Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injured Patients Research Articles

Comparison of surgical or non-surgical management for non-acute anterior cruciate ligament injury: the ACL SNNAP RCT.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury of the knee is common and leads to decreased activity and risk of secondary osteoarthritis of the knee. Management of patients with a non-acute anterior cruciate ligament injury can be non-surgical (rehabilitation) or surgical (reconstruction). However, insufficient evidence exists to guide treatment. To determine in patients with non-acute anterior cruciate ligament injury and symptoms of instability whether a strategy of surgical management (reconstruction) without prior rehabilitation was more clinically and cost-effective than non-surgical management (rehabilitation). A pragmatic, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled trial with two-arm parallel groups and 1:1 allocation. Due to the nature of the interventions, no blinding could be carried out. Twenty-nine NHS orthopaedic units in the United Kingdom. Participants with a symptomatic (instability) non-acute anterior cruciate ligament-injured knee. Patients in the surgical management arm underwent surgical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction as soon as possible and without any further rehabilitation. Patients in the rehabilitation arm attended physiotherapy sessions and only were listed for reconstructive surgery on continued instability following rehabilitation. Surgery following initial rehabilitation was an expected outcome for many patients and within protocol. The primary outcome was the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score 4 at 18 months post randomisation. Secondary outcomes included return to sport/activity, intervention-related complications, patient satisfaction, expectations of activity, generic health quality of life, knee-specific quality of life and resource usage. Three hundred and sixteen participants were recruited between February 2017 and April 2020 with 156 randomised to surgical management and 160 to rehabilitation. Forty-one per cent (n = 65) of those allocated to rehabilitation underwent subsequent reconstruction within 18 months with 38% (n = 61) completing rehabilitation and not undergoing surgery. Seventy-two per cent (n = 113) of those allocated to surgery underwent reconstruction within 18 months. Follow-up at the primary outcome time point was 78% (n = 248; surgical, n = 128; rehabilitation, n = 120). Both groups improved over time. Adjusted mean Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score 4 scores at 18 months had increased to 73.0 in the surgical arm and to 64.6 in the rehabilitation arm. The adjusted mean difference was 7.9 (95% confidence interval 2.5 to 13.2; p = 0.005) in favour of surgical management. The per-protocol analyses supported the intention-to-treat results, with all treatment effects favouring surgical management at a level reaching statistical significance. There was a significant difference in Tegner Activity Score at 18 months. Sixty-eight per cent (n = 65) of surgery patients did not reach their expected activity level compared to 73% (n = 63) in the rehabilitation arm. There were no differences between groups in surgical complications (n = 1 surgery, n = 2 rehab) or clinical events (n = 11 surgery, n = 12 rehab). Of surgery patients, 82.9% were satisfied compared to 68.1% of rehabilitation patients. Health economic analysis found that surgical management led to improved health-related quality of life compared to non-surgical management (0.052 quality-adjusted life-years, p = 0.177), but with higher NHS healthcare costs (£1107, p < 0.001). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for the surgical management programme versus rehabilitation was £19,346 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. Using £20,000-30,000 per quality-adjusted life-year thresholds, surgical management is cost-effective in the UK setting with a probability of being the most cost-effective option at 51% and 72%, respectively. Not all surgical patients underwent reconstruction, but this did not affect trial interpretation. The adherence to physiotherapy was patchy, but the trial was designed as pragmatic. Surgical management (reconstruction) for non-acute anterior cruciate ligament-injured patients was superior to non-surgical management (rehabilitation). Although physiotherapy can still provide benefit, later-presenting non-acute anterior cruciate ligament-injured patients benefit more from surgical reconstruction without delaying for a prior period of rehabilitation. Confirmatory studies and those to explore the influence of fidelity and compliance will be useful. This trial is registered as Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN10110685; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02980367. This award was funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 14/140/63) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 27. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

The anteromedial retinaculum in ACL-injured knees: An overlooked injury?

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyse the pattern of injury to the medial knee structures in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injured patients. It was hypothesised that anteromedial injuries would be more common than posteromedial lesions. One hundred and twenty subjects aged 18-25 years with a primary ACL injury were included. Patients were excluded if the time between injury and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was more than 28 days or if a knee dislocation or fracture was present. The MRIs were analysed with particular emphasis on injuries to the medial knee structures, menisci and bone bruise patterns. Injuries to the ligaments and anteromedial retinaculum (AMR) were graded according to severity, ranging from periligamentous oedema (grade I), partial fibre disruption of less or more than 50% (grade IIa or IIb) to complete tears (grade III). AMR injury was seen in 87 subjects (72.5%) on the coronal plane and in 88 (73.3%) on the axial plane, with grade III lesions observed in 27 (22.5%) and 29 knees (24.2%). Injuries to the superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL), deep MCL (dMCL) and posterior oblique ligament (POL) were detected in 60 patients (50%), 93 patients (77.5%)and 38 patients (31.6%). However, grade III injuries to the POL were observed in only seven knees (5.8%). Medial meniscus injuries were associated with lesions of the sMCL and AMR (p < 0.05), while lateral meniscus injuries were significantly more common in patients with dMCL rupture (p < 0.05). Data from this study suggest that injuries to the AMR are much more common than posteromedial lesions in subjects with ACL injuries. Level IV.

Poster 272: The Significance Of Posterior Tibial Slope And Rate Of Concomitant Pathology In Pediatric Tibia Spine Avulsion And Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Objectives: Fractures of the tibial spine (TSF) occur as a result of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) avulsion fracture from the proximal tibia. Both TSF and ACL injuries are associated with concomitant intraarticular pathology seen on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and intraoperatively. In addition, posterior tibial slope (PTS) has been identified as a potential risk factor for ACL injury. The purpose of this study is to describe concomitant injuries seen on MRI and at time of surgery for TSF and ACL patients, and to characterize posterior tibial slope in patients who sustain these injuries. Our hypothesis is that ACL and TSF injuries have similar rates of meniscal injury, and that posterior tibial slope is increased in patients with TSF and ACL injuries compared to matched controls. Methods: Utilizing an institutional review board approved retrospective study, we identified patients under 18 years of age who underwent arthroscopic management of a TSF from December 31st 2008 to December 31st 2021. Exclusion criteria were patients with a concomitant lower extremity fracture or posterior cruciate ligament injuries, poor imaging quality, and incomplete medical records. TSF patients were compared to an age and gender matched cohort of patients who underwent surgery for a mid- substance ACL rupture, and a similar control group. We evaluated concomitant injuries based on radiology and operative reports and measured PTS on radiographs as well as medial (MTS) and lateral (LTS) posterior slope on MRI for all groups. We compared tibial slope amongst the groups using a one- way analysis of variance test, and the Fisher’s exact test was used to compare concomitant injuries between the ACL and TSF groups. Results: 85 TSF patients met inclusion criteria, of which 44 had an MRI. There were 41 patients in the ACL group and 44 in the control group. The average age was 11.8 years. Concomitant injuries were identified on MRI in 59.1% of TSF and 51.2% of ACL patients, and intraoperatively in 36.5% of TSF and 37% of ACL patients. The most common concomitant injury was lateral meniscus tears. There was no significant differnce between the TSF and ACL groups in terms of lateral meniscus tears seen on MRI (29.5% TSF vs 31.7 ACL, p=1.0) and seen on arthroscopy (18.2% TSF vs 31.7% ACL, p=0.21). Similarly there were no significant differences between the TSF and ACL group in terms of medial meniscus tears seen on MRI (13.6% vs 17.1%, p = 0.77) and on arthroscopy (9% vs 5%, p=0.19). There was a significant difference between groups when comparing the pivot-shift bone bruise pattern seen on MRI (63.6% TSF vs 90.2% ACL, P= &lt;0.01). There was significantly increased radiographic PTS in the TSF and ACL groups (Radiographs 8.7°+/-3.0° TSF vs 9.5°+/-3.3° ACL vs 6.6°+/-2.3° Control, p= &lt;0.01). This was also seen in the MTS mesured on MRI (MTS 5.3°+/-3.1° TSF vs 4.9°+/-2.7° ACL vs 3.7°+/-2.3° Control p= 0.02). There was no significant difference in LTS between TSF and Controls, but there was between ACL and Controls (LTS 4.1°+/-2.8° TSF vs 6.8°+/- 3.9°ACL vs 4.3°+/- 2.3° Control, p=&lt;0.01). Conclusions: This study is the first to depict tibial slope and bone contusion patterns seen in tibial spine injuries, as well as compare rates of meniscal injury and tibial slope between ACL and control patients. Posterior tibial slope is significantly increased in patients who sustain a TSF or ACL injury, suggesting that it may be a risk factor for injury. Similar rates of concomitant meniscal pathology are seen in both TSF and ACL injured patients, which may reflect similar mechanisms of injury. This also highlights that care must be taken to evaluate for additional pathology when treating TSF and ACL injuries. Future study is needed to determine the role, if any, that tibial slope plays in tibial spine fractures as well as to determine if intraarticular pathology identified on MRI influences longer term patient outcomes.

Poster 151: Femoral Cartilage T2* Relaxation Times Correlate With Inflammatory Biomarker MCP-1 Levels In Serum, But Not Synovial Fluid, After ACL Injury In A Skeletally Immature Porcine Model

Poster 151: Femoral Cartilage T2* Relaxation Times Correlate With Inflammatory Biomarker MCP-1 Levels In Serum, But Not Synovial Fluid, After ACL Injury In A Skeletally Immature Porcine Model

A CLINICORADIOLOGICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE CONCOMITANT INJURIES IN ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURED PATIENTS

Introduction: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a major stabilizer of the knee and so it is constantly injured . Purpose of this study was to evaluate concomitant injuries associated with ACL tear with respect to age, sex and duration since injury. This is a Materials and Methods: hospital based cross-sectional study conducted in 70 ACL injured patients of age group 19-50 years. Clinical tests to detect ACL and other soft tissue injuries of knee joint were carried out and positive ndings are further evaluated and conrmed with MRI. 64.29% cases of ACL Results: injury were associated with other concomitant soft tissue injuries. The most common concomitant injury was medial meniscus tear which was associated with 45.71% cases and second commonest was lateral meniscus injury accounting for 37.14% cases. The prevelance of medial meniscus injury increases with increasing duration since trauma and this association was found to be statistically signicant . Concomitant injuries were more frequent in patients who presented late after trauma and in older age groups and these associations were found to be statistically signicant. Conclusion: The high prevalence of concomitant injuries to the ACL found in this study points to the necessity for further investigation of injury to adjacent soft tissues in ACL injured patients so that more appropriate therapeutic practices can be implemented before and after the surgery

Characteristics of Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Patients at Hasan Sadikin Hospital Bandung

Background: ACL injury is the most common injury in sports knee injuries. An ACL injury can be a stretch to the ligament or it can be completely torn. The ACL ligament is one of the main ligaments in the knee region. Discussions about ligaments in the knee joint are still rarely heard, especially in Indonesia. So there is little knowledge for the community. The discussion of literature originating from Indonesia is still small and makes it difficult for the public to obtain information related to this ligament rupture. Cases in Indonesia are quite numerous and varied, so a better understanding of ACL rupture injuries is needed. In the last 5 years, 187 cases were found at Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, with a variety of cases and different treatments, especially using the arthroscopy method. Methods: This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of ACL injured patients at Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung Period January 2017 to December 2021. The inclusion criteria in this study were all patients with ACL injuries from January 2017 to December 2021 with complete medical record data. Results: The results of this study showed that the age range of ACL patients was 14-64 years, with an average age of 24.5 years. male to female is 4.67:1. There were 10 patients who were athletes. The type of ACL injury was partial, there were 39 patients and the total was 148 patients. Other comorbidities Hoffa syndrome 18 patients. Plica syndrome 30 patients. Joint flexibility 19 people, who do not have joint flexibility 168 patients. Management of patients with remnant resurface as many as 163 patients and 23 patients who underwent augmentation. Other problems after ACL surgery were 18 patients underwent menisectomy and 6 patients underwent meniscus repair Conclusion: From the results of this study, the characteristics of patients with ACL rupture were found to be on average at the age of 24.5 years, male gender, college students. 10 professional athletes suffered ACL ruptures. More patients suffered total rupture than partial. Treatment for ACL patients is more often with remnant surfaces. After ACL treatment, complications such as menisectomy could occur as many as 38 patients and 16 patients underwent meniscus repair

Ramp Lesions in Chronic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries.

Background: Meniscus ramp lesions associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are being increasingly reported in the literature. This study was carried out to know the incidence of ramp lesions in ACL injured patients and to study the characteristics of these patients in our population.Methods: Seventy-five patients who underwent ACL reconstruction from January 2021 to December 2021 were prospectively studied. Patients with multi-ligament injuries or a history of previous knee surgery were excluded. All patients were examined clinically and all underwent MRI examinations. The findings of arthroscopy during ACL reconstruction were recorded and analyzed.Result: Seventeen patients had ramp lesions with an incidence of 22.67%. Eight were isolated ramp lesions, and nine had other meniscus injuries. Ramp lesions were identified with 41.18% sensitivity using preoperative MRI. Thirteen out of 17 patients with ramp lesions had increased mobility of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus on anterior probing. The duration from injury to surgery was significantly longer in patients with ramp lesions as compared to patients without ramp lesions.Conclusion: A ramp lesion is not an uncommon lesion in ACL injuries and can occur either as an isolated meniscus lesion or in association with other meniscus lesions.Ramp lesions can occur in road traffic accidents as well and are not just sports-related injuries. Ramp lesions are not visible through routine anterior portal diagnostic arthroscopy and their repair adds to the stability of the knee. The absence of ramp lesions on MRI does not rule out their presence; hence, one should always look for ramp lesions in the posteromedial compartment of the knee in all cases undergoing ACL reconstruction.

Influence of posterior tibial slope on sagittal knee alignment with comparing contralateral knees of anterior cruciate ligament injured patients to healthy knees

Posterior tibial slope (PTS) has been known to contribute to anterior–posterior knee stability and play an essential biomechanical role in knee kinematics. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PTS on single-leg standing sagittal knee alignment of the intact knee. This study included 100 patients with unilateral ACL injury knee (ACL injury group, 53 patients) or with the normal knee (control group, 47 patients). The single-leg standing sagittal alignment of the unaffected knees of the ACL injury group and normal knees of the control group were assessed radiographically with the following parameters: knee extension angle (EXT), PTS, PTS to the horizontal line (PTS-H), femoral shaft anterior tilt to the vertical axis (FAT), and tibial shaft anterior tilt to the vertical axis (TAT). PTS was negatively correlated with EXT and positively correlated with TAT. EXT was significantly larger in the ACL injury group, whereas TAT was smaller in the ACL injury group. Patients with larger PTS tend to stand with a higher knee flexion angle by tilting the tibia anteriorly, possibly reducing tibial shear force. Patients with ACL injury tend to stand with larger EXT, i.e., there is less preventive alignment to minimize the tibial shear force.

Epidemiological profile of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in a tertiary referral trauma center of Nepal

BackgroundSports related injuries are the leading cause of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear in the Western world. Although professional and recreational sporting activities are increasing in Nepal, they are not as common and prevalent in comparison to western world. In contrast, Road Traffic Accident (RTA) is a very common cause of knee injuries in Nepal. Although there are some studies from Nepal mentioning Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) as the most common cause of ACL injury, no specific studies have primarily investigated the epidemiological and demographic profile of ACL injured patients from this region. we aimed to understand the epidemiological and demographic profile of ACL injured patients and evaluate the mode of injury in a tertiary referral trauma center of Nepal.MethodsThis was a retrospective descriptive study of a hospital cohort conducted from February 2018 to January 2020. Electronic details were retrieved, telephone interviews conducted and data analysis was done using descriptive analysis on the patients from the fore mentioned dates to complete demographic and epidemiological information.ResultsA total of 237 patients were enrolled in this study. Among these, 120 patients (50.6%) fell into the age group of 15–30 years with a male to female ratio of 2.7:1. A RTA was the most common cause of ACL injury (38.8%), followed by sports-related injuries in 33.3% and falls in 16.5% of patients. The most common mode of RTA was a two-wheeler accident, and football was the most common sport causing ACL injuries. Sports injury was more common in patients below 30 years of age (OR = 3.5, 95% CI [2.2, 5.7]), whereas RTA was more common in patients above 30 years of age. Sports was the cause of ACL injury in 55.5% of students and RTAs was the commonest cause of ACL injury in office workers.ConclusionOverall males were more frequently injured than females. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of ACL injury in our subset of patients. Two-wheeler riders were the most commonly injured patients. Sport was the commonest cause of ACL injury in patients below 30 years, and RTA was common in patients above 30 years of age. Sports were the commonest cause of ACL injury in students, while RTA was the most common cause in office workers.

The coronal lateral collateral ligament sign in the anterior cruciate ligament-injured knees was observed regardless of the knee laxity based on the quantitative measurements.

The coronal lateral collateral ligament (LCL) sign has been reported to be associated with deviated position of the tibia on MRI due to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. However, the relationships between LCL sign and clinical knee laxity evaluations are still unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between the coronal LCL sign and knee laxity measurements. A retrospective review of unilateral ACL injured patients who underwent ACL reconstruction was performed. The coronal LCL sign was determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical grading of the pivot-shift test, KT-1000 measurements, and quantitative measurements of the Lachman test and the pivot-shift test using an electromagnetic system, were compared between patients with positive and negative coronal LCL sign. A subgroup analysis of different age groups was then performed, dividing patients to adolescent (age ≤ 18years) and adult (age > 18years) groups. A total of 85 patients were enrolled, of which 45 patients had coronal LCL signs. The coronal LCL sign was not associated with the pivot-shift test clinical grading (n.s), KT-1000 measurement (n.s), the tibial translation during the Lachman test (n.s), or with tibia acceleration (n.s) and translation (n.s) during the pivot-shift test. The subgroup analysis also showed that the aforementioned parameters were not associated with the coronal LCL sign in either adolescent or adult subgroups. The occurrence of coronal LCL sign in MRI did not imply greater clinical knee laxity evaluations in patients with ACL tears. The knee laxity should routinely be evaluated regardless the coronal LCL sign. Level III.

Development and Test of a Decision Aid for Shared Decision Making in Patients with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Background. Patients with anterior crucial ligament injury are faced with a choice between surgery or nonsurgical treatment with intensive rehabilitation. Patients must be involved in the decision making to choose a treatment that meets their individual values, lifestyle, and conditions. The aim of the study was to describe, develop, and evaluate a patient decision aid to support shared decision making. Methods. The development of a patient decision aid was based on international criteria, current literature, and former patients’ experiences and suggestions on how to optimize the decision-making process. The patient decision aid was evaluated by the SDM-Q9 questionnaire and semistructured interviews with patients and doctors. Results. On a scale from 0 to 5, patients experienced a high degree of shared decision making in their treatment decision both before (score 4.3) and after (score 4.3) implementation of the patient decision aid (P = .72). From interviews, patients expressed that they found the patient decision aid very useful. Reflection time was especially important for some patients. Doctors reported that the patient decision aid improved shared decision making by supporting the dialogue clarifying patients’ values concerning issues important for treatment choices. Conclusion. A systematic process involving patients with an anterior crucial ligament injury was successfully used to develop a patient decision aid for treatment options. No statistically significant difference in the SDM-Q9 score was found presumably caused by the ceiling effect. However, patients experienced the decision aid as very useful when making treatment decisions, and doctors reported that it improved the dialogue clarifying patients’ values important for the treatment options. The developing process and patient decision aid can be used as inspiration in similar situations to increase shared decision making in treatment choices.HighlightsA patient decision aid for anterior cruciate ligament injured patients was developed based on international criteria, the current literature, and patients’ experiences and suggestions on how to optimize the decision-making process about surgical and nonsurgical treatment.The decision aid improved shared decision making by supporting the dialog between the patient and the doctor to clarify the patients’ values concerning issues important for the treatment options.

Readiness for return to sport in non-surgically treated patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury following a public municipal rehabilitation program

ObjectivesTo investigate the proportion of patients that pass a return to sport (RTS) test battery and assess changes in patient-reported outcomes and lower extremity muscle strength following three months of exericse-based rehabilitation in non-surgically treated patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. DesignProspective cohort study. SettingClinical environment (public municipal). ParticipantsThirty-nine ACL injured patients (54% female, median age (IQR) 28 years (24–35). Main outcome measuresThe Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Knee Outcome Survey Activities of Daily Living Scale, single hop for distance, crossover hop for distance, side hop test, the Agility T-test, and quadriceps and hamstrings isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). ResultsFollowing 3 months of rehabilitation, patients had statistically significant improvements in all patients-reported outcomes and in quadriceps and hamstring MVC. Of 28 patients who completed all RTS tests, 11% passed six RTS criteria, 14% five criteria, 11% four criteria, 4% three criteria, 18% two criteria, 21% one criterion, and 21% none of the criteria. ConclusionsThe results suggest that three months of public municipal rehabilitation improves patient-reported outcomes and lower extremity muscle strength in non-surgically treated patients with ACL injury. However, only one in every 10 patients passed all RTS criteria.

Can we afford to ignore the biology of joint healing and graft incorporation after ACL reconstruction?

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is successful at restoring stability to return ACL injured patients to high-demand work, sports, and recreational activities. The development of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA) in roughly half of patients just 10-15 years after ACLR highlight the need to improve clinical care pathways. Graft failure and reinjury rates, which further increase OA risk, also remain high for younger and more active patients. The biological components of joint recovery and graft incorporation, therefore, impact short- and long-term clinical outcomes. Biochemical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data show substantial compromise of articular cartilage metabolism and matrix composition after ACL injury and reconstructive surgery suggesting a potential need for activity modulation in early recovery. Furthermore, joint recovery is variable with compositional MRI studies showing progressive cartilage degeneration 1 and 2 years after ACLR. Biopsy and MRI studies also show high variability in ACL graft characteristics within the 1st year after ACLR followed by continued graft maturation into the 2nd year and beyond. To improve the care of ACL injured patients, there is a critical need for clinical attention and scientific inquiry into timing the reintroduction of higher load activities in relationship to neuromuscular recovery, joint biology, and graft maturation. In addition to symptomatic and mechanical recovery, development and validation of biological markers for joint and cartilage homeostasis as well as ACL graft healing are needed for personalized decision making on rehabilitation needs, reduction of OA risk, and resumption of athletic, recreational, and vocational activities.

Lateral tibiofemoral T1rho relaxation times differ based on serum biomarker profiles in anterior cruciate ligament injured patients

Purpose: Catabolic biochemical joint changes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) may contribute to the development of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Determining serum biochemical profiles that associate with early changes in articular cartilage composition is important for identifying individuals at high risk for developing PTOA following ACLR. Serum is an easily accessible fluid that can be reliably collected at traditional clinical timepoints before and after ACLR in ACL injured patients.

Synovial fluid concentrations of matrix Metalloproteinase-3 and Interluekin-6 following anterior cruciate ligament injury associate with gait biomechanics 6 months following reconstruction

To compare gait biomechanics 6 months following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) between patients with the highest and lowest concentrations of synovial fluid (SF) interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), as well as compared to uninjured controls. SF concentrations of IL-6 and MMP-3 were collected 7±4 days post injury in 38 ACL injured patients (55% female, 21±4yrs, 25.3±5.2BMI). ACL injured individuals were stratified into the lowest and highest quartiles based on IL-6 (IL-6Lowest and IL-6Highest) and MMP-3 (MMP-3Lowest and MMP-3Highest) concentrations. Gait biomechanics were collected on the injured limb 6 months post-ACLR and in 38 uninjured controls (50% female, 21±3yrs, 23.8±2.8BMI). Functional analyses of variance were used to compare vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), knee flexion angle (KFA), and internal knee extension moment (KEM) waveforms throughout stance phase of gait to determine the proportions of stance differing between limbs and groups. Compared to uninjured controls, IL-6High and MMP-3High ACL subgroups demonstrated lesser vGRF (largest differences: IL-6, 7.88%BW; MMP-3, 11.05%BW) during early-stance and greater vGRF (largest differences: IL-6, 6.21%BW; MMP-3, 5.85%BW) in mid-stance, lesser KFA (largest differences: IL-6, 3.11°; MMP-3, 3.72°) and lesser KEM (largest differences: IL-6, 0.96%BW•m; MMP-3, 1.07%BW•m) in early-stance, as well as greater KFA in mid-stance (largest differences: IL-6, 1.5°; MMP-3, 2.95°). High SF concentrations of a proinflammatory cytokine and a degradative enzyme early post-ACL injury are associated with aberrant gait biomechanics in the injured limb at 6 months post-ACLR (i.e., lesser vGRF, KFA and KEM) linked to posttraumatic osteoarthritis development.

Higher aggrecan 1-F21 epitope concentration in synovial fluid early after anterior cruciate ligament injury is associated with worse knee cartilage quality assessed by gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging 20\u2009years later

BackgroundTo investigate if cartilage related biomarkers in synovial fluid are associated with knee cartilage status 20 years after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.MethodsWe studied 25 patients with a complete ACL rupture without subsequent ACL reconstruction or radiographic knee OA. All had a delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) 20 years after the ACL injury, using the T1 transverse relaxation time in the presence of gadolinium (T1Gd) which estimates the concentration of glycosaminoglycans in hyaline cartilage. Synovial fluid samples were aspirated acutely (between 0 and 18 days) and during 1 to 5 follow up visits between 0.5 and 7.5 years after injury. We quantified synovial fluid concentrations of aggrecan (epitopes 1-F21 and ARGS), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, matrix metalloproteinase-3 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 by immunoassays, and sulfated glycosaminoglycans by Alcian blue precipitation. Western blot was used for qualitative analyses of aggrecan fragments in synovial fluid and cartilage samples.ResultsWestern blot indicated that the 1-F21 epitope was located within the chondroitin sulfate 2 region of aggrecan. Linear regression analyses (adjusted for age, sex, body mass index and time between injury and sampling) showed that acute higher synovial fluid 1-F21-aggrecan concentrations were associated with shorter T1Gd values 20 years after injury, i.e. inferior cartilage quality (standardized effects between − 0.67 and − 1.0). No other statistically significant association was found between molecular biomarkers and T1Gd values.ConclusionHigher acute synovial fluid 1-F21-aggrecan concentrations in ACL injured patients, who managed to cope without ACL reconstruction and were without radiographic knee OA, were associated with inferior knee cartilage quality assessed by dGEMRIC 20 years after injury.

Meniscal ramp lesions should be considered in anterior cruciate ligament-injured knees, especially with larger instability or longer delay before surgery.

To determine the incidence of meniscal ramp lesions in an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injured knees and to clarify whether ramp lesions are related to chronic ACL deficiency and increased knee instability. Consecutive ACL injured patients were evaluated arthroscopically for a ramp lesion via a trans-notch view and evidence of menisco-capsular injury was recorded. Other concomitant injuries to the knee were also noted. Incidence of meniscal ramp lesions, delay before surgery, and anterior-posterior stability was analyzed. All patients underwent bilateral KT-2000 evaluation. One hundred and three consecutive ACL injured patients with a mean age of 24years were included in this study. In total, a ramp lesion was found in 10 knees (9.7%) via a trans-notch view. None of these lesions could be identified by the standard view from the anterolateral portal. Other medial meniscal lesions were found in 26 knees (25.2%) by standard arthroscopic viewing. The ramp lesion group had significantly longer delay before surgery with a median of 191days (p < 0.01) as well as a larger side-to-side difference of KT-2000 measurement (7.3 ± 1.8mm; p < 0.01), compared with the intact medial meniscus group (53days and 5.5 ± 1.5mm, respectively). Ramp lesions that were identified using a trans-notch view were not visualized with standard arthroscopic views. Increased anterior tibial translation and longer delay before surgery were seen in knees with ramp lesions. Careful inspection of the posteromedial menisco-capsular region is required as hidden menisco-capsular lesions may occur which may result in residual knee instability. Level II.

Longitudinal Analysis of Serum Biochemical Changes following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury and Reconstruction: A Matched Comparison-Control Analysis

Objectives:Individuals with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury are at high risk of developing posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). A comprehensive study is needed to determine the time course of joint tissue metabolic changes occurring following ACL injury and reconstruction (ACLR). The purpose of this longitudinal nested comparison-control study was to simultaneously evaluate serum biomarkers of inflammation and cartilage matrix damage in ACL injured patients prior to ACLR and 6 and 12 months post-ACLR, as well as in matched uninjured controls.Methods:Serum was collected from 34 ACL injured individuals (53% female, 20.7±2.4 years old, 24.2±4.1 body mass index [BMI]) within 14 days of primary ACL injury (baseline), as well as at 6 and 12 months following bone-patellar-tendon-bone autograft ACLR. Serum was also collected from 34 uninjured matched controls (53% Female, 20.5±2.4 years old, 24.1±3.5 BMI) at a single timepoint. Blood was collected from the antecubital fossa, centrifuged and stored at -80°C prior to batch analysis. Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to evaluate concentrations of: 1) a pro-inflammatory cytokine [Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein; MCP-1]; 2) a matrix degrading enzyme [matrix metalloproteinase-3; MMP-3]; 3) a cartilage breakdown biomarker [cartilage oligomeric matrix protein; COMP]; and type-II collagen turnover [type-II collagen cleavage: synthesis; C2C:CPII]. Separate Bonferroni-corrected independent t-tests were used to determine differences between the ACL injured group at each timepoint and uninjured controls for each biomarker (P ≤ 0.015). Similarly, separate Bonferroni-corrected dependent t-tests were used to determine differences in biomarker concentrations over time for the ACLR group.Results:Serum concentrations of MCP-1 and COMP were greater in the ACL injured individuals at all timepoints compared to the controls (P ≤ 0.015, Table 1), yet no differences were found over time in the ACL injured group. MMP-3 concentrations increased between baseline and 6 months post-ACLR (P ≤ 0.015, see Table), yet no differences were found between 6 and 12 months post-ACLR, between baseline and 12 months, or between ACLR and controls at any of the time points. C2C:CPII was not different between ACL injured individuals and controls at baseline or 6 months post-ACLR. C2C:CPII was significantly increased between 6 and 12 months-post ACLR, and was found to be greater than baseline and greater than controls at 12 months post-ACLR (P ≤ 0.015, see Table).Conclusion:Our study is critical in demonstrating the time course of multiple joint tissue metabolic changes following ACL injury and ACLR. Elevated serum MCP-1 and COMP concentrations, linked to early deleterious metabolic processes associated with PTOA development, are evident soon after ACL injury and persist at 12 months post-ACLR. Serum MMP-3 concentrations were elevated 6 months post-ACLR compared to the baseline measurements, suggesting factors occurring after ACLR initiate upregulation of matrix degrading enzymes. Furthermore, elevated C2C:CPII occurs within the first 12 months post ACLR but not until after the 6-month post-ACLR timepoint. Further studies are needed to determine how long these joint tissue metabolic changes persist after ACL injury and ACLR, as well as how joint tissue metabolism is affected by the type and timing of different surgical and nonsurgical treatments.

健側膝における脛骨後傾角が立位膝側面アライメントに及ぼす影響 ―ACL 損傷症例と半月損傷症例の比較―

健側膝における脛骨後傾角が立位膝側面アライメントに及ぼす影響 ―ACL 損傷症例と半月損傷症例の比較―

Translation into modern standard Arabic, cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties' evaluation of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) in Arabic-speaking athletes with Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury.

BackgroundThe Lower Extremity Functional Scale evaluates the functional status of patients that have lower extremity conditions of musculoskeletal origin. Regional Arabic dialects often create barriers to clear communication and comparative research. We aimed to cross-culturally adapt the Lower Extremity Functional Scale in modern standard Arabic that is widely used and understood in the Middle East and North Africa region, and assess its psychometric properties.MethodsCross-cultural adaptation followed a combination of recommended guidelines. For psychometric evaluation 150 patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury and 65 asymptomatic individuals were recruited. All measurement properties as indicated by the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement Instruments recommendations were evaluated, including content-relevance analysis, structural validity, longitudinal reproducibility, anchor- and distribution-based methods of responsiveness, as well as the longitudinal pattern of change of Lower Extremity Functional Scale in anterior cruciate ligament injured patients’ functional status.ResultsThe questionnaire presented excellent internal consistency (α = 0.96), reliability (0.80–0.98), and good convergent validity (ρ = 0.85). For reproducibility testing: minimal detectable change was 9.26 points; for responsiveness assessment: minimal clinically important difference was 9 points and presented moderate effect sizes (Glass’Δ = 0.71, Cohen’s d = 0.81). Its unidimensionality was not confirmed and an exploratory factor analysis indicated a 2-factor solution explaining 78.1% of the variance.ConclusionThe Arabic Lower Extremity Functional Scale presented acceptable psychometric properties comparable to the original version. The Arabic version of Lower Extremity Functional Scale can be used in research and clinical practice to assess the functional status of Arabic-patients suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.