Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume:11 Issue: 2, Feb 2023

Meticulously peer-review is the main column of high-quality academic journals. The editorial team of the Archives of Bone and Joint surgery deeply appreciates the reviewers who paid kind attention and spent time to contribute their knowledge and experience to the journal’s editorial process over the past 12 months. In 2022, a total of 140 papers were published in the journal, with a median time to first decision of 75.92 days and a median time to publication of 54 days.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are a common orthopaedic injury, particularly in athletic populations. Primary ACL reconstructions (ACLR) have fairly successful outcomes; however, there is a subset of patients who experience failure or re-injury and require a technically challenging revision ACLR procedure. Knowledge of the clinically relevant ACL anatomy and biomechanics, including closely associated meniscal, ligament, and osseous structures, is fundamental for an anatomic revision ACLR. Comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis are also critical to identify the causes of primary ACLR failure and determine appropriate treatment(s). Although outcomes have improved over time, revision ACLR patients still experience sub-optimal outcomes compared to primary ACLR patients. This review will highlight the current concepts of anatomy, biomechanics, clinical evaluation, treatment, outcomes, and post-operative rehabilitation to optimize outcomes for revision ACLR procedures. Level of evidence: V

In orthopedic surgery, there is an increasing number of papers about online studies on the reliability of classification systems. Useful classification systems need to be reliable and valid. Measurement of validity can be variable and is prone to observer bias. These online collaboratives derive adequate power to study reliability by having a large group of trained surgeons review a small number of cases instead of the “classic” reliability studies in which a small number of observers evaluate many cases. Large online interobserver studies have advantages (i.e., less than 15 minutes to complete the survey, the ability to randomize, and the ability to study factors associated with reliability, accuracy, or decision-making). This ‘handbook’ paper gives an overview of current methods for online reliability studies. We discuss the study design, sample size calculation, statistical analyses of results, pitfalls, and limitations of the study design.Level of evidence: V

A paucity of data regarding the implications of postoperative hematoma formation on outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty exists. Previous studies on major joint arthroplasty have associated postoperative hematoma formation with high rates of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and reoperation.  A total of 6,421 shoulder arthroplasty cases were retrospectively reviewed from an institutional database (5,941 primary cases, 480 revision) between December 2008 and July 2017. Patients who developed a postoperative hematoma were identified through direct chart review. Cases with a history of shoulder infection treated with explant and antibiotic spacer placement were excluded. Demographics, surgical characteristics, treatment course, and outcomes were collected.  Hematoma occurred in 105 (1.6%; 105/6421) cases within the first three postoperative weeks and was more common following revision (3.3%; 16/480) compared to primary cases (1.5 %; 89/5941; P=0.002). Overall, postoperative shoulder hematoma was successfully managed with nonoperative treatment in 87% of cases via observation (62%, 62/105) and aspiration (25%, 26/105). A total of 14 patients (0.22%, 14/6421) underwent reoperation for hematoma. Eight patients (7.6%, 8/105) that required reoperation for hematoma were diagnosed with PJI. Postoperative hematoma is a complication of shoulder arthroplasty. While many postoperative hematomas can be managed without operative intervention, this analysis reiterates the association between hematoma formation and the development of PJI. Level of evidence: IV

Deep infection after rotator cuff repair (RCR) can cause significant morbidity and healthcare burden. Outcomes of surgical treatment of infection following RCR are limited. This study aimed to assess the clinical course and outcomes related to surgical management of deep infection following RCR. Patients treated with debridement for infection after RCR at a single institution were included. Postoperative deep infection included the following criteria: persistent drainage more than five days from index surgery, development of a sinus tract to the joint, ≥ 2 positive cultures at the time of revision surgery with the same bacteria, or presence of purulence. Functional outcomes (ASES, SANE, SF-12) were assessed at a minimum of 1-year post-debridement.  Twenty-three patients were included and analyzed at mean six years post-debridement. All were free of infection at the final follow-up. The average age was 55 years; fifteen (65.2%) had infection after primary RCR and eight (34.8%) after revision RCR. Twelve (52.2%) patients required a repeat debridement prior to eradicating infection for an average of 1.9 surgeries before clearance of infection. Statistically significant predictors of need for a repeat debridement included initial open RCR (P = .02), open debridement (P = .002) and infection requiring IV antibiotics (P = .014). Postoperative ASES, SANE, SF-12M, SF-12P, and satisfaction scores were 71.7±25.7, 67.0±28.1, 55.5±6.5, 38.4±14.3 and 3.7±1.3, respectively.   Deep infection after RCR can be treated with open or arthroscopic debridement. However, more than 50% of patients may require multiple debridements. Final functional results after infection control following RCR are satisfactory. However, chronic infection predicts worse functional outcomes. Level of evidence: IV

Bone graft is often needed in treating anterior shoulder instability in glenoid bone loss and graft integration is crucial in achieving good results. This study aimed to evaluate bone graft remodeling in different techniques for shoulder anterior-inferior instability.  Graft osteointegration and osteolysis were retrospectively evaluated with CT-scan imaging performed 6 to 12 months after surgery to compare the outcome of three procedures: Latarjet, bone block with allograft, and bone block with xenograft. Screw fixation and double endobuttons fixation were also compared.  CT scans of 130 patients were analyzed. Of these, 30 (23%) were performed after the bone block procedure with xenograft and endobuttons fixation, 55 (42%) after the bone block procedure with allograft and endobuttons fixation, 13 (10%) Latarjet with screw fixation and 32 (25%) Latarjet with endobuttons fixation. The prevalence of osteolysis was significantly inferior (P<.01) in the bone block procedure compared to the Latarjet procedure (11.7 % vs. 28.8 %). Bone integration was higher in bone block procedures (90.5%) than in Latarjet (84.4%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Among the Latarjet procedures, endobuttons fixation resulted in a higher integration rate (87.5% vs. 73.6%) and lower osteolysis rate than screw fixation (24.6% vs. 38.5%), despite these differences did not reach a statistical significance. Among the bone block procedures, using a xenograft resulted in a lower osteolysis rate (6.7%) than an allograft (14.5%), but the result was not statistically significant.  This study shows a significantly lower rate of graft osteolysis after bone block procedures compared to Latarjet procedure between 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Moreover, our findings suggest good results in osteolysis and graft integration with xenograft compared to allograft and double endobuttons fixation compared to screw fixation, despite these differences being not-significant. Further studies on this topic are needed to confirm our results at a longer follow-up and thoroughly investigate the clinical relevance of these findings.Level of evidence: III

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a novel examination technique, the ‘Pisiform Boost Test,’ in diagnosing a triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tear.  Wrist arthroscopies performed between 2011-2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients’ clinical records were evaluated to determine the result of the Pisiform Boost Test during clinical examination and TFCC tear within the body of the TFCC as seen at wrist arthroscopy. The Pisiform Boost Test is performed by first assessing for ulna fovea pain on passive ulna deviation of the wrist and then assessing pain while the clinician applies digital pressure over the pisiform and passive ulna deviation.  The pisiform Boost test was found to have a Sensitivity of 91% (95% CI, 81 – 97%) and a Specificity of 33% (95% CI, 14-59%) for the diagnosis of TFCC tears. Positive predictive value of 83%, a negative predictive value of 50%, and an accuracy of 78%. A chi-square test of independence was performed to examine the relation between a Positive Pisiform Boost Test and an arthroscopy-confirmed TFCC tear. The relation between these two variables was statistically significant, x2 (1, N = 82) = 6.4551, P=.011064.  The Pisiform Boost Test demonstrates high sensitivity for TFCC tears (0.91). Specificity (0.33) is similar to that in the ulnar grinding test. Therefore, we propose this test be utilized with additional special tests for ulna-side wrist pain to allow clinicians to build a diagnostic picture, aiding decision-making and patient information.Level of evidence: IV

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is the most common spinal deformity disorder associated with bad posture and reduced quality of life. The Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire-Scoliosis (BIDQ-S) is a selfreport instrument that assesses the concerns of scoliotic patients. This study aimed to translate and evaluate the reproducibility and internal consistency of the BIDQ-S in the Persian-speaking population worldwide suffering from AIS. The BIDQ-S was translated into Persian by two native-speaking Iranian translators and back-translated into English by two native-English translators. The resulting back-translated English BIDQ-S was then sent to the authors of the English BIDQ-S questionnaire for validation. After translation, it was provided for 41 AIS patients from those who referred to the outpatient clinics of Shafa Yahyaian Hospital from January 2020 to January 2021. Patients were asked to complete the Persian BIDQ-S and Persian Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) inventories. Internal consistency and reproducibility were assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and interclass correlation coefficients (ICC), respectively. The validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by comparing the scores obtained on the Persian BIDQ-S (P-BIDQ-S) inventory with those obtained on the SRS-22 subscales.  The consistency and reliability of the P- BIDQ-S inventory were confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha of 0.856 and interclass correlation coefficients of 0.882. The P-BIDQ-S scores directly correlated with the level of education of patients (r=0.21, P=0.041). The correlation coefficient between the P-BIDQ-S inventory and the SRS-22 questionnaire was -0.56 (P=0.001). A significant correlation was also observed between the P-BIDQ-S items and all of the SRS-22 subscales (P<0.05).  The P-BIDQ-S inventory maintains adequate reliability, internal consistency, and reproducibility for the evaluation of Persian-speaking AIS patients. Level of evidence: III

This article reviews the most recent information on the orthopedic surgical treatment of locomotor system injuries in various anatomical areas: shoulder, hip, knee and ankle injuries. It summarizes the results of recent major studies published in the last three years (2020-2022) on sports injuries of the shoulder, hip, knee and ankle.Level of evidence: III

We report a case of a 40-year-old man who presented with left shoulder pain and marked functional impairment two days after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Advanced imaging demonstrated focal avascular necrosis (AVN) of his humeral head. Initial management included simple analgesics, activity modification, and an ultrasoundguided intra-articular hydrodilatation injection. The patient subsequently had an improved range of motion but persistent severe shoulder pain. He has now been offered surgical intervention. Despite having risk factors for developing AVN previously, the patient did not demonstrate any recent risk factors for developing the disease. COVID-19 vaccination is known to cause severe joint pain and stiffness rarely. However, avascular necrosis is not a known or documented side effect. His symptoms arose directly after the administration of the vaccine, with no other demonstrable cause. Therefore, we are reporting COVID-19 vaccination as a potential new risk factor for AVN of the humeral head.Level of evidence: V