Ramesh Gidumal

Objective: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) depends on proper healing of the graft or bone plug at the cellular level. The effect of cigarette smoke on ACLR was not commonly reported until recently. The primary purpose of this review was to determine if smoking has a negative effect on subjective or objective outcome scores after ACLR. The secondary purpose was to identify any increased risk of complications, infection, ACL re-tear, or revision procedures. Methods: A systematic literature review of the MEDLINE, SCOPUS and PubMed databases was performed to identify all studies that compared outcomes of ACLR surgery between smokers and nonsmokers. The frequency-weighted mean was calculated for outcome measures that were similar across several studies. Results: Seventeen studies were identified that met inclusion criteria for patients undergoing ACLR (mean age, 26.8 years) with a mean follow-up of 37 months. Smokers had significantly worse subjective outcome measures and worse side-to-side difference in anterior translation compared to non-smokers (2.68 mm vs 1.89 mm, respectively). In 2 studies, smokers were found to have a significantly higher risk of developing an infection and VTE (venous thromboembolism) post-operatively. The evidence for the effect of smoking on risk for subsequent re-tear is mixed. No study reported a higher rate of development of radiographic knee osteoarthritis among smokers compared to nonsmokers. Conclusions: Cigarette smoke is associated with significantly worse clinical outcome scores, an increase in anterior translation, and increased complication rates after ACL reconstruction. These findings may help orthopaedic surgeons better inform their patients about the potential negative effects of smoking on the outcomes of ACL reconstruction. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV.

We report the case of a woman in the third trimester of pregnancy who sustained an ankle fracture dislocation that could not be adequately closed reduced. After discussions with the patient, her obstetrician, and the anesthesiologists, she was indicated for surgical fixation. A heart tone monitor was used to assess fetal health during the procedure. During surgical incision, the fetus went into distress, and an emergency caesarian section was performed. After delivery of the infant and abdominal closer, surgery was completed. Due to a cohesive team effort, both the patient and her infant had excellent outcomes. There are many important considerations in the surgical management of the pregnant patient with traumatic orthopaedic injuries. Of especial importance to the orthopaedic surgeon is the impact of patient positioning on uteroplacental blood flow. This report discusses factors that should be taken into account by any orthopaedist who plans to operate on a pregnant patient.

In this article, we report the case of a healthy young woman who sustained an anterior hip dislocation while participating in a noncontact activity (ballet dancing). The patient's atraumatic dislocation failed closed reduction secondary to interposition of anterior capsule and rectus femoris muscle. Open reduction using a Smith-Petersen approach was concentric and stable. Postinjury femoral nerve neuropraxia resolved within 6 weeks. At 2-year follow-up, the patient was without complications of the injury-including avascular necrosis and posttraumatic arthritis. She returned to dancing and is now asymptomatic.

The signal intensity patterns of rotator cuff lesions at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were evaluated in 80 patients who had surgical correlation and in 13 asymptomatic individuals (14 shoulders). Six cadaver shoulders were examined with MR, and histologic correlation was obtained in four. All studies were performed at 1.5 T with a flexible circular surface coil. The accuracy of MR imaging in detection of full-thickness cuff tears (31 patients) was 0.95 and of partial thickness tears (16 patients), 0.84. The most common and accurate pattern for full-thickness cuff tears (22 of 31 tears) was a region of intense signal seen on T2-weighted images. Less often the torn region consisted of an extremely degenerated and attenuated tendon with moderate signal intensity or was obscured by low-signal-intensity scar. The intense signal pattern on T2-weighted images was also accurate, although a less common finding (seven of 16 cases), in the diagnosis of partial tears. Tendinitis was recognized as focal or diffuse regions of increased signal intensity or a nonhomogeneous pattern of increased signal often associated with tendinous enlargement. In some patients, manifestations of subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis was present. Tendon degeneration was also manifested as regions of increased signal intensity. Some similarity and overlap of signal patterns of partial interstitial tears, tendinitis, and tendon degeneration are observed.

Injuries to the rotator cuff have often been attributed to a progressive, degenerative process seen in the older patient. Traditionally, impingement has been implicated as the major etiologic factor. This paper will review the recent literature regarding rotator cuff injuries in the throwing athlete and examine the current thoughts on etiology and treatment.

At our institution from 1980 to 1985, 30 patients underwent resection of malignant or locally aggressive bone tumors, with limb salvage and reconstruction by free vascularized bone grafts. Of the 26 patients followed up for at least four months (average, 21 months), four had complications. In these four, there were three nonunions, two infections, and one stress fracture. The average duration of immobilization was 7.6 months in the lower extremity, five months in the pelvis, and 3.8 months in the upper extremity. The average time to union was 6.3 months in the lower extremity, five months in the pelvis, and five months in the upper extremity. Although the technique of oncologic reconstruction must be individualized, our experience indicates that vascularized bone grafts offer significant advantages over conventional methods in selected patients.

Free flap transfer for soft tissue defects involving the sole of the foot have been important in limb salvage. The functional capacity of 16 patients is documented. From our data, free flaps to weightbearing surfaces of the foot give satisfactory results in patients less than 40 years old and salvage is rewarding. Older patients had less than satisfactory results. When the only alternative is an amputation, free flap salvage may still be indicated.

A 71-year-old male presented with unremitting heel pain in the region of his calcaneal tuberosity. He had been previously treated with steroid injections for plantar fasciitis. Diagnostic workup revealed a calcaneal osteomyelitis which was treated with a partial calcanectomy. This case underlines the need to rule out this expected but previously unreported complication.