Is Delayed Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Associated With a Risk of New Meniscal Tears? Reevaluating a Longstanding Paradigm

Background

Delayed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has been associated with an increased risk of meniscal tears. However, studies comparing early versus delayed ACL reconstruction have not clearly demonstrated that meniscal tears diagnosed arthroscopically are new injuries as opposed to concomitant injuries sustained during ACL rupture.

Purpose

To determine whether and how delay of ACL reconstruction is associated with risk of "new" meniscal tears (defined as those visualized arthroscopically that had not been detected on magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) in adult and pediatric patients.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

We retrospectively identified patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction between 2013 and 2022 at our institution. To ensure that MRI reflected initial intra-articular pathology, we included only patients who had an MRI scan within 3 weeks after injury (173 pediatric and 369 adult patients). Multivariate Poisson regression was performed to calculate the adjusted relative risk (ARR) of new meniscal tears after delayed (≥8 weeks from injury) operative treatment.

Results

The mean (± SD) time from injury to MRI was 1.0 ± 0.8 weeks for pediatric patients and 1.1 ± 0.7 weeks for adults. Less than half of the meniscal tears observed arthroscopically had been absent on initial MRI. New medial meniscal tears occurred in 15% of pediatric patients and 16% of adults. New lateral meniscal tears occurred in 48% of pediatric patients and 34% of adults. Among pediatric patients, delayed ACL reconstruction was associated with higher risk of new medial tears (ARR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.5-10) but not lateral tears (ARR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.4-1.5). In contrast, adults had no significant increase in risk of meniscal tears associated with operative delay.

Conclusion

Delayed ACL reconstruction may be acceptable in adults, who may be less active and less injury-prone than children and adolescents.

Assessing operative delay and complications in hip fracture patients on anticoagulants and antiplatelets

Objectives

Hip fractures represent a prevalent geriatric cause of morbidity and mortality. The presence of multiple comorbidities requiring the use of an anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication adds complexity to management and influences outcomes. International guidelines suggest expedited surgery within 48 h; however, anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications commonly cause delays. Research exploring health outcomes in this group is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications on operative delay and overall complications in hip fracture patients.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of hip fractures was performed at a tertiary hospital over a 3-year period from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2020. Data collected included demographics, time to surgery, length of stay, postoperative blood transfusion, venous thromboembolism, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, infections in hospital and 120-day mortality. Patients were categorised based on the use of direct oral anticoagulants, warfarin and antiplatelet medications.

Results

In total, 474 patients were included and 43.5% were on an anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication. Patients on these medications had more than twice the rate of operative delay (41.7% versus 17.2%, p < 0.001) with the greatest in the direct oral anticoagulant group (92.7% delay). After controlling for age and gender, this was still significant for direct oral anticoagulant (p < 0.001) and antiplatelet group patients (p = 0.02). These patients also had a 20% increased overall complication rate (p < 0.001). On subgroup logistic regression, the increased complication rate was noted in the direct oral anticoagulant group (p = 0.006) and the antiplatelet group (p < 0.001) but not in the warfarin group (p = 0.25). Time to surgery beyond 48 h was associated with a double increase in the odds of a postoperative complication (p = 0.005).

Conclusion

There is a significantly greater delay to surgery in hip fracture patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications as well as a higher incidence of complications. Guidelines to expedite early safe surgery in this high-risk patient group are required.

Patient outcome after surgical management of the spinal accessory nerve injury: A long-term follow-up study

Objectives:

A lesion in the spinal accessory nerve is typically iatrogenic: related to lymph node biopsy or excision. This injury may cause paralysis of the trapezius muscle and thus result in a characteristic group of symptoms and signs, including depression and winging of the scapula, drooped shoulder, reduced shoulder abduction, and pain. The elements evaluated in this long-term follow-up study include range of shoulder motion, pain, patients’ satisfaction, delay of surgery, surgical procedure, occupational status, functional outcome, and other clinical findings.

Methods:

We reviewed the medical records of a consecutive 37 patients (11 men and 26 women) having surgery to correct spinal accessory nerve injury. Neurolysis was the procedure in 24 cases, direct nerve repair for 9 patients, and nerve grafting for 4. Time elapsed between the injury and the surgical operation ranged from 2 to 120 months. The patients were interviewed and clinically examined after an average of 10.2 years postoperatively.

Results:

The mean active range of movement of the shoulder improved at abduction 44° (43%) in neurolysis, 59° (71%) in direct nerve repair, and 30° (22%) in nerve-grafting patients. No or only slight atrophy of the trapezius muscle was observable in 75%, 44%, and 50%, and no or controllable pain was observable in 63%, 56%, and 50%. Restriction of shoulder abduction preceded deterioration of shoulder flexion. Patients’ overall dissatisfaction with the state of their upper extremity was associated with pain, lower strength in shoulder movements, and occupational problems.

Conclusion:

We recommend avoiding unnecessary delay in the exploration of the spinal accessory nerve, if a neural lesion is suspected.

Current Practices Regarding Perioperative Management of Patients With Fracture on Antiplatelet Therapy: A Survey of Orthopedic Surgeons

OBJECTIVE

There continues to be controversy over whether operative delay is necessary for patients on antiplatelet therapy, particularly for elderly patients with hip fractures. This study sought to assess current clinical practices of orthopedic surgeons regarding perioperative management of these patients.

METHODS

A 12-question, Web-based survey was distributed to orthopedic surgeons via e-mail. Questions regarding timing of surgery assumed patients were on antiplatelet therapy and assessed attitudes toward emergent and nonemergent orthopedic cases as well as operative delay for specific closed fracture types. Responses were compared using unpaired, 2-tailed Student t tests for continuous variables and Pearson chi-square tests with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for categorical variables. Statistical significance was defined as a P value <.05.

RESULTS

Overall 67 orthopedic surgeons responded. Fifty-two percent (n = 35) of the respondents described their practice as academic. Thirty-nine percent (n = 25) of the surgeons indicated that no delay was acceptable for urgent but nonemergent surgery, and 78% (n = 50) reported no delay for emergent surgery was acceptable. Sixty-eight percent (n = 46) of respondents felt patients on antiplatelet therapy with closed hip fractures did not require operative delay. Surgeons who opted for surgical delay in hip fractures were more likely to delay surgery in other lower extremity fracture types (OR = 16.4, 95% CI 4.48-60.61, P < .001). Sixty-four percent (n = 41) of the surgeons indicated there was no protocol in place at their institution.

CONCLUSIONS

There continues to be wide variability among orthopedic surgeons with regard to management of patients with fracture on antiplatelet therapy. Over a quarter of surgeons continue to opt for surgical delay in patients with hip fracture. This survey highlights the need to formulate and better disseminate practice management guidelines for patients with fracture on antiplatelet therapy, particularly given the aging population in the United States.