AANA20 Highlights Webinar-AANA20 Highlights Webinar

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The Best of ANA 2020 webinar highlighted key research in orthopedic sports medicine, featuring award-winning studies and expert discussions.<br /><br />Dr. Patrick Smith presented a randomized controlled trial comparing all-inside quadrupled semitendinosus (hamstring) versus bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) grafts for ACL reconstruction in athletes under 24. Both showed similar knee stability at two years, but BTB grafts caused significantly more anterior knee pain and contralateral ACL tears. This led Dr. Smith to favor hamstring grafts.<br /><br />Dr. Aaron Critch compared medial and lateral meniscus root tears in 137 patients. Medial tears occurred in older, higher BMI females with more arthritis, while lateral tears typically affected younger males with ACL injuries. Both groups had good outcomes after repair, but laterals fared better. Risk factors for worse outcomes included older age, higher BMI, and greater cartilage damage.<br /><br />Dr. Calvin Wilson studied return-to-sport readiness after shoulder stabilization in 43 athletes, finding 88% failed strength and functional tests at six months post-op, suggesting more rehabilitation time is needed beyond arbitrary timelines.<br /><br />Dr. Rafi Merzayan reported on superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) for massive rotator cuff tears, showing that graft integrity correlates with better functional scores. Interestingly, even graft tears leaving the tuberosity covered provided some benefit ("biologic tuberoplasty effect"), emphasizing the importance of graft fixation.<br /><br />Award-winning papers included: Dr. Nick Verma’s study showing bone marrow concentrate improved rotator cuff healing on MRI but not patient-reported outcomes; Dr. Hoberman’s trial demonstrating day-of-surgery video calls increase patient satisfaction more than phone calls; Dr. Verma’s multi-center trial found subacromial balloon spacers non-inferior to partial repair for massive cuff tears, with quicker early recovery; and Dr. Seth Sherman’s study revealed MPFL reconstruction had significantly lower recurrent instability than repair in adolescents with patellar instability.<br /><br />Panel discussions emphasized evolving surgical indications, rehabilitation protocols, and the need for individualized treatment based on patient factors such as age, activity, and tissue quality. The importance of objective functional testing and biologic augmentation was highlighted. The webinar concluded with calls for further research to optimize outcomes in complex sports injuries.

Keywords

orthopedic sports medicine

ACL reconstruction

hamstring graft

bone-patellar tendon-bone graft

meniscus root tears

medial meniscus tear

lateral meniscus tear

shoulder stabilization

superior capsule reconstruction

rotator cuff tears

bone marrow concentrate

subacromial balloon spacer

MPFL reconstruction