Smaller Width Quadriceps Tendon Grafts Maintain Advantageous Biomechanical Properties for ACL Reconstruction.

Background: Despite clinical evidence of risks in knee arthrofibrosis and graft impingement with larger grafts, the optimal size for quadriceps tendon (QT) autografts in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has not been established.

Purpose/hypothesis: This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical properties of full-thickness 6-mm and 8-mm wide QT grafts compared with 10-mm patellar tendon (PT) and 10-mm QT grafts. The hypothesis was that both the 6- and 8-mm QT grafts would exhibit similar or superior ultimate tensile strength compared with the 10-mm PT graft.

Morrey Award 2023: radial head donor plug for capitellum osteochondral autograft transfer: a cadaveric biomechanical analysis.

Background: Limitations to using the knee as donor cartilage include cartilage thickness mismatch and donor site morbidity. Using the radial head as donor autograft for capitellar lesions may allow for local graft harvest without distant donor site morbidity. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of performing local osteochondral autograft transfer from the nonarticular cartilaginous rim of the radial head to the capitellum.

All Suture Biceps Tenodesis Has Greater Biomechanical Strength Than Metal Button Fixation.

Purpose: To evaluate the maximal load to failure, cyclic displacement, stiffness, and modes of failure of onlay subpectoral biceps tenodesis with an intramedullary unicortical metal button (MB) versus an inlay, all-suture Caspari-Weber (CW) technique.

Methods: Sixteen matched paired human cadaveric proximal humeri were randomly allocated for subpectoral BT with either CW or MB using a high-strength suture (N = 16; 8 male, 8 female, mean age = 82.5 years, range 62-99 years).

Association of physical activity with loss of knee joint space width over two years: a compositional data analysis in the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objective: There is continued debate as to how engaging in physical activity (PA), including moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), light PA (LPA), and sedentary time (SED), affects one's risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Traditional regression methods do not account for the codependence of these categories of PA, whereby when one category increases, the others must decrease. Thus, we used compositional data analysis (CoDA) to examine time spent in each category of PA, or PA composition, and its association with loss of knee joint space width (JSW), a common indicator of knee OA progression.

The modes and competing rates of cartilage fluid loss and recovery.

Cartilage loses, recovers, and maintains its thickness, hydration, and biomechanical functions based on competing rates of fluid loss and recovery under varying joint-use conditions. While the mechanics and implications of load-induced fluid loss have been studied extensively, those of fluid recovery have not. This study isolates, quantifies, and compares rates of cartilage recovery from three known modes: (1) passive swelling - fluid recovery within a static unloaded contact area; (2) free swelling - unrestricted fluid recovery by an exposed surface; (3) tribological rehydration - fluid recovery within a loaded contact area during sliding.

Passive stiffness characteristics and neutral zone quality of the scoliotic lumbar torso in the principle anatomical planes of motion.

Background: The 1-10% prevalence rate of adult scoliosis frequently requires expensive therapy and surgical treatments and demands further research into the disease, especially with an aging population. Most studies examining the mechanics of scoliosis have focused on in vitro testing or computer simulations. This study quantitatively defined the passive stiffness properties of the in vivo scoliotic spine in three principle anatomical motions and identified differences relative to healthy controls.