Diagnostic arthroscopy and arthroscopic surgery: experiences with 500 knee arthroscopies]

A diagnosis by clinical examination and arthrography was not possible in 160 out of 500 arthroscopically examined patients, most of them with post-traumatic knee disorders. In 157 cases the clinical diagnosis was wrong, and in another 58 cases incomplete. Only in 89 patients (18%) arthroscopy proved the clinical diagnosis to be correct. At arthroscopy, a meniscal injury was found in 156 patients (medial meniscus 57, lateral meniscus 64, both menisci 8). With regard to the menisci a previous arthrography was found correct only in 103 out of 213 cases, i.e. in 48%. Lesions of the articular cartilage were present in 210 patients, although they were expected clinically in only one third of these cases. Normal intraarticular structures were found in 95 examinations. The arthroscopic examination was insufficient three times because of a protruding fat pad, and wrong in 2 patients in whom an arthroscopically diagnosed meniscal tear could not be found at arthrotomy. The morbidity of arthroscopy is small. Only complications: A local allergic reaction because of a wound spray in four cases, bronchial asthma following general anesthesia in two patients. No infection occurred. Several therapeutic procedures may be carried out through the arthroscope. So loose bodies were removed from the joint in 39 and partial meniscectomy performed in 13 patients, all of them being treated as out-patients.     

Diagnostic arthroscopy of the hip joint

Objective  Refinement of diagnosis of hip disorders with the possibility of adding minimally invasive surgical procedures. Indications  Hip symptoms and effusions not yet diagnosed. Disorders where a decision has to be taken whether to continue conservative care or to proceed with surgery. Intraarticular loose bodies. Labral lesions. Biopsies to establish a diagnosis. Synovial diseases. Localized articular cartilage defects. Purulent arthritis. Contraindications  Recent fracture of acetabulum. Advanced osteoarthritis. Impossibility to distract the joint. Surgical Technique  Supine. Arthrography for imaging of labrum and femoral head. Joint distension. 3-portal technique for arthroscopy of the central compartment of the joint under traction on a fracture table. 2-portal technique for viewing of the peripheral compartment without traction. Both techniques make use of 30° and 70° arthroscopes. Results  Between October 1997 and end of 2000, we performed 60 hip arthroscopies: 34 of the central and peripheral compartments, 16 of only the central and ten of only the peripheral compartment. Besides synovial reactions in all, 15 of 33 hips with early or moderate osteoarthritis showed additional intraarticular lesions. These findings justified an early total hip replacement in six patients. In four out of six patients with unclear hip symptoms, a final diagnosis could be established. In another five patients the diagnosis could be confirmed (4× chondromatosis, and 1× free body). In five patients indication for correctional osteotomy was validated and in one rejected due to advanced articular cartilage damage. Complications: transient hypoesthesia (4×), superficial cartilage damage (7×), instrument breakage (2×), small labral tears (4×), soft tissue edema and early termination of operation (2×).     

Accuracy of diagnostic arthroscopy of the ankle joint

A series of 34 diagnostic arthroscopic examinations of the ankle joint has been performed. All of the patients in this study also had an arthrotomy procedure after the arthroscopy. The arthroscopic diagnosis was confirmed by gross examination of the ankle joint in 32 of 34 patients. This resulted in a 94% diagnostic accuracy.     

Normal and abnormal arthroscopic anatomy of the ankle joint

Normal and abnormal intraarticular anatomy of the ankle is presented from an arthroscopist's perspective. Pathologic anatomy including synovitis, transchondral fracture, impingement lesions, osteochondral bodies, and erosions are described. A classification of chondromalacia and current concepts of its pathogenesis are presented.     

Biomechanics of the upper ankle joint

In most cases the ankle joint represents a simple hinge, the unimpaired function of which is dependent on normal play of the distal tibiofibular joint. During flexion and extension of the ankle joint, bending of the fibula is responsible for a substantial part of the mediolateral translational movement of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis. In comparison with articular body forms under typical stress conditions, ligamentous restraints are of secondary importance. Tensile behaviour of fibular collateral ligaments seems to allow restricted, functional follow-up treatment. In the injury pattern of the ankle joint, the role of the interosseous membrane needs further evaluation. The clinical problems associated with tibiofibular subluxation and synostosis can be explained naturally by the impaired biomechanics of the ankle joint.     

Day case arthroscopy and arthroscopic surgery of the knee.

A Day Case Unit was opened at Wexham Park Hospital in October 1985 and this paper describes the first year's experience in arthroscopy and arthroscopic surgery. Ninety nine knees in 96 patients were examined. The predominant diagnoses were lesions of the medial meniscus (33%), ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament (30%) and lesions of the lateral meniscus (20%). Fourteen knees (14%) were normal. There was one postoperative infection, 3 patients had troublesome effusions and one patient developed a synovial fistula. Two patients required overnight admission. The waiting list was reduced from 14.7 weeks to 3.0 weeks. The advantages and limitations of this technique is discussed.     

The use of an ankle joint distractor in ankle arthroscopy.

Joint distraction, whether manual or mechanical, is a common practice in orthopedic surgery for knee and shoulder arthroscopy and can be extrapolated to include ankle joint arthroscopy. Manual joint distraction involves manipulation of the ankle joint by gravity or manual traction applied by an assistant. Mechanical distraction can be achieved by joint infiltration with solution or a joint distractor. Although the use of a joint distractor in arthroscopy of the ankle is not a new technique, podiatric literature has rarely reported on its use to allow for easier access and implementation of arthroscopic instruments. The ankle joint distractor allows the surgeon to take advantage of pathologic ligamentous laxity, thus increasing the joint space from an average 3.4 to 7.8 mm.     

Diagnostic arthroscopy in injuries of the knee joint

Diagnostic arthroscopy is indicated, if other methods of diagnosis have reached their limits. It has become indispensable to proper assessment of injuries of the menisci, cartilage, synovial folds, and plicae and for suspicion of isolated cruciate knee ligament rupture. The practicability or impracticability of an arthroscopic operation in a given case, of course, has bearings upon indication for diagnostic arthroscopy. Patients are usually examined in general anaesthesia, with the joint filled with liquid, using a 30-degree widle-angle lens and a video system. Probing of intra-articular structures is absolutely necessary. The following two specific groups of indications have gained particular importance in knee injuries: Acute arthroscopy is imperative in any case of hemarthrosis with unknown aetiology (ligament injuries were found in 67 per cent of these patients), and it is the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure of choice in acute locking of the knee. Diagnostic arthroscopy should be followed by re-arthroscopy, if the further clinical course cannot be explained by the findings already recorded or in case of new symptoms or additional symptoms in the wake of arthroscopic operation or if major symptoms persist. In the latter case, re-arthroscopy should be performed not later than four to six months from first treatment. Re-arthroscopy revealed a need for another arthroscopic operation after earlier diagnostic arthroscopy in 48 per cent of all cases and after previous arthroscopic operation in 63 per cent.     

Diagnostic and operative arthroscopy of the ankle. An experimental approach

To determine safe and effective placements of the arthroscope, 14 freshly amputated ankle joint specimens were used for experimental diagnostic and operative procedures. Preoperatively, chondral and osteochondral lesions, articular defects, and loose bodies were created within the ankle joint. The following arthroscopic portals were investigated: anteromedial, anterocentral, anterolateral, posteromedial, and posterolateral. Overlapping of vision fields was noted with the three anterior portals. Optimum visualization of a lesion was obtained when the arthroscope was placed on the same side as the lesion. Lesions on the posterior aspect of the talar dome and within the posterior talar pouch required the posterior placement of the arthroscope for optimum visualization. The use of the anterocentral approach, with a 2.7-mm arthroscope yields good visualization of the anterior aspect of the joint, and very often, of the posterior compartment. Anatomic guidelines for the avoidance of neurovascular structures and the exact placement of the arthroscope in both anterior and posterior portals are presented and were specifically defined in two additional fresh ankle specimens.     

Prosthetic replacement of the upper ankle joint

Results after total ankle arthroplasty in the 1970s and 1980s were poor. The outcomes of these surgeries deteriorated rather dramatically with time. Causes of failure were multifactorial, but the two main reasons for failure were constrained designs and cement fixation. Today, the design of total ankle arthroplasty is unconstrained and the fixation is uncemented. Total ankle arthroplasties are considered technically demanding procedures, with relatively high early postoperative complication rates. As yet, the ideal total ankle patient remains to be defined. Good alignment and ligamentous stability are essential. Osteonecrosis and profound osteoporosis are associated with poor results due to problems with bony fixation. Patients should be advised that the implant may fail and that this may require further surgery, including the potential need for an ankle fusion. The results of ankle fusions, although usually initially good, seem to deteriorate with time. Not uncommonly, patients frequently develop peritarsal degenerative joint disease several years after an ankle arthrodesis. Because of the associated pain and functional limitations that can follow ankle fusion, efforts to develop a workable total ankle replacement continue. At present, the long-term results of new designs are unknown. Today, total ankle arthroplasty should be limited to centers where patient volume and infrastructure allows critical review and prospective clinical trials to determine the factors leading to successful and unsuccessful outcomes.     

关节镜在踝关节运动损伤中的作用

目的　探讨关节镜手术在踝关节运动损伤的诊断和治疗价值。　方法　回顾分析 1992年 12月～ 2 0 0 1年 12月 5 2例 (5 3个踝 )踝关节损伤施行踝关节镜手术 ,采用改良McGuire踝关节评分系统 (1988)对手术前后功能状况进行评分。　结果　术后平均 10天恢复日常活动 ,运动员恢复专项运动时间平均 2 5月。除有 1例因再次外伤恢复稍慢外 ,所有运动员均恢复到伤前最佳运动水平。并发症 3例 (5 8% )。术前McGuire踝关节评分 (6 0 4± 9 1)分 ,术后 (89 0± 5 7)分 ,提高 (2 8 7± 8 6 )分 (t =2 4 1,P <0 0 0 1)。随访 5 1例 ,时间 6月～ 9年 ,平均 18 4月。优 4 5例 ,良 5例 ,可 1例 ,优良率 98 0 % (5 0 5 1)。　结论　踝关节镜手术创伤小 ,恢复快。特别是对伤后无骨折脱位 ,踝关节反复肿痛 ,活动后加重的病例 ,保守治疗半年以上效果不佳者 ,应行关节镜手术 ,明确诊断同时进行有效治疗 ,有明显关节不稳定者应同期重建关节的稳定性。     

Arthrodesis of the upper ankle joint. Indications, technique, results]

From 1984 to 1990 a total of 119 arthrodesis of the upper ankle joint were performed at the Hospital of Accident Surgery of the Trade Association in Frankfurt am Main. The results of 98 patients after an arthrodesis of the upper ankle joint are documented by an x-ray control series and patient files, including the expertise on the medical status of pensioners plus a follow-up examination of 34 patients. The indications and the results are discussed on the basis of the various procedures. The results confirm the method of a compressions arthrodesis with an extension screw in case of a posttraumatic arthrosis of the upper ankle joint, while a fixateur externe should be used in case of chronical osteomyelitis, osteoporotic bones, extensive tissue swellings and after a pilon or talus fragment fracture.     

Epidemiologic data of rupture of the fibular ligament of the upper ankle joint]

Epidemical studies of fibular ligament lesions of the ankle joint lateral ligamentous lesions at the ankle joint are one of the most accidental injuries. It is necessary to bestow great care on prevention and therapy to avoid after effects. We report about 150 cases of acute injuries of the fibular ligament lesions of the ankle joint in 1987 treated by surgery and followed up to explore the cause of injury, its dimensions, the groups of patients and time of accident. Corresponding to literature sports activities were mostly the reason of accidents followed by casional accidents and industrial accidents. Mainly young people suffered from this injury preferring men. The part of reruptures was 14%. In 61.3% both Lig. fibulotal. ant. and Lig. fibulocalc. were ruptured followed by isolated rupture of the Lig. fibulotal.ant. in 32.7% of the cases.