Mikalyn T. DeFoor's research while affiliated with Brooke Army Medical Center and other places

» There is no clear agreement on the optimal timing or superior type of fixation for medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears in the setting of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. » Anatomic healing of medial knee structures is critical to maintain native knee kinematics, supported by biomechanical studies that demonstrate increased graft laxity and residual valgus rotational instability after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) alone in the setting of concomitant ACL/MCL injury. » Historically, most surgeons have favored treating acute combined ACL/MCL tears conservatively with MCL rehabilitation, followed by stress radiographs at 6 weeks after injury to assess for persistent valgus laxity before performing delayed ACLR to allow for full knee range of motion, and reduce the risk of postoperative stiffness and arthrofibrosis. » However, with the advancement of early mobilization and aggressive physical therapy protocols, acute surgical management of MCL tears in the setting of ACL injury can have benefits of avoiding residual laxity and further intra-articular damage, as well as earlier return to sport. » Residual valgus laxity from incomplete MCL healing at the time of ACLR should be addressed surgically, as this can lead to an increased risk of ACLR graft failure. » The treatment of combined ACL/MCL injuries requires an individualized approach, including athlete-specific factors such as level and position of play, timing of injury related to in-season play, contact vs. noncontact sport, and anticipated longevity, as well as consideration of the tear pattern, acuity of injury, tissue quality, and surgeon familiarity with the available techniques.

Background and objective: Anterior shoulder instability can be debilitating for young, active individuals, and increasing magnitudes of glenoid bone loss (GBL) predisposes patients to recurrent instability and increases the likelihood of failure of soft-tissue only repairs. It is widely accepted that GBL >25% should be treated with a glenoid bone grafting procedure. However, consensus is lacking on the optimal management in the setting of subcritical GBL, typically classified as >13.5%. This article reviews the pathoanatomy relevant to anterior shoulder instability and subcritical GBL, while highlighting existing evidence regarding open augmentation procedures in comparison to other treatment options for this subpopulation. Methods: A narrative review of the current literature was conducted focusing on subcritical GBL in anterior glenoid stabilization procedures, including review of forward citation and reference lists of selected articles. Key content and findings: Computed tomography (CT) is the modality of choice for obtaining precise measurements of subcritical GBL, defined as <13.5%, using the best-fit circle method. There is debate surrounding the optimal surgical management of subcritical GBL. Arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) remains the predominate surgery performed for primary anterior shoulder instability, while glenoid augmentation and open Bankart repair continue to be used sparingly in the United States. Historically, the Latarjet procedure was considered for substantial glenoid defects, but the illumination of subcritical GBL has expanded its indications. Arthroscopic, soft tissue-only repairs with the addition of remplissage, has been shown to have similar 2-year outcomes to the Latarjet in patients with >15% GBL, which has been limited in the study of subcritical GBL. Additionally, utilization of distal tibial allograft and local autograft is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, again, with limited prospective studies in the subcritical GBL population. Conclusions: There is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment approach to recurrent shoulder instability in the setting of subcritical GBL. Conversely, there is a growing agreement that isolated ABR is likely inadequate and subcritical GBL should prompt consideration of a more robust operation. To this end, interest in glenoid bone augmentation continues to grow as a reliable technique for recreating the native architecture and restoring glenohumeral stability are developed.

Background Although stress fractures of the distal femur are rare, symptoms can overlap with other peri-articular knee pathology, delaying diagnosis. Untreated stress fractures have the potential to progress into completed fractures with a higher likelihood for requiring surgery and longer recovery times in otherwise healthy adolescents and young adults. This case series represents the largest cohort of adolescent athletes with distal femoral stress fractures who presented with activity-related knee pain. Methods Patients treated nonoperatively and operatively for metaphyseal distal femur stress fractures at a tertiary referral center over a four-year period were retrospectively identified from the medical record. Results Eight patients (mean age 16.8 y; range 14 to 22 y; 87.5% male; mean body mass index [BMI] 20.9) with a total of 10 distal femur stress fractures were identified. All patients were involved in competitive sports or military training. There was an average of 3.8 encounters with a medical provider between presentation with activity-related knee pain and diagnosis with distal femur stress fracture. All except 1 patient (87.5%) were initially incorrectly diagnosed with another type of peri-articular knee pathology. Six stress fractures (60%) were treated conservatively with protected weight bearing, activity modification, and gradual return to activity. Four completed stress fractures (40%) required operative fixation—3 healed uneventfully, while 1 had an asymptomatic delayed union. Vitamin D insufficiency (<30 ng/mL) was identified in 7 of 8 patients (87.5%) and 3 patients (37.5%) had an underweight BMI (<18.5). The mean clinical follow-up was 13.1 weeks (range, 2.8 to 32.0 wk). Conclusions High clinical suspicion for distal femoral stress fractures is needed to avoid misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis in young, active individuals with activity-related knee pain refractory to conservative management. In this patient population, activity-related knee pain recalcitrant to activity modification, rest, and physical therapy warrants further workup with magnetic resonance imaging and orthopaedic evaluation. Though rare, misdiagnosis can result in catastrophic fractures with prolonged rehabilitation needs. An open line of communication and streamlined access for referral between primary care providers and orthopaedic surgeons is critical in preventing misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. Furthermore, the treatment of concomitant metabolic disorders and nutritional deficiency should not be neglected when treating distal femoral stress fractures. Level of Evidence Level—IV (case series).

The unique physical demands of tactical athletes put immense stress on the knee joint, making these individuals susceptible to injury. In order to ensure operational readiness, management options must restore and preserve the native architecture and minimize downtime, while optimizing functionality. Osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the knee have long been acknowledged as significant sources of knee pain and functional deficits. The management of OCL is predicated on certain injury characteristics, including lesion location and the extent of subchondral disease. Techniques such as marrow stimulation, allograft and autologous chondrocyte implantation are examined in detail, with a focus on their application and suitability in tactical athlete populations. Moreover, the restoration of the osteochondral unit (OCU) is highlighted as a central aspect of knee joint preservation. The discussion encompasses the biomechanical considerations and outcomes associated with various cartilage restoration techniques. Factors influencing procedure selection, including lesion size, location, and patient-specific variables, are thoroughly examined. Additionally, the review underscores the critical role of post-operative rehabilitation and conditioning programs in optimizing outcomes. Strengthening the surrounding musculature, enhancing joint stability, and refining movement patterns are paramount in facilitating the successful integration of preservation procedures. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive resource for surgeons, engineers, and sports medicine practitioners engaged in the care of tactical athletes and the field of cartilage restoration. The integration of advanced preservation techniques and tailored rehabilitation protocols offers a promising avenue for sustaining knee joint health and function in this demanding population.

Context Interest in the relationship between psychology and the outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) continues to grow as variable rates of return to preinjury level of activity continue to be observed. Evidence Acquisition Articles were collected from peer-reviewed sources available on PubMed using a combination of search terms, including psychology, resilience, mental health, recovery, and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Further evaluation of the included bibliographies were used to expand the evidence. Study Design Clinical review. Level of Evidence Level 4. Results General mental health and wellbeing, in addition to a host of unique psychological traits (self-efficacy, resilience, psychological readiness and distress, pain catastrophizing, locus of control, and kinesiophobia) have been demonstrated convincingly to affect treatment outcomes. Moreover, compelling evidence suggests that a number of these traits may be modifiable. Although the effect of resilience on outcomes of orthopaedic surgical procedures has been studied extensively, there is very limited information linking this unique psychological trait to the outcomes of ACLR. Similarly, the available information related to other parameters, such as pain catastrophizing, is limited with respect to the existence of adequately sized cohorts capable of accommodating more rigorous and compelling analyses. A better understanding of the specific mechanisms through which psychological traits influence outcomes can inform future interventions intended to improve rates of return to preinjury level of activity after ACLR. Conclusion The impact of psychology on patients’ responses to ACL injury and treatment represents a promising avenue for improving low rates of return to preinjury activity levels among certain cohorts. Future research into these areas should focus on specific effects of targeted interventions on known, modifiable risk factors that commonly contribute to suboptimal clinical outcomes. Strength-of-Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) B.

Purpose To determine whether low resilience is predictive of worse patient-reported outcomes (PROs) or diminished improvements in clinical outcomes after joint preserving and arthroscopic surgery. Methods A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Science Direct was performed on September 28, 2022, for studies investigating the relationship between resilience and PROs after arthroscopic surgery in accordance with the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Results Nine articles (level II-IV studies) were included in the final analysis. A total of 887 patients (54% male, average age 45 years) underwent arthroscopic surgery, including general knee (n = 3 studies), ACLR-only knee (n = 1 study), rotator cuff repair (n = 4 studies), and hip (n = 1 study). The Brief Resilience Scale was the most common instrument measuring resilience in 7 of 9 studies (78%). Five of 9 studies (56%) stratified patients based on high, normal, or low resilience cohorts, and these stratification threshold values differed between studies. Only 4 of 9 studies (44%) measured PROs both before and after surgery. Three of 9 studies (33%) reported rates of return to activity, with 2 studies (22%) noting high resilience to be associated with a higher likelihood of return to sport/duty, specifically after knee arthroscopy. However, significant associations between resilience and functional outcomes were not consistently observed, nor was resilience consistently observed to be predictive of subjects’ capacity to return to a preinjury level of function. Conclusions Patient resilience is inconsistently demonstrated to affect clinical outcomes associated with joint preserving and arthroscopic surgery. However, substantial limitations in the existing literature including underpowered sample sizes, lack of standardization in stratifying patients based on pretreatment resilience, and inconsistent collection of PROs throughout the continuum of care, diminish the strength of most conclusions that have been drawn. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of level II-IV studies.