AGN1 implant material to treat bone loss: Resorbable implant forms normal bone with and without alendronate in a canine critical size humeral defect model.

Background: Fractures secondary to osteoporosis, particularly those of the hip and spine, are a major public health concern with high social and economic costs. The Local Osteo-Enhancement Procedure (LOEP) is an approach intended to strengthen skeletal areas that are at the highest risk for fracture due to osteoporosis. LOEP involves the implantation of AGN1, a triphasic, calcium-based, osteoconductive material which is then resorbed and replaced by bone.

Clinical Outcomes After Microfracture of the Knee: Midterm Follow-up.

Background: Microfracture is a single-stage arthroscopic procedure used to treat small- and medium-sized cartilage defects, the clinical results of which have been mixed to date.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate prospectively collected patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after microfracture as well as to determine patient-related and defect-related factors associated with clinical outcomes and which factors predict the need for additional surgery.

Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Can Competitive Athletes Return to High-Level Play After Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation of the Knee?

Purpose: To investigate functional outcomes among competitive athletes undergoing osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation of the knee, including rates of return to play (RTP), and factors preventing RTP.

Methods: A retrospective review identified all competitive athletes (high school, intercollegiate, professional) undergoing isolated femoral condyle OCA from 2004 to 2013. Patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires (Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC], Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS], Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Arthritis Index [WOMAC], 12-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-12], Tegner, and Marx) and custom RTP surveys were administered.

Flexion Posteroanterior Radiographs Affect Both Enrollment for and Outcomes After Injection Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background: Knee injection therapy is less effective for severe osteoarthritis (OA), specifically Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade 4. Patient selection for knee injection trials has historically been based on extension anteroposterior (AP) radiographic evaluation; however, emerging evidence suggests that KL grading using a flexion posteroanterior (PA) radiograph more accurately and reproducibly predicts disease severity. The impact of radiographic view on patient selection and outcome after knee injection therapy remains unknown.

Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Improves Knee-Specific Functional Outcomes and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescent Patients.

Background: Existing studies of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in adolescent patients have primarily reported outcomes that have not been validated for cartilage repair and have failed to include measures of general health or health-related quality of life.

Purpose: This study assesses validated knee-specific functional outcomes and health-related quality of life after ACI in adolescent patients.

Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Meniscal Allograft Transplantation in the Adolescent Population.

Purpose: To report the results of meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) with minimum 2-year follow-up in an active adolescent population.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, all patients aged 16 years or younger who underwent MAT and had more than 2 years' clinical follow-up were identified from a prospectively collected database. Demographic data were collected and summary statistics calculated.

DeNovo NT Particulated Juvenile Cartilage Implant.

Biological repair of focal chondral defects represents a significant clinical challenge as cartilage lacks intrinsic healing ability. Although it can be difficult to measure the objective success of cartilage repair techniques, the primary objective is symptom relief leading to less pain and improved function for the patient. Likely, the most important key to success is proper clinical indications.