Background: First-time patellar dislocation with an associated chondral or osteochondral loose body is typically treated operatively to address the loose fragment. The incidence of recurrent instability in this patient population if the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is not reconstructed is unknown. Purpose: To determine the recurrent instability rate in patients undergoing surgery for patellar instability with chondral or osteochondral loose bodies, as well as to identify and stratify risk factors for recurrent instability.

Background: The management of adolescents with acute first-time patellar dislocation with an associated loose body remains a debated topic. The rate of recurrent dislocation in these patients may be up to 61% if the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is repaired or not addressed surgically. To our knowledge, a prospective evaluation of MPFL reconstruction for adolescents with acute first-time patellar dislocation with an associated chondral or osteochondral loose body has not been previously performed. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to analyze patients with a first-time patellar dislocation who required surgery for a loose body, comparing those who underwent MPFL repair or no treatment with those who underwent MPFL reconstruction during the index procedure. The hypothesis was that performing MPFL reconstruction would reduce the rate of recurrent instability and improve patient-reported outcomes compared with MPFL repair or no treatment. A secondary objective was to report outcomes of those patients who underwent reconstruction versus those who did not. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This was a prospective analysis of adolescents treated with MPFL reconstruction for acute first-time patellar dislocation with associated loose bodies between 2015 and 2017 at a single pediatric level 1 trauma center with minimum 2-year follow-up. Retrospective analysis was previously performed for a similar cohort of adolescents treated with MPFL repair or no treatment. Patient characteristic data, radiographic measurements, and surgical variables were compared. Primary outcome measures included recurrent subluxation or dislocation and the need for further stabilization procedures. Secondary outcomes included Kujala score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, patient satisfaction, and ability to return to sport. Results: A total of 76 patients were included, 30 in the MPFL reconstruction cohort and 46 in the MPFL repair or no-treatment cohort. The only difference noted in patient characteristic, radiographic, or surgical variables was a smaller Insall-Salvati ratio in the reconstruction group (1.29 vs 1.42; P = .011). Compared with MPFL repair or no treatment, MPFL reconstruction was associated with less recurrent instability (10.0% vs 58.7%; P < .001), fewer secondary procedures (6.7% vs 47.8%; P < .001), and more frequent return to sports (66.7% vs 39.1%; P = .003). No differences in patient-reported outcomes were noted. Conclusion: Performing concomitant MPFL reconstruction in adolescents with first-time patellar dislocation and an intra-articular loose body results in a 5-fold reduction in recurrent instability, reduces the need for subsequent surgery, and improves patients’ ability to return to sports compared with repairing or not treating the MPFL.

Objectives: Elastic stable intramedullary nails (ESIN) are commonly utilized to treat unstable pediatric tibia fractures but have been associated with complications. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for adverse radiographic outcomes after ESIN of pediatric tibia fractures. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent diaphyseal tibia fracture stabilization with ESIN between 2010 and 2018 at 3 pediatric level 1 trauma centers was performed. Inclusion criteria were open growth plates, no intra-articular or physeal fracture involvement, and radiographic follow-up until union. Patient demographics, injury mechanism, fracture characteristics, and implant fill relative to the medullary canal were recorded. Radiographic outcome measures included achievement of and time to union, residual angular deformity, and additional procedures. Results: One hundred seventy-two patients met inclusion criteria and were followed for a mean of 1.2 years. Nonunions were observed in 3% of the patient cohort. Another 10% required >6 months to heal, but did not require further surgical intervention. Angular deformities were common with 57% having a residual deformity ≥5 degrees and 14% having a residual deformity ≥10 degrees. Of the patients with a residual deformity between 5 and 10 degrees, 3% were symptomatic, where as 26% of the patients with a residual deformity ≥10 degrees were symptomatic. Greater angular deformities were associated with open fractures, compartment syndrome, and longer time to union. Patient age, weight, tibial comminution, and canal fill were not associated with nonunions or malunions. Conclusions: ESIN of pediatric tibia fractures results in reliable healing for a majority of patients, but poses risks for residual angular deformities and delayed healing. Open fractures and compartment syndrome were associated with adverse radiographic outcomes.

Background: Prior studies have revealed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of elbow pathology in single-season evaluation of competitive youth baseball players. The natural history of these findings and risk factors for progression have not been reported. Purpose: To characterize the natural history of bilateral elbow MRI findings in a 3-year longitudinal study and to correlate abnormalities with prior MRI findings, throwing history, playing status, and physical examination. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A prospective study of Little League players aged 12 to 15 years was performed. All players had preseason and postseason bilateral elbow MRI performed 3 years before this study. Players underwent repeat bilateral elbow MRI, physical examination, and detailed assessment of throwing history, playing status, and arm pain. Imaging was read by a blinded musculoskeletal radiologist and compared with prior MR images to assess for progression or resolution of previously identified pathology. Results: All 26 players who participated in the previous single-season study returned for a 3-year assessment. At the completion of the study, 15 players (58%) had dominant arm MRI pathology. Eighty percent (12/15 players) of MRI findings were new or progressive lesions. Players with postseason MRI pathology at the beginning of the study were more likely to have MRI pathology at the 3-year follow-up than players with previously normal postseason MRI ( P < .05), although 6 of the 14 players (43%) with previously normal MRI developed new pathology. Year-round play was a significant predictor of tenderness to elbow palpation ( P = .027) and positive MRI findings at 3 years ( P = .047). At the 3-year follow-up, 7 players (27%) reported having throwing elbow pain and 3 had required casting. Additionally, differences were noted in the dominant arm’s internal and external rotation in those that continued to play baseball ( P < .05). Conclusion: Dominant elbow MRI abnormalities are common in competitive Little League Baseball players. Year-round play imparts significant risk for progression of MRI pathology and physical examination abnormalities.

Adult rats equipped with a sensory prosthesis, which transduced infrared (IR) signals into electrical signals delivered to somatosensory cortex (S1), took approximately 4 d to learn a four-choice IR discrimination task. Here, we show that when such IR signals are projected to the primary visual cortex (V1), rats that are pretrained in a visual-discrimination task typically learn the same IR discrimination task on their first day of training. However, without prior training on a visual discrimination task, the learning rates for S1- and V1-implanted animals converged, suggesting there is no intrinsic difference in learning rate between the two areas. We also discovered that animals were able to integrate IR information into the ongoing visual processing stream in V1, performing a visual-IR integration task in which they had to combine IR and visual information. Furthermore, when the IR prosthesis was implanted in S1, rats showed no impairment in their ability to use their whiskers to perform a tactile discrimination task. Instead, in some rats, this ability was actually enhanced. Cumulatively, these findings suggest that cortical sensory neuroprostheses can rapidly augment the representational scope of primary sensory areas, integrating novel sources of information into ongoing processing while incurring minimal loss of native function.

Category: Diabetes; Midfoot/Forefoot; Trauma; Other Introduction/Purpose: The level of amputation in patients with severe lower extremity pathology often presents a challenge. Surgeons are often confronted with deciding between a transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) or below-knee amputation (BKA). Certainly, in cases where patients are candidates for a TMA, the decision might seem rather straightforward. However, the literature has demonstrated that minor foot amputations, like TMAs, often have high rates of revision and often necessitate a higher level of amputation. This study compared revision rates, need for higher level of amputation, post-operative ambulatory rates, and the demographics between patients undergoing either TMA or BKA. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent BKA or TMA and received follow-up care at a single academic medical center from January of 2013 to May of 2021. Demographic and medical historical data was collected and compared between patients undergoing BKA or TMA. A binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate independent predictors for necessitation of revision surgery and/or higher levels of amputation between the two groups. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay, as well as ambulatory and wound status at last patient follow-up. Statistical significance was defined as p<.05. Results: A total of 367 patients underwent either BKA (n=293) or TMA (n=74). On binary logistic regression, significant independent predictors of needing surgical revision were undergoing TMA (OR 2.29, CI 1.23-4.27, p=.009) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (OR 2.28, CI 1.12-4.6, p=.023). Similarly, significant independent predictors of needing higher level amputation were undergoing TMA (OR 4.4, CI 2.01-9.63, p<.001) and presence of PAD (OR 6.18, CI 2.12- 17.98, p<.001). Secondary outcomes showed that more TMA patients were ambulatory (56.8%) on last follow-up compared to BKA patients (30.9%). Hospital length of stay was significantly greater in the BKA group (17.3 +- 21.2) vs the TMA group (13.6 +- 10.9) (p=.04). There was no significant difference between BKA and TMA groups with respect to healed incisions at last follow-up (58.3% and 51.4% respectively). Conclusion: This study found transmetatarsal amputations to have a higher risk of re-operation and need for revision amputation compared to below-knee amputations. Transmetatarsal amputations had a higher chance of returning patients to independent ambulation. These findings are consistent with the literature suggesting higher reoperation rates in minor foot amputations. Patients with peripheral arterial disease are at a higher risk of revision surgery and higher-level amputation with both operations warranting further vascular work-up for patients with severe PAD and absent pulses.

Background: Selecting the level of amputation for patients with severe foot pathology can be challenging. The surgeon is sometimes confronted with an option between transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) and below-knee amputation (BKA). Recent studies have suggested that minor foot amputations have high revision rates and need for higher level of amputation. This study sought to compare the revision rates, need for higher level of amputation, postoperative ambulatory rate, and the demographic factors between these 2 operations. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients undergoing either BKA or TMA at a single academic institution during an 8-year period. Demographic characteristics and medical history were collected and included in a binary logistic regression model to evaluate for independent predictors of needing revision surgery or needing higher-level amputation. Secondary outcomes included ambulatory status and wound status at last follow-up. Results: There was a total of 367 patients who underwent either BKA (n=293) or TMA (n=74). On binary logistic regression, the only significant independent predictor of needing revision surgery was undergoing TMA (odds ratio [OR] 2.30, CI 1.199-4.146, P = .011). The presence of PAD trended toward significance (OR 2.12, CI 0.99-4.493, P = .051). Similarly, significant independent predictors of needing higher level amputation were undergoing TMA (OR 4.117, CI 1.9-8.9, P < .001) and presence of PAD (OR 4.85, CI 1.59-14.85, P = .006). More TMA patients were ambulatory (56.8%) on last follow-up compared with BKA patients (30.9%). Conclusion: Transmetatarsal amputation has a higher risk of reoperation and need for revision amputation compared with below-knee amputation. Transmetatarsal amputation has a higher chance of returning patients to independent ambulation. Patients with peripheral arterial disease are at a higher risk of revision surgery and higher-level amputation with both operations. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective case review.