Is the EQ-5D-5L a responsive test to evaluate results in elective foot and ankle surgery?

PURPOSE: To analyze the responsiveness and the minimally clinical important change (MCIC) of the EuroQol (EQ) 5D-5 L score in patients that had undergone foot/ankle surgery. METHODS: Patients that underwent elective foot/ankle surgery from January 2019 to December 2020 were included. They were assessed with the EQ-5D-5L, visual analogue pain scale and Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. The pre-post differences of all variables, Effect Size (ES) and MCIC were analyzed. RESULTS: 167 patients. All variables showed a significant pre-post improvement. The ES for EQ-index and EQ-VAS were 0.61 and 0.33 respectively. MCIC for EQ-index was 0.17 and EQ-VAS was 8.54. MOXFQ index ES was 1.46 and the MCIC was 23.8. VAS decreased from 59.4 to 26.62. CONCLUSION: The EQ-5D-5L is a sensitive test to detect changes after elective foot and ankle surgery with good responsiveness relative to the ES values in the EQ-index. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Halving the usage of rigid-soled postoperative shoes does not affect outcomes in forefoot reconstruction surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative shoes are commonly used after forefoot surgery. This study's aim was to demonstrate that reducing rigid-soled shoe time to 3 weeks neither compromises functional outcomes nor does it produce complications. METHODS: Prospective cohort study: 6 weeks versus 3 weeks of rigid postoperative shoe (100 and 96 patients respectively), after forefoot surgery with stable osteotomies. Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) and pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were studied preoperative and one year postoperative. Radiological angles were also assessed after removing the rigid shoe and at 6 months. RESULTS: The MOXFQ index and pain VAS depicted similar results in each group (group A: 29.8 and 25.7; group B: 32.7 and 23.7) with no differences between them (p = .43 Vs. p = .58). Moreover, no differences were reported in their differential angles (HV differential-angle p = .44, IM differential-angle p = .18) or in their complication rate. CONCLUSION: In forefoot surgery with stable osteotomies, shortening the postoperative shoe time to 3 weeks, neither impairs clinical results nor the initial correction angle.

Proximal Medial Gastrocnemius Release: Surgical Technique.

Proximal medial gastrocnemius release (PMGR) is a technique that is performed to relieve tension in the Achilles-calcaneus-plantar system when a biomechanical overload is present1-3. One of the main indications for this technique is recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. This procedure may also be useful in second-rocker metatarsalgia or midportion Achilles tendinitis4. It is considered to be an easy and safe method for achieving good results5-7. Description: PMGR is performed with the patient in the prone position. A thigh tourniquet is not utilized. We prefer to use spinal anesthesia, but local anesthesia could be applied along with sedation. A posteromedial incision is made on or just below the posterior knee crease. The crural fascia is divided, and the proximal insertion of the medial gastrocnemius is identified. Performing the "hook maneuver" with a curved dissector is helpful at this step. Only the white fibers are sectioned in order to allow for a lengthening of the muscular fibers that is completed with forceful ankle dorsiflexion. After proper hemostasis has been achieved, the subcutaneous layer and skin are closed, leaving the fascia open. Alternatives: Nonoperative treatment should be the first option, including analgesics, insoles, heel cups, calf-stretching, injections, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy8. Some authors have also suggested that application of a walking cast for 3 to 6 weeks should be attempted9,10. Once all of these treatment options have failed, operative treatment is appropriate. Historically, open plantar fasciotomy was offered to patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis, and this treatment continues to be a surgical option. Other procedure, like the Strayer, Vulpius, or Baumann techniques, involve the calf system and are called "gastrocnemius recession." However, these techniques act in the more distal aspect of the calf system compared with PMGR. Rationale: PMGR offers patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis rapid recovery and good results. This procedure obviates the complications associated with plantar fasciotomy, in which the medial aspect of the proximal plantar fascia is divided to relieve the overload. A plantar fasciotomy (either open or endoscopic11) risks lateral column overload12 or a painful flatfoot if >50% of the fascia is divided. A long recovery period following plantar fasciotomy has also been described7. On the other hand, other procedures have been utilized to lengthen the Achilles-calcaneus-plantar system to an even greater extent. Techniques like the Silfverskiöld (i.e., medial and lateral proximal gastrocnemius release) or Strayer (i.e., division of the distal aspect of the gastrocnemius fascia) technique present a higher rate of complications (up to 38%), specifically nerve injuries13,14. We consider these procedures (classified as gastrocnemius recession procedures) more properly indicated for patients with neurological diseases or with an equinus contracture. The medial gastrocnemius is the more powerful of the 2 bellies. Releasing the medial head alone offers a robust decrease in tension and is safer than approaching the lateral head of the gastrocnemius15. At the same time, this technique provides a quick recovery for the patient. PMGR can also help those patients with other clinical signs related to gastrocnemius tightness, such as calf cramps and pain or repeated muscle injuries. Moreover, it can be effective in patients with second-rocker metatarsalgia or midportion Achilles tendinitis1,16. Expected Outcomes: PMGR has a reported rate of satisfaction of >80%. Most patients undergoing this procedure experience substantial pain relief within the first 2 to 3 months6,17. PMGR is an outpatient procedure with a short operative time and a rapid return to recreational and labor activities. The complication rate is low, and the most common complications are calf hematomas and delayed wound healing. The present article demonstrates a reduction in pain and good functional results. An improvement in the perception of health-related quality of life, especially in the physical and pain domains of the Short Form-36 questionnaire, was also observed. Important Tips: The prone position allows for direct access to the proximal medial head of the gastrocnemius. Preferably, perform PMGR without a tourniquet in order to assure proper hemostasis. Keep the ankle joint free at the end of operating table because ankle dorsiflexion is a helpful maneuver at some stages in this procedure. Digital (index finger) dissection should be performed among the medial head of the gastrocnemius, the hamstrings, and the posterior aspect of the proximal tibia. The hook maneuver, performed with use of a blunt dissector, is helpful to identify all of the white fibers. Only white fibers should be divided. The surgeon must also make sure to cut the more anterior part of the aponeurosis that is hidden by red fibers. After cutting the white fibers, forceful ankle dorsiflexion is required to obtain full lengthening of the muscle. Proper hemostasis should be achieved to prevent formation of a calf hematoma. Advise the patient to do calf-stretches as soon as pain permits in order to prevent a contracting muscle scar. Acronyms & Abbreviations: PMGR = proximal medial gastrocnemius releaseESWT = extracorporeal shock wave therapySD = standard deviation.

Outcome Assessment Performance of the SF-36, Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire and AOFAS in Forefoot Reconstruction Surgery.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the measurement properties of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) to detect real change after forefoot reconstruction surgery. Responsiveness and minimally important change estimates were compared with those from the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) measures. Eighty-three patients awaiting surgery were recruited. Patients completed pre- and 12 months postoperative the SF-36 and the MOXFQ. A surgeon assessed the AOFAS scores. The responsiveness to change was determined using the effect size (ES), the minimal detectable change (MDC) and the minimal clinically important change. Two subscales of the SF-36 demonstrated significant improvement, bodily pain (BP) and mental health. Only the BP domain appeared the most responsive with an ES of 0.73. All domains of the MOXFQ and AOFAS produced much larger effect sizes (ES > 1.5). MDC values for the majority of the SF-36 domains fell within measurement error except for the BP domain. Fewer patients showed significant improvement when compared with the MOXFQ pain domain. In conclusion, the SF-36 measuring tool proved to be neither reliable nor responsive enough to detect real change after forefoot surgery. Though the BP domain appeared to be the most responsive, it failed to detect meaningful change when compared to the MOXFQ-Pain and the Visual Analogue Scale.

Bifurcated popliteus tendon: a descriptive arthroscopic study.

The objective of this study was to confirm the presence and frequency of a bifurcation of the popliteus tendon. The popliteus tendon has received attention due to its important function as a knee stabiliser. Several anatomical variants have recently been reported, one of them being a bifurcated tendon. However, the actual frequency as well as the possible role of this particular variant is still unknown. We prospectively analysed a series of 1,569 arthroscopies between January 2005 to December 2007. Six asymptomatic bifurcated popliteus tendons were found. No alterations in the magnetic resonance imaging were seen and no clinical signs (related to the popliteus tendon) were observed in these patients before surgery. In all cases the morphological variant was found by chance. Our results suggest that the presence of a bifurcated popliteus tendon is a fact and that its frequency, not previously reported, should not be ignored.