Chondral and osteochondral lesions due to injury or other pathology commonly result in the development of osteoarthritis, eventually leading to progressive total joint destruction. Although current progress suggests that biologic agents can delay the advancement of deterioration, such drugs are incapable of promoting tissue restoration. The limited ability of articular cartilage to regenerate renders joint arthroplasty an unavoidable surgical intervention. This Review describes current, widely used clinical repair techniques for resurfacing articular cartilage defects; short-term and long-term clinical outcomes of these techniques are discussed. Also reviewed is a developmental pipeline of acellular and cellular regenerative products and techniques that could revolutionize joint care over the next decade by promoting the development of functional articular cartilage. Acellular products typically consist of collagen or hyaluronic-acid-based materials, whereas cellular techniques use either primary cells or stem cells, with or without scaffolds. Central to these efforts is the prominent role that tissue engineering has in translating biological technology into clinical products; therefore, concomitant regulatory processes are also discussed.

https://escholarship.org/content/qt76m4g3q5/qt76m4g3q5.pdf?t=oe66jy

Repair and tissue engineering techniques for articular cartilage

Background Studies investigating the development of ACL injuries over time in football are scarce and more data on what happens before and after return to play (RTP) are needed. Aim To investigate (1) time trends in ACL injury rates, (2) complication rates before return to match play following ACL reconstruction, and (3) the influence of ACL injury on the subsequent playing career in male professional football players. Methods 78 clubs were followed between 2001 and 2015. Time trend in ACL injury rate was analysed using linear regression. ACL-injured players were monitored until RTP and tracked for 3 years after RTP. Results We recorded 157 ACL injuries, 140 total and 17 partial ruptures, with a non-significant average annual increase in the ACL injury rate by 6% (R(2)=0.13, b=0.059, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.15, p=0.20). The match ACL injury rate was 20-fold higher than the training injury rate (0.340 vs 0.017 per 1000 h). 138 players (98.6%) with a total rupture underwent ACL reconstruction; all 134 players with RTP data (4 players still under rehabilitation) were able to return to training, but 9 of them (6.7%) suffered complications before their first match appearance (5 reruptures and 4 other knee surgeries). The median layoff after ACL reconstruction was 6.6 months to training and 7.4 months to match play. We report 3-year follow-up data for 106 players in total; 91 players (85.8%) were still playing football and 60 of 93 players (65%) with ACL reconstruction for a total rupture played at the same level. Conclusions The ACL injury rate has not declined during the 2000s and the rerupture rate before return to match play was 4%. The RTP rate within a year after ACL reconstruction was very high, but only two-thirds competed at the highest level 3 years later.

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/50/12/744.full.pdf

ACL injuries in men's professional football: a 15-year prospective study on time trends and return-to-play rates reveals only 65% of players still play at the top level 3 years after ACL rupture

which allows today’s reader to appreciate the lineage and evolution of this remarkable book. The first 10 chapters have been updated with contemporary literature since the publication on the first 2 editions such that this book will remain the “bible” long into the future. One would think that little would change in the actual anatomic structures over a finite period of time. This book shows us that we have yet to fully appreciate the vast variability of the foot and ankle. The quality of this text is superb with clear professional photographs and diagrams. It is well organized and articulate. What is even more remarkable for an anatomy text is the inclusion of functional anatomy, arthroscopy, a discussion of the angiosomes, and 2 sections on imaging of the foot and ankle. Although the chapter on functional anatomy was included in the earlier editions, it has been expanded to fulfill the needs of any surgeon. In fact, it distills the essential knowledge of functional anatomy to a single concise chapter such that the implications of the variations on function are clearly articulated. Simply put, this book is amazing and is just one of those texts that should be on everyone’s shelf. There is nothing like it and probably never will be . . .

Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle. Descriptive, Topographic, Functional

Cell-free multi-layered collagen-based scaffolds demonstrate layer specific regeneration of functional osteochondral tissue in caprine joints

Managing tendinopathy in season is a challenge for all sports medicine practitioners. Many of the strategies employed to treat tendinopathy in a rehabilitation setting are not suitable because of the time taken to recover. Management strategies that control pain and maintain performance are required. These include load management, both reducing aggravating loads and introducing pain-relieving loads, medications and adequate monitoring to detect a deteriorating tendon. Other interventions such as intratendinous injection therapies and other direct tendon modalities can be provocative at worst and without effect at best. Research to improve the understanding of management in athletes in season is compromised by ethical considerations and access to willing participants. It is likely to remain an area where clinical advances guide future treatments.

/pdf/the-challenge-of-managing-tendinopathy-in-competing-athletes-40breqb3x5.pdf

The challenge of managing tendinopathy in competing athletes

Minimally-invasive treatments for chronic Achilles tendinopathy may prevent the need for surgery when conservative methods have failed. Whilst injections have traditionally been used to manage symptoms, recently described therapies may also have disease-modifying potential. Ultrasound provides the ability to guide therapeutic interventions, ensuring that treatment is delivered to the exact site of pathology. Treatments can be broadly categorised according to their intended therapeutic targets, although some may act through several possible mechanisms. In this article, we review the ultrasound-guided techniques currently used to treat chronic Achilles tendinopathy, with reference to the available literature. There is strong pilot-level evidence supporting the use of many of these techniques, although large definitive trials are lacking. An approach towards the management of chronic Achilles tendinopathy is suggested.

Ultrasound-guided treatments for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: an update and current status

This case report illustrates and discusses the non-operative management of a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in an English Premier League football player, his return to play within 8 weeks and problem-free follow-up at 18 months post injury. When non-operative verses surgical ACL reconstruction is considered there are many fundamental gaps in our knowledge and currently, at elite level, there are no cases in cutting sports within the literature to guide these decisions. When the norm is for all professional footballers to be recommended surgery, it will be very challenging when circumstances and patient autonomy dictate a conservative approach, where prognosis, end points and risk are unclear and assumed to be high. This case challenges current dogma and provides a starting point for much needed debate about best practice, treatment options, research direction and not just at the elite level of sport.

/pdf/non-operative-management-of-a-complete-anterior-cruciate-mcbdmarqyy.pdf

Non-operative management of a complete anterior cruciate ligament injury in an English Premier League football player with return to play in less than 8 weeks: applying common sense in the absence of evidence

Synthetic osteochondral grafting of ankle osteochondral lesions.

In anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, concomitant damage to peripheral soft tissues is associated with increased rotatory instability of the knee. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and patterns of medial collateral ligament complex injuries in patients with clinically ‘isolated’ ACL ruptures. Patients who underwent ACL reconstruction for complete ‘presumed isolated’ ACL rupture between 2015 and 2019 were retrospectively included in this study. Patient’s characteristics and intraoperative findings were retrieved from clinical and surgical documentation. Preoperative MRIs were evaluated and the grade and location of injuries to the superficial MCL (sMCL), dMCL and the posterior oblique ligament (POL) recorded. All patients were clinically assessed under anaesthesia with standard ligament laxity tests. Hundred patients with a mean age of 22.3 ± 4.9 years were included. The incidence of concomitant MCL complex injuries was 67%. sMCL injuries occurred in 62%, dMCL in 31% and POL in 11% with various injury patterns. A dMCL injury was significantly associated with MRI grade II sMCL injuries, medial meniscus ‘ramp’ lesions seen at surgery and bone oedema at the medial femoral condyle (MFC) adjacent to the dMCL attachment site (p < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis identified younger age (OR 1.2, p < 0.05), simultaneous sMCL injury (OR 6.75, p < 0.01) and the presence of bone oedema at the MFC adjacent to the dMCL attachment site (OR 5.54, p < 0.01) as predictive factors for a dMCL injury. The incidence of combined ACL and medial ligament complex injuries is high. Lesions of the dMCL were associated with ramp lesions, MFC bone oedema close to the dMCL attachment, and sMCL injury. Missed AMRI is a risk factor for ACL graft failure from overload and, hence, oedema in the MCL (especially dMCL) demands careful assessment for AMRI, even in the knee lacking excess valgus laxity. This study provides information about specific MCL injury patterns including the dMCL in ACL ruptures and will allow surgeons to initiate individualised treatment. III.

/pdf/high-incidence-of-superficial-and-deep-medial-collateral-1laz6scp60.pdf

Adam Mitchell

Papers

Ultrasound-guided treatments for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: an update and current status

Non-operative management of a complete anterior cruciate ligament injury in an English Premier League football player with return to play in less than 8 weeks: applying common sense in the absence of evidence

Synthetic osteochondral grafting of ankle osteochondral lesions.

High incidence of superficial and deep medial collateral ligament injuries in ‘isolated’ anterior cruciate ligament ruptures: a long overlooked injury

Treatment of a distal tibial osteochondral lesion with a synthetic osteochondral plug: a case report.