Inferior Outcome Scores Research Articles

Arthroscopically Assisted Treatment of Complex Ankle Fractures: Intra-articular Findings and 1-Year Follow-Up

Especially after complex ankle fractures, patients regularly suffer from residual symptoms, presumably due to occult intra-articular injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra-articular lesions, identify fractures specifically at risk for these, and assess the results after arthroscopically assisted open reduction and internal fixation of complex ankle fractures after 1 year. The primary outcome was the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score. Secondary outcome parameters were the Olerud and Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), Tegner activity scale, arthroscopic findings, functional assessment, and complications. Thirty-two patients (56% female) were enrolled. Chondral lesions were detected in 91%. Full-thickness lesions treated by microfracturing were observed in 0% of unimalleolar, 43% of bimalleolar, and 40% of trimalleolar fractures. After 1 year, the median (interquartile range) AOFAS was 94 (9) and OMAS was 90 (10) for all patients. When analyzing factors possibly influencing the outcome, age, sex, smoking, grading for surgical procedures according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, fracture type (uni-, bi-, or trimalleolar), severity of chondral lesions graded according to the International Cartilage Repair Society (grade <4 versus grade 4), and syndesmotic instability had no significant influence on the outcome. The only variable significantly influencing the AOFAS (p = .004) and OMAS (p < .001) was body mass index (BMI; rs = –0.522 and –0.606, respectively), with a higher BMI resulting in inferior outcome scores. Complications were observed in 3 patients, 2 with superficial skin necrosis at the posterolateral incision and 1 nonunion of the medial malleolus. Taken together, these data show that intra-articular injuries were common in ankle fractures. Bi- and trimalleolar fractures were particularly at risk for full-thickness lesions. A higher BMI tended to result in inferior outcome scores. Arthroscopically assisted open reduction and internal fixation led to good to excellent results in all but 1 patient.

Effect of prior ipsilateral lower extremity surgery on 2-year outcomes following hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of prior lower extremity surgery on patient reported outcomes following hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Consecutive patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for FAIS and a prior history of ipsilateral lower extremity surgery were identified and matched 2:1 by age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) to controls without a history of lower extremity surgery. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS) were calculated for HOS–ADL, HOS–SS, and mHHS. Preoperative and 2-year postoperative patient reported outcomes of both groups were compared, and logistic regression was performed to determine whether lower extremity surgery influenced achieving MCID and PASS. A total of 102 patients (24.94%) with prior history of ipsilateral lower extremity surgery were identified. Ipsilateral orthopaedic knee surgery accounted for more than half (53.92%) of all prior surgeries. Patients with a history of ipsilateral lower extremity surgery had significant lower 2-year PROs, satisfaction, and greater pain when compared to patients without lower extremity surgery (P < 0.001 all). A history of ipsilateral lower extremity surgery was a negative predictor of achieving MCID for HOS–ADL and HOS–SS, as well as PASS for HOS–ADL, HOS–SS, and mHHS (P < 0.001 all).In conclusion, patients with prior lower extremity surgery were found to have inferior outcome scores and a lower likelihood of achieving clinically significant outcome improvement compared to patients without a history of lower extremity surgery at two years postoperatively.