Conclusion PRP may decrease graft degradation and improve chondral integration in an animal model. In this model, the addition of HA was not synergistic for the parameters assessed.

Surgical procedures for managing chronic lateral ankle instability include anatomic direct repair, anatomic reconstruction with an autograft or allograft, and arthroscopic repair. Open direct repair is commonly used for patients with sufficient ligament quality. Reconstruction incorporating either an autograft or an allograft is another promising option in the short term, although the longevity of this procedure remains unclear. Use of an allograft avoids donor site morbidity, but it comes with inherent risks. Arthroscopic repair of chronic lateral ankle instability can provide good to excellent short- and long-term clinical outcomes, but the evidence supporting this technique is limited. Deterioration of the ankle joint after surgery is also a concern. Studies are needed on not only treating ligament insufficiency but also on reducing the risk of ankle joint deterioration.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Autologous osteochondral transplantation is an established treatment for large-sized osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) with excellent short term outcomes. However, few studies assess the outcomes of autologous osteochondral transplantation at mid-term follow-up. The purpose of the current systematic review was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the autologous osteochondral transplantation procedure in the treatment of OLT at mid-term and long-term follow-up. METHODS:A systematic search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases was performed in October 2017 based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Included studies were evaluated with regard to level of evidence (LOE) and quality of evidence (QOE) using the Coleman Methodology Score. Clinical outcomes, and complications were also evaluated. RESULTS:Eleven studies, with 500 ankles were included at a mean 62.8 months follow-up. Seven studies used the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. The weighted mean preoperative AOFAS score was 55.1 ± 6.1, and the postoperative score was 86.2 ± 4.5, with 87.4% of patients (132 of 151) being reported as excellent or good results. In total, 53 of the 500 patients (10.6%) had complications. The most common complication was donor site morbidity with 18 patients (3.6%) at final follow-up. Thirty-one patients (6.2%) underwent reoperations, and 5 ankles (1.0%) were regarded as failed autologous osteochondral transplantation. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The current systematic review demonstrated that good clinical and functional outcomes can be expected following autologous osteochondral transplantation for the treatment of OLT, with a low failure rate. The results from this study show patients can be reasonably counselled to expect good clinical outcomes in the mid-term. MRI and radiographs showed restoration of articular surface as well as a minimal presence of osteoarthritis at mid-term follow-up. However, as low level and quality of evidence and the variability of the data may confound the data, further well-designed studies are necessary to determine the effectiveness of autologous osteochondral transplantation in the treatment for OLT. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:IV.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the effects of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) in the clinical setting. METHODS:A literature search was performed in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library Database up to January 2017 for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Criteria for inclusion were clinical studies demonstrating the effects of ADSCs on OA, and written in English. The following variables were analyzed: donor site, volume of adipose tissue, preparation of ADSCs, clinical outcomes, and complication rate. RESULTS:Sixteen studies (knee: 14 studies, multiple joints: 1 study, ankle: 1 study) were included in this systematic review. All of the studies prepared ADSCs in the form of the stromal vascular fraction (SVF). Inconsistencies between studies were found with regards to reported clinical variability, donor sites of SVF, and reported clinical outcomes. Nine studies used either platelet-rich plasma (PRP) (7/16) or fibrin (4/16) or both PRP and Fibrin (1/16), as an adjunct at time of SVF injection. All of the studies reported an improvement in clinical outcomes with the use of SVF. Five studies reported a 90% satisfaction rate, and no study reported any complications with liposuction. Five studies reported on complications, with a 5% incidence of swelling and pain. CONCLUSIONS:This systematic review demonstrated that ADSCs are currently used in the form of SVF. While SVF may produce favorable clinical outcomes with minimal risk of side effects on osteoarthritis, the variability in the data and the use of biological adjuvants have confounded the effectiveness of ADSCs. This study will help surgeons understand the limitations in the literature on ADSCs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level IV, systematic review of level IV studies.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the current studies on arthroscopic lateral ankle ligament repair for chronic lateral ankle instability. METHODS:A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was performed during August 2017. Included studies were evaluated with regard to level of evidence (LOE) and quality of evidence (QOE) using the Coleman Methodology Score. Variable reporting outcome data, clinical outcomes, and percentage of patients who returned to sport at previous level were also evaluated. RESULTS:Eight studies for a total of 269 ankles were included; 87.5% of studies were LOE III or IV, and the QOE in all studies was of poor or fair quality. Preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores ranged from 41.2 to 69.9, and postoperative AOFAS scores ranged from 90.2 to 98. All studies using AOFAS score showed an increase in postoperative outcome score of 22.8 to 54.2 at a mean follow-up of 17.1 months. Five studies used Karlsson-Peterson scores with mean postoperative score of 88.5 (range, 76.2-93.6) at a mean follow-up of 21.2 months. The comparative studies showed similar clinical outcomes between arthroscopic and open procedures. The overall complication rate was 11.6% in the included studies. The overall rate of return to sport was 100%. CONCLUSIONS:The current systematic review demonstrated that arthroscopic lateral ankle ligament repair yields favorable clinical outcomes in the short term. However, there is no clinical evidence to support the advantages of the arthroscopic procedure over the open procedure, and there are no long-term data currently available for the arthroscopic procedure. There was a relatively high complication rate (11.5%) associated with the arthroscopic procedures, although recent comparative studies demonstrated similar complication rates for both open and arthroscopic techniques. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level IV, systematic review of Level I, III, and IV studies.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Peroneal tendon injuries are a significant cause of lateral ankle symptoms in the active population. Accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment is important for minimizing the risk of long-term sequelae associated with chronic peroneal tendinopathy. Although several studies have been published on diagnostic strategies and treatment outcomes, there is no consensus on the optimal management of peroneal tendon pathologies. PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this ESSKA-AFAS consensus statement was to conduct an international and multidisciplinary agreed guideline on management of patients with peroneal tendon pathologies. METHODS:Using the Nominal Group Technique, a panel comprised of sixteen specialists spanning nine countries was convened by the ESSKA-AFAS board. In preparation for the meeting, relevant questions were identified and supported by a systematic literature search. During the meeting, the panel members gave presentations on each question, and the evidence supporting each subject was then vetted by open discussion. Statements were thereafter adjusted on the basis of the discussion and voted upon to determine consensus using a 0-10 range Likert scale. Agreement was confirmed when a mean score of at least 7.5 was reached. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This ESSKA-AFAS consensus statement on the optimal management of peroneal tendon pathologies is the result of international and multidisciplinary agreement combined with a systematic review of the literature. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:V.

BACKGROUND:Uncontained-type osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) have been shown to have inferior clinical outcomes after treatment with bone marrow stimulation. While autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is indicated for larger lesions, no study has reported on the prognostic significance of the containment of OLTs treated with the AOT procedure. PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To clarify the effect of the containment of OLTs on clinical and radiological outcomes in patients who underwent AOT for OLTs. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Case control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS:A retrospective cohort study comparing patients with contained-type and uncontained-type OLTs was undertaken to include all patients who underwent AOT for the treatment of OLTs between 2006 and 2014. Analyses were performed by grouping the patients according to the containment type. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) preoperatively and at final follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 2 years' follow-up was evaluated with the modified magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score. Multivariate regression models were used to evaluate factors affecting postoperative FAOS, SF-12, and MOCART scores. RESULTS:Ninety-four patients were included: 31 patients with a contained-type OLT and 63 patients with an uncontained-type OLT. The median patient age was 34 years (interquartile range [IQR], 28-48 years) in the contained-type group and 36 years (IQR, 27-46 years) in the uncontained-type group. The median follow-up time was 45 months (IQR, 38-63 months) in the contained-type group and 52 months (IQR, 40-66 months) in the uncontained-type group. The median FAOS and SF-12 scores improved significantly after surgery in both contained-type and uncontained-type lesions ( P < .001). The median postoperative FAOS score of patients with contained-type OLTs was higher than that of patients with uncontained-type OLTs (91.7 vs 85.0, respectively; P = .009), but no significant differences were found between the contained-type and uncontained-type groups for postoperative SF-12 and MOCART scores. The multivariate regression models showed that patients with contained-type OLTs had an approximately 10-point better score on the FAOS compared with patients with uncontained-type OLTs ( P = .006). There was a nonsignificant trend for the rate of cystic occurrence in uncontained-type OLTs to be higher than that of contained-type OLTs (55.6% vs 38.7%, respectively; P = .125). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Patients with contained-type OLTs experienced better clinical outcomes than those with uncontained-type OLTs after AOT for the treatment of OLTs. However, the AOT procedure still provided good clinical and MRI outcomes in both contained-type and uncontained-type OLTs at midterm follow-up.

Unfortunately, the spelling of the names Daniel Haverkamp and Ákos Kynsburg were incorrect in the original online publication of the article.

BACKGROUND:Subchondral bone marrow edema (BME) has been associated with articular cartilage loss, with the potential to be a negative prognostic indicator for clinical outcomes after microfracture. However, no single study has investigated the association between BME and clinical outcomes after microfracture for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) at midterm follow-up. PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To clarify the association between postoperative subchondral BME and clinical outcomes in patients treated with microfracture for OLTs at both short-term and midterm follow-up using a grading system that classified the extent of BME of the talus. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS:Patients who underwent microfracture between 2008 and 2013 were assessed at 2- and 4-year postoperative follow-up. BME was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging, and the presence of subchondral BME was determined with fat-suppressed T2-weighted sequences. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). P < .05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS:Forty-three (83%) of 52 eligible patients were included. No significant differences were found in the FAOS between the BME and no BME groups at 2-year follow-up (83.1 ± 6.5 vs 88.6 ± 8.0, respectively; P = .109), but there was a significant difference at 4-year follow-up (77.5 ± 11.1 vs 84.7 ± 8.4, respectively; P = .041). A significant difference was found among BME grades at 4-year follow-up (grade 0: 84.7 ± 7.4, grade 1: 80.1 ± 10.5, grade 2: 74.0 ± 10.3, and grade 3: 67.5 ± 7.1; P = .035). A post hoc analysis showed significant differences between grades 0 and 2, 0 and 3, and 1 and 3 ( P = .041, .037, and .048, respectively). In addition, at 4-year follow-up, a significant correlation was noted between the FAOS and BME grade ( r = -0.453, P = .003) but not at 2-year follow-up ( r = -0.212, P = .178). Seventy-four percent of patients still had subchondral BME at 4-year follow-up after microfracture for OLTs. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Patients with subchondral BME at midterm follow-up after microfracture for OLTs had worse clinical outcomes than those without subchondral BME. In addition, the degree of subchondral BME at midterm follow-up was correlated with clinical outcomes. However, at short-term follow-up, there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes based on both the presence and degree of BME, and no correlation was found between clinical outcomes and the degree of BME. The current study suggests that BME at short-term follow-up is a normal physiological reaction. However, BME at midterm follow-up after microfracture for OLTs may be pathological and is associated with poorer clinical outcomes.