In Vitro Analysis of Micronized Cartilage Stability in the Knee: Effect of Fibrin Level, Defect Size, and Defect Location.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess the stability of a dehydrated cartilage allograft combined with platelet-rich plasma sealed with fibrin glue within trochlear and medial femoral condyle (MFC) chondral defects in a cadaver knee model.

Methods: Defects were made in the trochlea (20, 25, and 30 mm) and MFC (15, 20, and 25 mm) of 6 cadaver specimens. Allograft was applied utilizing 2 different techniques: (1) proud in which the fibrin level extends beyond surrounding cartilage and (2) recessed in which the fibrin level is even with or below the surrounding cartilage.

Concomitant Arthroscopic Meniscal Allograft Transplantation and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

In recent decades, arthroscopic meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) has been refined as a robust option for the treatment of evolving unicompartmental tibiofemoral arthrosis in the setting of meniscal deficiency. It is imperative that the MAT be performed in a knee with anatomic stability and alignment to reduce aberrant biomechanical forces experienced by the allograft tissue to maintain its durability. Thus, in an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knee, ACL reconstruction (ACLR) must be performed to restore the stable knee environment for the MAT to succeed.

Surgical Anatomy of the Knee A Review of Common Open Approaches.

Knee-related complaints are among the most commonly encountered conditions by orthopaedic surgeons. Knee pathology varies widely and includes arthritis, deformities, fractures, infections, neuromuscular disorders, oncologic diseases, and soft-tissue injury. While nonoperative treatment modalities (activity modification, medications, injections, and physical therapy) are typically used as primary interventions, surgical treatment may ultimately become necessary.

Prevention of Periprosthetic Joint Infections of the Hip and Knee.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare but devastating complication of arthroplasty. Research has been dedicated to minimizing the incidence of PJI, leading to the development of a comprehensive perioperative approach. Multiple preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors can increase patient risk.

Repair of Intraoperative Injury to the Medial Collateral Ligament During Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Optimal treatment for intraoperative injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) during primary total knee arthroplasty remains controversial. While some advocate primary ligament repair and a period of bracing, others suggest conversion to a knee prosthesis with increased intrinsic constraint. The purpose of this study was to characterize the outcomes of primary repair followed by bracing.

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.

Extensor mechanism allograft reconstruction for extensor mechanism failure following total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Extensor mechanism disruption following total knee arthroplasty is a rare but devastating complication. The purpose of this study was to report our experience with extensor mechanism allograft reconstruction for chronic extensor mechanism failure.

Methods: Fifty consecutive extensor mechanism allograft reconstructions were performed in forty-seven patients with a mean age of 67.

Is synovial C-reactive protein a useful marker for periprosthetic joint infection?

Background: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is a general marker of inflammation, and recent studies suggest that measurement of CRP in synovial fluid may be a more accurate method for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI).

Questions/purposes: We aimed to (1) determine if there is a correlation between serum and synovial CRP values, (2) establish cutoff values for diagnosing infection based on serum and synovial CRP, and (3) compare the utility of measuring CRP in synovial fluid versus serum for the diagnosis of PJI using standard assay equipment available at most hospitals.

Methods: Between February 2011 and March 2012, we invited all 150 patients scheduled for revision TKA (84) or THA (66) to participate in this prospective study, of whom 100% agreed.

Should draining wounds and sinuses associated with hip and knee arthroplasties be cultured?

We assessed the utility of culturing draining wounds or sinuses in evaluating periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Fifty-five patients with a draining wound or sinus after total joint arthroplasty (28 knees, 27 hips) who had not received antibiotics for at least two weeks were prospectively studied. Superficial wound cultures were compared to intra-articular cultures to determine accuracy in isolating infecting organism(s).

Revision of unicompartmental arthroplasty to total knee arthroplasty: not always a slam dunk!

Objective: As the number of UKA performed in the world continues to increase, so will the number of failures. A better understanding of the outcomes after revision UKAto TKA is warranted. The objective of this study is to report the outcomes of modern UKA revised to TKA in three US centers.

Medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in patients less than 55 years old: minimum of two years of follow-up.

Eighty-five fixed bearing medial unicompartmental arthroplasties were performed in 42 men and 33 women with a mean age of 49 years (range, thirty-three to fifty-five years old) at the time of surgery. At a mean of 4.0 years (range two to twelve years), the mean pre-operative Knee Society score improved from 49 to 95.

Risk factors for periprosthetic joint infection following primary total hip arthroplasty: a case control study.

The purpose of this study was to identify the specific comorbidities and demographic factors that are independently associated with an increased risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. A case-control study design was used to compare 88 patients who underwent unilateral primary THA and developed PJI with 499 unilateral primary THA patients who did not develop PJI. The impact of 18 comorbid conditions and other demographic factors on PJI was examined.

The Chitranjan Ranawat Award: Should prophylactic antibiotics be withheld before revision surgery to obtain appropriate cultures?

Background: Preoperative antibiotics are known to be critical for decreasing the risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in primary THA and TKA. However, antibiotics often are withheld before revision surgery, as there is concern that even a single dose of prophylactic antibiotics may affect intraoperative cultures.

Questions/purposes: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we determined the effect of a single dose of prophylactic antibiotics on cultures obtained at the time of revision arthroplasty.

Risk factors for dislocation after revision total hip arthroplasty.

Background: Despite dislocation being the most frequent complication after revision THA, risk factors for its occurrence are not completely understood.

Questions/purposes: We therefore (1) determined the overall risk of dislocation after revision THA in a large series of revision THAs using contemporary revision techniques, (2) identified patient-related risk factors predicting dislocation, and (3) identified surgical variables predicting dislocation.

Methods: We performed 1211 revision THAs between June 2004 and October 2010 in 576 women and 415 men who had a mean age of 64.

The use of abduction bracing for the prevention of early postoperative dislocation after revision total hip arthroplasty.

One potential strategy to decrease the risk of dislocation after revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the use of an abduction brace to limit flexion and adduction. The purpose of this study was to compare the dislocation rate after revision THA between patients treated with or without an abduction brace. Data were obtained from 1211 revision THAs performed in 610 women and 518 men who had a mean age of 64.

Leukocyte esterase reagent strips for the rapid diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection.

A total of 223 consecutive total hip or total knee arthroplasties were evaluated for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) using leukocyte esterase reagent (LER) strips. Fifty-two LER strips were read as positive (23.3%), 106 were read as negative (47.

Low rate of infection control in enterococcal periprosthetic joint infections.

Background: Enterococcal periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are rare after joint arthroplasty. These cases are usually reported in series of PJIs caused by other pathogens. Because few studies have focused only on enterococcal PJIs, management and control of infection of these cases have not yet been well defined.