[Total ankle arthroplasty in valgus ankle osteoarthritis]. / Sprunggelenkprothese bei Valgusarthrose.

Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) is often associated with deformities. Valgus OA is less frequent than varus OA and causes of valgus OA include medial ligament instability, flat foot and posttraumatic situations, e.g. fractures of the fibula or lateral tibial plafond. The importance of the mechanical axis is generally accepted in orthopedic surgery. In cases of implantation of total ankle replacements the normal biomechanics need to be restored in order to have a correct and pain-free functioning total ankle replacement both in the short and long-term. The two most important criteria are (1) an anterior tibio-talar angle of about 90° and (2) a neutral hindfoot position. The hindfoot position is measured with the hindfoot alignment view according to Saltzman. In this view, healthy feet are in neutral or minimal varus position of 1-2° and not in a valgus position as generally assumed. The following operative steps are performed depending on the degree and localization of the valgus deformity: (1) total ankle replacement, (2) supramalleolar or (3) inframalleolar osteotomy/arthrodesis, (4) medial ligament repair, (5) fibula osteotomy and (6) syndesmotic reconstruction.

[Achilles tendon ruptures and tibialis anterior tendon ruptures]. / Achillessehnen- und Tibialis-anterior-Sehnenruptur.

Achilles tendon ruptures (ATR) are becoming the most frequent tendon rupture of the lower extremity, whereas less than 100 cases of tibialis anterior tendon ruptures (TATR) have been reported. Common in both tendons are the degenerative causes of ruptures in a susceptible tendon segment, whereas traumatic transections occur at each level. Triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscles are responsible for the main sagittal ankle range of motion and ruptures lead to a distinctive functional deficit. However, diagnosis is delayed in up to 25% of ATR and even more frequently in TATR. Early primary repair provides the best functional results. With progressive retraction and muscle atrophy delayed tendon reconstruction has less favourable functional results. But not all patients need full capacity, power and endurance of these muscles and non-surgical treatment should not be forgotten. Inactive patients with significant comorbidities and little disability should be informed that surgical treatment of TATR is complicated by high rates of rerupture and surgical treatment of ATR can result in wound healing problems rarely necessitating some kind of transplantation.

Frontal and lateral characteristics of the osseous configuration in chronic ankle instability.

OBJECTIVE: The osseous ankle configuration (tibiotalar sector, talar radius and height) has been discovered as intrinsic risk factor for chronic ankle instability (CAI). These measurements were done on lateral radiographs only. In this study, the osseous characteristics in the frontal plane and further lateral values were measured. DESIGN: Level III case-control study. SETTING: Radiological measurement of frontal and lateral radiographs by one independent, blinded radiologist using a digital DICOM/PACS system. PATIENTS: A group of 52 patients with CAI was compared with an age- and sex-matched control group of 52 healthy subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: In the frontal plane, the depth of the talar curvature (frontal curvature (froCu)) and the lateral and medial malleolar lengths were measured. In the lateral plane, the position of the centre of rotation to the tibial axis (talar centre of rotation to the anatomical axis of the tibia (TibCOR)) and the tibial lateral surface angle (TLS) were also measured. RESULTS: The froCu was deeper in patients with CAI (1.8 (0.5) mm) than in healthy subjects (1.0 (0.5) mm, p<0.05). The TibCOR was more anterior in patients with CAI (2.5 (1.9) mm) than in healthy subjects (1.6 (2.2) mm, p<0.05). The distance from the fibular tip to the centre of rotation was smaller in patients with CAI (3.5 (3.4) mm) than in healthy subjects (6.5 (3.3) mm, p<0.05). The TLS and the length of the lateral and medial ankle were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports that the osseous joint configuration is an intrinsic risk factor for CAI. It could be shown that CAI is characterised by a deeper frontal curvature of the talus and a more anterior position of the talus to the tibia.

[Chronic ankle instability]. / Chronische Instabilität des oberen Sprunggelenks.

Chronic ankle instability represents a typical sports injury. After an acute ankle sprain 20-40% of the injured develop chronic ankle instability. From an orthopaedic point of view chronic ankle instability can be subdivided into lateral and medial instability or a combination of both, the so-called rotational ankle instability. From a pathophysiological point of view, chronic ankle instability can be either mechanical with a structural ligament lesion or functional with loss of neuromuscular control. For the physician chronic ankle instability is a difficult entity as the diagnosis is usually complex and the therapy often surgical. This review on chronic ankle instability deals with the pathomechanisms, diagnostics, indications for conservative and surgical treatments, and possible long-term sequelae, such as ligamentous osteoarthritis.

[Chronic ankle instability in sports -- a review for sports physicians]. / Chronische Instabilität des oberen Sprunggelenks im Sport -- ein Review für Sportärzte.

Chronic ankle instability represents a typical sports injury which can mostly be seen in basketball, soccer, orienteering and other high risk sports. 20 to 40 % of the acute ankle sprains develop into chronic ankle instability. From a sports orthopaedic point of view, chronic ankle instability can be subdivided into a lateral, medial or a combination of both so called rotational ankle instability. From a pathophysiological point of view, chronic ankle instability can be either mechanical with a structural ligament lesion or functional with loss of the neuromuscular control. For the sports physician, the chronic ankle instability is a difficult entity as the diagnosis is usually complex and the therapy usually surgical. This review on chronic ankle instability addresses pathomechanism, diagnostics, indications for conservative and surgical treatments, and possible long-term sequelae, as ligamentous osteoarthritis.

The Swiss Orthopaedic Registry.

Following the tradition of the IDES European Hip Registry inaugurated by M. E. Müller in the 1960s, the Institute for Evaluative Research in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Bern started a new era of data collection using internet technology (www.memdoc.org). With support of the Swiss Orthopaedic Society, the pilot of the Swiss Orthopaedic Registry was conducted, and in cooperation with different academic and non-academic centers the practicability of integrating the various data collection instruments into the daily clinical workflow was evaluated. Three different sizes of hip and knee questionnaires were compiled, covering the individual demands of the participating hospitals whereby the smaller questionnaires always represent a subset of the next larger one. Different types of data collection instruments are available: the online interface, optical mark reader paper questionnaires, and barcode sheets. Precise implant tracking is implemented by scanning the implant barcodes directly in the operating theaters and linking them to the clinical data set via a central server. In addition, radiographic information can be linked with the clinical data set. The pilot clinics suggested enhancements to the user interface and additional features for data management. Also, recommendations were made to simplify content in some instances and diversify in others. With a new software release and adapted questionnaires the Swiss Orthopaedic Registry was officially launched in Summer 2005.

Radiologic and endoscopic evaluation for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding: preoperative and follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) has replaced vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) as the most widespread restrictive bariatric operation in Europe. Although these two procedures are similar in principle, the experience concerning the preoperative examinations and follow-up cannot be arbitrarily transferred from VBG to LASGB. The reasons for and consequences drawn from radiologic and endoscopic examinations are described. METHODS: From December 1996 to January 2000, 148 patients (84% women, average age 39 years, body weight 127 kg, BMI 45 kg/m2) underwent LASGB. The mean follow-up was 17 months. Upper GI series, abdominal ultrasound, and gastroscopy were done before operation. The postoperative stoma adjustments were performed under radiological observation. All adjustments were analyzed. RESULTS: Preoperative: Of 147 upper GI series, 74 showed hiatal hernia, 2 motility disorders, and 1 an incomplete malrotation. In 104 gastroscopies, 35 reflux and 53 gastritis with 24 Helicobacter pylori infections were found. Postoperative: On average, 2.7 radiological adjustments were done per patient. Until satisfactory satiety and weight reduction, 78% of the patients needed 0-3 adjustments. Besides routine adjustments, an additional 57 upper GI series were done in 35 patients, 44 times with opening of the stoma-diameter. A total of 14 slippages and 4 pouch enlargements were found. A gastroscopy was required in 12 patients. CONCLUSION: Radiologic and endoscopic examinations before LASGB revealed pathology needing therapy in 42% of the patients and provided important additional information influencing the operative procedure. At an average follow-up of 17 months, 24% of the 148 patients needed unplanned additional upper GI series.