Arthroscopy of the knee in children and adolescents

A retrospective review was done of 69 children and adolescents (7-17 years old) who underwent 75 arthroscopies of the knee during a 5-year period. Girls were overrepresented (71%). Thirty-eight were children under the age of 16. Of 46 injuries, 34 (74%) happened during sports. Children and adolescents were divided into two age groups based on their presumed state of skeletal maturity (boys 9–15 and girls 7–14 in group I and boys 16–17 and girls 15–17 in group II); meniscal lesions were equally common in the two groups, whereas anterior cruciate ligament tears were more common in older children (NS). Eleven of 17 (65%) anterior cruciate ligament lesions were combined with other intra-articular pathology, most often meniscal tears (9/11). As in other studies, half of the prearthroscopic diagnoses were incorrect. A high frequency of incorrect prearthroscopic diagnoses and of combined lesions justifies arthroscopy as an important diagnostic tool in children and adolescents with a history of twisting knee injury or chronic nonspecific knee problems. Girls practising ball games seem to be especially prone to knee injuries leading to arthroscopy.     

Arthroscopic Chondral Cyst Excision in a Stiff Perthes’ Hip

Persistent hip stiffness in Perthes’ disease indicates a poor prognosis and is a therapeutic challenge. We report a case of a 13-year-old boy with a stiff Perthes’ hip that was nonresponsive to prolonged nonsurgical treatment. Imaging revealed Catterall group IV Perthes’ disease in an advanced reossification stage, with a focal defect in the weight-bearing area of the capital femoral epiphysis. A focal, compressible chondral elevation was detected on hip arthroscopy; on incision, flocculent fluid was released. After the cyst was excised, microfracture revascularization of the chondral defect was undertaken. Postoperatively, the patient had immediate pain relief, correction of deformity, and restoration of painless range of motion; this has continued for 4 years since surgery was performed. Persistence of an unhealed necrotic segment in Perthes’ disease has traditionally been associated with osteochondritis dissecans; however, in this case, the unhealed and nonossified segment produced an elevated painful chondral cyst that caused spasm and stiffness of the hip. Although 2 distinct types of chondral lesions have been described in Perthes’ disease, stiffness arising because of these lesions has not been reported. Patients with this unusual third type of chondral lesion of the capital femoral epiphysis, which causes persistent stiffness in Perthes’ hip, may be identified and successfully treated with the use of arthroscopic techniques.     

Arthroscopic capsulorrhaphy formultidirectional instability

Multidirectional shoulder instability is a common affliction and is increasingly recognized as a debilitating condition in young, athletic patients. Most patients with this condition are in their third decade and have a history of macrotrauma or repetitive microtrauma. Complaints range from frank instability to instability with pain, or to pain alone. These patients may display clinical signs of instability, impingement, or both on physical examination. Generalized ligamentous laxity or shoulder laxity alone are usually present. A positive sulcus sign remains the most sensitive clinical test in distinguishing these patients, even though no data is available on the sensitivity or specificity of this examination. The greater majority of patients are successfully treated with an exercise program stressing rotator cuff and scapular stabilizer strengthening. When patients do not respond to conservative treatment, open capsular shift has been recommended to restore joint stability. Early successes with the arthroscopic treatment of anterior shoulder instability have led to the development of similar procedures for the treatment of multidirectional instability. This paper describes an arthroscopic, multiple suture capsulorrhaphy for the treatment of multidirectional shoulder instability, which is a modification of the procedure advocated by Caspari and reviews the 2-year results of the first 19 patients treated.     

Hip Arthroscopy: Surgical Indications

Successful outcomes of hip arthroscopy are most clearly dependent on selecting appropriate patients. The indications are numerous and continue to evolve. These indications are summarized in this report. The anatomic architecture of the hip region imposes unique challenges to performing this procedure. As a surgeon’s experience evolves, so will his or her indications for this operation. It is imperative to be knowledgeable about the technique, to exercise care with the procedure, and to be certain that it is being performed for proper reasons.     

ARTHROSCOPIC REMOVAL OF ACRYLIC CEMENT FROM UNREDUCED HIP PROSTHESIS

A case is reported in which entrapped polymethylmethacrylate following traumatic dislocation of a total hip replacement prevented complete reduction. A combined arthroscopic and fluoroscopic technique was used to remove the entrapped polymethylmethacrylate. Manipulation of the total hip prosthesis was done after removal of polymethylmethacrylate to minimize mechanical abrasion. This technique allows direct visual assessment of the articulating surfaces as well as the mechanical stability of the prosthesis. The morbidity related to the procedure is minimal and a short rehabilitation period is the major advantage.     

Femoroacetabular impingement in 45 professional athletes: associated pathologies and return to sport following arthroscopic decompression

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occurs when an osseous abnormality of the proximal femur (cam) or acetabulum (pincer) triggers damage to the acetabular labrum and articular cartilage in the hip. Although the precise etiology of FAI is not well understood, both types of FAI are common in athletes presenting with hip pain, loss of range-of-motion, and disability in athletics. An open surgical approach to decompressing FAI has shown good clinical outcomes; however, this highly invasive approach inherently may delay or preclude a high level athlete’s return to play. The purpose of this study was to define associated pathologies and determine if an arthroscopic approach to treating FAI can allow professional athletes to return to high-level sport. Hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAI allows professional athletes to return to professional sport. Between October 2000 and September 2005, 45 professional athletes underwent hip arthroscopy for the decompression of FAI. Operative and return-to-play data were obtained from patient records. Average time to follow-up was 1.6 years (range: 6 months to 5.5 years). Forty two (93%) athletes returned to professional competition following arthroscopic decompression of FAI. Three athletes did not return to play; however, all had diffuse osteoarthritis at the time of arthroscopy. Thirty-five athletes (78%) remain active in professional sport at an average follow-up of 1.6 years. Arthroscopic treatment of FAI allows professional athletes to return to professional sport.     

Arthroscopic Assisted Fixation of Juvenile Intra-articular Epiphyseal Ankle Fractures

The purpose of this study was to present the long-term follow-up of a case series of arthroscopically assisted fixation of juvenile intraarticular epiphyseal ankle fractures. The functional and radiographic outcomes of 6 patients with a range of follow-up of 1 to 5 years were evaluated. Five of the 6 patients had triplane injuries, whereas the remaining patient sustained a juvenile Tillaux fracture. All of the patients returned to full activity within 14 weeks of surgery, and none of the patients had any restriction in the ankle range of motion at the time of last follow-up. The results of this small series of patients suggest that arthroscopic-assisted, percutaneous fixation of intraarticular juvenile epiphyseal ankle fractures is an effective, less invasive surgical technique. Several surgical maneuvers that are helpful in the consistent execution of this technique are also mentioned.