High specificity of an AI-powered framework in cross-checking male professional football anterior cruciate ligament tear reports in public databases.

Purpose: While public databases like Transfermarkt provide valuable data for assessing the impact of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in professional footballers, they require robust verification methods due to accuracy concerns. We hypothesised that an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered framework could cross-check ACL tear-related information from large publicly available data sets with high specificity.

Methods: The AI-powered framework uses Google Programmable Search Engine to search a curated, multilingual list of websites and OpenAI's GPT to translate search queries, appraise search results and analyse injury-related information in search result items (SRIs).

Does free tendon length influence the injury risk of the Achilles tendon? A finite element study.

Purpose: The Achilles tendon is a common injury site, but anatomical risk factors for injury are relatively unexplored in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate whether changes in free tendon length would influence the results of a simulated rupture of the Achilles tendon.

Methods: Using a previously validated 3D finite element model of the free and aponeurotic Achilles tendon as a basis, two additional finite element models with 25% decreased and increased free tendon lengths were created.

Leveraging digital twins for improved orthopaedic evaluation and treatment.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to explore the potential of digital twin technologies in orthopaedics and to evaluate how their integration with artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) can improve orthopaedic evaluation and treatment. This review addresses key applications of digital twins, including surgical planning, patient-specific outcome prediction, augmented reality-assisted surgery and simulation-based surgical training.

Methods: Existing studies on digital twins in various domains, including engineering, biomedical and orthopaedics are reviewed.

Physiologic Preoperative Knee Hyperextension Is Not Associated With Postoperative Laxity, Subjective Knee Function, or Revision Surgery After ACL Reconstruction With Hamstring Tendon Autografts.

Background: There is concern that physiologic knee hyperextension may be associated with inferior outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using hamstring tendon (HT) autografts.

Purpose: To assess whether there is an association between contralateral passive preoperative knee hyperextension (≤-5°) and postoperative anterior knee laxity, subjective knee function, or revision surgery after ACLR using HT autografts.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Running shoe cushioning properties at the rearfoot and forefoot and their relationship to injury: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial on leisure-time runners.

Previous work has demonstrated the protective effect of shoe cushioning on injury risk in leisure-time runners, but most models currently available on the market have greater cushioning than those investigated so far. Also, the optimal level of cushioning and the role of cushioning on the forepart of the shoe for injury prevention are still unknown. The main aim of this study is to determine whether (1) current 'extra soft' cushioning material at the rear part of the shoe reduces injury risk compared with stiffer material and (2) cushioning under the forepart of the shoe also contributes to injury risk reduction.

A new patient-reported outcome measure for the evaluation of ankle instability: description of the development process and validation protocol.

Background: Acute ankle sprains represent one of the most common traumatic injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Many individuals with these injuries experience unresolved symptoms such as instability and recurrent sprains, leading to chronic ankle instability (CAI), which affects their ability to maintain an active lifestyle. While rehabilitation programs focusing on sensorimotor, neuromuscular, strength and balance training are primary treatments, some patients require surgery when rehabilitation fails.

Restoring the Preoperative Phenotype According to the Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee Classification After Total Knee Arthroplasty Leads to Better Functional Results.

Background: Mechanical alignment after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is still widely used in the surgical community, but the alignment finally obtained by conventional techniques remains uncertain. The recent Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee (CPAK) classification distinguishes 9 knee phenotypes according to constitutional alignment and joint line obliquity (JLO). The aim of this study was to assess the phenotypes of osteoarthritic patients before and after TKA using mechanical alignment and to analyze the influence of CPAK restoration on functional outcomes.

A practical guide to the implementation of artificial intelligence in orthopaedic research-Part 2: A technical introduction.

Unlabelled: Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) present a broad range of possibilities in medical research. However, orthopaedic researchers aiming to participate in research projects implementing AI-based techniques require a sound understanding of the technical fundamentals of this rapidly developing field. Initial sections of this technical primer provide an overview of the general and the more detailed taxonomy of AI methods.

A systematic approach to managing complications after proximal tibial osteotomies of the knee.

Proximal tibial osteotomy (PTO) is an effective procedure for active and young adult patients with symptomatic unicompartmental osteoarthritis and malalignment. They were considered technically demanding and prone to various complications related to the surgical technique, biomechanical or biological origin. Among the most important are hinge fractures and delayed or non-healing, neurovascular complications, loss of correction, implant-related problems, patellofemoral complaints, biological complications and changes in limb length.

The posterior cruciate ligament-posterior femoral cortex angle (PCL-PCA) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) sign are useful parameters to indicate the progression of knee decompensation over time after an ACL injury.

Purpose: The posterior cruciate ligament-posterior cortex angle (angle between the most vertical part of the anterolateral PCL bundle and the posterior diaphyseal cortex of the femur; PCL-PCA) is the most accurate approach to describe the PCL buckling phenomenon observed in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knees. The aim of this study was to determine whether the PCL-PCA is associated with chronicity of the ACL rupture, the meniscal status, preoperative knee laxity or imaging signs such as the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) sign or the posterior tibial slope (PTS) in ACL-injured knees.

Methods: Patients with a primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR) after physeal closure were selected retrospectively from a hospital-based ACL registry from 2015 to 2021.

Tibial tubercle fractures are sports injuries in male adolescents with a considerable risk of complications and reoperations: a systematic review.

Purpose: There is growing interest in tibial tubercle fractures in pediatric and adolescent population within the last decade. However, there is limited evidence in the existing literature. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to analyze and provide up-to-date data that may prove valuable in decision making and management of these injuries in the general as well as the athletic population.

Failure of primary ACL repair with dynamic intraligamentary stabilization may result in a high risk of two-stage ACL reconstruction: a case series of ten patients.

Purpose: Dynamic Intraligamentary Stabilization (DIS) is a technique for the repair of acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential challenges of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) following failure of DIS.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with failure of primary ACL repair performed with DIS was undertaken.

Anatomic reconstruction of lateral ankle ligaments: is there an optimal graft option?

Purpose: Different graft options are available for the reconstruction of lateral ankle ligaments to treat chronic ankle instability (CAI), which fall in two categories: allografts and autografts. This study aims to provide an updated comparison of the clinical outcomes after stabilisation procedures using allografts and autografts, to correctly advise the clinician during the choice of the best material to be used for the reconstruction of the lateral ligamentous complex of the ankle.

Methods: A systematic review was performed to analyse the use of autografts and allografts for anatomic reconstruction of the lateral ligamentous complex of the ankle in CAI patients.

The hypermobile and unstable lateral meniscus: a narrative review of the anatomy, biomechanics, diagnosis and treatment options.

Objective: The purpose of this review is to improve the awareness of lateral meniscal hypermobility by describing its relevant anatomy, biomechanics, pathophysiology, imaging and arthroscopic findings as well as the treatment options.

Background: The lateral meniscus is less stable than the medial meniscus. Its important posterior stabilizers are the popliteomeniscal fascicles, the posterior capsule, the meniscofemoral ligaments and the posterior meniscotibial ligament, which are divided by a bare area, the popliteal hiatus.

Surgical simulation training should become a mandatory part of orthopaedic education.

Purpose: Ethical concerns and increasing economic constraints of hospitals have caused a reduction in proper training and education. It has been hypothesized that due to the lack of a one-to-one apprenticeship throughout the residency, surgical simulation training is essential.

Methods: Between June 2020 and June 2021, residents from teaching hospitals in Switzerland, France, Germany, and Luxembourg were surveyed to learn about their experience with and thoughts on surgical simulation training.

Femoral and Tibial Bony Risk Factors for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries Are Present in More Than 50% of Healthy Individuals.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are multifactorial events that may be influenced by morphometric parameters. Associations between primary ACL injuries or graft ruptures and both femoral and tibial bony risk factors have been well described in the literature.

Purpose: To determine values of femoral and tibial bony morphology that have been associated with ACL injuries in a reference population.

Does prevention pay off? Economic aspects of sports injury prevention: a systematic review.

Objective: To identify, summarise and critically assess economic evaluation studies on sports injury prevention strategies.

Design: Systematic review.

Data Sources: PubMed, SportDiscuss.

Side-to-side anterior tibial translation on monopodal weightbearing radiographs as a sign of knee decompensation in ACL-deficient knees.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of time from injury and meniscus tears on the side-to-side difference in anterior tibial translation (SSD-ATT) as measured on lateral monopodal weightbearing radiographs in both primary and secondary ACL deficiencies.

Methods: Data from 69 patients (43 males/26 females, median age 27-percentile 25-75: 20-37), were retrospectively extracted from their medical records. All had a primary or secondary ACL deficiency as confirmed by MRI and clinical examination, with a bilateral weightbearing radiograph of the knees at 15°-20° flexion available.

Grade III pivot shift as an early sign of knee decompensation in chronic ACL-injured knees with bimeniscal tears.

Purpose: To analyse possible associations between the preoperative pivot shift (PS) test and both patient and injury characteristics in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured knees, considering previously neglected meniscal injuries such as ramp and root tears. The hypothesis was that a preoperative grade III PS was associated with the amount of intra-articular soft-tissue damage and chronicity of the injury.

Methods: The cohort involved 376 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction (239 males/137 females; median age 26).

Technical note: rectangular femoral tunnel for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a new ultrasonic device: a feasibility study.

Purpose: The goal of this preliminary report was to show the use of novel Ultrasound (US) technology for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery and evaluate its feasibility for the creation of a rectangular femoral bone tunnel during an arthroscopic procedure in a human cadaver model.

Methods: Two fresh frozen human cadaver knees were prepared for arthroscopic rectangular femoral tunnel completion using a prototype US device (OLYMPUS EUROPA SE & CO. KG).