Articular Cartilage Pathology Research Articles

Key roles of the superficial zone in articular cartilage physiology, pathology, and regeneration.

The superficial zone (SFZ) of articular cartilage is an important interface that isolates deeper zones from the microenvironment of the articular cavity and is directly exposed to various biological and mechanical stimuli. The SFZ is not only a crucial structure for maintaining the normal physiological function of articular cartilage but also the earliest site of osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage degeneration and a major site of cartilage progenitor cells, suggesting that the SFZ might represent a key target for the early diagnosis and treatment of OA. However, to date, SFZ research has not received sufficient attention, accounting for only about 0.58% of cartilage tissue research. The structure, biological composition, function, and related mechanisms of the SFZ in the physiological and pathological processes of articular cartilage remain unclear. This article reviews the key role of the SFZ in articular cartilage physiology and pathology and focuses on the characteristics of SFZ in articular cartilage degeneration and regeneration in OA, aiming to provide researchers with a systematic understanding of the current research status of the SFZ of articular cartilage, hoping that scholars will give more attention to the SFZ of articular cartilage in the future.

Expression of Chondrogenic Potential Markers in Cultured Chondrocytes from the Human Knee Joint.

While substantial progress has been made in engineering cartilaginous constructs for animal models, further research is needed to translate these methodologies for human applications. Evidence suggests that cultured autologous chondrocytes undergo changes in phenotype and gene expression, thereby affecting their proliferation and differentiation capacity. This study was designed to evaluate the expression of chondrogenic markers in cultured human articular chondrocytes from passages 3 (P3) and 7 (P7), beyond the current clinical recommendation of P3. Cultured autologous chondrocytes were passaged from P3 up to P7, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to assess mRNA expression of chondrogenic markers, including collagen type I (COLI), collagen type II (COLII), aggrecan (AGG), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), transcription factor SOX-9 (SOX9), proteoglycan 4 (PGR4), and transformation-related protein 53 (p53), between P3 and P7. Except for AGG, no significant differences were found in the expression of markers between passages, suggesting the maintenance of chondrogenic potential in cultured chondrocytes. Differential expression identified between SOX9 and PGR4, as well as between COLI and SOX9, indicates that differences in chondrogenic markers are present between age groups and sexes, respectively. Overall, expression profiles of younger and male chondrocytes exhibit conversion of mature cartilage characteristics compared to their counterparts, with signs of dedifferentiation and loss of phenotype within-group passaging. These results may have implications in guiding the use of higher passaged chondrocytes for engineering constructs and provide a foundation for clinical recommendations surrounding the repair and treatment of articular cartilage pathology in both sexes.

Surgeon Performance as a Predictor for Patient-Reported Outcomes After Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy.

Surgeon performance has been investigated as a factor affecting patient outcomes after orthopaedic procedures to improve transparency between patients and providers. The purpose of this study was to identify whether surgeon performance influenced patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) 1 year after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM). It was hypothesized that there would be no significant difference in PROMs between patients who underwent APM from various surgeons. Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. A prospective cohort of 794 patients who underwent APM between 2018 and 2019 were included in the analysis. A total of 34 surgeons from a large multicenter health care center were included. Three multivariable models were built to determine whether the surgeon-among demographic and meniscal pathology factors-was a significant variable for predicting the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)-Pain subscale, the Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS), and a 10-point improvement in the KOOS-Pain at 1 year after APM. Likelihood ratio (LR) tests were used to determine the significance of the surgeon variable in the models. The 794 patients were identified from the multicenter hospital system. The baseline KOOS-Pain score was a significant predictor of outcome in the 1-year KOOS-Pain model (odds ratio [OR], 2.1 [95% CI, 1.77-2.48]; P < .001), the KOOS-Pain 10-point improvement model (OR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.44-0.73), and the 1-year PASS model (OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.15-1.76]; P = .002) among articular cartilage pathology (bipolar medial cartilage) and patient-factor variables, including body mass index, Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey-Mental Component Score, and Area Deprivation Index. The individual surgeon significantly impacted outcomes in the 1-year KOOS-Pain mixed model in the LR test (P = .004). Patient factors and characteristics are better predictors for patient outcomes 1 year after APM than surgeon characteristics, specifically baseline KOOS-Pain, although an individual surgeon influenced the 1-Year KOOS-Pain mixed model in the LR test. This finding has key clinical implications; surgeons who wish to improve patient outcomes after APM should focus on improving patient selection rather than improving the surgical technique. Future research is needed to determine whether surgeon variability has an impact on longer-term patient outcomes.

Fresh Osteochondral Allograft to Medial Femoral Condyle With Proximal Tibial Opening Wedge Osteotomy

Background: Contributors to knee degeneration include mechanical axis malalignment, patellar maltracking, meniscal deficiency, and tibiofemoral instability. Full-thickness osteochondral defects in young, active patients can lead to significant pain and instability. The gold standard treatment for large (&gt;2 cm2) osteochondral defects is an osteochondral allograft (OCA) which addresses the pathologic articular cartilage loss and underlying bone deficiency. While biologic failure of fresh OCAs is reported, the majority of early failures are attributed to unaddressed mechanical malalignment in the coronal plane. Proximal tibial osteotomy (PTO) corrects malalignment thereby unloading the affected medial compartment and the newly placed OCA, improving long-term survivability. Indications: OCAs are indicated for isolated osteochondral defects and lesions in active young patients. PTO is indicated for patients with varus malalignment who risk potential graft failure of the affected medial compartment. Technique Description: The articular cartilage defect is identified, and a guide pin is drilled in the center. The defect is templated and scored around the margins. A reamer is used to drill to a total depth of 7 to 8 mm. The recipient site is then dilated for graft insertion. On the donor graft, the harvest site is outlined and drilled to the proper diameter. Careful measurement is utilized to ensure graft depth measurements match the recipient site. Once sized, the graft is tapped into place obtaining an anatomic fit along its entire periphery. The osteotomy is performed by using guide pins to delineate the plane cutting the tibia. Fluoroscopy confirmed the osteotomy site and angle. A spacing plate was securely inserted with screws, with placement confirmed by fluoroscopy. Results: Fresh OCAs can restore osteochondral defects. PTO corrects malalignment and unloads the affected medial compartment, decreasing the risk of revision graft failure or total knee arthroplasty. Discussion: Clinical and biomechanical studies that compared isolated and concomitant procedures demonstrated that OCA with PTOs had significantly greater survival rates. Significant malalignment increases the risk of graft failure. It remains unclear whether concomitant osteotomy with osteoarticular allografts leads to increased complication risk; inherent risks remain associated with individual procedures. In adolescents, simultaneous corrective osteotomy along with fresh OCA may delay arthroplasty and associated ambulatory restrictions. Patient Consent Disclosure Statement: The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.

Diagnostic Needle Arthroscopy of the Shoulder: A Validation Study.

Diagnostic needle arthroscopy offers an alternative imaging modality to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of intra-articular pathology. To compare the accuracy of a needle arthroscopy device (Mi-eye2) versus MRI in identifying intra-articular anatomic abnormalities in the glenohumeral joint, with formal arthroscopy as the gold standard. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. A total of 22 patients underwent diagnostic needle arthroscopy of the shoulder, of whom 20 had preoperative MRI scans. A standardized 12-point noninstrumented diagnostic arthroscopy was performed on each patient using the 0° needle arthroscope, followed by a 30°, 4 mm-diameter conventional arthroscope. Intraoperative images were randomized and reviewed by 2 independent blinded fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons for identification of key pathology and anatomic structures. The MRI scans were reviewed by a single musculoskeletal radiologist to identify pathology in the same key areas. For the identification of rotator cuff pathology, needle arthroscopy (sensitivity, 0.75; specificity, 1.00) was superior to MRI (sensitivity, 0.75; specificity, 0.75) with an interobserver reliability (κ) of 0.703. For long head of the biceps pathology, needle arthroscopy (sensitivity, 0.67; specificity, 0.95) was superior to MRI (sensitivity, 0.00; specificity, 0.83). It was less accurate for labral (sensitivity, 0.33; specificity, 0.50; κ = 0.522) and articular cartilage pathology (sensitivity, 0.00; specificity, 0.94; κ = 0.353). The number of anatomic structures that could be clearly identified was 8.35 of 12 (69.58%) for needle arthroscopy versus 10.35 of 12 (86.25%) for standard arthroscopy. Diagnostic needle arthroscopy was found to be more accurate than MRI for the diagnosis of rotator cuff and long head of the biceps pathology but was less accurate for diagnosing labral and cartilage pathology. Although the field of view of a 0° needle arthroscope is not equivalent to a 30° conventional arthroscope, it presents an alternative with potential for use in an outpatient setting.

Comparison of cone-beam and fan-beam computed tomography and low-field magnetic resonance imaging for detection of proximal phalanx dorsoproximal osteochondral defects.

Dorsoproximal osteochondral defects commonly affect the proximal phalanx, but information about diagnosis on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is limited. To assess CT and MRI diagnoses of osteochondral defects, describe the lesions and compare sensitivity and specificity of the modalities using macroscopic pathology as gold standard. Cross-sectional study. Thirty-five equine cadaver limbs underwent standing cone-beam CT (CBCT), fan-beam CT (FBCT), low-field MRI and pathological examination. CT and MR images were examined for proximal phalanx dorsomedial and dorsolateral eminence osteochondral defects. Defect dimensions were measured. Imaging diagnoses and measurements were compared with macroscopic examination. Fifty-six defects were seen over 70 potential locations. On CBCT and FBCT, osteochondral defects appeared as subchondral irregularity/saucer-shaped defects. On MRI, osteochondral defects were a combination of articular cartilage defect on dorsal images and subchondral flattening/irregularity on sagittal images. Subchondral thickening and osseous short tau inversion recovery hyperintensity were found concurrent with osteochondral defects. Compared with pathological examination, the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis were 86% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 75%-93%) and 64% (95% CI 38%-85%) for FBCT; 64% (95% CI 51%-76%) and 71% (95% CI 46%-90%) for CBCT; and 52% (95% CI 39%-65%) and 71% (95% CI 46%-90%) for MRI. Sensitivity of all modalities increased with defect size. Macroscopic defect dimensions were strongly correlated with CBCT (r = 0.76, p < 0.001) and moderately correlated with FBCT and MRI (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). Macroscopic measurements were significantly greater than all imaging modality dimensions (p < 0.001), potentially because macroscopy included articular cartilage pathology. Influence of motion artefact could not be assessed. Osteochondral defects could be visualised using both CT and MRI with sensitivity increasing with defect size. Diagnostic performance was best using FBCT, followed by CBCT then MRI, but CBCT-measured defect size best correlated with macroscopic examination. MRI provided useful information on fluid signal associated with defects, which could represent active pathology.

Paper 62: Predictors of Return to Activity at 2 Years After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Among Patients with High Baseline Pre-Injury Marx Activity Level

Paper 62: Predictors of Return to Activity at 2 Years After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Among Patients with High Baseline Pre-Injury Marx Activity Level

MRI Findings Associated With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in National Football League Athletes.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are a high-frequency injury requiring a lengthy recovery in professional American football players. Concomitant pathology associated with ACL tears as identified on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not well understood in these athletes. To describe the MRI findings of concomitant injuries associated with ACL tears among athletes in the National Football League (NFL). Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Of 314 ACL injuries in NFL athletes from 2015 through 2019, 191 complete MRI scans from the time of primary ACL injury were identified and reviewed by 2 fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists. Data were collected on ACL tear type and location, as well as presence and location of bone bruises, meniscal tears, articular cartilage pathology, and concomitant ligament pathology. Mechanism data from video review were linked with imaging data to assess association between injury mechanism (contact vs noncontact) and presence of concomitant pathology. Bone bruises were evident in 94.8% of ACL tears in this cohort, most often in the lateral tibial plateau (81%). Meniscal, additional ligamentous, and/or cartilage injury was present in 89% of these knees. Meniscal tears were present in 70% of knees, lateral (59%) more than medial (41%). Additional ligamentous injury was present in 71% of all MRI scans, more often a grade 1/2 sprain (67%) rather than a grade 3 tear (33%), and most often involving the medial collateral ligament (MCL) (57%) and least often the posterior cruciate ligament (10%). Chondral damage was evident in 49% of all MRI scans, with ≥1 full-thickness defect in 25% of all MRI scans, most often lateral. Most (79%) ACL tears did not involve direct contact to the injured lower extremity. Direct contact injuries (21%) were more likely to have a concomitant MCL tear and/or medial patellofemoral ligament injury and less likely to have a medial meniscal tear. ACL tears were rarely isolated injuries in this cohort of professional American football athletes. Bone bruises were almost always present, and additional meniscal, ligamentous, and chondral injuries were also common. MRI findings varied by injury mechanism.

Meniscal and Articular Cartilage Predictors of Outcome After Revision ACL Reconstruction: A 6-Year Follow-up Cohort Study

Background: Meniscal and chondral damage is common in the patient undergoing revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Purpose: To determine if meniscal and/or articular cartilage pathology at the time of revision ACL surgery significantly influences a patient’s outcome at 6-year follow-up. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patients undergoing revision ACL reconstruction were prospectively enrolled between 2006 and 2011. Data collection included baseline demographics, surgical technique, pathology, treatment, and scores from 4 validated patient-reported outcome instruments: International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Marx Activity Rating Scale. Patients were followed up at 6 years and asked to complete the identical set of outcome instruments. Regression analysis assessed the meniscal and articular cartilage pathology risk factors for clinical outcomes 6 years after revision ACL reconstruction. Results: An overall 1234 patients were enrolled (716 males, 58%; median age, 26 years). Surgeons reported the pathology at the time of revision surgery in the medial meniscus (45%), lateral meniscus (36%), medial femoral condyle (43%), lateral femoral condyle (29%), medial tibial plateau (11%), lateral tibial plateau (17%), patella (30%), and trochlea (21%). Six-year follow-up was obtained on 79% of the sample (980/1234). Meniscal pathology and articular cartilage pathology (medial femoral condyle, lateral femoral condyle, lateral tibial plateau, trochlea, and patella) were significant drivers of poorer patient-reported outcomes at 6 years (IKDC, KOOS, WOMAC, and Marx). The most consistent factors driving outcomes were having a medial meniscal excision (either before or at the time of revision surgery) and patellofemoral articular cartilage pathology. Six-year Marx activity levels were negatively affected by having either a repair/excision of the medial meniscus (odds ratio range, 1.45-1.72; P≤ .04) or grade 3-4 patellar chondrosis (odds ratio, 1.72; P = .04). Meniscal pathology occurring before the index revision surgery negatively affected scores on all KOOS subscales except for sports/recreation (P < .05). Articular cartilage pathology significantly impaired all KOOS subscale scores (P < .05). Lower baseline outcome scores, higher body mass index, being a smoker, and incurring subsequent surgery all significantly increased the odds of reporting poorer clinical outcomes at 6 years. Conclusion: Meniscal and chondral pathology at the time of revision ACL reconstruction has continued significant detrimental effects on patient-reported outcomes at 6 years after revision surgery.

Managing Borderline Dysplasia: It Can Take More Than Just a Periacetabular Osteotomy: Commentary on an article by Jeffrey J. Nepple, MD, et al.: "Outcomes of Periacetabular Osteotomy for Borderline Acetabular Dysplasia".

Commentary Nepple et al. report the outcomes of a single experienced surgeon treating patients with borderline hip dysplasia from 2010 to 2020. The article correctly points out that a majority of clinical reports of outcomes of treatment for patients with borderline hip dysplasia used arthroscopy without periacetabular osteotomy (PAO)1. This article represents an important contribution documenting the outcomes of treatment correcting structural causes of instability with or without arthroscopy. A previous series of PAOs, including cases from the senior author, used different criteria (lateral center-edge angle [LCEA] of 15° to 25°) to define mild dysplasia2, and those outcomes are not directly comparable with those in the current article, in which an LCEA of 18° to 25° was used to describe borderline dysplasia. The results in the current article demonstrate clinical success in 148 of 156 hips in patients undergoing primary surgery. The article provides important data on radiographic parameters for correction of acetabular dysplasia. The article does not provide a detailed analysis of preoperative femoral neck morphology or femoral torsion. However, several points regarding this clinical series of patients with borderline hip dysplasia are instructive. The authors point out that “A comprehensive assessment of the hip … is critical to informing an accurate diagnosis. Currently, there remain no clear clinical guidelines to differentiate between fundamental mechanical diagnoses (impingement compared with instability) and definitively guide treatment selection.” In other words, the clinical assessment of the patient presentation plays an important role in discriminating between the underlying pathologic mechanisms of impingement or instability. In the entire cohort of 186 hips in 178 patients, only 21 hips underwent an isolated PAO. The majority of treated hips required addition of a concomitant hip arthroscopy to the PAO as treatment for labral or articular cartilage pathology (130 of 186 hips). Similarly, 120 hips required a femoral osteoplasty to treat impingement at the time of the PAO. These 2 important observations emphasize the importance of clinicians and learners who are interested in treating patients with this type of hip pathology gaining experience in evaluating patients with instability as well as patients with impingement. The ability to differentiate instability from impingement depends in part on clinical exposure to the presentation of these types of hip pathology. Of note, neither the evaluation nor treatment of the young adult hip is addressed in the latest iteration of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Orthopaedic Surgery Milestones3. This study does not provide an assessment with a control group with similar labral and intra-articular pathology treated without arthroscopy. Therefore, it is unclear whether hip arthroscopy with labral refixation and chondral interventions as performed in this cohort would be required to achieve similar outcomes. A previous study indicated that not treating femoroacetabular impingement at the time of the PAO was associated with poorer long-term outcomes4. However, the reported data in the current study indicate that hip arthroscopy at the time of the PAO has not adversely impacted results. Nepple et al. also point out the adverse impact that a previous unsuccessful hip arthroscopy has on the outcomes in patients with borderline hip dysplasia. The majority of these previous arthroscopies were not performed by the senior author. It is not clear whether these patients had concomitant impingement with borderline dysplasia and developed instability after arthroscopy, or they had clinical instability that had been misdiagnosed as impingement initially. There are many reports detailing successful treatment of femoroacetabular impingement arthroscopically in the setting of borderline dysplasia1. However, clearly a hip arthroscopy that leaves the patient with symptomatic hip instability has an adverse impact on outcome after structural correction with PAO. Finally, the diversity of treatments required to provide successful outcomes in the cohort of patients studied by Nepple et al. provides some evidence for the need for personalized medicine in the care of young patients with hip pathology. As with all such clinical series, the reported results are a benchmark for all clinicians to aspire toward. The results in this article represent the work of an experienced surgeon selectively managing multiple aspects of hip pathology to optimize outcomes in this defined cohort of patients.

Paper 45: Preoperative MRI Offers Minimal Clinical Utility, Delays Access to Hip Arthroscopy, and Lacks Cost-Effectiveness in Patients Aged 40 or Under with Classic Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Retrospective 5-Year Analysis

Objectives: Background:The volume of hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome(FAIS) has dramatically risen, and data increasingly supports early intervention from symptom onset. In an increasingly value-conscious environment, the practice of routinely acquiring preoperative MRIs for primary hip arthroscopy patients in the setting of FAIS defined by concordant history, physical exam, and radiographs may offer questionable clinical utility, waste healthcare resources, and negatively impact patient outcomes by delaying access to care.Hypothesis/Purpose:The primary purpose of the present study was to determine whether preoperative MRI provided clinical utility for patients aged 40 or under with FAIS undergoing primary hip arthroscopy. A secondary purpose was to quantify the delay in care due to ordering the preoperative MRI.Methods:A cohort of 1,786 consecutive patients who underwent hip arthroscopy between August 27, 2015, and December 31, 2020, were reviewed from the practice of a single fellowship-trained hip arthroscopist at a quaternary referral center. Our inclusion criteria were as follows: primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS and age 40 years or under. Patients were excluded if they presented to the office already with an MRI, had a contraindication to undergo MRI, elected to reattempt a second round of conservative management, or underwent a concomitant periacetabular osteotomy. The interpretation of the preoperative MRI was subsequently compared to the in-office evaluation, consisting of history, physical exam, and plain radiographs, as well as the intraoperative findings at the time of hip arthroscopy to assess for agreement. In addition to baseline demographic data, time from initial office evaluation to MRI completion and time from MRI to hip arthroscopy were recorded.Results:A total of 198 patients met the criteria for evaluation, 70% of which were female. Mean BMI and age were 25.6 and 24.8, respectively. All 198 patients had MRI findings demonstrating anterosuperior labral tears that were again re-demonstrated and repaired intraoperatively during hip arthroscopy. Of the three patients with questionable articular cartilage pathology noted on MRI, none required surgical treatment or reoperations to address cartilage pathology. No patients underwent primary labral reconstruction. The mean time from in-office FAIS diagnosis to noncontrast MRI acquisition was 15.0 days. The mean time from MRI to hip arthroscopy was 73.0 days.Conclusions:Preoperative MRI for patients with FAIS aged 40 or under undergoing primary hip arthroscopy provides little to no actionable clinical information with respect to the labrum or cartilage and may in turn negatively impact outcomes by delaying access to care unnecessarily by at least two weeks. Whether driven by practice dogma from referring physicians or arbitrary insurance preauthorization standards, the necessity of routine preoperative MRI in the young hip population with FAIS indicated for primary hip arthroscopy should be challenged by all relevant stakeholders from both clinical and value-based perspectives.FAIS. Time from initial visit to MRI and MRI to procedure.Table 1.Demographic data for cohort of included patients

Differences in Clinical and Functional Outcomes Between Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation and Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation for the Treatment of Focal Articular Cartilage Defects.

Background:Articular cartilage pathology can result from a spectrum of origins, including trauma, osteochondritis dissecans, avascular necrosis, or degenerative joint disease.Purpose:To compare the differences in clinical and patient-reported outcomes after autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) versus osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) in patients with focal articular cartilage defects without underlying bone loss.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:A retrospective review identified patients who underwent ACI or OCA between 2008 and 2016 for isolated grades 3 and 4 articular cartilage defects without underlying bone loss. Outcome measures included the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS JR), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) evaluation, and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey–Physical Component (SF-12-P) scores. Defect location, size, complications, and rate of subsequent surgery were determined.Results:Overall, 148 patients were included: 82 (55%) underwent ACI and 66 (45%) underwent OCA. The mean age at the time of surgery was 31.2 years within the ACI cohort and 37.7 years within the OCA cohort (P < .001); the mean follow-up for both cohorts was 6.7 years (P = .902). Within the ACI group, 28 (34%) patients had multifocal defects, 21 (26%) had defects confined to the femoral condyles, and 33 (40%) had defects in the patellofemoral region. Within the OCA group, 23 (35%) patients had multifocal defects, 30 (46%) had confined femoral condyle lesions, and 13 (20%) had patellofemoral defects. When comparing by lesion location, there were no significant differences in KOOS JR, and IKDC scores between the ACI and OCA cohorts (P < .05). There was, however, a significant difference for SF-12-P scores for FDD trochlear lesions. In both cohorts, traumatic patellofemoral pathology demonstrated lower patient-reported outcomes and higher failure rates than degenerative lesions. The overall rate of failure, defined as graft failure with revision surgery and/or conversion to arthroplasty, was significantly greater in the OCA group (21% vs 4%; P = .002).Conclusion:Study results indicated that ACI provides similar outcomes to OCA with or without concomitant procedures for the treatment of symptomatic articular cartilage defects in all lesion locations and may have a lower revision rate for multifocal and condylar lesions.

Shoulder Pathology on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Asymptomatic Elite-Level Rock Climbers.

Background:The prevalence of findings on shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is high in asymptomatic athletes of overhead sports.Purpose/Hypothesis:The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of atypical findings on MRI in shoulders of asymptomatic, elite-level climbers and to evaluate the association of these findings with clinical examination results. It was hypothesized that glenoid labrum, long head of the biceps tendon, and articular cartilage pathology would be present in >50% of asymptomatic athletes.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:A total of 50 elite climbers (age range, 20-60 years) without any symptoms of shoulder pain underwent bilateral shoulder examinations in addition to dedicated bilateral shoulder 3-T† MRI. Physical examinations were performed by orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons, while MRI scans were interpreted by 2 blinded board-certified radiologists to determine the prevalence of abnormalities of the articular cartilage, glenoid labrum, biceps tendon, rotator cuff, and acromioclavicular joint.Results:MRI evidence of tendinosis of the rotator cuff, subacromial bursitis, and long head of the biceps tendonitis was exceptionally common, at 80%, 79%, and 73%, respectively. Labral pathology was present in 69% of shoulders, with discrete labral tears identified in 56%. Articular cartilage changes were also common, with humeral pathology present in 57% of shoulders and glenoid pathology in 19% of shoulders. Climbers with labral tears identified in this study had significantly increased forward elevation compared with those without labral tears in both active (P = .026) and passive (P = .022) motion.Conclusion:The overall prevalence of intra-articular shoulder pathology detected by MRI in asymptomatic climbers was 80%, with 57% demonstrating varying degrees of glenohumeral articular cartilage damage. This high rate of arthritis differs significantly from prior published reports of other overhead sports athletes.

Preoperative Dynamic Hip Examination Under Fluoroscopic Guidance Enhances the Understanding of Femoroacetabular Impingement Pathology and Treatment Planning

PurposeTo review the relative accuracy of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluoroscopically guided examination-under-sedation (EUS) findings and to explore the validity of the anterior acetabular sector angle (AASA) as a radiologic MRI-based marker of anterior acetabular coverage in pincer-type impingement.MethodsA cohort of 150 consecutive patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in 2018 to 2019 was reviewed. The inclusion criteria were pure FAI unilateral symptomatic pathology and the availability of complete data sets (MRI, EUS, and intraoperative records). Preoperative MRI and EUS findings were compared with gold-standard intraoperative arthroscopic findings, specifically evaluating the alpha angle in the presence of cam lesions, AASA in the presence of pincer lesions, as well as soft-tissue lesions. An alpha angle greater than 50° and an AASA greater than 65° were deemed pathologic.ResultsThe patient cohort included 78 women and 72 men with an average age of 38 years (range, 18-53 years). Intraoperatively, pincer lesions were present in 20% of patients; cam lesions, 26%; and mixed impingement, 54%. MRI versus EUS correctly identified pincer lesions in 36% versus 89% of cases and identified cam lesions in 44% versus 77% of cases. MRI findings characterizing labral tears and articular cartilage pathology were accurate in 80% and 10% of cases, respectively. Although there was no difference in the AASA between pure pincer- and mixed-type impingements (62° and 63°, respectively; P = .62), there was a statistically significant difference in reported AASA values between pure cam-type impingement and impingement involving the presence of pincer lesions (57° and 63°, respectively; P = .03). Furthermore, 31% of patients with intraoperatively identified pincer lesions had an AASA of 60° to 65°.ConclusionsFluoroscopic EUS is accurate in characterizing FAI pathology. In addition, MRI is useful to diagnose or rule out non-FAI pathology, ascertain labral pathology, and outline hip alignment. These methods of preoperative planning are complementary.Level of EvidenceLevel IV, therapeutic case series.

Articular Cartilage and Meniscus Predictors of Patient-Reported Outcomes 10 Years After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Background: Articular cartilage and meniscal damage are commonly encountered and often treated at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Our understanding of how these injuries and their treatment relate to outcomes of ACLR is still evolving. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess whether articular cartilage and meniscal variables are predictive of 10-year outcomes after ACLR. We hypothesized that articular cartilage lesions and meniscal tears and treatment would be predictors of the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (all 5 subscales), and Marx activity level outcomes at 10-year follow-up after ACLR. Study Design: Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 1. Methods: Between 2002 and 2008, individuals with ACLR were prospectively enrolled and followed longitudinally using the IKDC, KOOS, and Marx activity score completed at entry, 2, 6, and 10 years. A proportional odds logistic regression model was built incorporating variables from patient characteristics, surgical technique, articular cartilage injuries, and meniscal tears and treatment to determine the predictors (risk factors) of IKDC, KOOS, and Marx outcomes at 10 years. Results: A total of 3273 patients were enrolled (56% male; median age, 23 years at time of enrollment). Ten-year follow-up was obtained on 79% (2575/3273) of the cohort. Incidence of concomitant pathology at the time of surgery consisted of the following: articular cartilage (medial femoral condyle [MFC], 22%; lateral femoral condyle [LFC], 15%; medial tibial plateau [MTP], 4%; lateral tibial plateau [LTP], 11%; patella, 18%; trochlea, 8%) and meniscal pathology (medial, 37%; lateral, 46%). Variables that were predictive of poorer 10-year outcomes included articular cartilage damage in the patellofemoral (P < .01) and medial (P < .05) compartments and previous medial meniscal surgery (7% of knees; P < .04). Compared with no meniscal tear, a meniscal injury was not associated with 10-year outcomes. Medial meniscal repair at the time of ACLR was associated with worse 10-year outcomes for 2 of 5 KOOS subscales, while a medial meniscal repair in knees with grade 2 MFC chondrosis was associated with better outcomes on 2 KOOS subscales. Conclusion: Articular cartilage injury in the patellofemoral and medial compartments at the time of ACLR and a history of medial meniscal surgery before ACLR were associated with poorer 10-year ACLR patient-reported outcomes, but meniscal injury present at the time of ACLR was not. There was limited and conflicting association of medial meniscal repair with these outcomes.

Needle Diagnostic Arthroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Shoulder Have Comparable Accuracy With Surgical Arthroscopy: A Prospective Clinical Trial

To examine the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of a minimally invasive needle arthroscopy device and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with diagnostic arthroscopy, the gold standard in diagnosing intra-articular shoulder pathologies. This was a prospective, blinded clinical trial over 6 months on 50 patients with shoulder pathology requiring arthroscopy. Patients were eligible if they had an MRI and consented for surgical arthroscopy. Patients were excluded if they didn't consent. Each underwent a clinical evaluation, MRI, needle arthroscopy, and surgical arthroscopy. Videos and images were blindly reviewed postoperatively. Analysis included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value, Cohen's kappa agreement coefficient, and the McNemar test. Needle arthroscopy had similar accuracy to MRI in diagnosing intra-articular shoulder pathologies when both were compared with the gold standard of diagnostic arthroscopy. It had high specificities and PPV for certain rotator cuff tears, biceps pathology, and anterior labral tears. When compared with the gold standard, specificity of needle arthroscopy for diagnosing rotator cuff tear and cartilage lesions was 1.00 and 0.97 and 0.72 and 0.86 for MRIs, respectively. Sensitivity of needle arthroscopy for rotator cuff and cartilage lesions was 0.89 and 0.74, respectively, lower than MRI. For most intra-articular pathologies, needle arthroscopy was at least equally accurate to MRI at diagnosing intra-articular shoulder pathologies, with similar or high kappa statistics when correlated with surgical arthroscopic findings. Needle arthroscopy is a promising diagnostic modality for intra-articular shoulder pathologies. It had comparable accuracy with MRI for diagnosing articular cartilage, labrum, rotator cuff, and biceps pathology. Across all pathologies, needle arthroscopy had better ability to "rule in" a diagnosis (high specificities and PPV), but slightly worse ability to "rule out" a diagnosis (lower sensitivities and negative predictive value) compared with MRI. Level II, Development of diagnostic criteria on consecutive patients (with universally applied reference "gold" standard).

Diagnosis and Management of Articular Cartilage and Meniscus Pathology in the Posterior Cruciate Ligament-Injured Knee.

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries commonly occur in association with participation in sporting or recreational activities or due to a direct trauma. Cartilage and meniscal lesions are prevalent in PCL-injured knees with increasing likelihood and severity based on extent and duration of trauma to the knee. As such, comprehensive diagnostics should be performed to ascertain all related pathology, and patients should be thoroughly educated regarding treatment options, likely sequelae including posttraumatic osteoarthritis, and associated outcomes. Treatments should address the joint as an organ, ensuring stability, alignment, and functional tissue restoration are optimized by the most efficient and effective means possible. Compliance with patient- and procedure-specific postoperative management protocols is critical for optimizing successful outcomes for these complex cases. The objectives of this review article are to highlight the likelihood and importance of osteochondral and meniscal pathology in the PCL-injured knee, and to provide the best current evidence regarding comprehensive evaluation and management for PCL-injured knees with cartilage and/or meniscal comorbidities.

Development of new cartilage lesions after ACL reconstruction is associated with abnormal knee rotation.

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between the development of articular cartilage pathology and knee rotation after single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Seventeen patients that underwent single-bundle ACL reconstruction and did not have any cartilage lesions at the time of surgery based on the Outerbridge classification or meniscal injury that required meniscectomy > 20% were examined by MRI and in the biomechanics laboratory at a 6-year minimum follow-up. Cartilage lesions that occurred after reconstruction were graded on MRI according to a modified Noyes scale. For cartilage evaluation, the lateral and medial femoral condyles were divided into 9 segments each (lateral, central, and medial third and each third was divided into anterior, central, and posterior segment). Tibial rotation during a pivoting task was measured with optoelectronic motion analysis system and side-to-side differences of tibial rotation between the reconstructed and contralateral intact knees were calculated. The association between the total modified Noyes scale score (outcome variable) and side-to-side differences of tibial rotation after controlling for meniscectomy and meniscal repair was investigated with hierarchical regression models. Side-to-side difference of tibial rotation was associated with total modified Noyes scale score (p = 0.015, β = 0.667, adjusted R2 = 42.1%). All patients developed new cartilage lesions in MRI located mainly at the central region of the lateral femoral condyle and less frequently in the central and anterior regions of the medial femoral condyle. Abnormally increased tibial rotation that persists after ACL-R is significantly associated with the development of new articular cartilage lesions at mean 8.4years after reconstruction which were located mainly at the central region of the LFC and secondarily in the central and anterior regions of the MFC (more superficial lesions). These findings suggest that there is emerging evidence that abnormal rotational kinematics is a potential risk factor for the pathogenesis and onset of posttraumatic articular cartilage degeneration after ACLR. IV.

A Systematic Review of Fresh Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Category:AnkleIntroduction/Purpose:The term osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) refers to any pathology of the talar articular cartilage and corresponding subchondral bone. In general, OLTs can pose a formidable treatment challenge to the orthopaedic surgeon due to the poor intrinsic ability of cartilage to heal as well as the tenuous vascular supply to the talus. Although many treatment options exist, including microfracture, retrograde drilling, autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), and osteochondral autograft transfer system (OATS) these options may be inadequate to treat large cartilage lesions. Osteochondral allografts have demonstrated promise as the primary treatment for OLTs with substantial cartilage and bone involvement. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review of outcomes after fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation for OLTs.Methods:PudMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, and Medline were searched using PRISMA guidelines. Studies that evaluated outcomes in adult patients after fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation for chondral defects of the talus were included. Operative results, according to standardized scoring systems, such as the AOFAS Ankle/Hindfoot scale and the Visual Analog Scale were compared across various studies. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Coleman methodology score.Results:There were a total of 12 eligible studies reporting on 191 patients with OLTs with an average follow-up of 56.8 months (range 6-240). The mean age was 37.5 (range 17-74) years and the overall graft survival rate was 86.6%. The AOFAS Ankle/Hindfoot score was obtained pre- and postoperatively in 6 of the 12 studies and had significant improvements in each (P<0.05). Similarly, the VAS pain score was evaluated in 5 of the 12 studies and showed significant decreases (P<0.05) from pre- to postoperatively with an aggregate mean preoperative VAS score of 7.3 and an aggregate postoperative value of 2.6. The reported short-term complication rate was 0%. The overall failure rate was 13.4% and 21.6% percent of patients had subsequent procedures.Conclusion:The treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus remains a challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. From this systematic review, one can conclude that osteochondral allograft transplantation for osteochondral lesions of the talus results in predictably favorable outcomes with an impressive graft survival rate and high satisfaction rates at intermediate follow-up.

Measuring Outcomes in Knee Articular Cartilage Pathology

Measuring outcomes following treatment of knee articular cartilage lesions is crucial to determine the natural history of disease and the efficacy of treatments. Outcome assessments for articular cartilage treatments can be clinical (based on failure, lack of healing, reoperation, need for arthroplasty), radiographic (X-ray, MRI), histologic, or patient reported and functional. The purpose of this review is to discuss the application and properties of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with a focus on articular cartilage injuries and surgery in the knee. The most frequently used and validated PROs for knee articular cartilage studies include: the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis and Outcome Score, International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form, and Lysholm score as knee-specific measures; the Marx Activity Rating Scale and Tegner Activity Scale as activity measures; and EQ-5D and SF-36/12 as generic quality-of-life measures. Incorporating these validated PROs in studies pertaining to knee articular cartilage lesions will allow researchers to fully capture clinically relevant outcomes that are most important to patients.