Lower extremity limb salvage with cryoplasty: a single-center cohort study.

Endovascular techniques have been playing an increasing role in managing lower extremity chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI) in patients considered poor or non-candidates for surgical revascularization secondary to co-morbidities such as coronary artery disease, uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus or inadequate conduit. This study reviews our recent clinical experience in the treatment of peripheral artery disease solely using cryoplasty. A retrospective cohort study was performed. The cohort consisted of 88 patients who underwent lower extremity revascularization utilizing cryoplasty between December 2003 and August 2007. Indications for intervention included poor wound healing after forefoot amputation or persistent ulceration of the foot, disabling claudication and rest pain. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess salvage rates. One hundred twenty-six lesions were treated in 88 patients. Technical success rate was 97%. Limb salvage rates were 75 and 63% for patients with critical limbs ischemia after one and three years, respectively. A history of smoking was associated with a threefold increased risk of limb loss. In conclusion, endovascular management of lower extremity lesions with cryoplasty is an emerging and viable paradigm in the treatment of CLI in an attempt to preserve limbs and avoid major amputations.

Retrospective evaluation of clinical outcomes in subjects with split-thickness skin graft: comparing V.A.C.® therapy and conventional therapy in foot and ankle reconstructive surgeries.

This retrospective study compared the clinical outcomes of negative pressure wound therapy with reticulated open cell foam (NPWT/ROCF) as delivered by Vacuum-Assisted Therapy(®) (V.A.C.(®) Therapy, KCI Licensing Inc., San Antonio, TX) to non-NPWT/ROCF conventional therapy (CT) in split-thickness skin graft (STSG) survival in all patients to determine whether NPWT/ROCF affects the outcome of the graft survival, in terms of overall graft take, duration of graft take, repeated grafts and complications. The authors conducted a 10-year retrospective review of 142 patients admitted to a level I trauma centre and treated with an STSG in foot and ankle reconstructive surgeries. Demographic data, wound etiology, dressing type used, time to graft take, NPWT/ROCF duration, complications and outpatient treatments were analysed. There were significantly fewer repeated STSGs required in the NPWT/ROCF group compared to CT [n = 3 (3·5%) versus n = 9 (16%); P = 0·006]. In assessing safety, there were fewer complications in graft failure (seroma, hematoma and infection) in the NPWT/ROCF group as compared to the CT group at 8·9 months (range: 1-12 months). NPWT/ROCF is an excellent alternative for securing an STSG and is associated with improved graft survival as measured by a reduction in the number of repeated STSGs and graft failure complications.

Hemangiopericytoma of the navicular: a case report.

Hemangiopericytoma is a tumor of vascular origin usually found in the soft tissue. Manifestation in bone is extremely rare and are most commonly located in the pelvis and the lower extremity. This is the first case of hemangiopericytoma in the bone of the foot known to the authors. This article shows the presenting findings and the surgical treatment. At 13 months after the final surgery, there was no evidence of tumor recurrence.