The right surgery for recurrent patellofemoral instability remains a topic of controversy.  While medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLr) is the standby surgical procedure for this condition, many adjuncts including tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) are performed concurrently with the hope of improving the chances of success.  Historically, a tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance greater than 20 mm has triggered surgeons to perform TTO, however recent evidence suggests this may be unnecessarily aggressive.  We welcome Dr. Mininder Kocher, MD, MPH from Boston Children’s and Harvard Medical School to discuss his study evaluating the outcomes of MPFLr alone versus MPFLr + TTO in patients with recurrent patellofemoral instability with a tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance greater than 20 mm.

Despite our technological advances in ACL surgery, the rehabilitation period remains challenging, particularly when it comes to lingering quadriceps weakness. Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Therapy has been introduced as a potential means to speed up the return of quad function. We welcome Dr. Kelechi Okoroha from the Mayo Clinic to discuss his high-level study, “Effects of Perioperative Blood Flow Restriction Therapy Program on Early Quadriceps Strength and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.” By utilizing BFR in both the pre- and post-operative periods following ACL reconstruction, Dr. Okoroha and his team did demonstrate a benefit in strength and patient reported outcomes.

Proper treatment of Type III AC Joint Separations has been a topic of ongoing debate. In OJSM’s August edition, Drs. Mark Tauber, Phillipp Moroder and their team from the German Shoulder Center in Munich, Germany, published, “Prospective Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Treatment of Acute Rockwood Type 3 Acromioclavicular Injury,” a high-level study that showed no difference in outcomes between surgical and nonsurgical management of this injury. We are joined by two of the finest surgeons in California’s Central Valley, Shoulder/Elbow Specialist Dr. Julia Lee, MD from Sierra Pacific Orthopedics and Traumatologist Dr. JT Christensen, MD from Kaiser Permanente to discuss this study and share their insights and practices.

Once an exotic procedure, hip arthroscopy is now a commonplace surgery with an expanding footprint in Sports Medicine. One of the basic steps of hip arthroscopy is a capsulotomy to allow adequate access to the hip joint. Closure of the capsule, however, has been a point of controversy. While expert opinion has long touted the benefits of capsular closure, the technical difficulty of this step and the fact that it comes at the end of a time-sensitive surgery may explain why it is not performed universally. We welcome Dr. Jorge Chahla, MD, PhD from Rush University to discuss his team’s systematic review and meta-analysis comparing outcomes of repaired versus unrepaired capsules during hip arthroscopy. Dr. Chahla presents compelling evidence that capsular closure leads to better outcomes and is the way to go.

Meniscal root tears are a problem. They can occur without trauma, they can only be diagnosed on MRI but occur commonly in a patient population where MRI is not routinely utilized, they don’t respond reliably to partial menisectomy, and they result in rapid degeneration of the knee joint. What we don’t know is how rapid is that arthritic progression. Dr. Caitlin Chambers from the University of Minnesota and her team address this question with their study, “Association of Medial Meniscus Root Tears and Nonroot Tears with Worsening of Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis.” She joins us to discuss her results and gives advice on managing patients with this problematic meniscal tear pattern.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) remains a topic of controversy in Sports Medicine. One of the limitations surrounding this therapy is the paucity of high-quality data to support or refute its efficacy. We welcome Dr. Dean Wang, MD from UC Irvine to discuss his study looking at the fragility of the highest quality data we have on PRP. A fragile study is one in which the study’s conclusion would change with the reversal of only a few outcomes. Our medical community holds randomized-controlled trials in high regard, however if these studies are fragile, how much can we rely on them to be true?

The correct surgical approach for a skeletally immature athlete with an ACL tear remains controversial. Transphyseal ACL reconstruction with a soft tissue autograft is a popular choice that most resembles the technique performed in adults. However, crossing an open growth plate comes with risk of growth arrest, though the frequency and magnitude of that risk is not well known. We thank Drs. Alexander Seeto, MD and Ivan Astori, MBBS for their discussing their findings with us. 

We welcome Drs. Adam Daniel, MD and Patrick Smith, MD from Columbia Orthopaedic Group to discuss their study “Reduced Incidence of Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Internal Brace Augmentation." Though a proprietary orthopaedic implant, the term “Internal Brace” has become a household name in Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery in general.  It’s application in the realm of ACL reconstruction has been theorized, however due to poor performance of prior augmentation efforts with ACLR, Internal Bracing for ACLR has been met with some degree of skepticism.  Dr. Smith has decades of experience searching for ways to improve upon ACLR, a surgery that is still far from perfect.  He reports on his experience with ACLR with autograft plus Internal Bracing.  His results speak for themselves.

2023 OJSM William A. Grana Award for Best Research Paper spotlight - Dr. Olufemi Ayeni from McMaster University Medical Centre in Ontario joins us to discuss his award-winning study “Effect of Osteochondroplasty on Time to Reoperation After Arthroscopic Management of Femoroacetabular Impingement: Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial." As hip arthroscopy continues to grow as a beneficial treatment option in Sports Medicine, high level evidence is needed to support its efficacy.  Dr. Ayeni and his group provide high quality data supporting the long term benefits of osteochondroplasty versus soft tissue work alone.

We welcome Dr. Gregory Maletis, MD sports medicine surgeon at Kaiser Permanante Baldwin Park and head of the Kaiser Permanente ACL Registry.  The KP ACL Registry has generated 55 high-quality, peer-reviewed publications, with huge sample sizes.  Dr. Maletis discusses the registry’s inception, history, inner workings, strengths, and weaknesses.  We close by looking at this current study, selected as an AOSSM Specialty Day Abstract 2023 and featured in OJSM, as an example of what the registry can do.