Browsing by Author "Amendola, Annunziato"

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    ItemOpen Access
    Females have Lower Knee Strength and Vertical Ground Reaction Forces During Landing than Males Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction at the Time of Return to Sport.
    (International journal of sports physical therapy, 2022-01) Sullivan, Zachary B; Sugarman, Barrie S; Faherty, Mallory S; Killelea, Carrie; Taylor, Dean C; Le, Daniel; Toth, Alison P; Riboh, Jonathan C; Diehl, Lee H; Wittstein, Jocelyn R; Amendola, Annunziato; Sell, Timothy C

    Purpose

    There is a high rate of second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury (ipsilateral graft or contralateral ACL) upon return-to-sport (RTS) following ACL reconstruction (ACLR). While a significant amount of epidemiological data exists demonstrating sex differences as risk factors for primary ACL injury, less is known about sex differences as potential risk factors for second ACL injury. The purpose of this study is to determine if there are sex-specific differences in potential risk factors for second ACL injury at the time of clearance for RTS.

    Methods

    Ten male and eight female athletes (age: 20.8 years ±6.3, height: 173.2 cm ±10.1, mass: 76.6 kg ±18.3) participated in the study following ACLR at time of RTS (mean 10.2 months). Performance in lower extremity isokinetic and isometric strength testing, static and dynamic postural stability testing, and a single leg stop-jump task was compared between the sexes.

    Results

    Normalized for body weight, males had significantly greater isokinetic knee flexion (141±14.1 Nm/kg vs. 78±27.4 Nm/kg, p=0.001) and extension strength (216±45.5 Nm/kg vs. 159±53.9 Nm/kg, p=0.013) as well as isometric flexion (21.1±6.87% body weight vs. 12.5±5.57% body weight, p=0.013) and extension (41.1±7.34% body weight vs. 27.3±11.0% body weight, p=0.016) strength compared to females. In the single-leg stop jump task, males had a greater maximum vertical ground reaction force during landing (332±85.5% vs. 259±27.4% body weight, p=0.027) compared to females.

    Conclusions

    Based on these results, there are significant differences between sexes following ACLR at the time of RTS. Lower knee flexion and extension strength may be a potential risk factor for second ACL injury among females. Alternatively, the increased maximum vertical force observed in males may be a potential risk factor of second ACL injury in males. Although these results should be interpreted with some caution, they support that rehabilitation programs in the post-ACLR population should be individualized based on the sex of the individual.

    Level of evidence

    Level 3.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Impact of Early Weightbearing After Ankle Arthroscopy and Bone Marrow Stimulation for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus.
    (Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2021-09) Danilkowicz, Richard M; Grimm, Nathan L; Zhang, Gloria X; Lefebvre, Thomas A; Lau, Brian; Adams, Samuel B; Amendola, Annunziato

    Background

    Osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) may be caused by osteochondritis dissecans, osteochondral fractures, avascular necrosis, or focal arthritic changes. For certain focal cartilage defects, bone marrow stimulation (BMS) has been a widely used technique to restore a fibrocartilage substitute overlying the defect. There are various postoperative weightbearing protocols for this procedure, with no single gold standard method.

    Purpose

    To retrospectively review the outcomes of patients undergoing ankle arthroscopy with concomitant BMS to determine outcomes based on postoperative weightbearing status.

    Study design

    Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

    Methods

    We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent ankle arthroscopy with BMS for OLTs between 2015 and 2018. Patients were placed into 2 cohorts based on postoperative immobilization status: the nonweightbearing (NWB) group and the weightbearing-as-tolerated (WBAT) group. Patient characteristics obtained included age, sex, comorbidities, and etiology of talar pathology. Outcomes included the pain visual analog scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM), complications, time to first weightbearing, and the method and length of immobilization. Patients who were lost to follow-up before 30 days were excluded. The chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables between cohorts, and the t test was used for continuous variables.

    Results

    A total of 69 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study, 18 in the WBAT group and 51 in the NWB group. The mean lesion size was 9.48 × 9.21 mm (range, 3-15 mm × 2-20 mm) for the NWB group and 9.36 × 9.72 mm (range, 5-14 mm × 6-20 mm) for the WBAT group (P > .05). The VAS scores improved from 4.40 to 0.67 for the WBAT group and from 6.33 to 2.55 for the NWB group, with the difference in final values reaching statistical significance (P = .0002). Postoperative ROM was not significantly different between the groups. There were 4 repeat operations within the NWB cohort.

    Conclusion

    The surgical management of OLTs can be challenging, and the postoperative weightbearing protocol can be an extra obstacle for the patient to navigate. We found no difference in pain, ROM, or complications when allowing immediate, full WBAT.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Isometric Knee Strength is Greater in Individuals Who Score Higher on Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport After Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
    (International journal of sports physical therapy, 2022-01) Sugarman, Barrie S; Sullivan, Zach B; Le, Daniel; Killelea, Carolyn; Faherty, Mallory S; Diehl, Lee H; Wittstein, Jocelyn R; Riboh, Jonathan C; Toth, Alison P; Amendola, Annunziato; Taylor, Dean C; Sell, Timothy C

    Background

    Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is extremely common among athletes. Rate of second ACL injury due to surgical graft rupture or contralateral limb ACL injury is approximately 15-32%. Psychological readiness to return to sport (RTS) may be an important predictor of successful RTS outcomes. Psychological readiness can be quantified using the ACL Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) questionnaire, with higher scores demonstrating greater psychological readiness.

    Purpose

    The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in functional performance and psychological readiness to return to sport among athletes who have undergone primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR).

    Study design

    Descriptive cohort study.

    Methods

    Eighteen athletes who had undergone primary ACLR were tested at time of RTS clearance. The cohort was divided into two groups, high score (HS) and low score (LS), based on median ACL-RSI score, and performance on static and dynamic postural stability testing, lower extremity isokinetic and isometric strength testing, and single leg hop testing was compared between the groups using an independent samples t-test.

    Results

    The median ACL-RSI score was 74.17. The average ACL-RSI score was 83.1±6.2 for the HS group and 61.8±8.0 for the LS group. High scorers on the ACL-RSI performed significantly better on isometric knee flexion as measured via handheld dynamometry (22.61% ±6.01 vs. 12.12% ±4.88, p=0.001) than the low score group.

    Conclusion

    The findings suggest that increased knee flexion strength may be important for psychological readiness to RTS after primary ACLR. Further research is indicated to explore this relationship, however, a continued emphasis on improving hamstring strength may be appropriate during rehabilitation following ACLR to positively impact psychological readiness for RTS.

    Level of evidence

    III.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Microdrilling Resulted in Less Subchondral Bone Destruction Than a Traditional Microfracture Awl for Articular Cartilage Defect Bone Marrow Stimulation.
    (Arthroscopy, sports medicine, and rehabilitation, 2023-10) Meyer, Lucy E; Danilkowicz, Richard M; Hinton, Zoe W; Crook, Bryan S; Abar, Bijan; Allen, Nicholas B; Negus, Mitchell; Hurley, Eoghan T; Toth, Alison P; Amendola, Annunziato; Adams, Samuel B

    Purpose

    The purpose of this study was to compare bone marrow stimulation using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis of an abrasion arthroplasty technique, drilling k-wire technique, traditional microfacture awl, or a microdrill instrument for subchondral bone defects.

    Methods

    Eleven cadaveric distal femoral specimens were obtained and divided into 3 common areas of osteochondral defect: trochlea and weightbearing portions of the medial and lateral femoral condyles. Each area of interest was then denuded of cartilage using a PoweRasp and divided into quadrants. Each quadrant was assigned either a 1.6 mm Kirschner wire (k-wire), 1.25 mm microfracture awl, 1.5 mm fluted microdrill, PowerPick, or a curette (abrasion arthroplasty) to create 4 channels into the subchondral bone sing the same instrument. Subchondral bone and adjacent tissue areas were then evaluated using micro-CT to analyze adjacent bone destruction and extension into the bone marrow.

    Results

    Overall, there was a significantly decreased area of bone destruction or compression using the microdrill (0.030 mm) as compared to the microfracture awl (0.072 mm) and k-wire (0.062 mm) (P < .05). Within the trochlea and the medial femoral condyle, there was significantly decreased bony compression with the microdrill as compared to the awl and k-wire (P < .05); however, when stratified, this was not significant among the lateral femoral condylar samples (P = .08).

    Conclusion

    Bone marrow stimulation causes bony compression that may negatively impact subchondral bone and trabecular alignment. It is important to understand which tools used for bone marrow stimulation cause the least amount of damage to the subchondral bone.

    Clinical relevance

    This study demonstrates the decreased subchondral bony defects seen with the microdrill versus the traditional microfracture awl indicating that when performing bone marrow stimulation, the microdrill may be a less harmful tool to the subchondral bone.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Perioperative Management in the Collegiate Athlete: An Integrated Approach.
    (Sports medicine international open, 2023-01) Rugg, Caitlin M; Ginder, Jordan H; Bharadwaj, Ananyaa; Vomer, Rock; Dale, Gregory A; Ketterly, Jennifer; Zarzour, Hap; Amendola, Annunziato; Lau, Brian C
    Collegiate athletes face rigorous physical, academic, and emotional demands. While significant attention has been paid to injury prevention among young athletes in the past two decades, orthopedic injury rates remain high among collegiate athletes, and a significant number will undergo surgical management for injuries each year. In this narrative review, we describe techniques for perioperative management of pain and stress after surgery in collegiate athletes. In particular, we outline pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management of surgical pain, with a goal of minimizing opiate consumption. We emphasize a multi-disciplinary approach to optimizing post-operative recovery in collegiate athletes help minimize reliance on opiate pain medication. Additionally, we recommend that institutional resources should be harnessed to support athletes in their well-being, from a nutritional, psychological and sleep standpoint. Critical to success in perioperative pain management is the communication among the athletic medicine team members and with the athlete and family to address pain and stress management and encourage timely, safe return to play.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Return to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in a Cohort of Division I NCAA Athletes From a Single Institution.
    (Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2021-02-19) Zampogna, Biagio; Vasta, Sebastiano; Torre, Guglielmo; Gupta, Akhil; Hettrich, Carolyn M; Bollier, Matthew J; Wolf, Brian R; Amendola, Annunziato

    Background

    Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common in collegiate athletes. The rate of return to the preinjury level of sport activities after ACL reconstruction continues to evolve.

    Purpose/hypothesis

    The purpose was to determine the return-to-sport rate after ACL reconstruction in a cohort of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes in different sports. It was hypothesized that, with intensive supervision of rehabilitation, the return-to-sport rate would be optimal.

    Study design

    Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

    Methods

    We retrospectively reviewed the records of 75 collegiate athletes from a single institution who had undergone unilateral or bilateral ACL reconstruction between 2001 and 2013 and participated in an extensive supervised rehabilitation program. Prospectively collected athlete data as well as data about preinjury exposure, associated lesions, surgical technique, time lost to injury, number of games missed, time to return to full sport activity or retire, and subsequent surgical procedures were extracted from the medical and athletic trainer records.

    Results

    The 75 patients (40 male, 35 female; mean age, 20.1 years) underwent 81 reconstruction procedures (73 primary, 8 revision). The mean follow-up was 19.3 months. The overall return-to-sport rate was 92%. After reconstruction, 9 athletes (12%) retired from collegiate sports, but 3 of them returned to sport activities after graduation. Overall, 8 athletes (11%) experienced an ACL graft retear.

    Conclusion

    The return-to-sport rate in our National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes compared favorably with that reported in other studies in the literature. The strict follow-up by the surgeon, together with the high-profile, almost daily technical and psychological support given mainly by the athletic trainers during the recovery period, may have contributed to preparing the athletes for a competitive rate of return to sport at their preinjury level.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Surgical Anatomy of the Medial Cuneiform (Cotton) Osteotomy.
    (Foot & ankle orthopaedics, 2019-10) Wei, Baofu; Lau, Brian C; Amendola, Annunziato

    Background

    The Cotton osteotomy, or dorsal-opening wedge osteotomy of the medial cuneiform (MC), is used to address medial column alignment to restore the static-triangle of support. There are many described techniques regarding the incision and osteotomy. Successful completion of the osteotomy requires knowledge of the anatomy, particularly the location of the medial dorsal cutaneous nerve (MDCN). This study describes the relationship between MDCN, tibialis anterior, extensor-hallucis-longus tendon, and ligamentous attachments to the MC. A technique to determine a safe location for the osteotomy is also described.

    Methods

    Twelve fresh-frozen adult foot specimens were used for this study (7 male and 5 female). The MDCN and its branches were dissected and its relationship with the MC was documented. Osteotomy tilt angle and relationship to structures around the MC were measured.

    Results

    MDCN traveled medially and distally over the dorsum of the MC, and a small branch to the MC was observed. The tilt angle was 80.1 ±1.4 degrees. There was no significant difference between the distance from the distal-articular surface to the midline of the cuneiform and to the interosseous ligament (P = .69), or between the distance from the distal-articular surface to the second tarsometatarsal joint and to the origin of the Lisfranc ligament (P = .12).

    Conclusions

    The dorsal-medial-oblique incision effectively protected MDCN and the MC. We believe the osteotomy should be performed in the safe zone to maintain the stability of the opening wedge.

    Clinical relevance

    The dorsal-medial-oblique incision could reduce the risk of injury to the MDCN and the tibialis-anterior tendon.