Health State Utilities in Children and Adolescents With Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee

Suture-Bridge Fixation of Osteochondral Fractures and Osteochondritis Dissecans in the Knee: Excellent Rates of Early Lesion Stability and Osseous Union

BACKGROUND

Preservation of articular cartilage in the setting of acute or chronic injury in the adolescent and young adult knee is paramount for long-term joint health. Achieving osseous union, minimizing implant-related injury, and eliminating the need for reoperation for traumatic chondral and osteochondral lesions (OCLs) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) remain a challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon.

PURPOSE

To evaluate radiographic healing, patient-reported outcomes, and short-term complications after suture-bridge fixation of chondral fragments, osteochondral fractures, and OCD lesions in the knee.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

The study included consecutive patients (38 patients, 40 knees) treated within a single academic sports medicine institution who underwent suture-bridge fixation of an OCL or an OCD lesion of the knee from initiation of the technique in October 2019 through March 2021. The suture-bridge technique entailed bioabsorbable knotless anchors placed on the outside margins of the lesion with multiple strands of hand-tensioned absorbable (No. 0 or No. 1 Vicryl) or nonabsorbable (1.3-mm braided polyester tape) bridging suture. Healing was assessed by radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with MRI scans obtained on all OCD lesions and any chondral-only lesions. MRI scans were available for 33 of 40 (82.5%) knees within 1 year of surgery and were evaluated for lesion healing. Complications and rates and timing of return to sport were evaluated. Patient-reported outcomes in the OCD cohort were evaluated with the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) to determine early pain and functional improvement.

RESULTS

In total, 33 (82.5%) lesions demonstrated full union, and no lesions failed treatment. MRI assessment of healing (mean, 5.8 months; range, 3-12 months) demonstrated 9 (64.3%) OCD lesions with full union, 5 (35.7%) OCD lesions with stable union, and no OCD lesions with nonunion. Of the OCLs, 17 (89.5%) had full union, 2 (10.5%) had stable union, and none had nonunion. The 7 bony OCLs without an MRI scan demonstrated complete radiographic union. In 30 (75.0%) lesions, patients returned to sports at a mean of 6.5 months (range, 3.8-10.2 months). KOOS Activities of Daily Living, Pain, Quality of Life, and Symptoms scores demonstrated significant improvement from baseline at 6 months and at 1 year. There were 2 (5%) complications, consisting of reoperation for marginal chondroplasty on an otherwise stable lesion, and re-operation for intial un-treated patellar instability, with no reoperations for failure or revision of the suture-bridge construct.

CONCLUSION

In this series of OCLs and OCD lesions of the knee, suture-bridge fixation demonstrated excellent rates of MRI and radiographic union and good early outcomes with minimal short-term complications. This technique may be used for lesion salvage as an alternative to metallic and nonmetallic screw/tack constructs in the treatment of these challenging lesions. Longer term follow-up and investigation are warranted.

Males and Females Exhibit Comparable Outcomes Following Treatment of Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions of the Knee: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of patient sex on outcomes after treatment of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions of the knee through a systematic review of current evidence.

METHODS

This review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines using the PubMed, PubMed Central, Embase, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Libraries, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. Relevant outcomes included functional (e.g., International Knee Documentation Committee and Subjective Knee Evaluation, Lysholm Knee Score) and clinical outcomes (e.g., symptom/pain resolution, reoperation rates) for males and females after operative or nonoperative treatment of knee OCD lesions.

RESULTS

Ten articles with a total of 691 (73%) males and 260 (27%) females were included. Mean age ranged from 11.3 ± 2.1 years to 34.5 ± 10.3 years, and follow-up ranged from 6 months to 16.3 years. In four studies reporting functional outcomes, no significant differences were found between males and females in any metric assessed (all P > .05). Seven studies reported clinical outcomes after treatment of knee OCD lesions. One study determined males were more likely to have a successful nonoperative outcome than females (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.00-3.40). Another study found males had a lower risk of developing symptomatic knee pain following operative or nonoperative treatment at a mean 14-year follow-up (HR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.07-0.81). The remaining 5 studies reported statistically comparable clinical outcomes between males and females (all P > .05).

CONCLUSION

The present systematic review found mostly comparable clinical and functional outcomes between males and females following treatment of knee OCD lesions. Despite sex-related differences in the prevalence of these lesions and limited evidence of differences in clinical outcomes, these data suggest that sex does not independently predict outcomes after treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, systematic review of Level II and III studies.

Particulated Juvenile Articular Cartilage and Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Are Cost-Effective for Patellar Chondral Lesions

PURPOSE

To compare the cost-effectiveness of nonoperative management, particulated juvenile allograft cartilage (PJAC), and matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) in the management of patellar chondral lesions.

METHODS

A Markov model was used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of three strategies for symptomatic patellar chondral lesions: 1) nonoperative management, 2) PJAC, and 3) MACI. Model inputs (transition probabilities, utilities, and costs) were derived from literature review and an institutional cohort of 67 patients treated with PJAC for patellar chondral defects (mean age 26 years, mean lesion size 2.7 cm²). Societal and payer perspectives over a 15-year time horizon were evaluated. The principal outcome measure was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) using a $100,000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) willingness-to-pay threshold. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the model and the relative effects of variable estimates on base case conclusions.

RESULTS

From a societal perspective, nonoperative management, PJAC, and MACI cost $4,140, $52,683, and $83,073 and were associated with 5.28, 7.22, and 6.92 QALYs gained, respectively. PJAC and MACI were cost-effective relative to nonoperative management (ICERs $25,010/QALY and $48,344/QALY, respectively). PJAC dominated MACI in the base case analysis by being cheaper and more effective, but this was sensitive to the estimated effectiveness of both strategies. PJAC remained cost-effective if PJAC and MACI were considered equally effective.

CONCLUSIONS

In the management of symptomatic patellar cartilage defects, PJAC and MACI were both cost-effective compared to nonoperative management. Because of the need for one surgery instead of two, and less costly graft material, PJAC was cheaper than MACI. Consequently, when PJAC and MACI were considered equally effective, PJAC was more cost-effective than MACI. Sensitivity analyses accounting for the lack of robust long-term data for PJAC or MACI demonstrated that the cost-effectiveness of PJAC versus MACI depended heavily on the relative probabilities of yielding similar clinical results.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, economic and decision analysis.

Osteochondral Allograft for Unsalvageable Osteochondritis Dissecans in the Skeletally Immature Knee

Background:

While an excellent option for osteochondral defects in the adult knee, fresh osteochondral allograft (FOCA) in the skeletally immature adolescent knee has been infrequently studied.

Purpose:

To compare radiographic and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in skeletally mature and immature adolescents after FOCA in the knee for treatment of unsalvageable osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Included were 34 patients (37 knees) who underwent size-matched FOCA of the knee for unsalvageable OCD lesions. All patients were aged ≤19 years and had a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. Patient characteristics, lesion characteristics, reoperations, and PROs were evaluated and compared between patients with open physes (skeletally immature; n = 20) and those with closed physes (skeletally mature; n = 17). Graft failure was defined as the need for revision osteochondral grafting. Postoperative radiographs were analyzed at 1 year and the final follow-up for graft incorporation and classified as A (complete), B (≥50% healed), or C (<50% healed).

Results:

The mean patient age was 15.4 years (range, 9.6-17.6 years), and the mean follow-up was 2.1 years (range, 1-5.3 years). The mean graft size was 5.0 cm² and did not differ significantly between the study groups. Patients with open physes were younger (14.7 vs 16.2 years; P = .002) and more commonly male (80% vs 35%; P = .008). At the 1-year follow-up, 85% of immature patients and 82% of mature patients had radiographic healing grades of A or B. Patients with open physes were more likely to achieve complete radiographic union at 1 year (65% vs 15%; P = .007) and demonstrated better Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Daily Living (96.8 vs 88.5; P = .04) and KOOS Quality of Life (87.0 vs 56.8; P = .01) at the final follow-up. Complications were no different in either group, and graft failure occurred in only 1 skeletally mature patient with a trochlear lesion.

Conclusion:

FOCA treatment for unsalvageable OCD in the young knee may be expected to yield excellent early results. Despite the presence of open physes and immature epiphyseal osteochondral anatomy, equivalent or improved healing and PRO scores compared with those of skeletally mature patients may be expected.

Evidence-based Risk Stratification for Sport Medicine Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Orthopaedic practices have been markedly affected by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the ban on elective procedures, it is impossible to define the medical urgency of a case solely on whether a case is on an elective surgery schedule. Orthopaedic surgical procedures should consider COVID-19-associated risks and an assimilation of all available disease dependent, disease independent, and logistical information that is tailored to each patient, institution, and region. Using an evidence-based risk stratification of clinical urgency, we provide a framework for prioritization of orthopaedic sport medicine procedures that encompasses such factors. This can be used to facilitate the risk-benefit assessment of the timing and setting of a procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Danish Hip Arthroscopy Registry: Registration Completeness and Patient Characteristics Between Responders and Non-Responders

Purpose

To report completeness of registered surgeries in the Danish hip arthroscopy registry (DHAR) and proportion of patients completing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) prior to surgery and at 1-year follow-up.

Patients and Methods

Completeness was determined as the number of surgeries registered in DHAR in comparison with the number of surgeries registered in the Danish National Patient Registry database (DNPR). The number of patients self-reporting pre-surgical PROMs was compared to the total number of surgeries registered in DHAR. Further, we evaluated potential differences in baseline characteristics between the groups of responders and non-responders at 1-year follow-up. Patient characteristics included age, sex, activity levels measured by the hip sports activity scale (HSAS), and PROMs (Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score, EQ-5D-3L and general hip status). Age was stratified in three groups (<25, 25–39, ≥40).

Results

From February 2012 to September 2018, 5565 arthroscopic hip surgeries were registered in DNPR, and 4937 were registered in DHAR (89%). The yearly rate of registrations in DHAR compared to DNPR increased from 77% in 2012 to 85% in 2018 and peaking in 2015 at 94%. A total of 3294 DHAR-registered patients (67%) had self-reported their pre-surgical outcome scores, and of those, 2886 (58%) completed PROMs at 1-year follow-up. More males (45 vs 41%, p = 0.002) and individuals younger than 25 years of age (24% vs 18%, p<0.001) had not completed follow-up questionnaire. The PROM baseline scores of the responders at follow-up did not differ from the non-responders.

Conclusion

The proportion of arthroscopic hip surgeries registered in the Danish Hip Arthroscopy Registry and the proportion of self-reporting PROM scores have increased to acceptable levels, whereas the proportion of patients with follow-up data is comparably low. For further quality improvement, more attention should be given to patients completing PROMs, focusing on younger males and follow-up PROMs.

A Pilot Study of Hip Corrective Taping Using Kinesio Tape for Pain and Lower Extremity Joint Kinematics in Basketball Players with Patellofemoral Pain

Purpose

This pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility of hip corrective taping to improve self-reported knee pain and lower extremity joint kinematics in basketball players with patellofemoral pain.

Patients and Methods

A single group pre-test and post-test design. Collegiate basketball players with patellofemoral pain were recruited. Three-dimensional hip and knee joint kinematics were measured during two tasks, single-leg squat (SLS) and lay-up jump (LUJ), and each task was conducted under no-taping and taping conditions. Subjective report of pain was compared between no-taping and taping conditions only during SLS.

Results

Twelve collegiate basketball players with patellofemoral pain (median age, 22.7 [2.5] years; mean height, 173.8 ± 7.4 cm; mean weight, 72.5 ± 12.8 kg) participated in this study. Compared with no-taping, the use of hip corrective taping significantly increased the hip abduction angle at the instant of the maximal vertical ground reaction force during LUJ (no-taping vs taping: 0.6° ± 6.3° vs 3.3° ± 5.1°, p = 0.029), and also caused a trend of decreased maximal hip internal rotation angle during SLS (no-taping vs taping: 8.0° ± 6.6° vs 4.7° ± 6.9°, p = 0.050). Hip corrective taping also improved self-reported knee pain during SLS (no-taping vs taping: 3.4 ± 1.7 vs 2.6 ± 1.0, p = 0.046).

Conclusion

Hip corrective taping may be used as an effective intervention for athletes with patellofemoral pain during basketball-related tasks.

Safer and Cheaper: An Enhanced Milestone-Based Return to Play Program After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Young Athletes Is Cost-Effective Compared With Standard Time-Based Return to Play Criteria

BACKGROUND

Safe return to play (RTP) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is critical to patient satisfaction. Enhanced rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction with appropriate objective criteria for RTP may reduce the risk of subsequent injury. The cost-effectiveness of an enhanced RTP (eRTP) strategy relative to standard post-ACL reconstruction rehabilitation has not been investigated.

PURPOSE

To determine if an eRTP strategy after ACL reconstruction is cost-effective compared with standard rehabilitation.

STUDY DESIGN

Economic and decision analysis.

METHODS

A decision-analysis model was utilized to compare standard rehabilitation with an eRTP strategy, which includes additional neuromuscular retraining, advanced testing, and follow-up physician visits. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated from a payer perspective. Costs of surgical procedures and rehabilitation protocols, risks of graft rupture and contralateral ACL injury, risk reductions as a result of the eRTP strategy, and relevant health utilities were derived from the literature. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of <$100,000/quality-adjusted life-year was used to determine cost-effectiveness. Sensitivity analyses were performed on pertinent model parameters to assess their effect on base case conclusions. In the base case analysis, the eRTP strategy cost was conservatively estimated to be $969 more than the standard rehabilitation protocol. Completion of the eRTP strategy was considered to confer a 25% risk reduction for graft rupture in comparison with standard rehabilitation.

RESULTS

The eRTP strategy was more cost-effective than standard rehabilitation alone. Based on 1-way threshold analyses, the eRTP strategy was cost-effective as long as its additional cost over standard rehabilitation was <$2092 or the eRTP strategy decreased the incidence of contralateral ACL rupture by >13.8%.

CONCLUSION

The eRTP strategy in this study adds additional neuromuscular retraining and additional physician follow-up-as well as advanced testing goals upon which RTP is contingent-to traditional physical therapy. Our data suggest that these additions are cost-effective, even assuming only modest associated decreases in ACL graft failure. This study also determined that the only variable that had the potential to change the cost-effectiveness conclusion based on predetermined ranges was the additional cost of rehabilitation based on 1-way sensitivity analysis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This study provides evidence of cost-effectiveness for payers, supporting the use of enhanced RTP programs. The sensitivity analyses herein may be used to determine if any given RTP program going forward is cost-effective, regardless of the exact components of the program.