Treatment and clinical outcome in patients with femoral head fractures: a long-term follow-up.

Introduction: A femoral head fracture (Pipkin fracture) is a rare but severe injury. The optimal treatment is controversial, and there is a lack of research focusing on treatment strategies. The study aimed to analyze the treatment strategies in comparison to the outcome in patients after traumatic hip joint dislocation (THD) with concomitant femoral head fractures.

Treatment Trends and Epidemiologic Changes in Acetabular Fracture Management over the Course of 10 Years: An Analysis Based on 2853 Patients as Treated by the German Pelvic Multicenter Study Group.

Acetabular fractures, traditionally linked to high-impact trauma in younger adults, are increasingly observed in the elderly due to falls and poor bone quality. This demographic shift necessitates updated treatment approaches. This study analyzes demographic trends and treatment evolution over a decade using the German pelvic fracture registry.

Femoroacetabular Variations Are Predisposing Factors for Traumatic Posterior Hip Dislocation.

Background: Although high-energy trauma mechanisms are generally considered to cause traumatic posterior hip dislocations, femoroacetabular variations are assumed to contribute to low-impact hip dislocations. Thus, the present study aimed to identify morphologic femoral and acetabular risk factors that may also contribute to posterior hip dislocations in high-energy trauma mechanisms.

Methods: The acetabular and femoral morphology of 83 hips with a traumatic posterior dislocation following a high-energy trauma mechanism were analyzed and matched to a control group of 83 patients who sustained high-energy trauma without a hip injury.

[Concept for the treatment of periprosthetic proximal femoral fractures].

Due to demographic changes and increased survival rates of total hip arthroplasties, the incidence of periprosthetic proximal femoral fractures is increasing. The current treatment concept requires accurate preoperative planning. Besides patient-related risk factors, fracture type, prosthesis stability, and bone quality influence whether osteosynthesis or a revision arthroplasty is required.

Intermediate to Long-Term Results Following Traumatic Hip Dislocation: Characteristics, CT-Based Analysis, and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.

Background: Traumatic hip dislocation is a rare yet severe injury. As the long-term morbidity, subsequent complications, and clinical outcomes are nearly unknown, we aimed to analyze traumatic hip dislocations and identify specific factors that may predict the clinical outcome.

Methods: Data on injury-related characteristics and computed tomographic (CT) scans for all consecutive adult patients who had been managed for traumatic hip dislocation between 2009 and 2021 were analyzed.

Semitendinosus tendons are commonly contaminated with skin flora during graft harvest for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Purpose: To investigate the rate of bacterial contamination of semitendinosus (ST) tendons during graft harvest in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), in order to precisely specify the underlying pathogens and obtain data on their susceptibility to potential antibiotics.

Methods: In a prospective study, a total of 59 consecutive patients undergoing primary ACLR were recruited from one centre. No patient had history of previous surgery to the knee or showed clinical signs of infection.

Evidence of Bacterial Metabolism in Synovial Fluid of Patients With Graft Failure After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Microbiological Comparison of Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Hamstring Tendon Autograft Ruptures.

Purpose: To investigate whether the bacterial presence in a primary ruptured native anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) differs from that in a ruptured hamstrings ACL autograft and whether low-grade infections cumulatively can be detected in the case of graft failure.

Methods: In a retrospective case-control study with prospectively collected data, synovial fluid aspirates and tissue samples of failed ACL grafts were examined for evidence of bacterial colonization and compared to samples of the native ACL in primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR) using microbiological culture, 16S rRNA-PCR and histopathological examination. Furthermore, synovial fluid aspiration was investigated for possible future biomarkers for a low-grade infection.

Current status of the management of isolated syndesmotic injuries in Germany.

Introduction: Although non-fracture-related syndesmotic injuries of the ankle are relatively rare, they may lead to poor clinical outcome if initially undiagnosed or managed improperly. Despite a variety of literature regarding possibilities for treatment of isolated syndesmotic injuries, little is known about effective applications of different therapeutic methods in day-to-day work. The aim of this study was to assess the current status of the treatment of isolated syndesmotic injuries in Germany.

High variability of tibial slope measurement methods in daily clinical practice: Comparisons between measurements on lateral radiograph, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography.

Background: Tibial slope measurements are important in guiding clinical decisions in the field of orthopedic surgery. However, there are multiple techniques across different medical imaging modalities and little is known about its impact on result and validity of the measurement. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare tibial slope measurements from lateral radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans in order to better assess the clinical significance of measured tibial slope values.

Tactile techniques are associated with a high variability of tunnel positions in lateral extra-articular tenodesis procedures.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the variability of femoral tunnel positions applying two different lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) techniques, guiding on the tactile identification (1) of the lateral epicondyle (Lemaire procedure) and (2) of the Kaplan fibre attachments on the distal femur (MacIntosh procedure) and to analyse whether one of these procedures is more suitable for reliable femoral tunnel positioning in LET procedures.

Materials And Methods: Two experienced knee surgeons determined femoral tunnel positions in ten fresh-frozen cadaveric knee specimens according to the modified Lemaire and MacIntosh techniques. Tunnel positions were measured on true lateral radiographs as absolute distances from the posterior cortex line (anterior-posterior direction) and from a perpendicular line intersecting the contact of the posterior femoral condyle (proximal-distal direction), respectively.

Radiographic Landmarks for Femoral Tunnel Positioning in Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis Procedures.

Background: Lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) is being increasingly performed as an additional procedure in both primary and revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients with excessive anterolateral rotatory instability. Consistent guidelines for femoral tunnel placement would aid in intraoperative reproducible graft placement and postoperative evaluation of LET procedures.

Purpose: To determine radiographic landmarks of a recently described isometric femoral attachment area in LET procedures with reference to consistent radiographic reference lines.

High Risk of Tunnel Convergence in Combined Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis.

Background: Lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) is being increasingly added to primary and revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction to address residual anterolateral rotatory instability. However, currently there is a lack of knowledge on how close the femoral tunnels are when combining these procedures.

Purpose/hypotheses: To assess the risk of tunnel convergence in combined ACL and LET procedures using 2 different surgical techniques (Lemaire and MacIntosh).

Radiographic images are inapplicable for a precise evaluation of the femoral tunnel position following MPFL reconstruction.

Purpose: In medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction, it remains controversial whether more accurate femoral tunnel positioning is correlated with improved clinical outcomes. The purpose was to verify the accuracy of methods for evaluating tunnel positioning, one of which is the use of postoperative radiographs, in determining the femoral tunnel position following MPFL reconstruction and to compare the variability of tunnel positions to the intraoperatively documented positions on a true-lateral view.

Methods: Seventy-three consecutive MPFL reconstructions were prospectively enrolled.

Increased medial and lateral tibial posterior slopes are independent risk factors for graft failure following ACL reconstruction.

Purpose: To analyze the contribution of increased lateral (LTPS) and medial tibial slopes (MTPS) as independent risk factors of graft failure following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-seven patients with graft failure after ACL reconstruction who underwent revision surgery between 2009 and 2014 were enrolled and matched to a control group of 69 patients with primary anatomic successful ACL reconstruction. Patients were matched based on age, sex, date of primary surgery and graft type.

Differences between traumatic and non-traumatic causes of ACL revision surgery.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and classify causes for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction failure. It was hypothesized that specific technical and biological reconstruction aspects would differ when comparing traumatic and non-traumatic ACL reconstruction failures.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and forty-seven consecutive patients who experienced ACL reconstruction failure and underwent revision between 2009 and 2014 were analyzed.

High non-anatomic tunnel position rates in ACL reconstruction failure using both transtibial and anteromedial tunnel drilling techniques.

Introduction: Although it is well known from cadaveric and biomechanical studies that transtibial femoral tunnel (TT) positioning techniques are associated with non-anatomic tunnel positions, controversial data exist as so far no clinical differences could have been found, comparing transtibial with anteromedial techniques (AM). The purpose of the study was to analyze if graft failure following TT ACL reconstruction was more commonly associated with non-anatomic tunnel position in comparison with the AM technique. We hypothesized that, compared to AM techniques, non-anatomic tunnel positions correlate with TT tunnel positioning techniques.

Current status of ACL reconstruction in Germany.

Introduction: Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is characterized by a variety of possibilities concerning its implementation. Different choices for grafts, fixation methods and tunnel positioning, as well as diverse technical tools are available and have clinical significance. Besides specific pre- and post-operative procedures, different indications for surgery and further surgeon-/clinic-related factors add variability to the treatment.

Fluoroscopic control allows for precise tunnel positioning in MPFL reconstruction.

Purpose: In MPFL reconstruction, anatomical graft positioning is required to restore physiological joint biomechanics and patellofemoral stability. Considerable rates of non-anatomical femoral tunnel placement exist. The purpose of this study was to analyse whether intraoperative fluoroscopic control is applicable to reduce variability of femoral tunnel positioning.