Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction using patella bone tunnel techniques with or without implants. A systematic review of outcomes and complications

PURPOSE

Τhe main goal of this study was to compare the clinical results, including the complication rates and patient-reported outcomes, in patients who underwent surgery for recurrent patellar dislocation using different patellar tunnel fixation techniques. This study compared Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) reconstruction implant free techniques against ones that used implants.

METHODS

The present systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was conducted in January 2023. We included patients who underwent isolated MPFL reconstruction for recurrent patellar instability. Patients with confirmed concomitant or prior ipsilateral knee procedures, multiligament injury, severe patellar dysplasia or less than 6 months of follow-up were excluded. MINORS and MCMS scores were used for the assessment of methodological quality.

RESULTS

Data from 750 procedures were collected, of which 284 used implants to perform the procedure while in 455 an implant-free technique was used. Patient age at the time of surgery ranged from 11 to 60 years while the follow-up time of the studies ranged between 3 and 108 months. Postoperative Kujala (0.3, p = 0.89) and Lysholm (1.2, p = 0.26) scores were better in the implant-free techniques compared to implant-based. A higher rate of recurrent dislocation (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.10-2.54, p = 0.4), subluxation (OR 0.20; 95% CI 0.40-0.88, p = 0.019) and stiffness (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.33-1.72, p = 0.55) was noted in the implant-free techniques, while the implant-based techniques displayed increased incidence of patella fractures (OR 3.12; 95% CI 0.77-12.6, p = 0.09), reoperation (OR 1.69; 95% CI 0.78-3.65, p = 0.17) and infection (OR 2.07; 95% CI 0.46-9.32, p = 0.33).

CONCLUSION

There was no significant difference between the 2 techniques in terms of patient reported outcomes. Regarding complications, MPFL reconstruction using implants demonstrated significant higher rate of patella fractures while the implant free technique showed a greater risk of subluxation.

Care Bundle Approach to Minimizing Infection Rates after Neurosurgical Implants for Neuromodulation: A Single-Surgeon Experience

INTRODUCTION

Implant-related infections carry a high morbidity. Infectious rates for neuromodulation implants range from 1% to 9% for deep brain stimulation (DBS), 0% to 10% for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems, and 3% to 15% for intrathecal (IT) pump systems. Meanwhile, studies of care bundles report infection rate reduction to 1.0% for SCS and 0.3% for cardiac implants. Herein, we evaluate the effectiveness of an infection prevention bundle (IPB) in minimizing infections after surgeries for neuromodulation implants.

METHODS

An IPB focused on preoperative checklists, screening questionnaires, methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus decolonization, weight-based antibiotic prophylaxis, strict draping and surgical techniques, and wound care education was implemented in our functional neurosurgery division in April 2015. We retrospectively reviewed all surgeries for implantation or replacement of SCS, DBS, and IT pump system components from March 2013 to October 2017. The patients were divided into pre-IPB and post-IPB groups. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon. Each surgical site was considered a unique surgical case. Infection rates were calculated for pre-IPB and post-IPB groups.

RESULTS

A total of 688 patients underwent 1161 unique surgical procedures (222 DBS electrodes, 419 IPG, 203 SCS, 317 IT pumps) during the study period. There were 546 pre-IPB and 615 post-IPB surgical procedures. The pre-IPB infection rates were 0%, 1.3%, and 8.7% for SCS, DBS, and IT pumps, respectively. The post-IPB infection rates were 0%, 0.3%, and 1.8% for SCS, DBS, and IT pumps, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of a standardized IPB approach reduced the number of infections for all neuromodulation implants studied. This approach can be adopted within any specialty to potentially decrease the incidence of implant-related infections.

Factors related to outcome of early and delayed prosthetic joint infections

In this prospective study, we evaluate the impact of adherence to a diagnostic and therapeutic protocol on prosthetic joint infections (PJI) diagnostic accuracy and outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with early or delayed PJI referred over a 5-year period were included. Diagnosis was based on characteristic clinical signs, radiographic findings and microbiological evidence. Antibiotics were chosen on the basis of microbiological findings, and drugs active against methicillin-resistant staphylococci were administered if no microbiological evidence had been obtained.

RESULTS

Inclusion criteria were met in 159 cases (median age 64 years, males 45%). 56 were early infections and 103 delayed infections. Comorbidities were reported in 99 (62%) cases. Positive cultures were obtained in 122/159 (77%), coagulase-negative staphylococci were cultured in 20%, Staphylococcus aureus in 28%, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 7%. In early infections, cure rate after debridement and antibiotic therapy was 80%. In delayed infections, cure rate after two-stage exchange was 85%. Of 28 patients with delayed infection treated with antibiotics without surgery, only 8 (29%) infections were suppressed 48 weeks after treatment discontinuation. Rifampin afforded a better outcome.

CONCLUSION

Appropriate diagnostic and surgical procedures and microbiologically driven antibiotic therapy including rifampin are recommended to improve diagnostic accuracy and outcome.

A retrospective multicenter study of the Artelon® carpometacarpal joint implant

BACKGROUND

This study aims to evaluate patient outcomes associated with use of the Artelon® Spacer for the treatment of arthritis of the carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) of the thumb.

METHODS

Patients with Eaton stage I, II, or III carpometacarpal (CMC) joint arthritis and disabling pain that had failed conservative treatment were evaluated at 12, 36, and 48 months postsurgery for changes in pinch, patient satisfaction, pain, range of motion, grip strength, grind test, operative time, and X-ray evidence of subsidence.

RESULTS

Complete data was available for 46 subjects and 49 thumbs. A statistically significant improvement in pain when subjected to a first CMC joint grind test, CMCJ stability and patient perception of hand and wrist function following implant insertion was seen. Patient-oriented outcomes showed statistically significant improvement in the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand; pain; pinch and grip strength; and range of motion. X-ray analysis revealed that none of the distributions of measures of osteophytes, subluxation, and joint space narrowing showed statistically significant change. Bone erosion/remodeling changes of the first metacarpal were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

At a follow-up period of 4 years, patients had measured improvement as well as positive self-reported functional improvements following Artelon® implant insertion for the treatment of arthritis of the thumb CMCJ.