Project description:The prevalence of ulnar collateral ligament injuries and reconstructions among overhead throwing athletes has significantly risen in recent years. Surgical reconstruction has become the main treatment modality for athletes who have failed conservative treatment and wish to return to their sport. There has been an increased interest in graft augmentation in ligament reconstruction surgeries as surgeons search for ways to decrease the chance of graft failure. Augmented graft techniques have been described for other procedures. We present a technique that incorporates a cross-linked suture tape into either a palmaris longus or gracilis tendon autograft or allograft for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. This may allow for a biomechanically stronger construct because it appears this is the case in other settings. The goal is that this would lead to decreased rates of failure or possibly allow athletes to return at an accelerated rate.
Project description:Reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) remains the gold standard for treating overhead throwing athletes with valgus instability secondary to UCL pathology. Although surgical techniques for reconstruction have evolved over time, current methods allow 90% of patients to return to their preinjury level of activity. Despite encouraging results with reconstruction, UCL repair remains a valuable treatment option for patients with UCL pathology fitting specific criteria. There are a number of advantages associated with a direct repair, and further, the development of collagen-coated sutures for ligament repair augmentation makes this procedure an attractive surgical option under the correct circumstances. This article provides a detailed description and video demonstration of the surgical steps used to perform a UCL repair with suture augmentation.
Project description:BackgroundThe terrible triad injury (TTI) of the elbow is a combination of a posterolateral dislocation of the elbow joint combined with fractures of the radial head and coronoid process most often caused by a fall on an outstretched hand. The injury pattern was named for its poor outcomes and high complication rates following surgical repair, but increased understanding of elbow anatomy and biomechanics has led to the development of standardized surgical protocols in an attempt to improve outcomes. Most existing literature on terrible triad injuries is from small retrospective cohort studies and surgical techniques to improve outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the functional outcomes, prognosis, and complications following current surgical treatment of TTIs.MethodsA scoping review was performed to evaluate the literature. In total, 617 studies were identified and screened by 2 reviewers, with 43 studies included for qualitative analysis. These 43 studies underwent data extraction for functional outcomes using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score (DASH) and were stratified accordingly. Secondary outcome measures assessed in the study were a range of motion (ROM) and complication rate.ResultsThe average MEPS was 90 (excellent) from a total of 37 studies with 1609 patients, and the average DASH score was 16 from 16 studies with 441 patients. Another 6 studies with a total of 127 patients reported a mean Q-DASH score of 13. A total of 39 studies consisting of 1637 patients had a mean forearm rotation of 135 degrees, and 36 studies consisting of 1606 patients had a mean flexion-extension arc of 113 degrees. Among the studies, there was a 30% complication rate with a need for revision surgery in 7.8% of cases. The most common complications were radiographic evidence of heterotopic ossification (11%) and ulnar nerve neuropathy (2.6%).Discussion/conclusionsThis study shows that current surgical treatment for terrible triad injuries has resulted in improved outcomes. Based on primary outcome measures using MEPS and DASH scores, almost all of the studies have highlighted good or excellent functional outcomes. This highlighted the marked improvement in outcome scores since the term was coined, suggesting that terrible triad injuries may no longer be so terrible.
Project description:The gold standard for management of elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries in elite athletes is reconstruction of the UCL with a tendon graft. Over the past several years, UCL repair for acute tears, as well as partial tears, in young athletes has gained increasing popularity, with studies reporting good outcomes and high rates of return to sports. Additionally, there is increased interest in ligament augmentation using the InternalBrace concept. A recent technique paper describes a direct repair of the UCL augmented with a spanning suture bridge. Although clinical outcomes for this method are promising, one possible concern when using this technique is bone loss at the ulnar origin of the UCL should revision reconstruction be required. We propose an alternative augmentation method that allows for stress shielding of the healing native ligament while minimizing bone compromise in the face of UCL reconstruction at a later time point.
Project description:The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) complex of the elbow plays a crucial role in the stability of the elbow joint, especially to varus loads. Deficiency of particularly the lateral ulnar collateral component of the LCL can lead to chronic posterolateral rotatory instability, which can be functionally debilitating and can lead to a rapid onset of early degenerative arthritis. Commonly, in the setting of acute rupture of the LCL, the ligament is repaired using an open technique with suture anchor fixation to the lateral epicondyle insertion point. However, with advancing arthroscopic techniques, it has become possible to repair the LCL arthroscopically. We present a relatively simple method for an all-arthroscopic repair of the LCL to the humerus using a knotless suture anchor technique.
Project description:A 55-year-old woman presented with multiple episodes of falls that injured her right thumb and restricted her daily activities because of pain and instability. Ultrasound found the rare proximal metacarpal UCL avulsion. The repair was done using suture anchors under wide-awake anaesthesia with no tourniquet (WALANT). The patient regained her thumb movements, got a stable MCP joint, and remained symptom-free at one year of follow-up. Proximal avulsion of the UCL is rare. Ultrasound confirms the avulsion, and surgical reconstruction under wide-awake anaesthesia allows the surgeon and the patient to assess and appreciate the MCP joint stability, thereby efficiently rehabilitating the patient. The functional outcome of proximal UCL repair is good. This report describes a rare presentation of the proximal metacarpal attachment avulsion injury of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in a thumb and reviews the management.
Project description:Reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in overhead throwing athletes. Since its initial description, the procedure has undergone a number of technical modifications and advancements. This has resulted in multiple described techniques for UCL reconstruction. One of the most commonly performed UCL reconstruction methods is the docking technique. It has the advantages of minimizing injury to the flexor-pronator mass, avoiding the ulnar nerve, allowing robust graft tensioning, and reducing the amount of bone removed from the medial epicondyle compared with previously described techniques. This article provides a detailed description and video demonstration of how to perform this technique. When precise surgical steps are followed and postoperative rehabilitation appropriately progresses, this procedure has a well-documented history of reliably returning athletes to competitive throwing.
Project description:Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) repair with suture augmentation has been increasingly used to treat UCL pathology in overhead athletes. For the appropriately indicated patient, UCL repair with suture augmentation without reconstruction has promising results. Advantages of repair with suture augmentation include earlier return to sport, low complication rate, and decreased operative time since there is no need for graft harvest. Previously reported techniques use suture anchors with high-tensile and collagen-coated nonabsorbable sutures. This article provides an alternative augmentation method using a combination of anchors and bone tunnels to obtain an isometric repair.
Project description:The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow acts as the primary restraint to valgus force experienced in the late cocking and early acceleration phases of overhead throwing. If the UCL or dynamic flexor-pronator musculature is incompetent, elbow extension and valgus torque, as seen in throwing, can result in posteromedial impingement with subsequent chondromalacia and osteophyte formation. Before the first UCL reconstruction, performed by Frank Jobe in 1974, this injury was considered career ending in overhead athletes. Since the index procedure, further techniques have been developed to minimize dissection of the flexor-pronator mass and improve the biomechanical strength of graft fixation with the goal of increased return to athletic competition. We describe our technique-including pearls and pitfalls, as well as advantages and disadvantages-which combines the docking technique, through a flexor muscle-elevating approach with transposition of the ulnar nerve using a fascial sling. Harvest and preparation of a palmaris longus tendon autograft is also described.