An Innovative Method for Plantar Plate Repair: Technique Guide and Case Report.

Disruption of the plantar plate is a common cause of forefoot pain, metatarsalgia, and metatarsophalangeal joint malalignment. Although surgical repair of the plantar plate has improved, there has been no consensus on the clinical superiority of any single technique, or combination of techniques, described in the literature to date. In this publication, we report a case of plantar plate injury treated with an innovative new technique with 20-month follow-up.

Safe Placement of Intramedullary Nail and Inter-Physician Variability in Guidewire Placement in Retrograde Tibiotalocalcaneal Fusions.

Retrograde tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis is a salvage procedure for severe arthrosis and deformity of both the tibiotalar and subtalar joints and requires image-confirmed placement of a retrograde guidewire. The anatomical shape of the calcaneus creates a situation in which guidewire placement can be skewed on imaging based on the angle of either internal or external rotation. As a result, the aims of our study were to (1) determine the optimal angle(s) of rotation required to accurately depict guidewire placement on imaging and (2) evaluate and describe the effects angle of rotation has on physician assessment of guidewire placement. Using a C-arm x-ray, images of cadavers with both correctly and incorrectly placed guidewires were taken at 5° increments of internal and external rotation of the cadaveric lower extremity and assessed for accuracy of guidewire depiction. The images revealed that the correctly placed guidewire appeared displaced medially at angles of 35° and 40° of external rotation. Conversely, the incorrectly placed guidewire appeared to be correctly placed at between 10° and 40° of external rotation. These images were then disseminated to various physicians including orthopedic surgeons and podiatrists to determine the ability of physicians to correctly appreciate guidewire placement. Using the responses from 35 physicians, it was found that certain angles of internal and external rotation preclude physicians from correctly determining guidewire placement. We found, based on chi-square analysis, that we were able to reject our null hypothesis with a p value of <.001 leading to the conclusion that indeed angle of rotation and guidewire placement can lead to false depictions of guidewire placement. In conclusion, our study gave objective measurements to guide foot placement during tibiotalocalcaneal fusion to decrease the risk incorrectly depicted medial guidewire placement and subsequent incorrect intramedullary nail placement.

Surgical Management Navicular and Cuboid Fractures.

The tarsal navicular is a critical component of the foot's medial longitudinal arch. Injuries to the navicular have significant long-term functional consequences. In addition to stress fractures, acute injuries to the navicular include acute avulsion, tuberosity, and body fractures. Nonoperative treatment is the mainstay for avulsion injuries and nondisplaced body fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation is performed to achieve anatomic reduction in the other situations. Common complications following operative intervention include pain, stiffness, post-traumatic arthritis, avascular necrosis, nonunion, and hindfoot deformity. This article provides an overview for recognition and treatment of common presentations of these injuries as described in the literature.

Evaluating Blood Loss and the Effect of Antiplatelet Treatment in Foot and Ankle Amputations.

The interrelationship between diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease is well-documented, and, secondary to the latter, is the use of antiplatelet therapy. Although diabetes and the associated vascular manifestations are driving forces behind lower extremity amputations, few data are available on the risks of perioperative antiplatelet therapy with foot and ankle amputations. The goal of the present study was to address the surgical effect of continuing or discontinuing antiplatelet therapy before foot and/or ankle amputation. The following data were retrospectively collected: blood loss, pre- and postoperative hematocrit and hemoglobin, operative time, amputation type, age, diabetic status, antiplatelet treatment, and number of transfusions during the perioperative period. Perioperative antiplatelet therapy was defined as exposure to aspirin or clopidogrel within 3 days before surgery. To compare the outcomes between groups, the following factors were analyzed using bivariate analyses and then multivariate regression models: (1) the need for transfusions, (2) high blood loss (>20 mL), (3) volume of blood loss, and (4) operative time. The noninferiority of continued antiplatelet use was assessed in terms of operative time and blood loss, using a noninferiority margin of 10 minutes or 10 mL, respectively. Antiplatelet therapy was not a statistically significant risk factor for any of the studied outcomes on multivariate analysis. Equivalence testing revealed that continuing antiplatelet therapy is not inferior to discontinuing perioperative therapy in terms of blood loss and operative time. Multivariate analysis of the data suggested that antiplatelet therapy has no statistically significant impact on blood loss, transfusion rate, or operative time.

Is Subtalar Joint Cartilage Resection Necessary for Tibiotalocalcaneal Arthrodesis via Intramedullary Nail? A Multicenter Evaluation.

Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with intramedullary nailing is traditionally performed with formal preparation of both the subtalar and ankle joints. However, we believe that subtalar joint preparation is not necessary to achieve satisfactory outcomes in patients undergoing tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with a retrograde intramedullary nail. The primary aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients who had undergone tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with an intramedullary nail without formal subtalar joint cartilage resection. A multicenter medical record review was performed to identify consecutive patients. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale, and osseous union at the tibiotalar joint was defined as bony trabeculation across the arthrodesis site on all 3 radiographic views. Progression of joint deterioration was evaluated across time at the subtalar joint, using a modified grading system developed by Takakura et al. Forty consecutive patients (aged 61.9 ± 12.9 years; 17 men) met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Compared with the pain reported preoperatively (6.4 ± 2.7), a statistically significant decline was seen in the pain experienced after surgery (1.2 ± 1.8; p < .001). The mean time to consolidated arthrodesis at the ankle joint was 3.8 ± 1.5 months. A statistically significant increase in deterioration at the subtalar joint was observed across time [t(36) = -6.200, p < .001]. Compared with previously published data of subtalar joint cartilage resection, the present study has demonstrated a similar decline in pain, with a high rate of union, and also a decrease in operative time when preparation of the subtalar joint was not performed.

Advances in forefoot trauma.

Forefoot traumas, particularly involving the metatarsals, are commonly occurring injuries. There have been several advances in management of these injuries. These advances include updates in operative technique, internal fixation options, plating constructs, and external fixation. In addition, the advances of soft tissue management have improved outcomes. This article outlines these injuries and provides an update on techniques, principles, and understanding of managing forefoot trauma.

Management of combined soft tissue and osseous defect of the midfoot with a free osteocutaneous radial forearm flap: a case report.

Extensive soft tissue and osseous defects of the foot are difficult to manage and often result in amputation. Most of these wounds are created by trauma, but other causes, such as infection and malignancy, can create similar defects. A variety of wound management options exist for the treatment of these challenging wounds, including negative pressure wound therapy, autogenous skin grafting, and the use of skin substitutes, as well as internal and external fixation methods. In the present report, we describe the use of a free osteocutaneous radial forearm flap to manage a 10-cm × 5-cm dorsal soft tissue defect and a 2.5-cm second metatarsal diaphyseal defect in an adult male.

Use of allograft cellular bone matrix in multistage talectomy with tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis: a case report.

Surgical treatment for traumatic dislocation of the talus is a challenging procedure that is often associated with complications. Application of allograft cellular bone matrix with viable mesenchymal stem and osteoprogenitor cells can eliminate the need for autograft and may increase fusion rates in procedures such as tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis. This report describes the treatment of an adult man who presented with a right ankle fracture and subtalar joint dislocation after a motor vehicle accident. After initial treatment with open reduction and internal fixation, the patient developed avascular necrosis of the talus and septic arthritis of the tibiotalar and subtalar joints. After treatment of the infection, the patient was ultimately treated with multistage talectomy and tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis augmented with a cellular bone allograft. Approximately 3 months after the final operation, plain radiographs and computed tomography confirmed solid fusion at the arthrodesis interface. The patient's recovery was uneventful thereafter, and amputation was avoided. This case, which presented additional challenges because of the large defect created by the infection, suggests that use of an allograft cellular bone matrix has the potential to replicate the bone-healing properties of autograft without the constraints and morbidity associated with autograft harvesting.