Search

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to study clinical and radiological outcome of 95 stable meniscal tears left in place after arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with a free patellar autograft (with or without a lateral component)., Material and Methods: We reviewed 86 patients who had undergone arthroscopic treatment for chronic anterior laxity (56% solely anterior laxity) with at least one meniscal lesion left in place after ligamentoplasty. IKDC criteria and ARPEGE scores were recorded. A total of 95 stable meniscal lesions had been left in place: 35 lateral lesions (80% longitudinal tears and 77% posterior lesions) and 60 medial lesions (55% peripheral disinsertions and 90% posterior lesions). The lesions measured a mean 10 mm (range 5-20 mm) for the lateral and medial menisci. Mean follow-up was 4 years (range 3-9 years). These patients were young (mean age 26 years), and predominantly men (75%). The right knee was involved in 53% of the cases., Results: At last follow-up, 26% of the patients were grade A, 65% B, 7% C and 2% D according to the IKDC criteria. No revision procedure was required for lateral menisci despite the large size of the lesions left in place in certain cases. Among the 60 medial lesions left in place, 10 (17%) had become symptomatic (8 bucket-handle, 1 longitudinal tear, 1 posterior fragment) and required surgery a mean 3 years (range 1-6 years) after ligamentoplasty. There was no statistical difference between functional score, residual laxity, or type of stabilization in patients who had revision surgery for symptomatic meniscal lesions and the others. Inversely, these lesions were statistically larger (p=0.038) than the others (mean 13 mm versus 9.8 mm)., Conclusion: Outcome of stable meniscal lesions left in place after treatment for anterior laxity depends on the meniscus involved. For the lateral meniscus, irrespective of the size of the lesion, therapeutic abstention has no clinical impact at 4 years. Inversely, for the medial meniscus, 37.5% of the lesions measuring more than 10 mm that were left in place required revision while only 9% of those measuring less than 10 mm necessitated subsequent surgery. Beyond 10 mm, therapeutic abstention led to a revision procedure in 17% of the cases, suggesting the usefulness of a discussion on other indications. Stable lesions of the medial meniscus should not be left in place if they measure more than 10 mm.

Purpose of the Study: Axial deformity secondary to degenerative joint disease of the knee can modify stress forces. Certain studies have reported an inversely proportional relationship between degenerative disease and osteoporosis. The aim of this prospective study was to quantify the horizontal linear distribution of bone density using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the proximal tibia as a function of the femoral neck bone density in patients with knee osteoarthritis., Material and Methods: Between September 1996 and March 1998, 90 cases of primary degenerative joint disease of the knee were programmed for total knee arthroplasty. Prior to the procedure, the patients were assessed clinically and radiologically according to the International Knee Society (IKS) criteria. The mechanical femorotibial angle was measured in all patients and the varus angles were recorded. Most of the patients were women (65 p. 100) with a mean age of 70 +/- 5 years. Valgus knees were excluded from this series. The mean mechanical femorotibial angle was 172 +/- 5 degrees. Fifteen patients had a normal axis (16 p. 100), 32 had a varus measuring 4 degrees to 10 degrees (35 p. 100) and 43 had a varus measuring 10 degrees or more (48 p. 100). The overall varus distance was 6.4 +/- 2 cm. All patients had two DXA explorations: femoral neck to determine the bone status according to the WHO criteria (normal, osteopenia, osteoporosis), knee to determine the linear distribution of bone density of the proximal tibia. A 7 mm high band including 7 regions of interest covering the width of the tibia were explored in the area where the tibial cut was to be made. These 7 regions of interest were: R1, R2 under the lateral compartment, R6, R7 under the medial compartment, and R3, R4, R5 on either side of the tibial spines. The level of significance was set at 5 p. 100., Results: The mean Z score (0.54 +/- 1) in the 90 patients showed a symmetrical distribution. These patients were representative of their age range. Their T score was - 1.40 +/- 1 (m +/- SD) and most had osteopenia (54 p. 100) according to the WHO criteria, although 16 p. 100 had osteoporosis. Mean bone density of the knee was 0.898 +/- 0.163 g/cm(3) and was correlated with that of the femoral neck (r=0.61, p=0.001). There were significant correlations between the differences in the bone densities of the knee compartments (R6-R2, R7-R1) and the mechanical femorotibial angle [(r=0.39, p=0.0001); (r=0.52, p=0.001)]. Irrespective of the overall bone density, there was a strong medial compartment overloading, which correlated with the degree of varus deformation., Conclusion: DXA assessment of bone mineral density of the proximal tibia is a simple, reliable, precise and reproducible method. The distribution of bone density in the degenerative knee depends on the degree of deformation. The average level depends on the subject's general state of mineralization. Osteoporosis does not protect against degeneration of the knee joint since 16 p. 100 of our patients had osteoporosis according to the WHO criteria.

We reviewed 74 partial medial meniscectomies in 57 patients with stable knees, to assess the long-term functional and radiological outcome. The International Knee Documentation Committee score and the residual laxity were assessed in both knees. At the time of surgery the mean age of the patients was 36 +/- 11 years and the mean follow-up was 12 +/- 1 years. All had a limited medial meniscectomy. The anterior cruciate ligament was intact in all cases. The meniscal tear was vertical in 95% and complex in 5%. The posterior part of the meniscus was removed in 99%. A peripheral rim was preserved in all cases. After 12 years 95% of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their knee(s). Objectively, 57% had grade A function and 43% were grade B. The outcome correlated only with the presence of anterior knee pain at final follow-up. In the 49 cases of arthroscopic meniscectomy for which there was a contralateral normal knee there was narrowing of the 'joint-space' in 16% of the operated knees. There was no correlation between this and other parameters such as age or different meniscal pathologies.

Unlabelled: A retrospective study was performed on 122 patients with 124 lateral meniscal cysts, selected from a series of 8100 knee arthroscopies (1.5 per cent). Eight of the patients were lost for follow up, 11 patients had chronic anterior cruciate ligament deficiency or previous medial meniscectomy. Therefore 105 of 124 patients were included in this study. Average follow-up was 5 years (range of 1 to 12.5 years)., Material and Methods: Mean age was 33 years (range of 12 to 69 years). All patients had pain over the joint line with a palpable mass. All were noted to have a meniscal tear at the time of surgery and 60 (57 per cent) had a horizontal cleavage component. They were all arthroscopically treated., Results: Meniscal tears were treated by arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in 104 cases and meniscal repair in one case. Cysts were treated by intra-articular debridement in 91 cases and open cystremoval in 14 cases. Eleven cysts recurred and a second arthroscopy was required. The clinical results, including cysts recurrence, were excellent or good in 87 per cent of cases. Osteoarthritis following treatment of these meniscal cysts occurred in 9 per cent of cases., Conclusion: When there is a cyst and no other intra-articular damage, the prognosis was excellent at 5 year follow-up. For lateral meniscal cysts; arthroscopic partial meniscectomy with intra-articular debridement yields predictable results.

Purpose of the Study: Fifty two of 53 Chiari pelvic osteotomies performed between 1974 and 1991 were reviewed clinically and radiographically with an average follow-up of 10.5 years., Material and Methods: In more than 46 per cent of cases, the osteotomy was performed on a dysplastic painful hip with severe osteoarthritis. Major complications were rare. The Chiari's osteotomy fixation screw was removed in 16 cases. Technically, the average displacement was 22 mm. A ascending osteotomy, related to the level of the osteotomy (p = 0.001), provided good displacement., Results: The functional results were very good or good in 65 per cent of the patients and lasted more than 10 years. Seventy five per cent of the hips were pain free. Radiographically, the center edge angle and the femoral head covering were corrected by the procedure. Degenerative changes of the hip joint were improved or stabilized in 63.5 per cent of the cases. Fifteen hips had undergone secondary total hip replacement, seven during the first five years and 8 after 13 years., Discussion: Factors associated with a positive outcome included: age under 30 at the time of surgery (80 per cent of survivorship up to 15 years of follow up), low stage (I or II) of osteoarthritis, and a technically perfect Chiari osteotomy. The outcome of initial stage III or IV initial osteoarthritis were not as long lasting. Chiari osteotomy functional results were good for the initial 10 years, after this time they deteriorated quickly., Conclusion: Chiari pelvic osteotomy is an alternative procedure to early total hip replacement for severe painful dysplastic hips with low stage of osteoarthritis in young patients.