Project description:Tibial intercondylar eminence fractures that are displaced and non-reducible require open or arthroscopically assisted repair. Ideally, fracture reduction and fixation would be performed with a technique that has low morbidity, allows easy visualization and reduction, provides firm fixation, does not violate the proximal tibial physis, avoids metal hardware, and does not require a second procedure for implant removal. The suture bridge technique, used in the shoulder for rotator cuff tears and greater tuberosity fracture repair, has the ability to produce high contact pressures with rigid fixation. We describe an all-inside and all-epiphyseal arthroscopic suture bridge technique for tibial intercondylar eminence fracture repair performed with PushLock anchors (Arthrex, Naples, FL). One or 2 anchors preloaded with No. 2 FiberWire (Arthrex) are placed in the posterior fracture bed, followed by fracture reduction. The suture limbs are shuttled through and around the anterior cruciate ligament and over the fracture fragment in crossing fashion and are secured by use of additional anchors placed at the anteromedial and anterolateral fracture margin. The anchors are placed obliquely to avoid the proximal tibial physis in the pediatric population. Anatomic reduction and secure fixation allow more aggressive rehabilitation and faster restoration of joint function.
Project description:Various arthroscopic techniques have been devised for fixation of tibial eminence avulsions, namely percutaneous K-wires, arthroscopy-guided screw fixation, staples, TightRope (Arthrex)-suture button fixation, and transosseous suture fixation. Such techniques provide well-pronounced advantages including less postoperative pain, a reduced hospital stay, and minimal scar with resultant earlier and more compliant rehabilitation. As for transosseous suture fixation, the standard technique comprises the creation of 2 tibial tunnels exiting on both sides of the footprint of the avulsion fracture using an anterior cruciate ligament tibial guide with the angle set at 45°. Our technique entails the creation of a single tibial tunnel directed from the proximal anteromedial tibia to the center of the tibial eminence. The technique uses Ethibond suture (No. 5) and/or FiberWire suture (Arthrex) to fix the tibial eminence by pulling the anterior cruciate ligament fibers and tightening the pullout suture at the tibial exit of the tunnel with a 4-hole button. This modified single-tunnel pullout suture technique is an appealing option that has proved to be effective and economical with a shorter operative time. Moreover, it provides a less invasive option for skeletally immature patients.
Project description:Patellar instability is a common problem in the active pediatric population. When nonoperative treatment of the instability fails, growth-respecting surgical stabilization techniques are required. As the incidence of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction has increased, techniques have improved to avoid physeal injury to the distal femur. These techniques are technically demanding because of the small size of the distal femoral epiphysis in children, as well as the relatively large socket size (7-8 mm in diameter, >20 mm in length) required for sound fixation with a tenodesis screw as originally described. The size of the femoral tunnel for interference fixation puts the surrounding structures at risk of damage. We present a modification of the epiphyseal socket technique for anatomic growth-sparing MPFL reconstruction using a small soft anchor for femoral graft fixation. This has the proposed advantages of diminishing volumetric bony removal from the epiphysis; increasing the margin of safety with respect to notch, trochlear, and/or physeal damage; and reducing the risk of thermal damage to the physis during socket reaming. This technique is technically simple and can be easily learned by surgeons familiar with adult MPFL reconstruction techniques.
Project description:Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tibial avulsion fractures in children are extremely rare. Due to the rarity of these injuries, careful attention to the specific physical examination and imaging findings is necessary for a proper diagnosis. PCL avulsion fractures can be missed on plain radiography in skeletally immature patients. Magnetic resonance imaging should be considered if sagging or posterior drawer sign is positive after a strong hit to the anterior aspect of the lower leg. With this knowledge, clinicians can formulate treatment plans that can return patients to their original functionality while avoiding potential morbidity from misdiagnoses. We treated these patients using the suture bridge method. In children, ossification is incomplete, and they possess a lot of cartilage, so screw fixation easily destroys avulsed fragment. The suture bridge method can firmly fix the avulsed fragments, reducing the risk of damage to the bone fragment; therefore, a secondary surgery for implant removal is not needed. Arthroscopic surgery also was expected to be technically difficult in children due to the limited scope of the operation. We used open fixation because the outcome was unaffected by open surgery and arthroscopic surgery, and all patients returned to full sporting activity postoperatively.
Project description:Few cases of tibial spine avulsion injuries occur in adolescents. An open or arthroscopic surgical approach is indicated for displaced and nonreducible fractures, but evidence for a gold standard is insufficient. Various arthroscopic techniques are available. Suture fixation is popular and shows good results. The proposed technique is a modified suture-bridge fixation using 2 high-strength sutures tied through 2 transosseous tunnels. This simple and low-cost technique avoids the potential complications of hardware fixation within a joint. It represents an arthroscopic treatment option for anterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion injuries.
Project description:Although a tibial eminence avulsion fracture is a rare knee injury, it can result in some complications such as nonunion, limited range of motion, and anterior instability of the knee if the displaced fracture is not well reduced. Arthroscopic procedures for this fracture have been commonly performed in recent years. In patients with small fragments, a pullout operation is usually performed, but arthroscopic suture reduction is technically difficult. In addition, anterior instability of the knee may remain even if the fragment is well reduced at the time of the surgical procedure. Generally, surgeons are concerned about anatomic reduction compared with appropriate tensioning during surgery. Therefore, one of the key points to avoid remaining anterior instability of the knee is to obtain and maintain appropriate tensioning. The purpose of this article is to present an easy and safe technique for acquisition of appropriate tensioning using a tensioning device for tibial eminence avulsion fractures. Although it has limitations, this technique can facilitate the reduction of tibial eminence avulsion fractures and appropriate tensioning of the anterior cruciate ligament.
Project description:Tibial eminence fractures most commonly occur in young children and adolescents with open physes. Displaced fractures are typically treated with surgical reduction and fixation. Multiple arthroscopic techniques and fixation constructs have been described. However, many of these techniques violate the physis with a risk of growth disturbance and deformity from asymmetrical physeal growth. This technical note details a surgical technique of arthroscopically assisted suture fixation of a comminuted tibial spine fracture using all-epiphyseal bone tunnels and knotless anchors. In this construct, sutures passing through the substance of the anterior cruciate ligament help to eliminate residual laxity, all-epiphyseal bone tunnels avoid growth disturbance, and suture anchors reduce persistently displaced anterior comminution.
Project description:The study presents an arthroscopic transosseous suture bridge technique for repairing avulsion fractures of the tibial insertion of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), specifically tailored for adolescent patients. The technique utilizes two mini tunnels, integrating the principles of transosseous tunneling and suture bridging to ensure stable fixation while minimizing the impact on the bone bed. Over a seven-year period, 39 patients with Meyers-Mckeever types II, III, and IV tibial avulsion fractures underwent this procedure. The surgery had an average duration of 52.7 min and resulted in decreased swelling and pain within two months postoperatively. All patients achieved full knee extension and over 120° of flexion. X-rays confirmed complete fracture healing within six to 12 months, and negative anterior drawer test and Lachman test indicated stable fixation. Significant improvements were seen in Lysholm and IKDC scores. This technique offers several advantages: it is effective, stable, and particularly suitable for adolescents due to the reduced impact on the bone bed and successful avoidance of epiphyseal plate injury.
Project description:Tibial eminence avulsion fractures are rare injuries occurring mainly in adolescents and young adults. When necessary, regardless of patient age, anatomic reduction and stable internal fixation are mandatory for fracture healing and accurate restoration of normal knee biomechanics. Various arthroscopically assisted fixation methods with sutures, anchors, wires, or screws have been described but can be technically demanding, thus elongating operative times. The purpose of this article is to present a technical variation of arthroscopic suture fixation of anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures. Using thoracic drain needles over 2.4-mm anterior cruciate ligament tibial guidewires, we recommend the safe and easy creation of four 2.9-mm tibial tunnels at different angles and at specific points. This technique uses thoracic drain needles as suture passage cannulas and offers 4-point fixation stability, avoiding potential complications of bony bridge fracture and tunnel connection.