Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: Arthroscopic microfracture for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) has shown good functional outcomes. However, some studies have reported that functional outcomes deteriorate over time after surgery. Purpose: To use various functional scoring systems to evaluate functional outcomes in a large sample of patients with OLT treated by arthroscopic microfracture. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 165 ankles (156 patients) that underwent arthroscopic microfracture for small to mid-sized OLT. The mean lesion size was 73 mm2 (range, 17-146 mm2), and the mean follow-up period was 6.7 years (range, 2.0-13.6 years). The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were used to compare the functional outcomes between the preoperative and final follow-up assessments. Results: The mean FAOS significantly improved in regard to all subscores ( P < .001). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale showed an improvement from 71.0 points (range, 47.0-84.0) preoperatively to 89.5 points (range, 63.0-100) at the final follow-up ( P < .001). The VAS score showed an improvement from 6.2 points (range, 4.0-9.0) preoperatively to 1.7 points (range, 0-6.0) at the final follow-up ( P < .001). The mean SF-36 score improved from 62.4 points (range, 27.4-76.6) preoperatively to 76.2 points (range, 42.1-98.0) at the final follow-up ( P < .001). Among 165 ankles, 22 ankles (13.3%) underwent repeat arthroscopic surgery for evaluation of repaired cartilage status. Conclusion: Arthroscopic microfracture showed good functional outcomes and improved quality of life with maintenance of satisfactory outcomes at a mean follow-up of 6.7 years. Therefore, arthroscopic microfracture seems to be reliable as a first-line treatment for OLT at an intermediate-term follow-up.

Background: A preoperative severe coronal plane deformity of >20° has been considered a contraindication for total ankle arthroplasty. We aimed to evaluate whether outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty in ankles with severe coronal plane deformity (20° to 35° of varus or valgus) are comparable with those with moderate deformity (5° to 15° of varus or valgus). Methods: A total of 148 consecutive ankles (142 patients) that underwent primary total ankle arthroplasty using the HINTEGRA prosthesis were included. The overall mean follow-up duration was 74 months (range, 24 to 160 months). We divided all patients into 2 groups according to the preoperative coronal plane tibiotalar angle: the severe group (36 patients, 41 ankles) and the moderate group (106 patients, 107 ankles). Clinical and radiographic outcomes were analyzed for intergroup differences, and multivariable regression was used to adjust for baseline characteristics. Patients in each group showed similar characteristics in mean age, sex, mean body mass index, and median follow-up duration. Results: At a mean follow-up of 74 months, we found no significant intergroup difference in the Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale pain and disability score, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score, Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary score, visual analog scale pain score, or ankle range of motion (p > 0.05). However, the final tibiotalar angle, talar tilt angle, and number of outliers were greater in the severe group (p < 0.05). Complication rates did not show a significant difference between the 2 groups (p > 0.05). The overall survival probability of the implant was 91.3% (92.3% in the severe group and 90.7% in the moderate group) (p = 0.354). Conclusions: Total ankle arthroplasty in ankles with preoperative severe coronal plane deformity showed satisfactory and comparable clinical outcomes without increasing complication rates relative to those with moderate deformity in the intermediate-term follow-up. Our results suggested that total ankle arthroplasty may be considered in ankles with deformity of >20°. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) of the hip joint and avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head.MethodsThirty patients (30 hips) underwent cementless THA for AS between 2003 and 2012. They were compared to 30 patients (30 hips) who underwent the same procedure for AVN of the femoral head. Each group was matched for age and gender, and both groups had similar preoperative demographic characteristics. All cases were followed for minimum 4 postoperative years. Clinical evaluation was based on operation time, intraoperative blood loss, quantity of postoperative drainage, Harris Hip Score (HHS), and range of motion (ROM). Radiological results were evaluated by acetabular cup anteversion and inclination, femoral stem orientation, pre- and postoperative leg length discrepancy, and postoperative complications.ResultsThe operation time was significantly longer in the AS group (120.2 ± 26.2 min) than in the AVN group (79.5 ± 11.1 min). The volume of postoperative drainage was significantly greater in the AS group (764.5 ± 355.4 mL vs. 510.5 ± 195.6 mL). Preoperative HHS was lower in the AS group (55.6 ± 13.8 vs. 59.2 ± 2.8). Similarly, postoperative HHS was significantly lower in the AS group (92.8 ± 2.7 vs. 97.4 ± 2.6). The arc of ROM was improved from 146.5° ± 13.2° preoperatively to 254.7° ± 17.2° postoperatively in the AS group and from 182.6° ± 15.5° to 260.4° ± 13.7° in the AVN group. Implant position and postoperative leg length discrepancy were not different between the groups. However, three cases of heterotopic ossification was observed in the AS group, whereas only 1 case was found in the AVN group. One deep infection and one aseptic stem loosening were found in the AS group, whereas none was observed in the AVN group.ConclusionsCementless THA showed satisfactory clinical and radiological results in both groups, despite the longer operation time, larger blood loss volume, and lower HHS score of the AS group. Our findings suggest that cementless THA is an effective and reliable treatment for both AS and AVN.

BackgroundThis study was to assess the accuracy of measuring the tibial and talar components position and to investigate the outlier rate of each component and predisposing factors related to component malalignment after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) using a conventional method.MethodsOne hundred fifty consecutive primary total ankle arthroplasty were performed using the three-component HINTEGRA prosthesis for ankle end-stage osteoarthritis. Radiographic analysis for the accuracy of component position in coronal and sagittal plane was conducted at postoperative 6 months. Additionally, the accuracy of component position was evaluated according to presence of preoperative deformity or joint incongruency.ResultsThe mean postoperative coronal angles of the tibial and talar components (α and γ) were 91.9° and 91.3°. The mean postoperative sagittal angles of the tibial and talar components (β and δ angle) were 84.6° and 91.7°. In the coronal plane, 16 (10.7%) tibial components and 15 (10.0%) talar components showed outliers greater than 5°. In sagittal plane, 15 (10.0%) tibial components and 29 (19.3%) talar components showed outliers greater than 5°. There was no meaningful increase of the outlier rate regarding presence of preoperative deformity or joint incongruency.ConclusionsIn conventional method of TAA, the outlier rate of the tibial and talar components was about 10 to 20%, especially, the outlier rate of talar component in sagittal plane was up to 20%. Therefore, careful attention should be paid to implant the talar component in conventional TAA.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of individual pain sensitivity on the results of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) for the patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Seventy-seven patients with LSS were included in this study. Prospectively planned evaluations were performed twice consecutively before and 2 months after TFESI. These included a detailed medical history, a physical examination, and completion of a series of questionnaires, including pain sensitivity questionnaire (PSQ), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and visual analog scale (VAS) for back and leg pain. The correlations were analyzed among variables between total PSQ/PSQ-moderate/PSQ-minor and pain and disability level measured by VAS for back/leg pain and ODI both before and 2 months after TFESI. Two months after TFESI, there were significant decreases in VAS for back/leg pain and ODI compared with those before injection. Before injection, VAS for back pain and leg pain was highly associated with the PSQ scores including total PSQ and PSQ subscores after adjustment for age, BMI, and grade of canal stenosis. However, any subscores of PSQ and total PSQ scores were not correlated with either VAS for back pain/leg pain or ODI 2 months after TFESI with adjustment made to age, BMI, gender, and grade of canal stenosis. This study highlights that individual pain sensitivity does not influence the outcomes of TFESI treatment in patients with LSS, even though pain sensitivity has a significant negative correlation with symptom severity of LSS.

Background: Ankle ligamentous injuries without fracture can result in end-stage ligamentous post-traumatic osteoarthritis, which may cause ligamentous imbalance after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). However, outcomes of TAA in these patients are not well known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate intermediate-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of TAA in patients with ligamentous post-traumatic osteoarthritis and compare them with results of TAA for patients with primary osteoarthritis. Methods: We enrolled 114 patients (119 ankles) with consecutive primary TAA using HINTEGRA prosthesis at a mean follow-up duration of 6.0 years (range, 3-13). We divided all patients into 2 groups according to the etiology of osteoarthritis: (1) primary osteoarthritis group (69 ankles) and (2) ligamentous post-traumatic osteoarthritis group (50 ankles). Results: There was no significant intergroup difference in mean Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS), American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary, visual analog scale pain score, ankle range of motion, or complications at the final follow-up. However, the final tibiotalar angle was less corrected to 4.2 degrees in the ligamentous post-traumatic osteoarthritis group compared to 2.7 degrees in the primary osteoarthritis group ( P = .001). More concomitant procedures were required at the index surgery for the ligamentous post-traumatic osteoarthritis group ( P = .001). The estimated 5-year survivorship was 93.4% (primary osteoarthritis group: 91.3%; ligamentous post-traumatic osteoarthritis group: 95.8%). Conclusions: Clinical outcomes, complication rate, and 5-year survivorship of TAA in ankles with primary and ligamentous post-traumatic osteoarthritis were comparable with intermediate-term follow-up. Our results suggest that TAA would be a reliable treatment in ankles with ligamentous post-traumatic osteoarthritis when neutrally aligned stable ankles are achieved postoperatively. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of late applied negative pressure on postoperative drain output after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).Patients and methods100 patients (100 hips) were treated by closed suction drainage applying negative pressure immediately after THA (group I). The remaining 100 patients (100 hips) were treated by the same drainage system, but the negative pressure was not applied in the first 24 h after THA and then negative pressure was applied (group II).ResultsThe mean total drain output was different between the two groups (group I: 597 ± 200.1 mL, group II: 403 ± 204.1 mL; p < 0.05). Reported drain output from immediate postoperative to postoperative day one was 369 ± 125.5 ml in group I and 221 ± 141.3 ml in group II (p < 0.05). The change of hemoglobin from immediate postoperative to 24 h after THA was lower in group II (group I: 1.5 ± 0.62 g/dL, group II: 1.1 ± 0.73 g/dL; p = 0.004). The mean unit number of blood transfusions was 1.0 (range, 0.0–5.0) in group I and 0.3 (range, 0.0–2.0) in group II (p < 0.05). There was no difference in Harris hip score between the two groups at postoperative 1 year or last follow-up (p = 0.073).ConclusionThe minor change in drain system management can reduce postoperative blood loss after primary THA and the need for transfusion.Level of evidence: Level III, Therapeutic study