Total Ankle Replacement Versus Arthrodesis for End-Stage Ankle Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: End-stage ankle osteoarthritis causes severe pain and disability. There are no randomized trials comparing the 2 main surgical treatments: total ankle replacement (TAR) and ankle fusion (AF). OBJECTIVE: To determine which treatment is superior in terms of clinical scores and adverse events. DESIGN: A multicenter, parallel-group, open-label randomized trial. (ISRCTN registry number: 60672307). SETTING: 17 National Health Service trusts across the United Kingdom. PATIENTS: Patients with end-stage ankle osteoarthritis, aged 50 to 85 years, and suitable for either procedure. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned to TAR or AF surgical treatment. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was change in Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire walking/standing (MOXFQ-W/S) domain scores between baseline and 52 weeks after surgery. No blinding was possible. RESULTS: Between 6 March 2015 and 10 January 2019, a total of 303 patients were randomly assigned; mean age was 68 years, and 71% were men. Twenty-one patients withdrew before surgery, and 281 clinical scores were analyzed. At 52 weeks, the mean MOXFQ-W/S scores improved for both groups. The adjusted difference in the change in MOXFQ-W/S scores from baseline was -5.6 (95% CI, -12.5 to 1.4), showing that TAR improved more than AF, but the difference was not considered clinically or statistically significant. The number of adverse events was similar between groups (109 vs. 104), but there were more wound healing issues in the TAR group and more thromboembolic events and nonunion in the AF group. The symptomatic nonunion rate for AF was 7%. A post hoc analysis suggested superiority of fixed-bearing TAR over AF (-11.1 [CI, -19.3 to -2.9]). LIMITATION: Only 52-week data; pragmatic design creates heterogeneity of implants and surgical techniques. CONCLUSION: Both TAR and AF improve MOXFQ-W/S and had similar clinical scores and number of harms. Total ankle replacement had greater wound healing complications and nerve injuries, whereas AF had greater thromboembolism and nonunion, with a symptomatic nonunion rate of 7%. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Institute for Health and Care Research Heath Technology Assessment Programme.

Limb salvage versus below knee amputation for severe adult lower limb deformity - A retrospective, comparative series.

BACKGROUND: This study compares outcomes of patients with severe, multiplanar, fixed, pantalar deformities undergoing limb preservation with either pantalar fusion (PTF) or talectomy and tibiocalcaneal fusion (TCF), versus below knee amputation (BKA). METHODS: Fifty-one patients undergoing either PTF, TCF and BKA for failed management of severe pantalar deformity were evaluated retrospectively. Twenty-seven patients underwent PTF, 8 TCF and 16 BKA. Median age at surgery was 55.0 years (17-72 years) and median follow-up duration was 49.9 months (24.0-253.7 months). Clinical evaluation was undertaken using the MOxFQ, EQ-5D and Special Interest Group in Amputee Medicine score (SIGAM). Patients were also asked whether they were satisfied with their surgery and whether they would have the same surgery again. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in functional outcomes, satisfaction, or complications between the groups. Twenty-two patients undergoing PTF (81.5%), 6 patients undergoing TCF (75%), and 15 patients undergoing BKA (93.8%) were satisfied overall (p = 0.414). There was no difference in the proportion of patients who would opt for the same procedure again (p = 0.142): 23 in the PTF group (85.2%), 8 in the TCF group (100%), and 11 in the BKA group (68.8%). Seven patients undergoing PTF (25.9%), 2 patients undergoing TCF (25%) and 6 patients undergoing BKA (37.5%) had major complications (p = 0.692). CONCLUSION: This study concludes that PTF, TCF and BKA can all provide an acceptable outcome in treatment of severe, degenerative pantalar deformities. This data may be useful in counselling patients when considering salvage versus amputation in such cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3(Original) Clinical Research Article.

The Value of SPECT-CT in Diagnosing Complex Non-Arthritic and Non-Neoplastic Conditions of the Foot and Ankle.

INTRODUCTION: There is little information on the value of using single photon emission computerized tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) in non-arthritic and non-neoplastic conditions of the foot and ankle (F&A). The vast majority of studies have investigated the role of SPECT-CT in degenerative conditions, bony pathology, and neoplastic conditions. The diagnostic value of SPECT-CT in purely non-arthritic and non-neoplastic conditions, in the absence of other conclusive radiological findings, is yet to be clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of SPECT-CT in a cohort of patients with complex F&A pathology, in whom diagnostic uncertainty existed after conventional imaging techniques, and to assess its added value in routine clinical practice. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis of 297 SPECT-CTs from 2010 to 2017 found 18 SPECT-CTs (age = 16-56 years) performed for non-arthritic F&A pathology. Changes in diagnosis, management, and clinical outcome scores were recorded before and after SPECT-CT imaging. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the provisional diagnosis was different from the SPECT-CT diagnosis in 10 (56%) out of the 18 patients and led to a modified treatment plan, which was successful in 8 (80%) out of the 10 patients. The post-intervention Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOX-FQ) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score improved from 76 ± 18 to 58 ± 24 (P = .02), and from 72 ± 17 to 49 ± 32 (P = .01), respectively. The SPECT-CT scan was useful in confirming the provisional diagnosis in the remaining 8 patients where a diagnostic uncertainty existed after conventional imaging techniques. Overall, a total of 15 out of 18 patients (83%) showed an improvement in their symptoms after management led by SPECT-CT diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the added value of SPECT-CT in patients presenting with non-arthritic and non-neoplastic F&A conditions in which there is diagnostic uncertainty after conventional imaging. In 80% of cases, a change in management driven by the SPECT-CT findings led to a successful outcome. We have found SPECT-CT to be a useful investigative modality in assessing these complex F&A cases. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Staples and locking plates provide comparable outcomes for fixation of first metatarsal dorsiflexion osteotomies in pes cavovarus.

BACKGROUND: One commonly encountered deformity within the cavovarus foot is plantarflexion of the first metatarsal which may be a primary or secondary deformity. Correcting the plantarflexion may be achieved through a dorsiflexion osteotomy although the optimal fixation device for this osteotomy has not been determined. This clinical study compared the outcomes using staples and locking plates. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was performed of 52 feet that had undergone dorsiflexion osteotomy of the first metatarsal as part of a cavovarus foot correction with a minimum follow-up of two years. Data was collected on deformity correction, complications and cost-analysis. RESULTS: As a cohort, Meary's angle improved from 13.4° to 7.72° (p < 0.001), Hibbs' angle improved from 117.1° to 124.2° (p < 0.001) and navicular height dropped from 52.7 mm to 47.7 mm (p < 0.001) while calcaneal inclination changed from 20.9° to 21.2° but this did not reach significance (p = 0.66). These indices and the number of complications were not significantly different between the staple and locking plate group. The overall cost of using staples was less than using locking plates. CONCLUSIONS: Both staples and locking plates are effective devices for fixation of the first metatarsal after a dorsiflexion osteotomy in cavovarus foot surgery. They were both able to provide comparable fixation, although staples were less expensive to use in our study.

Gastrocnemius tightness: A population based observational study.

BACKGROUND: Gastrocnemius tightness is believed to be associated with multiple musculoskeletal pathologies such as back pain, plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia. Although surgical treatment of gastrocnemius tightness is gaining popularity the objective definition of a gastrocnemius contracture has not been determined. The aim of our study was therefore to quantify gastrocnemius tightness in a normal population. METHODS: Adult participants with no obvious foot and ankle pathology were recruited. Gastrocnemius tightness was quantified using a weightbearing lunge test. Maximal ankle-foot dorsiflexion was measured on participants with the knee in full extension and flexed to 20° using a digital inclinometer. The ankle-foot dorsiflexion index or ADI (difference in ankle dorsiflexion with the knee extended and flexed) was calculated. The ADI values were plotted on a histogram to identify the distribution of values and were compared according to participant demographics. RESULTS: 800 limbs from 400 participants were examined. There was a wide distribution of absolute values of maximal ankle-foot dorsiflexion ranging from 8 to 52°. The ADI ranged from 0 to19° and approximated to a normal distribution. The mean ADI was 6.04±3.49° and was positively correlated with age (r=0.132, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with physical activity (r=-0.88, P=0.015). CONCLUSION(S): Our study is the first to quantify gastrocnemius tightness in a large healthy adult population with differences observed by age and physical activity. We have defined an easy and reproducible weightbearing test that can be used in both research and clinical settings. The majority of the population have some degree of gastrocnemius tightness and values of ADI greater than 13° (>2 SD of the mean), as measured by the lunge test, may be considered abnormal.

Patient satisfaction and function after bilateral ankle arthrodeses.

BACKGROUND: The optimum way to manage patients with bilateral ankle arthritis (AA) is unclear. METHODS: This review was performed to report the midterm satisfaction and functional outcome of a series of patients who have undergone bilateral staged ankle arthrodesis. RESULTS: Eight patients, median age 68.5 yrs (range 59-80) were followed-up for a median of 58.5 months (range 24-100). All fusions united in a median time of 12.8 weeks (range 10-19) Their median AOFAS hindfoot score was 79.5 (range 71-90). Six patients (75%) were very satisfied, one was satisfied, and the other neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. Two patients developed symptomatic subtalar arthritis requiring subtalar fusion. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report the outcome of bilateral AA independent to that of unilateral AA. Bilateral AA appears to give patients a good functional result with high patient reported satisfaction into the medium term.

Destructive pseudo-neuroarthropathy associated with calcium pyrophosphate deposition.

BACKGROUND: Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease is a metabolic disorder characterized by soft tissue calcific deposits formed primarily in articular cartilage. What can result is a crystal-induced arthropathy often referred to as pseudogout, which is variable in both presentation and severity. A particularly destructive and deforming arthritis is an uncommon but well-recognized subtype of this disease. Radiologically resembling the neuroarthropathy described by Charcot, a pattern of joint fragmentation and structural collapse occurs in the absence of peripheral neuropathy. This pseudo-neuroarthropathy is rarely reported in the foot and ankle. METHODS: A total of 15 cases of pseudo-neuroarthropathy involving some previously unreported joints within the foot and ankle are described in this case series of 9 patients. RESULTS: All patients presented with disease involving multiple joints. Clinical deformity was apparent in each case, and extensive joint destruction was seen on plain radiographs. In 6 patients, histopathological CPPD disease was confirmed on tissue biopsy of the affected joints. In the remaining 3 patients a clinical diagnosis was made on the basis of the classic appearance of pseudo-neuroarthropathy in the foot, with additional recognized features of CPPD. Operative management with deformity correction using joint arthrodesis produced satisfactory clinical and radiological results. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of peripheral neuropathy and systemic disease, the pseudo-neuroarthropathy of CPPD should be considered when a progressively deforming and destructive arthritis is seen in the foot and ankle. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

Levels of evidence in foot and ankle surgery literature: progress from 2000 to 2010?

BACKGROUND: The focus on evidence-based medicine has led to calls for increased levels of evidence in surgical journals. The purpose of the present study was to review the levels of evidence in articles published in the foot and ankle literature and to assess changes in the level of evidence over a decade. METHODS: All of the articles in the literature from the years 2000, 2005, and 2010 in Foot & Ankle International and Foot and Ankle Surgery, as well as all foot and ankle articles from The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS, American [A] and British [B] Volumes) were analyzed. Animal, cadaver, and basic science articles; editorials; surveys; special topics; letters to the editor; and correspondence were excluded. Articles were ranked by a five-point level-of-evidence scale, according to guidelines from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. RESULTS: A total of 720 articles from forty-three different countries were analyzed. The kappa value for interobserver reliability showed very good agreement between the reviewers for types of evidence (κ = 0.816 [p < 0.01]) and excellent agreement for levels of evidence (κ = 0.869 [p < 0.01]). Between 2000 and 2010, the percentage of high levels of evidence (Levels I and II) increased (5.2% to 10.3%) and low levels of evidence (Levels III, IV, and V) decreased (94.8% to 89.7%). The most frequent type of study was therapeutic. The JBJS-A produced the highest proportion of high levels of evidence. CONCLUSION: There has been a trend toward higher levels of evidence in foot and ankle surgery literature over a decade, but the differences did not reach significance.

The demand incidence of symptomatic ankle osteoarthritis presenting to foot & ankle surgeons in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Ankle arthritis is a cause of major disability; however reports in the literature on the incidence of ankle osteoarthritis are rare. OBJECTIVES: To explore the methodological challenges in obtaining an incidence of ankle osteoarthritis and to estimate the incidence of symptomatic osteoarthritis presenting to Foot & Ankle specialists in the UK. METHODS: We searched available national diagnosis databases and also sent out a questionnaire-based survey to all Consultant members of the British Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (n=180). RESULTS: 123 completed survey questionnaires were returned (68%) with each surgeon seeing on average 160 cases of symptomatic ankle arthritis and performing on average 20 definitive procedures for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis per year. There are no internationally agreed diagnostic or treatment codes specific for ankle osteoarthritis. CONCLUSION: There are an estimated 29,000 cases of symptomatic ankle osteoarthritis being referred to specialists in the UK, representing a demand incidence of 47.7 per 100,000. 3000 definitive operations to treat end stage ankle osteoarthritis take place in the UK annually. We recommend that specific codes pertaining to ankle arthritis and its treatment be included in any future revisions of the WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and operative procedure coding systems.