Background: Anterior vertebral body tethering (VBT) is a growth modulating and fusionless treatment option that is considered as a new promising method for the management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This prospective cohort study aimed to present the minimum 2-year results of anterior VBT applied to 21 skeletally immature patients with AIS. Methods: Twenty-one skeletally immature patients with a diagnosis of AIS were included. A decision to proceed with surgery was established after the detection of curve progression despite the brace (>40 degrees) with a minimum curve flexibility of 30%. Results: Patients had an average age of 11.1 and an average follow-up period of 27.4 months. All patients underwent thoracoscopic placement of thoracic screws, from the convex side of curves. An average of 7.1 levels of tethering was undertaken. Average preoperative major thoracic curve magnitudes improved from 48.2 to 16 degrees on the first erect postoperative x-ray, and to 10 degrees at the last follow-up (P<0.001). Immediate postoperatively, 1 case with chylothorax was detected and treated conservatively, and another case with tether breakage was detected at the third postoperative year and replaced thoracoscopically. No other major complication was acquired. Conclusions: Anterior VBT as a growth modulating treatment option by allowing the correction of the scoliotic deformity and preserving coronal balance was detected to be a safe and effective option for the surgical treatment of AIS in skeletally immature patients, if applied under strict inclusion criteria. VBT by allowing preservation of spinal segmental motion is yielding promising radiographic results without causing any major complications. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction performed with growth factors and activated platelets has been suggested to accelerate tendon ligamentization, leading to earlier return to daily activities and sports. Hypotheses: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) will result in improved graft maturation and healing as evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients undergoing hamstring ACL reconstruction. Hemostatic and analgesic properties of PRF will lead to less postoperative blood loss and pain. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 44 patients with isolated ACL injuries who underwent arthroscopic all-inside anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction with semitendinosus tendon graft were enrolled. Group 1 included 23 patients who had PRF sprayed to the surface of the graft; group 2 included 21 patients for whom no PRF was used. Patients were discharged after 24 hours and examined for hemarthrosis that needed to be aspirated. MRI was performed at the fifth postoperative month. A blinded radiologist evaluated graft maturation according to its signal intensity and the presence of synovial fluid at the tunnel-graft interface. Results: PRF-treated grafts demonstrated lower MRI signal intensity and less fluid in the graft-tunnel interface as compared with controls for the entire length of the graft. The mean full-length MRI signal intensities were 9.19 versus 16.59 ( P = .047) for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Subgroup analysis of the semitendinosus grafts demonstrated a signal intensity of 11.57 versus 23.98 ( P = .044) for the proximal third, 9.53 versus 13.83 ( P = .237) for the midbody, and 6.48 versus 11.98 ( P = .087) for the distal third. Synovial fluid at the graft-tunnel interface was detected in 1 patient in group 1 (4.3%) and 3 patients in group 2 (14.3%; P < .001). Patients in group 1 had significantly less hemarthrosis that needed to be aspirated ( P = .003), while postoperative analgesia requirements were similar in both groups ( P = .08). No clinical benefit of PRF could be demonstrated in clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Application of PRF led to superior graft integration and maturation in the proximal third of the ACL graft. There was no significant difference in MRI signal intensity in the midbody or distal tibial graft. Application of PRF also resulted in significantly lower rates of postoperative hemarthrosis that needed to be aspirated.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intra‐operative co‐administration of tranexamic acid (TA) and platelet rich fibrin (PRF) using a proprietary co‐delivery system on the amount of blood loss, early functional outcomes and wound complications after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The intervention was compared to the standard of care (combined intravenous & topical TA) in a prospective, randomized, blinded setting. Methods80 patients undergoing primary cemented TKA without tourniquet were prospectively randomized into control (combined intravenous and topical TA) and PRF (intra‐venous TA and co‐delivery of topical PRF and TA) groups after informed consent. Total blood loss, drainage blood loss, knee range of motion, VAS pain scores, length of stay and wound complications were analysed. Data collection was performed in a double blind manner on days 1, 3 and 21. ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in drainage blood loss (550 ml vs. 525 ml, p = 0.643), calculated total blood loss on day 1 (401 ml vs. 407 ml, p = 0.722), day 3 (467 ml vs 471 ml, p = 0.471) and day 21 (265 ml vs. 219 ml, p = 0.082) between the PRF and control groups respectively. The PRF group had a small but statistically significant increase in median knee extension in the early post‐operative period, however this difference evened out at 3 weeks. No significant difference could be demonstrated between the PRF and control groups in length of stay, VAS pain scores, narcotic usage, wound complications and knee flexion at all time points. ConclusionsThe topical co‐delivery of PRF and TA does not significantly decrease blood loss in primary TKA compared to the standard of care. Slightly better active knee extension in the first 3 postoperative days can be achieved, however this benefit is not clinically relevant. Level of evidenceI, Therapeutic study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) combined with anterior column restoration in elderly patients presenting with thoracic or thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures with spinal cord compression and severe pain. Methods: 109 patients with one level thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture and at least 5 years of follow-up were included. They underwent posterior instrumentation performed with PMMA augmented pedicle screws. A modified PVCR (unilateral costotransversectomy+hemilaminectomy) combined with the insertion of an expandable titanium cage for anterior column restoration was undertaken. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically. Results: Patients had a with a mean age of 74.1 and follow-up duration of 92.3 months. Mean duration of operations, hospital stays and mean loss of blood were detected as 172.3 minutes, 4.3 days and 205.4mL. All of the patients were mobilized immediately after surgery. The mean pre-operative local kyphosis angle improved from 39.3 to 4.7 at the last follow-up (p=0.003). Patients pre-operative mean VAS, JOA and ODI scores improved from 7.7/8.6/76.3 to 1.6/26.1/17.4(p<0.001 for all), respectively. The average SF-36 MCS/PCS scores at the last follow-up were 55.1/56.8. Dural tear was detected intra-operatively in one patient and repaired immediately. Conclusion: Subtotal PVCR combined with the insertion of an expandable titanium cage was detected as a safe and effective method for osteoporotic vertebrae fractures' sequelae in elderly population involving spinal cord compression, by enabling the decompression of the A c c e p t e d A r t i c l e 2 spinal canal and reconstruction of the resected segment, resulting in significant improvement in clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a systematically benign but locally aggressive lesion arising from the synovium, tendon sheath or joint bursae. Even in athletes, soft tissue tumors may be the underlying reason or a component of posterior ankle impingement, although the most common mechanism is forceful and repetitive plantar flexion. In this article, we present a case of localized TGCT in a 15-year-old female patient presenting with symptoms of posterior ankle impingement. The preferred technique for treatment was complete local resection via posterior ankle endoscopy. The patient returned to sports at three months and no recurrence was observed on the last follow-up at the first postoperative year. Although rare, soft tissue tumors should be taken into consideration in posterior ankle impingement in athletes. Such benign soft tissue tumors in the posterior ankle can be treated safely and effectively via two-portal posterior endoscopic approach.