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Background: Several risk factors for the postoperative recurrence of instability after arthroscopic Bankart repair have been reported, but there have been few detailed investigations of the specific risk factors in relation to the type of sport. Purpose: This study investigated the postoperative recurrence of instability after arthroscopic Bankart repair without additional reinforcement procedures in competitive athletes, including athletes with a large glenoid defect. The purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors related to the postoperative recurrence of instability in athletes. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 115 athletes (123 shoulders) were classified into 5 groups according to type of sport: rugby (41 shoulders), American football (32 shoulders), other collision sports (18 shoulders), contact sports (15 shoulders), and overhead sports (17 shoulders). First, the recurrence rate in each sporting category was investigated, with 113 shoulders followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Then, factors related to postoperative recurrence were investigated in relation to the type of sport. Results: Postoperative recurrence of instability was noted in 23 of 113 shoulders (20.4%). The recurrence rate was 33.3% in rugby, 17.2% in American football, 11.1% in other collision sports, 14.3% in contact sports, and 12.5% in overhead sports. The most frequent cause of recurrence was tackling, and recurrence occurred with tackling in 12 of 16 athletes playing rugby or American football. Reoperation was completed in 11 shoulders. By univariate analysis, significant risk factors for postoperative recurrence of instability included playing rugby, age between 10 and 19 years at surgery, preoperative glenoid defect, small bone fragment of bony Bankart lesion, and capsular tear. However, by multivariate analysis, the most significant factor was not the type of sport but younger age at operation and a preoperative glenoid defect with small or no bone fragment. Compared with the other sports, there was a significantly greater recurrence rate among rugby players without the aforementioned significant risk factors (small glenoid defect, ≤10%; medium or large bone fragment, >5%; and no capsular tear). Conclusion: Younger age at operation and preoperative glenoid defect with small or no bone fragment significantly influenced recurrent instability among competitive athletes.

The purposes of this study were to establish the technique to arthroscopically identify the resident’s ridge without bony notchplasty even in patients with chronic ACL insufficiency and to elucidate if the ridge could be used as a landmark for anatomical femoral tunnel for ACL graft. There were 50 consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. With the thigh kept horizontal using a leg holder, a meticulous effort was made to find out a linear ridge running proximo-distal in a posterior one-third of the lateral notch wall, after removal of superficial soft tissue with radiofrequency energy. If the ridge was found, a socket with a rectangular aperture of 5 × 10 mm was created just behind the ridge. At 3–4-weeks post surgery, three-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT) was performed to geographically identify the location of the ridge using the socket as a reference. Arthroscopically, a linear ridge running from superior-anterior to inferior-posterior on the lateral notch wall was consistently observed 7–10 mm anterior to the posterior articular cartilage margin of the lateral femoral condyle in all of the patients. The 3-D CT pictures proved the arthroscopically identified ridge to be the resident’s ridge. The resident’s ridge is arthroscopically identifiable after non-mechanical removal of the soft tissues without bony notchplasty. The ridge is a useful landmark for anatomical femoral tunnel drilling in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the femoral tunnel length, the femoral graft bending angle at the femoral tunnel aperture, and the contact area between the femoral tunnel wall and an interference screw used for fixation in anatomic rectangular tunnel anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ART ACLR). Methods The study included 149 patients with primary ACL injury who underwent ART ACLR. Preoperatively, flexion angle of the index knee was checked under general anaesthesia. Those of less than 130° of passive flexion were assigned to the outside-in (OI) technique (78 patients), while the others to the trans-portal inside-out (TP) technique (71 patients). The patients underwent computed tomography with multiplanar reconstruction at 3–5 weeks post-operatively. Femoral tunnel length, graft bending angle, and contact ratio between the IFS and femoral tunnel were assessed. P  < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The femoral tunnel length in the OI technique was significantly longer than that in the TP technique ( P  < 0.001). The femoral graft bending angle in the OI technique was significantly more acute than that in the TP technique ( P  < 0.001). The contact ratio in the OI technique was significantly larger than that in the TP technique at every point in the femoral tunnel ( P  < 0.001). Conclusions The OI technique resulted in a more acute femoral graft bending angle, longer mean femoral tunnel length, and larger contact ratio than the TP technique after ART ACLR. Level of evidence Retrospective comparative study, Level III.

Background: The combination of a glenoid defect and a Hill-Sachs lesion in shoulders with traumatic anterior instability has been termed bipolar bone loss, and the preoperative size of these lesions has been reported to influence postoperative recurrence of instability after arthroscopic Bankart repair. Purpose: To investigate the influence of postoperative bipolar bone defect size on postoperative recurrence of instability. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 64 male collision/contact athletes (69 shoulders) were evaluated for a minimum of 2 years after surgery, and the pre- and postoperative sizes of both lesions (glenoid defect and Hill-Sachs) were evaluated retrospectively with 3-dimensional computed tomography. The sports played by the athletes included rugby (n = 28 shoulders), American football (n = 24 shoulders), and other collision/contact sports (n = 17 shoulders). Glenoid defects and Hill-Sachs lesions were classified into 5 size categories and assigned scores from 0 (no defect) to 4 (very large defect). Patients were then classified according to the total score (sum of the scores for both lesions). The influence of pre- and postoperative bipolar bone defect sizes on recurrence of instability was investigated by using the total scores for bipolar bone defects. The influence of postoperative glenoid morphology (normal preoperative glenoid, preoperative glenoid erosion, bone union after arthroscopic bony Bankart repair [ABBR], or nonunion after ABBR) was also investigated, as well as changes in shoulders with a preoperative off-track Hill-Sachs lesion. Results: Of 69 shoulders, 15 (21.7%) developed recurrent instability after surgery. The postoperative recurrence rate was 0% in shoulders with a total score ≤1, while the recurrence rate was consistently higher in shoulders with a total score ≥2 at both pre- and postoperative evaluation (mean, 28.8% and 32.6%, respectively). Postoperative recurrence was uncommon when there was a normal preoperative glenoid or bone union after ABBR, while it was frequent in shoulders with preoperative glenoid erosion or shoulders with nonunion after ABBR and a total score ≥2. An off-track lesion was recognized in 9 shoulders preoperatively. It was transformed to on-track lesions in 4 of the 5 shoulders showing bone union after ABBR, and there was no recurrence in the 5 shoulders with bone union. In contrast, postoperative recurrence of instability occurred in 3 of the 4 shoulders without bone union. Conclusion: Postoperative recurrence was influenced by the pre- and postoperative size of bipolar bone defects. Recurrence was uncommon if bone union was achieved after ABBR, even if there had been an off-track lesion preoperatively.

Background: In shoulders with traumatic anterior instability, a bipolar bone defect has been recognized as an important indicator of the prognosis. Purpose: To investigate bipolar bone defects at primary instability and compare the difference between dislocation and subluxation. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: There were 156 shoulders (156 patients) including 91 shoulders with dislocation and 65 shoulders with subluxation. Glenoid defects and Hill-Sachs lesions were classified into 5 size categories on 3-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scans and were allocated scores ranging from 0 (no defect) to 4 points (very large defect). To assess the combined size of the glenoid defect and Hill-Sachs lesion, the scores for both lesions were summed (range, 0-8 points). Patients in the dislocation and subluxation groups were compared regarding the prevalence of a glenoid defect, a bone fragment of bony Bankart lesion, a Hill-Sachs lesion, a bipolar bone defect, and an off-track Hill-Sachs lesion. Then, the combined size of the bipolar bone defects was compared between the dislocation and subluxation groups and among patients stratified by age at the time of CT scanning (<20, 20-29, and ≥30 years). Results: Hill-Sachs lesions were observed more frequently in the dislocation group (75.8%) compared with the subluxation group (27.7%; P < .001), whereas the prevalence of glenoid defects was not significantly different between groups (36.3% vs 29.2%, respectively; P = .393). The combined defect size was significantly larger in the dislocation versus subluxation group (mean ± SD combined defect score, 2.1 ± 1.6 vs 0.8 ± 0.9 points, respectively; P < .001) due to a larger Hill-Sachs lesion at dislocation than subluxation (glenoid defect score, 0.5 ± 0.9 vs 0.3 ± 0.6 points [P = .112]; Hill-Sachs lesion score, 1.6 ± 1.2 vs 0.4 ± 0.7 points [P < .001]). Combined defect size was larger in older patients than younger patients in the setting of dislocation (combined defect score, <20 years, 1.6 ± 1.2 points; 20-29 years, 1.9 ± 1.5 points; ≥30 years, 3.4 ± 1.6 points; P < .001) but was not different in the setting of subluxation (0.8 ± 1.0, 0.7 ± 0.9, and 0.8 ± 0.8 points, respectively; P = .885). An off-track Hill-Sachs lesion was observed in 2 older patients with dislocation but was not observed in shoulders with subluxation. Conclusion: The bipolar bone defect was significantly more frequent, and the combined size was greater in shoulders with primary dislocation and in older patients (≥30 years).

Background: A safe and simple procedure to evaluate functional instability due to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency (ACLD) has not been established. The angle of trunk backward tilting, which is known as a posture at risk for ACL injuries, could be used as a parameter to evaluate functional instability due to ACLD. Purpose: To measure the backward tilt angle of the trunk with participants standing upright on 1 leg and to investigate its usefulness to quantitatively evaluate functional instability due to ACLD. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Our cohort included 50 participants with unilateral ACLD and 40 participants with bilateral healthy knees. The trunk backward tilt (TBT) test was conducted as follows: the participant was asked to maximally tilt the trunk backward in a single-leg standing position, while forward tilt of the index leg was blocked with a custom-made device. The TBT angle was measured using a side-view photograph. Subjective knee instability during the test was recorded using a visual analog scale (VAS). The relative and absolute reliability of the TBT test were verified in a sample of healthy participants and those with ACLD, and comparisons between indicators were performed. Multiple regression analysis was performed with the injured/uninjured side ratio (I/U ratio) of the TBT angle as the dependent variable and the following independent variables: (1) I/U ratio of knee extension muscle strength, (2) I/U ratio of knee flexion muscle strength, (3) side-to-side difference (SSD) of the KT-1000 arthrometer measurement, (4) sex, and (5) SSD of the VAS score. Results: The TBT test had high reliability among healthy participants and those with ACLD. The TBT angle was significantly smaller and the VAS score was significantly higher on the injured side compared with the uninjured side and with healthy knees (P < .001 for all). Among the independent variables, the SSD of the VAS score had a negative influence on the I/U ratio of the TBT angle (R 2 = 0.59; P < .001). Conclusion: The TBT test is a simple, safe, and reliable method for quantitatively evaluating functional instability due to ACLD under weightbearing conditions that reflect subjective knee instability. The test will provide an index of treatment outcomes and return to sports through additional objective measurements before and after ACL reconstruction.

Background: Osteoarthritis that develops after traumatic anterior shoulder instability is known as dislocation arthropathy, but its frequency and characteristics are still unclear. Purpose: To evaluate glenoid osteophytes in shoulders with traumatic anterior instability by using computed tomography (CT) and to elucidate the influence of instability on the progression of dislocation arthropathy in different age groups. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study involved 214 unoperated patients with unilateral instability who underwent CT of both shoulders. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to age at the time of CT: ≤30 years (younger group; n = 172) and ≥31 years (older group; n = 42). Patient demographics as well as the presence, size, and location of glenoid osteophytes were compared between the 2 groups and also between patients with and without osteophytes. Furthermore, patients with osteophytes in the older group were divided into 2 subgroups according to age at the time of the initial injury: as a teenager (early-onset subgroup; n = 9) or at ≥31 years (late-onset subgroup; n = 14), and the same assessments were conducted. Results: Osteophytes were significantly more frequent on the affected side of the older group compared with the younger group (71.4% vs 13.9%, respectively; P < .001). In the younger group, patients with osteophytes had more multiple-instability events (P = .002) and a longer interval from injury to CT (P < .001) than those without osteophytes. Although there was no difference in osteophyte size between the 2 groups, most osteophytes were located at the anteroinferior part of the glenoid in the younger group, while osteophytes were usually circumferential around the glenoid in the older group. A comparison between the early- and late-onset subgroups in older patients with osteophytes revealed that the osteophytes were more frequently located at the anteroinferior glenoid region in the early-onset subgroup. Conclusion: CT allowed a detailed evaluation of glenoid osteophytes, revealing that osteophytes were not uncommon in younger patients. Instability itself might influence the progression of osteoarthritic changes in younger patients, while aging seems to have a greater effect in older patients.

Background: The combination of a glenoid defect and a Hill-Sachs lesion in a shoulder with anterior instability has recently been termed “bipolar bone loss,” but the prevalence and influence of this condition on postoperative recurrence after arthroscopic Bankart repair are still unclear. Purpose: To investigate bipolar bone loss in male athletes using a new scoring system and to evaluate its efficacy by comparing it with the glenoid track concept. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The sizes of both lesions were evaluated retrospectively in 80 male athletes (85 shoulders) using computed tomography. The glenoid defects and the length, width, and depth of the Hill-Sachs lesions were classified into 5 size categories and were allocated scores from “0” for no defect to “4” for the largest defect. Patients were then classified into 5 classes according to the total score for both lesions: class 1, 0-1 point; class 2, 2 points; class 3, 3 points; class 4, 4 points; and class 5, ≥5 points. The prevalence of bipolar bone loss and postoperative recurrence rates for patients with at least 2 years of follow-up were compared among the classes. The recurrence rate for each class was also compared between shoulders with an off-track lesion and shoulders with an on-track lesion as well as among 3 sporting categories: rugby, American football, and other sports. Results: Based on the combination of glenoid defect size and Hill-Sachs lesion length, the postoperative recurrence rate was 0% for shoulders in class 1, 12.5% for class 2, 33.3% for class 3, 28.6% for class 4, and 31.3% for class 5, while the recurrence rates were 0%, 16.7%, 28.6%, 27.3%, and 31.6%, respectively, for the combination of glenoid defect size and Hill-Sachs lesion width and 0%, 8.3%, 26.7%, 28.6%, and 35.3%, respectively, for the combination of glenoid defect size and Hill-Sachs lesion depth. Postoperative recurrence was frequently recognized regardless of the presence of off-track Hill-Sachs lesions. No recurrence was recognized in class 1 shoulders among rugby players, in classes 1 and 2 among American football players, and in classes 1 through 3 among other athletes based on the combination of glenoid defect size and Hill-Sachs lesion size. Conclusion: Our scoring system for bipolar bone loss was useful to evaluate the influence on postoperative recurrence in male athletes. The postoperative recurrence rate was influenced by the extent of bipolar bone loss and the sporting category regardless of the presence of off-track lesions.

Background: Various biomechanical properties of adjustable-loop cortical suspension devices have been observed among previous studies in which different experimental conditions were used to test each of these devices. However, no studies have investigated the biomechanical properties of single adjustable-loop cortical suspension devices under different cyclic loading protocols. It is necessary to clarify the problems associated with using this device and detect the best method of using it in the clinical setting. Hypothesis: The elongation of the loop of an adjustable-loop cortical suspension device with cyclic loading would be smaller with (1) an increase in the lower force limit and (2) lower speeds of cyclic loading. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Eighteen anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) adjustable-loop cortical suspension devices were tested under the following 3 cyclic loading protocols in a device-only model. Protocol A included cyclic loading between 10 and 50 N at 50 mm/min for 500 cycles. The upper force limit was then increased by 25-N increments every 500 cycles up to 250 N, for a total of 4500 cycles. Protocol B included cyclic loading between 30 and 50 N at 50 mm/min for 500 cycles. The upper force limit was then increased to 250 N, for a total of 4500 cycles, in the same manner as protocol A. Protocol C included cyclic loading between 30 and 50 N at 25 mm/min for 500 cycles. The upper force limit was then increased to 250 N, for a total of 4500 cycles, in the same manner as protocol A. Results: The elongation after 4500 cycles was 36.1, 18.5, and 8.6 mm for protocols A, B, and C, respectively. There were significant differences among the 3 protocols, with protocol C showing the smallest elongation with cyclic loading. The elongation in each group progressed with each 25-N cyclic load increment. Conclusion: The adjustable-loop cortical suspension device showed a smaller elongation of the loop with increases in the lower force limit and with lower cyclic loading speeds. Clinical Relevance: Care should be taken during rehabilitation after anatomic ACL reconstruction using adjustable-loop cortical suspension devices with a low initial tension at graft fixation. Slow and less intense exercises may be more desirable in the early stages of healing.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morphology of transplanted triple-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts by second-look arthroscopy. Methods The subjects were 41 patients with a mean age of 25.5 ± 8.5 years who underwent second-look arthroscopy at between 6 and 22 months after the anatomical triple-bundle ACL reconstruction using semitendinosus tendon autograft. Lachman test was negative in 38 knees and mildly positive with a firm endpoint in 3 knees. Arthroscopic evaluation of grafts was performed for the anteromedial graft (AM), the intermediate graft (IM), and the posterolateral graft (PL), focusing on tension and graft damage. Results All grafts showed “fan-out” shape approaching the tibial attachment, which looked closer to the natural ACL compared to the double-bundle grafts. As to graft tension, 93% of AM, 90% of IM, and 88% of PL grafts were evaluated as taut, respectively. As to graft damage, there was no apparent rupture in the AM and IM grafts, while complete or substantial rupture was observed in 10% of PL grafts around the femoral tunnel aperture. The incidence of graft rupture in PL grafts was significantly greater than those in the AM and IM grafts. As to synovial coverage, 76% of AM, 78% of IM, and 59% of PL grafts were evaluated as “Good,” while 41% of PL grafts were not fully covered with synovium. All of the synovial defects were observed around the femoral tunnel aperture. Conclusion The morphology of the triple-bundle grafts resembled that of the natural ACL, while complete or substantial rupture was observed in 10% of the PL grafts. Level of evidence Study of case series with no comparison group, Level IV.