Techniques for cartilage repair in chondral and osteochondral defects of the knee.

Many techniques are currently used in an attempt to regenerate cartilage surfaces in the presence of a chondral or osteochondral defect. Clinical results have been mixed and no single treatment has emerged as being superior. This article reviews the techniques previously and currently being used and evidence to support their use.

TruFit CB bone plug: chondral repair, scaffold design, surgical technique and early experiences.

The TruFit CB osteochondral scaffold plug is a commercially available and licensed scaffold implant for the treatment of chondral and osteochondral defects of the knee. A number of surgical techniques have been described that are designed to achieve neocartilaginous tissue cover of a chondral defect, but many result in fibrocartilage tissue, not type II collagen hyaline cartilage. This fibrocartilage layer can fail with high shear forces in the knee joint, and lead to ongoing articular surface irregularity and subsequent secondary arthritic change.

Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of biodegradable transfemoral fixation used in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Purpose: The study was designed to evaluate bioabsorbable transfemoral fixation in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using hamstring tendon as graft. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess the continuity of the bioabsorbable implant at different stages of the patients' rehabilitation.

Type Of Study: Retrospective case series.

Haemoglobin levels following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: influence of transfusion practice and surgical approach.

A retrospective review was undertaken of preoperative and day 3 postoperative haemoglobin (Hb) levels in all unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) procedures performed by a single surgeon. Sixty-six UKAs were performed using the same prosthesis through an open approach with patella eversion. This group was compared with 212 UKAs performed using a minimally invasive approach without patella eversion, with an implant and instrumentation specifically devised for this approach.

The nonoperative management of periprosthetic fractures associated with the Birmingham hip resurfacing procedure.

We reviewed the outcome of 7 patients sustaining undisplaced femoral neck periprosthetic fractures associated with the Birmingham hip resurfacing procedure. All fractures presented within 4 months of initial surgery. All fractures were treated conservatively with a period of nonweight bearing.

The use of computer-assisted surgical navigation to prevent malalignment in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

We reviewed the outcome of 30 consecutive primary unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (UKAs) performed by a single surgeon over a 26-month period. All operations were performed to treat osteoarthritis of the medial compartment of the knee. Fifteen Allegretto (Sulzer, Winterthur, Switzerland) UKAs were implanted without computer navigation whereas 15 EIUS (Stryker-Howmedica, Allendale, NJ) UKAs were implanted using navigation.

What do they do with their metalwork? What patients do with orthopaedic implants given to them after surgery.

Removal of metalwork is one of the commonest orthopaedic elective procedures with patients often requesting to keep their implants. Five hundred consecutive patients who had removal of their orthopaedic implant between April 1994 and March 2000 were contacted by post. Three hundred and seventy-two responded (response rate 74%).