PurposeThe objectives of this prospective study were to evaluate the risk of peroneal nerve (PN) injury in simulated allinside lateral meniscal repair with sutures placed through the popliteus tendon (PT) and to determine the optimal needle length. Methods Twenty-nine axial magnetic resonance images (MRI) of postoperative knees with infused intra-articular luid and in a igure-of-four position were used. The cross-sectional length of the PT was divided into four equal parts with measurements performed at the 25%, 50% and 75% points according to their anteroposterior arrangement. Simulated repairs were performed with 14-mm and 18-mm straight needles via the anteromedial (AM) and anterolateral (AL) portals. Distances from the needle tip following full insertion through the PT to the PN and from the anterior PT border to the posterior knee capsule were measured to determine PN injury risk and ideal needle insertion depths at the diferent landmarks. Results Simulated repairs on the 29 knee MRI images resulted in no incidences of PN injury. The average distances from the needle tip to the PN of the 14-mm needle were signiicantly greater than the 18-mm needle in all the simulated repairs (P < 0.02), except at the 25% point in the AM approach. When using the 14-mm needle, capsule underpenetration was found in three knees (10.3%) at the 25% point during the AM approach, in one knee (3.4%) at the 50% and 75% points in the AM approach, and in all repairs from the AL portal. The average distances from the anterior PT border to the capsule at the 25%, 50%, and 75% division points on the PT in the AM approach were 7.7 ± 2.7 mm, 7.9 ± 2.5 mm and 7.6 ± 2.8 mm, respectively, whilst in the AL approach were 8.4 ± 2.9 mm, 8.1 ± 2.8 mm and 7.6 ± 2.7 mm. Conclusion Simulated all-inside lateral meniscal repair with suture placement through the PT with 14-mm and 18-mm needles was safe. The measurements in this study can be used to determine potential PN injury risk in relation to the PT and the appropriate needle length for safe lateral meniscal repairs.

Introduction: A distal clavicle fracture is a common shoulder injury. Coracoclavicular (CC) stabilization is a popular procedure for treating this injury. However, with this method, there is a technical difficulty in looping the suture under the coracoid base with instruments normally available in the operating room (OR). Herein, the authors describe modifying a pelvic suture needle to ease this process. Case presentation: An 18-year-old Thai female presented with left shoulder pain after a fall while cycling. The physical examination showed tenderness at the prominent distal clavicle. The radiograph of both clavicles showed a displaced distal clavicle fracture of the left shoulder. After discussing the treatment, she decided to have CC stabilization as the authors recommended. Clinical discussion: CC stabilization is one of the main surgical techniques used in treating an acute displaced distal clavicle fracture. The most important but difficult step of the CC stabilization is passing a suture under the coracoid base. To make this step easier, various commercial tools have been created, however, they are expensive ($1400–1500 per piece), and most operating rooms in resource-limited countries do not have them available. The authors modified a pelvic suture needle specifically for use in looping a suture under the coracoid process, which is hard to do with standard surgical tools.

Introduction and importance: A proximal deep medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury usually occurs in high-impact sports such as football or hockey. This injury is not common in low-energy trauma but the predisposing factor, in this case, was an osteophyte located next to the deep MCL ligament, which had likely caused degenerative changes to the ligament from chronic irritation, resulting in reduced strength of the ligament. Case presentation: A 78-year-old Thai female presented with left knee pain 1 h after a low-energy trauma caused by a fall. The MRI showed deep MCL and medial meniscal root injuries, a nondisplaced lateral femoral condyle, and also revealed a large osteophyte near the midpart of the MCL, with a blunt persistent projection from the osteophyte pushing against the MCL where the injury was located. She was treated with a knee brace, a gait aid for walking, and analgesic pain control. Her symptoms gradually improved over the next few weeks. Clinical discussion: If an osteophyte touches a ligament, it can cause degenerative changes to the ligament from chronic irritation, resulting in reducing the strength of the ligament and may be causing some degree of degenerative changes and tightening of the MCL in its at-rest state, resulting in an increased chance of injury when it is required to resist a sudden external force, even from a minor trauma. Conclusion: When there is an osteophyte pushing against a ligament, there is an increased chance of ligament injury when even a minor trauma stresses that ligament.

Introduction and importance: The authors report a case of an elderly female with a displaced varus misalignment of a proximal humerus fracture which met the indications for surgery, but the patient was treated conservatively with an arm sling due to the wishes of the patient and her relatives. The clinical outcome was nearly full function compared with the right shoulder. Presentation of case: A 65-year-old Thai female presented with right shoulder pain 1 h after a fall during which her right shoulder hit the floor. Radiographs of the right shoulder in anteroposterior and lateral transcapular views showed a proximal humerus fracture with varus misalignment. The patient and her relatives decided on conservative treatment with an arm sling. At 12 weeks following the fall she was able to move her right shoulder nearly equally to the left shoulder. Intervention and outcome: The authors discussed the treatment options with the patient and her relatives and recommended open reduction and internal fixation with a locking plate and screw, but they decided on conservative treatment with an arm sling. At 12 weeks following the fall she was able to move her right shoulder nearly equally to the left shoulder. She had no pain and could do normal life activities with the right shoulder. Relevance and impact: Patients with severe varus deformity are usually treated with surgery. If there are contraindications for surgery, the stability of the fracture should first be evaluated through radiographs of the fracture in various arm positions.