ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic impacted all facets of health care in the United States, including the professional training for podiatry residents and students. In March of 2020, the Association of American Medical Colleges recommended pausing then modifying all clinical rotations. The podiatric community followed suit. In-person restrictions, cancellations of clerkships, limited clinical experiences, virtual didactic programs, and reduced surgical cases for students and residency programs occurred for many months during the ongoing pandemic. These adaptations impacted the ability of podiatric students to complete clinical rotations and clerkships, which are pivotal to their academic curriculum and residency program application and selection. METHODS: A survey was conducted by the Council of Teaching Hospitals (COTH) and sent out by the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine. The 2021 postinterview surveys were sent out to all participants in the 2021 Centralized Application Service for Podiatric Residencies Web application and match cycle, both programs and candidates. RESULTS: The COTH presents results and comments from the 2021 virtual interview experience and residency match. Data and anecdotal comments from the 2021 postinterview survey conducted by COTH, sent out by American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine, are presented here. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the surveys of program directors and candidates show a preference by both groups for in-person interviews despite the personal time demands and increased costs associated with travel.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Internship and Residency , Podiatry , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , Curriculum , Hospitals, Teaching , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Mycobacterium chelonae is a ubiquitous Gram-positive, acid-fast, non-spore-forming bacterium commonly encountered in nature associated with aquatic animals, soil, and water, including tap water. Nontuberculous mycobacterial tenosynovitis infections caused by M. chelonae in the lower extremity are uncommon, leading to a paucity of literature documenting the diagnosis and treatment of such cases. This report is of a 65-year-old male patient who was found to have an M. chelonae infection along the tibialis anterior tendon after injecting himself with heroin into the dorsal foot veins. This review covers the diagnosis and treatment as well as a case report on the outcome of infectious tenosynovitis of the tibialis anterior associated with M. chelonae. To date, this is the only reported case of tibialis anterior infectious tenosynovitis caused by M. chelonae after intravenous heroin injection.
Subject(s)
Heroin/adverse effects , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/etiology , Mycobacterium chelonae/isolation & purification , Narcotic-Related Disorders/complications , Tenosynovitis/etiology , Aged , Heroin/administration & dosage , Humans , Injections, Intravenous , Male , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/diagnosis , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/microbiology , Tenosynovitis/diagnosis , Tenosynovitis/microbiology , TibiaABSTRACT
Eccrine syringofibroadenoma (ESFA) is a rare benign lesion of ductal and secretory differentiation exhibiting multiple cutaneous polymorphic presentations with an unknown etiology. We present a case of ESFA that uniquely exhibited large, thick, verrucous-like hyperplastic growths as well as superficial shiny mosaic plaques and deep ulcerations in three different anatomical locations in the same patient. The diagnosis of ESFA was confirmed histologically after biopsies were performed on all of the affected areas. In addition to a case report and literature review, we also present classification, clinical, and histologic aspects of ESFA.
Subject(s)
Adenoma, Sweat Gland/pathology , Amputation, Surgical/methods , Heel/pathology , Sweat Gland Neoplasms/pathology , Sweat Gland Neoplasms/surgery , Adenoma, Sweat Gland/surgery , Biopsy, Needle , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Lower Extremity/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology , Neoplasm Staging , Risk Assessment , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive, highly metastatic, often fatal, primary neuroendocrine tumor typically located on sun-exposed skin. It is frequently found in white males aged 60 to 70 years. The somewhat typical benign clinical appearance of the lesion can result in a delayed diagnosis, leading to a less than optimal outcome.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/diagnosis , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Aged , Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/surgery , Humans , Middle Aged , Skin Neoplasms/surgeryABSTRACT
A middle-aged man presented for left foot diabetic ulcer care. Pedal radiographs were negative for signs of osteomyelitis. However, asymptomatic incidental osseous findings demonstrated significant plantar and posterior calcaneal spurring possibly consistent with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). A differential of DISH, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's, and ankylosing spondylitis was developed. Subsequent spinal imaging and laboratory work-up did not satisfy the diagnostic criteria for DISH. This case illustrates radiographic changes characteristic of multiple seronegative arthropathies. On initial presentation a diagnosis of DISH was most likely, but with further imaging studies a diagnosis of a variant of psoriatic arthritis may be more correct.
