Abstract Elbow pain is a significant source of morbidity in overhead throwing athletes, arising from a spectrum of pathologies including ulnar collateral ligament injury, valgus extension overload, medial epicondylitis, ulnar neuritis, radiocapitellar pathology, and more. Accurate diagnosis requires a systematic physical examination combined with advanced imaging. This technical note describes a comprehensive examination protocol for the throwing athlete's elbow.
Abstract Recent anatomical understanding of the medial restraints of the patella has evolved over the last decade with a current focus on the medial quadriceps tendon femoral ligament, a distinct anatomical structure to the medial patellofemoral ligament. These combine to form the medial patellofemoral complex. This technical note describes a technique to reconstruct the whole medial patellofemoral complex, replicating anatomical knowledge and allowing for dynamic graft tensioning using an allograft.
Abstract The maturation of arthroscopic techniques has provided patients with rotator cuff tears a minimally invasive treatment option with favorable outcomes; however, the rate of retear remains high. High‐strength suture tape is widely used in procedures such as knee ligament reconstruction and ankle ligament repair, where it enhances the tensile strength during joint motion, thereby reducing the risk of ligament rerupture. In this report, we describe an arthroscopic surgical technique for rotator cuff repair using high‐strength suture tape for tension relief. The key steps include passing the high‐strength suture tape in a “U‐shaped” configuration through the tendon stump, reducing the tendon by securing it with a lateral‐row anchor, and then, under nearly “zero tension,” using the suture tails from the medial‐row anchors to approximate the remaining tendon stump. This technique, by employing high‐strength suture tape to reduce the tendon and share the tension load, significantly minimizes the cutting effect of the medial‐row anchors on the tendon, thereby lowering the risk of tendon retear and promoting tissue healing.
Abstract We describe a simple knot‐tying technique to augment fixation during double‐row rotator cuff repair. After standard lateral‐row anchor placement and suture tensioning, the remaining suture limbs are secured with a surgeon's knot positioned flush against the bone‐anchor interface. This knot serves as a mechanical stopper: when the retracted cuff exerts medial traction on the medial‐row sutures, the knot blocks suture slippage at the lateral bone surface, generating a counterforce that neutralizes pullout forces and maintains footprint compression. No additional implants are required. This technique is particularly valuable in osteoporotic bone or massive cuff tears, where lateral‐row anchor fixation is prone to early failure.
Abstract In multiligament knee injuries, reconstruction of the posterolateral corner is essential for restoring varus and rotational stability of the knee. Autografts and allografts are the current mainstays for posterolateral corner reconstruction; however, their use is associated with inherent limitations, including graft availability, insufficient size, and donor site morbidity. This technical note describes a surgical technique for posterolateral corner reconstruction using a Y‐shaped artificial ligament. This approach achieves anatomic reconstruction of the lateral collateral ligament and a functional, nonanatomic reconstruction of the popliteus tendon through a single femoral tunnel. The technique aims to provide reliable knee stability in a relatively minimally invasive manner while circumventing the limitations associated with traditional grafts.
