Incidence of Chondral and Osteochondral Lesions in Ankle Fracture Patients Identified With Ankle Arthroscopy Following Rotational Ankle Fracture: A Systematic Review

MRI vs SPECT-CT in the diagnosis of fracture-related talar osteochondral lesions

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of osteochondral talar lesions (OCTLs) in ankle fractures could explain the suboptimal functional outcomes in well-treated patients. The presence of OCTLs in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not always related to symptoms, regardless of the existence of bone edema. On the other hand, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CT) provides information on the metabolic activity and could have a better clinical-radiological correlation. The aim of the present study is to compare MRI versus SPECT-CT in terms of the clinical-radiological correlation of hidden OCTLs after ankle fractures considered arthrogenic.

METHODS

An ambispective study was conducted in which 40 patients who underwent ankle fracture surgery were included. They completed the AOFAS and EFAS questionnaires and underwent MRI and SPECT-CT. Functional results were compared according to the presence or absence of OCTLs in each technique and based on the existence of bone edema in MRI and radiotracer uptake in SPECT-TC.

RESULTS

The detection of OCTLs by SPECT-CT was statistically related to worse results on the AOFAS scale (p < 0.05). Radiotracer uptake on SPECT-CT was related to worse results on the AOFAS scale (p < 0.05), while this difference was not found in OCTLs where bone edema was observed on MRI.

CONCLUSION

SPECT-CT appears to be superior to MRI in the detection of symptomatic fracture-related OCTLs. Furthermore, radiotracer uptake on SPECT-CT is associated with worse functional outcomes, being a more reliable marker than bone edema on MRI to evaluate the activity of OCTLs.

Arthroscopy-Assisted Open Reduction Internal Fixation Versus Conventional Open Reduction Internal Fixation in the Treatment of Ankle Fractures: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Background

Arthroscopy can be used to assist the open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) approach in the treatment of acute ankle fractures. Arthroscopy can also help to assess the articular surface but is performed in only 1% of ankle fracture cases.

Purpose

We aimed to investigate (1) whether arthroscopy-assisted ORIF (AORIF) would lead to improved postoperative functional outcomes compared to conventional ORIF and (2) whether differences in postoperative complication rates exist between these 2 techniques.

Methods

A systematic review was performed; 2 researchers independently searched the online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. All studies that directly investigated the outcomes of AORIF versus conventional ORIF in the treatment of ankle fractures and contained quantitative data were eligible for inclusion. The Cochrane tools for bias assessment were applied independently by 2 researchers.

Results

Six articles (2 randomized controlled trials and 4 retrospective cohort studies) were included in this systematic review. The meta-analysis of functional outcome scores resulted in a standardized mean difference of 0.6 (confidence interval [CI]: [0.3, 0.9]) favoring AORIF, after excluding 2 studies due to missing standard deviations. The overall complication rate was similar between the 2 groups, with a pooled odds ratio of 1.1 (CI: [0.4, 3.0]).

Conclusion

The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that AORIF might improve postoperative outcomes without increasing the complication rate when compared to conventional ORIF. However, due to the inherent clinical heterogeneity of the included studies, further well-designed randomized controlled trials are required.

There Is No Difference in Clinical Outcomes Between Early or Late Weight-Bearing After Autologous Osteochondral Transplantation for Osteochondral Lesion of the Talus: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To provide a comprehensive systematic review to determine the impact of early weight-bearing compared with late weight-bearing on the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) and were treated with autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) and to review the rate of return to sports and/or activities, patient satisfaction, and complications.

METHODS

A systematic review of the PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library databases was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Publications were divided into group A, in which patients were allowed early weight-bearing within the first 6 weeks, whereas group B consisted of patients who were only allowed weight-bearing after 6 weeks. Unweighted estimates were calculated instead of quantitative random-effects meta-analysis due to the high heterogeneity and low level of evidence of the included studies.

RESULTS

In total, 44 studies with 1,838 ankles were included. There were 25 studies in group A and 19 studies in group B. Both the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and visual analog scale scores were not affected by early weight-bearing after AOT for OLT. There were similar rates of return to sports and/or activities (71.4%-100% vs 71.4%-100%) and patient satisfaction (71.4%-100% vs 65.7%-100%). Notably, late weight-bearers had lower rates of postoperative knee symptoms (0-30% vs 0-39.1%) despite more late weight-bearers presenting with complication rates >20% compared with early weight-bearers (20% vs 14.3%) respectively. Late weight-bearers also had greater rates of repeat surgery (0-26% vs 0-18.2%) compared with early weight-bearers, with the most common cause for repeat surgery being arthroscopic debridement for postoperative impingement pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Protocols allowing for early weight-bearing after AOT for OLT yielded similarly good outcomes in terms of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, visual analog scale for pain score, return to sports and/or daily activities, and patient satisfaction when compared with late weight-bearing. Although the differences in ranges for postoperative complications were not exceedingly different, late weight-bearers have slightly lower rates of postoperative knee symptoms and marginally greater rates of repeat surgery, with the most common cause for repeat surgery being arthroscopic debridement for postoperative impingement pain, similar to the studies with a low level of evidence appraised. The strength of these conclusions is limited because of the high level of heterogeneity, low level of evidence and high risk of bias in the literature reviewed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level I to Level IV studies with predominantly Level IV studies.

Higher Accuracy of Arthroscopy Compared to MRI in the Diagnosis of Chondral Lesions in Acute Ankle Fractures: A Prospective Study

Even after successful surgery for acute ankle fractures, many patients continue having complaints. A possible explanation is the presence of concomitant chondral lesions. The aim of this study is to investigate the accuracy of MRI compared to that of arthroscopy in the assessment of chondral lesions in acute ankle fractures. In this prospective single-center study, patients presenting with acute ankle fractures over a period of three years were identified. A preoperative MRI was performed within a maximum of 10 days after trauma. During surgery, ankle arthroscopy was also performed. The International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) cartilage lesion classification was used to grade the detected chondral lesions. To localize the chondral lesions, the talar dome was divided into eight zones and the tibial/fibular articular surfaces into three zones. In total, 65 patients (28 females) with a mean age of 41.1 ± 15 years were included. In the MRI scans, 70 chondral lesions were detected (69.2% of patients) affecting mostly the tibial plafond (30%) and mostly graded as ICRS 3. The mean lesion area measured was 20.8 mm2. In the arthroscopy, 85 chondral lesions were detected (70.8% of patients) affecting mostly the medial surface of the talar dome (25.9%) and mostly graded ICRS 3. The mean lesion area measured was 43.4 mm2. The highest agreement between the two methods was observed in the size estimation of the chondral lesions. The present study shows the reduced accuracy of MRI when compared to arthroscopy in the assessment of traumatic chondral lesions in the setting of acute ankle fractures especially regarding lesion size. MRI remains an essential instrument in the evaluation of such lesions; however, surgeons should take this discrepancy into consideration, particularly the underestimation of chondral lesions' size in the preoperative planning of surgical treatment and operative technique.

Effectiveness of Concurrent Ankle Arthroscopy During Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Malleolar Fractures in Prevention of Common Short-Term Complications

Rotational malleolar fractures result in a high prevalence of intra-articular pathologies; therefore, routine arthroscopic assessment may be beneficial in the surgical treatment of ankle fractures. However, the clinical studies regarding the effectiveness of arthroscopy thus far have mixed results. We investigated the efficacy of concurrent arthroscopy during the treatment of malleolar fractures using a large U.S. healthcare data set. Those who had arthroscopy were compared with those who did not, during the surgical treatment of malleolar fractures, while adjusting for covariates of clinical relevance. The analysis showed that concurrent arthroscopy is protective against postoperative repeat surgery (OR = 0.13, 95CI = 0.02-0.41) and wound dehiscence (OR = 0.18, 95CI = 0.03-0.56). The number of added arthroscopy cases needed to avoid one repeat surgery was 74, while that of wound dehiscence was 52. Further studies are needed to determine if routine use of arthroscopy is justifiable in the surgical treatment of malleolar fractures, given the additional costs and time to the healthcare system.

A Multi-Disciplinary MRI Assessment May Optimize the Evaluation of Chondral Lesions in Acute Ankle Fractures: A Prospective Study

Chondral lesions (CL) in the ankle following acute fractures are frequently overlooked immediately after the injury or diagnosed at a later stage, leading to persistent symptoms despite successful surgery. The literature presents a wide range of discrepancies in the reported incidence of CLs in acute ankle fractures. The objective of this prospective study is to provide a precise assessment of the occurrence of chondral lesions (CLs) in acute ankle fractures through MRI scans conducted immediately after the trauma and prior to scheduled surgery. Furthermore, the study aims to highlight the disparities in the interpretation of these MRI scans, particularly concerning the size and extent of chondral damage, between radiologists and orthopedic surgeons. Over the period of three years, all patients presenting with an unstable ankle fracture that underwent operative treatment were consecutively included in this single-center prospective study. Preoperative MRIs were obtained for all included patients within 10 days of the trauma and were evaluated by a trauma surgeon and a radiologist specialized in musculoskeletal MRI blinded to each other's results. The location of the lesions was documented, as well as their size and ICRS classification. Correlations and kappa coefficients as well as the p-values were calculated. A total of 65 patients were included, with a mean age of 41 years. The evaluation of the orthopedic surgeon showed CLs in 52.3% of patients. CLs occurred mainly on the tibial articular surface (70.6%). Most talar lesions were located laterally (11.2%). The observed CLs were mainly ICRS grade 4. According to the radiologist, 69.2% of the patients presented with CLs. The most common location was the talar dome (48.9%), especially laterally. Most detected CLs were graded ICRS 3a. The correlation between the two observers was weak/fair regarding the detection and classification of CLs and moderate regarding the size of the detected CLs. To enhance the planning of surgical treatment for ankle chondral lesions (CLs), it may be beneficial to conduct an interdisciplinary preoperative assessment of the performed scans. This collaborative approach can optimize the evaluation of ankle CLs and improve overall treatment strategies.

Posterior Tibiotalar Impingement After Pediatric Ankle Fracture Surgical Fixation: A Case Report

CASE

A 13-year-old healthy, nearly skeletally mature, female patient presented to an outpatient clinic after sustaining a bimalleolar ankle fracture-dislocation, which was subsequently treated with open reduction and internal fixation and casting. Postoperatively, the patient had significant limitations to ankle range of motion. Imaging revealed posterior tibiotalar impingement. The patient underwent arthroscopic debridement and osteoplasty, and she was able to return to previous levels of activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Complications from pediatric ankle fractures are rare, so further diagnostic workup is warranted for patients with persistent pain and limitations.

Anterior Incisura Fibularis Corner Landmarks Can Safely Validate the Optimal Distal Tibiofibular Reduction in Malleolar Fractures-Prospective CT Study

BACKGROUND

Distal tibiofibular injuries are common in patients with malleolar fractures. Malreduction is frequently reported in the literature and is mainly caused by insufficient intraoperative radiological evaluation. In this direction, we performed a prospective observational study to validate the efficacy of the anatomical landmarks of the anterior incisura corner.

METHODS

Patients with malleolar fractures and syndesmotic instability were reduced according to specific anatomic landmarks and had a postoperative bilateral ankle CT. The quality of the reduction was compared to the healthy ankles.

RESULTS

None of the controlled parameters differed significantly between the operated and healthy ankles. Minor deviations were correlated to the normal incisura morphology rather than the reduction technique.

CONCLUSIONS

The anterior incisura anatomical landmarks can be an efficient way of reducing the distal tibiofibular joint without the need for intraoperative radiological evaluation.

Arthroscopically assisted internal fixation for treatment of acute ankle fracture: A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopically assisted reduction and internal fixation (ARIF) allows for the assessment of joint congruity following anatomic reduction, identification of occult intra-articular lesions, and treatment of traumatic intra-articular pathologies. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide evidence on whether ARIF is an alternative treatment protocol for ankle fractures.

METHODS

The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched independently by two investigators from the inception dates to October 9, 2022, for comparative studies. The risk-of-bias tool of the Cochrane Collaboration for Randomized Controlled Trials and the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) were used for assessing the methodological quality. Outcomes were evaluated in terms of the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, post-operative complications, arthroscopic findings, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, and operation time. Cochrane Review Manager Software 5.4 was used to perform the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 10 trials involving 755 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results revealed that ARIF for ankle fractures was superior regarding functional outcomes and VAS scores when compared with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). No significant difference was noted in the post-operative complication rate and the operation time between the ARIF and ORIF groups. A high incidence of chondral or osteochondral lesions (OCLs), ligamentous injuries, and loose bodies with ankle fractures was found by ankle arthroscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

ARIF for ankle fractures might be beneficial to offer superior functional outcomes and VAS score than ORIF. Orthopedic surgeons should take a high incidence of OCLs and ligamentous injuries into consideration for the treatment of acute ankle fractures. We believe that with the increase in surgical experience, the occurrence of post-operative complications and the extension of operation time will no longer be a potential concern for surgeons.

Cell therapies for chondral defects of the talus: a systematic review

Background

This systematic review investigated the efficacy and safety of surgical procedures augmented with cell therapies for chondral defects of the talus.

Methods

The present systematic review was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Google scholar, Embase, and Scopus databases were accessed in March 2022. All the clinical trials investigating surgical procedures for talar chondral defects augmented with cell therapies were accessed. The outcomes of interest were to investigate whether surgical procedures augmented with cell therapies promoted improvement in patients reported outcomes measures (PROMs) with a tolerable rate of complications.

Results

Data from 477 procedures were retrieved. At a mean follow-up of 34.8 ± 9.7 months, the Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) improved of 4.4/10 (P = 0.002) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) of 31.1/100 (P = 0.0001) points. No improvement was found in Tegner score (P = 0.4). Few articles reported data on complications. At last follow-up, the rate of reoperation and failure were 0.06% and 0.03%, respectively. No graft delamination or hypertrophy was observed.

Conclusion

The current evidence suggests that cell therapies may be effective and safe to enhance surgical procedures for chondral defects of the talus. These results should be considered within the limitations of the present study. The current literature should be enriched with randomized controlled clinical trials with larger population size and longer follow-up.