Isolated lateral-sided knee pain is a unique problem following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Reported causes include soft tissue impingement against extruded cement, an overhanging tibial tray, remnant osteophytes rubbing against the iliotibial band (ITB), popliteal tendon impingement, fabella syndrome, and synovial tissue impingement in the lateral gutter. In addition, iliotibial band traction syndrome secondary to guided motion Bi-cruciate stabilizing knee arthroplasty has been recognized as a new clinical entity. Initial work up should include ruling out the most common causes of painful TKA including infection, aseptic loosening, and instability. Radiographs and CT scan are utilized to identify potential source of pain. Ultrasound evaluation (with elicited probe tenderness) can increase diagnostic accuracy. Ultrasound guided local anesthetic injections can confirm the source of pain. Anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy with ITB stretches, and therapeutic local steroid injections are initial treatment modalities. Satisfactory resolution of symptoms may require surgical intervention directed at the specific cause and may avoid the morbidity associated with revision TKA.

BACKGROUND: Metacarpal shaft fractures are a common hand trauma. The current surgical fixation options for such fractures include percutaneous Kirschner wire pinning and nonlocking and locking plate fixation. Although bone plate fixation, compared with Kirschner wire pinning, has superior fixation ability, a consensus has not been reached on whether the bone plate is better placed on the dorsal or lateral side.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fixation of locking and regular bone plates on the dorsal and lateral sides of a metacarpal shaft fracture.
METHODS: Thirty-five artificial metacarpal bones were used in the experiment. Metacarpal shaft fractures were created using a saw blade, which were then treated with four types of fixation as follows: (1) a locking plate with four locking bicortical screws on the dorsal side (LP_D); (2) a locking plate with four locking bicortical screws on the lateral side (LP_L); (3) a regular plate with four regular bicortical screws on the dorsal side (RP_D); (4) a regular plate with four regular bicortical screws on the lateral side (RP_D); and (5) two K-wires (KWs). All specimens were tested through cantilever bending tests on a material testing system. The maximum fracture force and stiffness of the five fixation types were determined based on the force-displacement data. The maximum fracture force and stiffness of the specimens with metacarpal shaft fractures were first analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey\'s test.
RESULTS: The maximum fracture force results of the five types of metacarpal shaft fracture were as follows: LP_D group (230.1 ± 22.8 N, mean ± SD) ≅ RP_D group (228.2 ± 13.4 N) > KW group (94.0 ± 17.4 N) > LP_L group (59.0 ± 7.9 N) ≅ RP_L group (44.5 ± 3.4 N). In addition, the stiffness results of the five types of metacarpal shaft fracture were as follows: LP_D group (68.7 ± 14.0 N/mm) > RP_D group (54.9 ± 3.2 N/mm) > KW group (20.7 ± 5.8 N/mm) ≅ LP_L group (10.6 ± 1.7 N/mm) ≅ RP_L group (9.4 ± 1.2 N/mm).
CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, the mechanical strength offered by lateral plate fixation of a metacarpal shaft fracture is so low that even KW fixation can offer relatively superior mechanical strength; this is regardless of whether a locking or nonlocking plate is used for lateral plate fixation. Such fixation can reduce the probability of extensor tendon adhesion. Nevertheless, our results indicated that when lateral plate fixation is used for fixating a metacarpal shaft fracture in a clinical setting, whether the mechanical strength offered by such fixation would be strong enough to support bone union remains questionable.