Delayed rather than early reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament is the current recommended treatment for injury to this ligament since it is thought to give a better functional outcome. We randomised 105 consecutive patients with injury associated with chondral lesions no more severe than grades 1 and 2 and/or meniscal tears which only required trimming, to early (< two weeks) or delayed (> four to six weeks) reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using a quadrupled hamstring graft. All operations were performed by a single surgeon and a standard rehabilitation regime was followed in both groups. The outcomes were assessed using the Lysholm score, the Tegner score and measurement of the range of movement. Stability was assessed by clinical tests and measurements taken with the KT-1000 arthrometer, with all testing performed by a blinded uninvolved experienced observer. A total of six patients were lost to follow-up, with 48 patients assigned to the delayed group and 51 to the early group. None was a competitive athlete. The mean interval between injury and the surgery was seven days (2 to 14) in the early group and 32 days (29 to 42) in the delayed group. The mean follow-up was 32 months (26 to 36). The results did not show a statistically significant difference for the Lysholm score (p = 0.86), Tegner activity score (p = 0.913) or the range of movement (p = 1). Similarly, no distinction could be made for stability testing by clinical examination (p = 0.56) and measurements with the KT-1000 arthrometer (p = 0.93). Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament gave a similar clinical and functional outcome whether performed early (< two weeks) or late at four to six weeks after injury.

Background:The traditional recommendation for displaced comminuted inferior pole fractures is excision of the comminuted pole followed by reattachment of the patellar tendon with transosseous suture. To the best of our knowledge there has been no previous published study mentioning the use of suture anchors for fracture inferior pole of patella. We present a retrospective analysis of five cases of patients doing well at final follow-up of two years.Materials and Methods:Five patients treated at our institute using suture anchors for repair of comminuted inferior pole fractures of patella between January 2007 to March 2007. (range 28 years-55 years). There were three males and two females.Results:The average follow-up was 25 months (range 24 months-26 months). The patients were evaluated for range of motion, strength, patellofemoral scores and any alteration of patellar height. The outcome of the procedure was assessed with use of the patellofemoral scoring system of Noyes et al,5 as adapted by Saltzman et al.6 The final patellofemoral score (maximum 100 points) was 94.6 (range 93-96).Conclusion:We believe it is a novel extended indication of the use of suture anchors and should be in the armament of every trauma surgeon.

Background:There is no clear evidence in the literature regarding the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Literature also lacks on the recommendations on thromboprophylaxis in patients undergoing elective arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. We conducted a prospective analysis to assess incidence of DVT in patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.Materials and Methods:120 consecutive patients with MRI proven ACL injury who were operated for arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were enrolled in this prospective study. None of the patients had risk factors (on history) for DVT, and all were below the age of 45 years. All cases were operated upon by a single surgeon and a standard rehabilitation regime was followed. The patients underwent clinical examination and screening (Doppler ultrasonography/venous scan) for any DVT, on the day prior to surgery, day of discharge (Day 3) and at 4 weeks postsurgery. None of the patients received any form of thromboprophylaxis against DVT.Results:One hundred and twelve patients (61 males and 51 females) completed the study. The average age was 31.6 years (range 24-42 years). All patients underwent arthroscopic assisted ACL reconstruction surgery within 3 weeks of the injury. Two patients (males) in the series had Doppler venous scan proven DVT. One patient was asymptomatic but the screening Doppler picked up the DVT on the third postoperative day. The other patient was symptomatic at 12 weeks with pain and swelling in the leg and had ultrasound -proven DVT.Conclusion:In our study the incidence of deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction is 1.78%. We do not recommend routine thromboprophylaxis in patients, who are not high risk candidates for thrombosis and are of less than 45 years, in patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, with early postoperative rehabilitation.

Documented cases of chronic tend Achilles tears which have healed in continuity are essentially unreported in literature (line 1 changed). Diagnosis in chronic tears is based predominantly on history and clinical examination. These injuries present usually as impairment of ankle plantar Xexion. Thickened scar tissue commonly bridges the rupture site in an attempt at repair. Most surgeons agree that chronic ruptures should be managed operatively (delete). Many surgical techniques are described to repair chronic tears of tend Achilles with gap. However, techniques for chronic tears that have healed in continuity are sparse in the literature. We describe the surgical technique of reconstruction of such a chronic tear that had healed in continuity.

Subchondral fracture of the femoral head is an uncommon entity and usually occurs as an insufficiency fracture associated with poor bone quality or as a fatigue fracture in young military recruits. This condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute hip pain in young patients along with transient osteoporosis and avascular necrosis of the hip. We report a case of acute onset hip pain in an asymptomatic healthy adult in which the diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging and the patient responded well to conservative treatment.