Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of the current study is to perform a systematic review of the literature and evaluate maximum medical improvement and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of different injectables in the treatment of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. METHODS:A systematic review was performed to evaluate maximum medical improvement and MCID in patients undergoing injections of different modalities for knee osteoarthritis. Demographic factors of the patients being reviewed were analyzed, with patient-reported outcomes as reported by visual analog scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) being used to evaluate the clinical trajectory of patients receiving intra-articular injections. RESULTS:Overall, 79 (level of evidence I: 79) studies met inclusion criteria, with 8761 patients. Corticosteroid (CS) injections, middle molecular weight hyaluronic acid (MMW-HA), and leukocyte-rich platelet rich plasma (LR-PRP) injections reached their maximum pain control at 4 to 6 weeks after injection, as measured by VAS. The lowest VAS scores were reached for low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMW-HA), high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA), and leukocyte-poor platelet rich plasma (LP-PRP) by 3 months after injection. Similarly, the WOMAC scores were lowest at 4 to 6 weeks after CS and MMW-HA injections, and at 3 months after HMW-HA and LP-PRP injections. LR-PRP demonstrated the most prolonged pain relief relative to the other injection types, with the lowest VAS score of all groups measured at final follow-up. LP-PRP showed the lowest WOMAC scores at final follow-up, one year post-injection. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:PRP injections provide continued pain relief at up to 1 year after injection. Corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid have good efficacy and are suitable for many patients but lack this longevity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level I, a systematic review of Level I studies.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of the current study is to compare the outcomes of open subpectoral biceps tenodesis (BT) to arthroscopic repair (AR) for SLAP tears in patients under the age of 30 years. METHODS:A retrospective review of patients under the age of 30 years who underwent either isolated BT or AR for a diagnosis of a SLAP tear between 2011 and 2019 was performed. Patients were included if they were >16 years old at the time of surgery, had an isolated SLAP tear involving instability of the biceps-labral anchor (types II-IV), were skeletally mature, and had a minimum follow-up of 12 months. The American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons score, visual analog scale, Subjective Shoulder Value, patient satisfaction, willingness to undergo surgery again, revisions, and return to play (RTP) were evaluated. A P value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS:Our study included 103 patients in total; 29 patients were treated with BT, and 74 were treated with AR. The mean age was 24.8 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 60 months. At final follow-up, there was no difference between treatment groups in any of the functional outcome measures assessed (P > .05). Overall, there was no significant difference in the total rate of RTP (BT: 76.3%, AR: 85%; P = .53), timing of RTP (BT: 8.8 months, AR: 9.4 months; P = .61), and total rate of RTP among overhead athletes (BT: 84.2%, AR: 83.3%; P > .99). Among those undergoing AR, 9 required a revision procedure (11.5%) compared to none treated with BT (P = .11). CONCLUSIONS:In patients under the age of 30 years with a symptomatic isolated SLAP tear, BT may be a reliable alternative to AR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level III, retrospective comparative study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to identify if the location of posterolateral corner (PLC) injury was predictive of clinical common peroneal nerve (CPN) palsy. METHODS:A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients presenting to our institution with operative PLC injuries. Assessment of concomitant injuries and presence of neurologic injury was completed via chart review and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) review. A fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologist reviewed the PLC injury and categorized it into distal, middle and proximal injuries with or without a biceps femoral avulsion. The CPN was evaluated for signs of displacement or neuritis. RESULTS:Forty-seven operatively managed patients between 2014 and 2019 (mean age-at-injury 29.5 ± 10.7 years) were included in this study. Eleven (23.4%) total patients presented with a clinical CPN palsy. Distal PLC injuries were significantly associated with CPN palsy [9 (81.8%) patients, (P = 0.041)]. Nine of 11 (81.8%) patients with CPN palsy had biceps femoral avulsion (P = 0.041). Of the patients presenting with CPN palsy, only four (36.4%) patients experienced complete neurologic recovery. Three of 7 patients (43%) with an intact CPN had full resolution of their clinically complete CPN palsy at the time of follow-up (482 ± 357 days). All patients presenting with a CPN palsy also had a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in addition to a PLC injury (P = 0.009), with or without a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury. No patient presenting with an isolated pattern of PCL-PLC injury (those without ACL tears) had a clinical CPN palsy. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Distal PLC injuries have a strong association with clinical CPN palsy, with suboptimal resolution in the initial post-operative period. Specifically, the presence of a biceps femoris avulsion injury was highly associated with a clinical CPN palsy. Additionally, CPN palsy in the context of PLC injury has a strong association with concomitant ACL injury. Furthermore, the relative rates of involvement of the ACL vs. PCL suggest that specific injury mechanism may have an important role in CPN palsy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:IV.

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

Objectives: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a commonly used medication in orthopaedic procedures, reducing perioperative bleeding and need for transfusion. The purpose of this double-blind randomized controlled study was to evaluate if IV TXA for primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with bone-patella tendon-bone (BTB) could reduce perioperative blood loss or postoperative intra-articular hemarthrosis without postoperative drains.
Method(s): A controlled, randomized, double-blinded trial was conducted in 110 patients who underwent ACLR with BTB autograft. Patients were equally randomized to the control and experimental groups. The experimental group received two 1-gram boluses of IV TXA, one prior to tourniquet inflation and one prior to wound closure; the control group did not receive TXA. If a clinically significant hemarthrosis was evident, the knee was aspirated, and the volume of blood (ml) was recorded. Additionally, perioperative blood loss (ml); Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on postoperative days (POD) 1-7 and post-operative weeks (POW) 1, 6 and 12; postoperative opioid consumption POD 1-7; range of motion (ROM) and ability to straight leg raise (SLR) at POW 1, 6, 12; and pre and postoperative thigh circumference ratio (TCR).
Result(s): There was no significant difference in perioperative blood loss between the experimental and control groups (32.5ml v. 35.6ml, p=0.47). The experimental group had 23 knees aspirated; control group had 26 knees aspirated (p=0.56). No significant difference seen in postoperative hemarthrosis volume with IV TXA (26.7ml v. 37.3ml, p=0.12). There was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups (p=0.15), additionally, there was no difference in postoperative opioid consumption (p=0.33). There was no significant difference in ROM or ability to SLR, or pre- nor post-operative TCR (p > 0.05 for all).
Conclusion(s): IV TXA in patients who undergo ACLR with BTB autograft does not significantly impact perioperative blood loss, postoperative hemarthrosis, or postoperative pain levels. Additionally, no significant differences were seen in early post-operative recovery regarding ROM or quadriceps reactivation

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of mini-open subpectoral biceps tenodesis (BT) to arthroscopic repair (AR) for SLAP tears in patients under 30.
Method(s): A retrospective review of patients who underwent either isolated BT or AR for the diagnosis of a SLAP tear was performed. Patients with a follow-up duration of <24 months were excluded. The American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), patient satisfaction, willingness to undergo surgery again, revisions, and return to work/sport were evaluated. A p value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Result(s): Our study included 103 patients in total; 29 patients were treated with BT, and 74 were treated with AR. The mean age was 24.8 years, 79.4% were male, and the mean follow-up duration was 60 months. At final follow up, there was no difference between treatment groups in any of the functional outcome measures assessed (p > 0.05). Overall, there was no significant difference in the total rate of RTP (BT: 76.3%, AR: 85%; p = 0.53), timing of RTP (BT: 8.8 months, AR: 9.4 months; p = 0.61), and total rate of RTP among overhead athletes (BT: 84.2%, AR: 83.3%; p = 1). However, there was a significantly lower rate of revision surgery with BT (0%) as compared to AR (14.1%; p = 0.03).
Conclusion(s): In patients under the age of 30 with isolated SLAP tear pathology, BT is a reliable alternative to AR, with a low rate of revision surgery, and excellent patient reported outcomes

Objectives: Superior-labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) tears are common among athletic populations and may require surgical treatment. Return to play post-operatively may be complicated by a number of factors, including psychological readiness to return. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of the SLAP Return to Sport Index (SLAP-RSI) score to quantify psychological readiness to return to play following operative management of SLAP tears.
Method(s): A retrospective review of athletes who underwent operative management of SLAP tears with a minimum of 12-month follow-up was performed. Patients were evaluated for their psychological readiness to return to sport using the SLAP-RSI score. The SLAP-RSI score was created by adapting the terms in the Anterior (ACL-RSI score) with terms related to SLAP tears. A SLAP-RSI score > 56 is considered a passing score for being psychologically ready to return to play.
Result(s): The study included 174 athletes who underwent operative management of SLAP tears. Overall, 73.5% percent of patients were able to return to play, and the mean SLAP-RSI score in this cohort was 74.1+/-20.9, as compared to 46.7+/-27.7 in those who were unable to return (p<0.0001). Of those who returned, 82.1% passed the SLAP-RSI benchmark of 56, while of those who did not return, 33.3% passed the SLAP-RSI benchmark of 56. Additionally, a significant difference was found in each component of the SLAP-RSI score between the two cohorts (p<0.05). No individual component of the SLAP-RSI score was below 56 in patients who were able to return to play, while none was above 56 in those who were unable to return. Among patients who were unable to return, ones who cited lifestyle reasons had a higher SLAP-RSI score (77.4 +/- 21.8) than those who cited residual pain (28.2 +/- 15.1) or fear of re-injury (42.6 +/- 23.6) (p<0.0001).
Conclusion(s): Following the operative management of SLAP repair, patients that are unable to return to play exhibit poor psychological readiness to return which may be due to residual pain or fear of re-injury

Objectives: Socioeconomic factors have been shown to impact patient care in many surgical fields; however, their effects have not been thoroughly evaluated in the context of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of socioeconomic factors on time to surgery, knee function, and subjective outcomes measures following ACLR.
Method(s): A retrospective query of primary ACLR surgeries at a single institution performed from 2011 to 2015 with minimum twoyear follow-up was conducted. Patient demographics, insurance type, worker's compensation status, surgical variables, IKDC score, and failure were recorded from chart review. Education level and income were obtained via phone interview. Differences between functional outcome were compared between Medicaid and non-Medicaid groups.
Result(s): 268 patients were included in the analysis (43 patients in the Medicaid group and 225 patients in the non-Medicaid group). The Medicaid group demonstrated lower annual income (p<0.01) and a lower level of completed education compared to the non- Medicaid group (p<0.01). Medicaid patients had a greater duration between time of initial knee injury and surgery compared to the non-Medicaid group (11.8 +/- 16.3 months versus 6.1 +/- 16.5 months, p = 0.04). At the time of follow-up, patients in the non- Medicaid group had a significantly greater IKDC score compared to Medicaid patients (82.5 +/- 13.8 versus 75.3 +/- 20.8, p = 0.03).
Conclusion(s): Socioeconomic factors impacted care in the setting of ACL injury. Medicaid insurance patients were seen significantly later after initial injury when compared to non-Medicaid carriers, and had worse outcomes compared to their non-Medicaid peers. Higher annual income brackets had significantly higher clinical outcomes scores at a minimum of two years postoperatively. Education level did not affect outcomes