Incidence, demographics, characteristics and management of acute Achilles tendon rupture: An epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) account for 10.7% of all tendon and ligament injuries and causes lasting muscular deficits and have a profound impact on patients' quality of life. The incidence, characteristics and management of ATR in the United Kingdom (UK) is poorly understood. This investigation aims to understand the incidence of ATR in the UK. METHODS: Prospective data collection of ATR incidence from a United Kingdom Emergency department. Retrospective review of management protocols and immobilisation duration from electronic medical records. RESULTS: ATR incidence is 8 per 100,000 people per annum. Participants were predominately male (79.2%) and primarily reported a sporting mechanism of injury (65.2%). Mean immobilisation duration was 63.1 days. 97.1% were non-surgically managed post ATR. 46.2% of participants had experienced a previous ATR or Achilles tendinopathy prior to their current ATR. CONCLUSION: The incidence of ATR found was 8. cases per 100,000 people per annum. Most ATR were managed non-surgically in this cohort. The majority of ruptures occurred during sporting activity. Almost one quarter (23.3%) of individuals report Achilles pain prior to ATR.

The variation of anticoagulation prescribed in foot and ankle surgery in the UK - UK foot and ankle thrombo-embolism audit (UK-FATE).

INTRODUCTION: Venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) is a recognised complication of foot and ankle surgery. There are multiple possible anticoagulation treatments available in the UK to mitigate the risk of developing VTE. Our primary objective was to assess the variability of chemical anticoagulation prescribed in patients undergoing foot and ankle procedures. METHODS: This was a UK-based national, multicenter, prospective audit spanning a collection duration of 9 months on all foot and ankle procedures, carried out in 68 UK centers between 1st June 2022 and 30th November 2022, with a further 3-month follow up period. All patients who underwent a foot and ankle surgical procedure (including Achilles tendon rupture treatment) were included in this study. RESULTS: Data on a total of 13,569 patients was submitted. Following data cleansing, 11,363 patients were available for further analysis, with anticoagulation data available for 11,099 patients. There were eleven different chemical anticoagulation treatments recorded across the cohort. A total of 3630 (31.95 %) patients received no chemical anticoagulation. The patients receiving chemical anticoagulation medication could be split into 4 main groups. The most common chemical anticoagulation received was low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (6303, 84.4 % of patients receiving chemical anticoagulation). Aspirin was given in 4.1 % (308 patients), a Factor Xa inhibitor in 10 % (744 patients) and other anticoagulants (e.g. Warfarin) in 1.5 % (114 patients). The overall VTE rate in this sub analysis of patients receiving chemical anticoagulation, was 1.1 % (83 cases out of 7469). There was no significant difference seen in incidence of VTE between types of anticoagulants, when confounding factors were considered. The duration of post-operative chemical prophylaxis used by participants for most chemical anticoagulants was 6 weeks (64.50 %). CONCLUSION: There was significant variability of chemical anticoagulants reported in the study, with five different categories of anticoagulants used (including no chemical anticoagulation), and none clearly superior/inferior. The duration of anticoagulation was consistent across types of thromboprophylaxis.

Characteristics of Patients Not Receiving Chemical Thromboprophylaxis Following Foot and Ankle Surgery: Data From the Multicenter, Prospective UK Foot and Ankle Thrombo-Embolism Audit (UK-FATE).

BACKGROUND: Although the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after foot and ankle surgery is low, multiple factors influence risk for individual patients. Furthermore, there are no clear guidelines on which patients may benefit from chemical thromboprophylaxis. Our aim was to assess patients not treated with chemical thromboprophylaxis after foot and ankle surgery, and to report on their specific patient and surgical risk factors for VTE. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective, national audit of patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery (including Achilles tendon ruptures) from 68 participating UK centers. The study was conducted between June 1, 2022, and November 30, 2022, with a further 3-month follow-up. Following data cleansing, 3309 patients were included who did not receive postoperative thromboprophylaxis. RESULTS: Most patients were elective cases (2589 patients, 78.24%) with ASA grade I or II (2679 patients, 80.96%), fully weightbearing postoperatively (2752 patients, 83.17%), and either without ankle splintage, or splinted in a plantigrade boot (2797 patients, 84.53%). The VTE rate was 0.30% overall (11 cases), with no VTE-related mortality. No single demographic, surgical, or postoperative factor was associated with reduced risk of VTE. However, patients who had elective or trauma surgery not involving the ankle, who were ASA grade I or II and who were weightbearing immediately postoperatively (without splinting or in a plantigrade boot) had a VTE rate of 0.05% (1 of 1819 patients), compared with 0.67% (10 of 1490 patients, P = .002). CONCLUSION: Patients not receiving chemical thromboprophylaxis had a low incidence of symptomatic VTE, although they do represent a curated group considered lower risk. Within this group we describe characteristics associated with a substantially lower risk of VTE. All patients should be assessed on an individual basis, and further work is required to substantiate our findings.

Effect of ankle versus thigh tourniquets on post-operative pain in foot and ankle surgery.

BACKGROUND: Tourniquets are commonly used in elective extremity orthopaedic surgery to reduce blood loss, improve visualization in the surgical field, and to potentially reduce surgical time. There is a lack of consensus in existing guidelines regarding the optimal tourniquet pressure, placement site, and duration of use. There is a paucity of data on the relationship between the site of a tourniquet and postoperative pain in foot and ankle surgery. AIM: To explore the relationship between tourniquet site and intensity of post-operative pain scores in patients undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 201 patients who underwent foot and ankle surgery in a single institution was undertaken. Intraoperative tourniquet duration, tourniquet pressure and site, and postoperative pain scores using Visual Analogue Score were collected in immediate recovery, at six hours and at 24 h post-op. Scatter plots were used to analyse the data and to assess for the statistical correlation between tourniquet pressure, duration, site, and pain scores using Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: All patients who underwent foot and ankle surgery had tourniquet pressure of 250 mmHg for ankle tourniquet and 300 mmHg for thigh. There was no correlation between the site of the tourniquet and pain scores in recovery, at six hours and after 24 h. There was a weak correlation between tourniquet time and Visual Analogue Score immediately post-op (r = 0.14, P = 0.04) but not at six or 24 h post-operatively. CONCLUSION: This study shows that there was no statistically significant correlation between tourniquet pressure, site and post-op pain in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery. The choice of using a tourniquet is based on the surgeon's preference, with the goal of minimizing the duration of its application at the operative site.

Acute fracture of an extensively ossified segment of the Achilles tendon.

Extensive tendon ossification is thought to be rare and is hypothesised to occur due to cell-mediated tissue remodelling. Literature outlining risk factors for the development of an ossified segment, and then a consequent fracture is limited to case reports and case series. A woman in her fifties with a background of several autoimmune disorders presented to a sports and exercise medicine clinic with posterior ankle pain following a bout of brisk walking a month prior. CT and MRI imaging demonstrated a fractured extensively ossified segment of the corresponding Achilles tendon. Conservative treatment was trialled for six months, however, was unsuccessful. Surgical excision of the calcified fragment and flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer were suggested as a potential solution. This case is compared with and builds on current literature surrounding pathophysiology and optimal treatment of extensively ossified segments of the Achilles tendon.

Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Post-Thrombotic Syndrome: Qualitative Synthesis with a Systematic Review.

Background: Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a common and debilitating sequela of lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT). There is significant heterogeneity in reported PTS incidence due to lack of standardised diagnostic criteria. This review aimed to develop diagnostic criteria for PTS and subsequently refine the reported incidence and severity. Methods: PRISMA principles were followed; however, the review was not registered. The Cochrane CENTRAL database, MEDLINE, Embase, the NHS NICE Healthcare Databases Advanced Search interface, and trial registers including isrctn.com and clinicaltrials.gov were searched for studies addressing areas of interest (PTS definition, epidemiology, assessment). An experienced Clinical Librarian undertook the systematic searches, and two independent reviewers agreed on the relevance of the papers. Conflicts were resolved through panel review. Evidence quality was assessed using a modified Coleman scoring system and weighted according to their relevance to the aforementioned areas of interest. Results: A total of 339 abstracts were retrieved. A total of 33 full-text papers were included in this review. Following qualitative analysis, four criteria were proposed to define PTS: (1) a proven thrombotic event on radiological assessment; (2) a minimum 24-month follow-up period after an index DVT; (3) assessment with a validated score; and (4) evidence of progression of venous insufficiency from baseline. Four papers conformed to our PTS definition criteria, and the incidence of mild to moderate PTS ranged from 7 to 36%. On reviewing the studies which utilised the recommended Villalta scale, PTS incidence narrowed further to 23-36%. Incidence and severity reached a plateau at 24 months. Conclusions: Four diagnostic criteria were developed from qualitative synthesis. When these criteria were applied to the literature, the range of reported PTS incidence narrowed. These four criteria may standardise PTS diagnosis in future studies, facilitating the pooling of data for meta-analysis and synthesis of higher levels of evidence.

Surgical treatment of chronic achilles tendon rupture: An anatomical consideration of various autograft options.

Background: Acute Achilles tendon rupture is a common injury and when missed leads to the development of a chronic Achilles tendon rupture. Studies suggest surgical treatment (either repair or reconstruction) for most patients with a chronic Achilles rupture due to the functional deficit caused by the lack of an intact Achilles tendon. Numerous autograft options such as the flexor hallucis longus, hamstrings, peroneal and quadriceps tendon have been used to reconstruct the Achilles tendon, either as a tendon transfer or as an interposition graft. The choice of autograft used usually depends on the size of the defect left after debridement of the Achilles tendon edges, but is often dictated by surgeon preference and tissue availability. Currently, there is no consensus as to the best autograft option. Aims and methodology: The aim of this study was to evaluate the various autograft options used to reconstruct the Achilles tendon, and the advantages and disadvantages of using each tendon, focussing specifically on the harvesting technique, anatomical and biomechanical properties. This was done by reviewing the current published literature, supplemented by carrying out anatomical dissection in the cadaveric lab. Results: The flexor hallucis longus is synergistically related to the Achilles tendon and biomechanically strong, however harvesting can result in weakness in big toe flexion. The peroneus brevis whilst being biomechanically strong is a much shorter tendon compared to the other autograft options. Similarly, the quadriceps tendon is also a strong tendon option, but may not be appropriate for larger chronic Achilles tendon rupture gaps. The semitendinosus tendon can be tripled/quadrupled to resemble the Achilles tendon, but is associated with higher risks of patient morbidity when harvesting the tendon. Conclusion: Treatment of chronic Achilles tendon ruptures remains a challenge. Each autograft option has its own unique advantages and disadvantages which should be considered on a case-specific basis. Further work is required to analyse the biomechanical properties of the autograft options to determine if one option is superior.

A Rare Case of Exostosis of the Medial Sesamoid Bone.

Introduction: Exostoses in the foot and ankle are extremely rare with no current literature of exostosis of the sesamoid bone. Case Report: A middle-aged woman was referred to orthopedic foot surgeons following a long-standing issue of a painful non-fluctuant swelling beneath her left hallux with normal imaging. Repeat X-rays, with sesamoid views of the foot, were conducted due to the patient's ongoing symptoms. The patient underwent a surgical excision and made a complete recovery. The patient is now able to comfortably walk for longer distances with no restrictions to her mobility. Conclusion: Conservative management should be initially trialed to preserve the foot's functions and limit the risk of surgical complications. As in this case, when surgical options are explored, it is critical to preserve as much of the sesamoid bone as possible to restore and sustain function.

Clinically useful finite element models of the natural ankle - A review.

BACKGROUND: Biomechanical simulation of the foot and ankle complex is a growing research area but compared to simulation of joints such as hip and knee, it has been under investigated and lacks consistency in research methodology. The methodology is variable, data is heterogenous and there are no clear output criteria. Therefore, it is very difficult to correlate clinically and draw meaningful inferences. METHODS: The focus of this review is finite element simulation of the native ankle joint and we will explore: the different research questions asked, the model designs used, ways the model rigour has been ensured, the different output parameters of interest and the clinical impact and relevance of these studies. FINDINGS: The 72 published studies explored in this review demonstrate wide variability in approach. Many studies demonstrated a preference for simplicity when representing different tissues, with the majority using linear isotropic material properties to represent the bone, cartilage and ligaments; this allows the models to be complex in another way such as to include more bones or complex loading. Most studies were validated against experimental or in vivo data, but a large proportion (40%) of studies were not validated at all, which is an area of concern. INTERPRETATION: Finite element simulation of the ankle shows promise as a clinical tool for improving outcomes. Standardisation of model creation and standardisation of reporting would increase trust, and enable independent validation, through which successful clinical application of the research could be realised.

Research priorities in foot and ankle conditions: results of a UK priority setting partnership with the James Lind Alliance.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the priorities of research in surgical interventions and aftercare in foot and ankle conditions in adults, from inclusive viewpoints of patients, carers, allied professionals and clinicians, as a collaboration with James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnership. Setting A UK-based national study organised through British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (BOFAS). DESIGN: A cross-section of both medical and allied professionals, with patient involvement, submitted their 'top priorities' pertaining to foot and ankle pathology, using both paper and web-based formats, which were synthesised into the primary priorities. Following this, workshop-based reviews were used to determine the top 10 priorities. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients, carers, allied professionals and clinicians who have experienced or managed foot and ankle conditions in the UK. METHODS: A transparent and well-established process developed by JLA was carried out by a steering group of 16 members. A broad survey was designed and disseminated to the public via clinics, BOFAS meetings and website, JLA platforms and electronic media to establish potential research priority questions. Surveys were analysed and initial questions were categorised and cross-referenced with the literature. Those questions that were out of scope and sufficiently answered by research were excluded. The unanswered questions were ranked by the public via a second survey. The top 10 questions were finalised via an extensive workshop. RESULTS: 472 questions from 198 responders were received from the primary survey. 71% (140) from healthcare professionals, 24% (48) from patients and carers and 5% (10) from other responders. 142 questions were out of scope, leaving 330 questions. These were summarised into 60 indicative questions. Reviewing against current literature, 56 questions were left. From the secondary survey, there were 291 respondents: 79% (230) healthcare professionals and 12% (61) patients and carers. After the secondary survey, the top 16 questions were brought to the final workshop to finalise the top 10 research questions. The top 10 questions were: What are the best outcome measures (ways of assessing the effect of the treatment) after foot and ankle surgery? What treatment is the best for Achilles tendon pain? What is the best treatment (including surgery) for tibialis posterior dysfunction (tendon on the inner side of the ankle), leading to a successful long-term outcome? Should physiotherapy be provided following foot and ankle surgery and is there an optimal amount needed to restore function after foot and ankle surgery? At what stage should a patient with ankle instability (ie, an ankle that keeps giving way) be considered for surgical treatment? How effective are steroid injections in improving pain from arthritis in the foot and ankle? What is the best surgery for bone and cartilage defects in the talus? What is better, ankle fusion or ankle replacements? What is the success of surgical lengthening of the calf muscle in improving forefoot pain? What is the best time to start weight bearing after ankle fusion/replacement surgery? CONCLUSION: Top 10 themes included outcomes following interventions, for example, range of movement, reduction in pain, rehabilitation, which included physiotherapy to optimise post intervention outcomes, rehabilitation and condition-specific treatments. These questions will aid to guide national research into foot and ankle surgery. It will also help national funding bodies to prioritise areas of research interest to improve patient care.

Perceived barriers and facilitators of day-case surgery for major foot and ankle procedures? A cross-sectional survey of United Kingdom surgeons.

BACKGROUND: Advances in minimally invasive surgery and improved post-operative pain management make it possible to consider performing even major foot/ankle operations as day-case. This could have significant benefits for patients and the health service. However there are theoretical concerns about post-operative complications and patient satisfaction due to pain. AIM: To scope the current practice of foot and ankle surgeons on day-case surgery for major foot and ankle procedures in the United Kingdom (UK). METHODS: An online survey (19 questions) was sent to UK foot and ankle surgeons via the British Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society membership list in August 2021. Major foot and ankle procedures were defined as surgery that is usually performed as an inpatient in majority of centres and day-case as same day discharge, with day surgery as the intended treatment pathway. RESULTS: 132 people responded to the survey invitation with 80% working in Acute NHS Trusts. Currently 45% of respondents perform less than 100 day-case surgeries per year for these procedures. 78% felt that there was scope to perform more procedures as day-case at their centre. Post-operative pain (34%) and patient satisfaction (10%) was not highly measured within their centres. Lack of adequate physiotherapy input pre/post-operatively (23%) and lack of out of hours support (21%) were the top perceived barriers to performing more major foot and ankle procedures as day-case. CONCLUSION: There is consensus among UK surgeons to do more major foot/ankle procedures as day-case. Out of hours support and physiotherapy input pre/ post-op were perceived as the main barriers. Despite theoretical concerns about post-operative pain and satisfaction this was only measured by a third of those surveyed. There is a need for nationally agreed protocols to optimise the delivery of and measurement of outcomes in this type of surgery. At a local level, the provision of physiotherapy and out of hours support should be explored at sites where this is a perceived barrier.

Ethnic differences in cellular and humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in UK healthcare workers: a cross-sectional analysis.

Background: Few studies have compared SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immunogenicity by ethnic group. We sought to establish whether cellular and humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination differ according to ethnicity in UK Healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, we used baseline data from two immunological cohort studies conducted in HCWs in Leicester, UK. Blood samples were collected between March 3, and September 16, 2021. We excluded HCW who had not received two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine at the time of sampling and those who had serological evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Outcome measures were SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific total antibody titre, neutralising antibody titre and ELISpot count. We compared our outcome measures by ethnic group using univariable (t tests and rank-sum tests depending on distribution) and multivariable (linear regression for antibody titres and negative binomial regression for ELISpot counts) tests. Multivariable analyses were adjusted for age, sex, vaccine type, length of interval between vaccine doses and time between vaccine administration and sample collection and expressed as adjusted geometric mean ratios (aGMRs) or adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs). To assess differences in the early immune response to vaccination we also conducted analyses in a subcohort who provided samples between 14 and 50 days after their second dose of vaccine. Findings: The total number of HCWs in each analysis were 401 for anti-spike antibody titres, 345 for neutralising antibody titres and 191 for ELISpot. Overall, 25.4% (19.7% South Asian and 5.7% Black/Mixed/Other) were from ethnic minority groups. In analyses including the whole cohort, neutralising antibody titres were higher in South Asian HCWs than White HCWs (aGMR 1.47, 95% CI [1.06-2.06], P = 0.02) as were T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 S1 peptides (aIRR 1.75, 95% CI [1.05-2.89], P = 0.03). In a subcohort sampled between 14 and 50 days after second vaccine dose, SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibody and neutralising antibody geometric mean titre (GMT) was higher in South Asian HCWs compared to White HCWs (9616 binding antibody units (BAU)/ml, 95% CI [7178-12,852] vs 5888 BAU/ml [5023-6902], P = 0.008 and 2851 95% CI [1811-4487] vs 1199 [984-1462], P < 0.001 respectively), increments which persisted after adjustment (aGMR 1.26, 95% CI [1.01-1.58], P = 0.04 and aGMR 2.01, 95% CI [1.34-3.01], P = 0.001). SARS-CoV-2 ELISpot responses to S1 and whole spike peptides (S1 + S2 response) were higher in HCWs from South Asian ethnic groups than those from White groups (S1: aIRR 2.33, 95% CI [1.09-4.94], P = 0.03; spike: aIRR, 2.04, 95% CI [1.02-4.08]). Interpretation: This study provides evidence that, in an infection naïve cohort, humoral and cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are stronger in South Asian HCWs than White HCWs. These differences are most clearly seen in the early period following vaccination. Further research is required to understand the underlying mechanisms, whether differences persist with further exposure to vaccine or virus, and the potential impact on vaccine effectiveness. Funding: DIRECT and BELIEVE have received funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the COVID-19 National Core Studies Immunity (NCSi) programme (MC_PC_20060).

Inflammatory response in confirmed non-diabetic foot and ankle infections: A case series with normal inflammatory markers.

BACKGROUND: The distinction between foot and ankle wound healing complications as opposed to infection is crucial for the appropriate and efficacious allocation of antibiotic therapy. Multiple reports have focused on the diagnostic accuracy of different inflammatory markers, however, mainly in the diabetic population. AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of white cell count (WCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as diagnostic tools for this distinction in the non-diabetic cohort. METHODS: Data was reviewed from a prospectively maintained Infectious Diseases Unit database of 216 patients admitted at Leicester University Hospitals-United Kingdom with musculoskeletal infections over the period between July 2014 and February 2020 (68 mo). All patients with confirmed diagnosis of diabetes were excluded while only those with confirmed microbiological or clinical diagnosis of foot or ankle infection were included in our study. For the included patients, we retrospectively retrieved the inflammatory markers (WCCs and CRP) at the time of presentation. Values of CRP 0-10 mg/L and WCC 4.0-11.0 × 109/L were considered normal. RESULTS: After exclusion of patients with confirmed diabetes, 25 patients with confirmed foot or ankle infections were included. All infections were confirmed microbiologically with positive intra-operative culture results. 7 (28%) patients with osteomyelitis (OM) of the foot, 11 (44%) with OM of the ankle, 5 (20%) with ankle septic arthritis and 2 (8%) patients with post-surgical wound infection were identified. Previous bony surgery was identified in 13 (52%) patients, either a corrective osteotomy or an open reduction and internal fixation for a foot or ankle fracture with the infection developing on top of the existing metalwork. 21 (84%) patients did have raised inflammatory markers while 4 (16%) patients failed to mount an inflammatory response even with subsequent debridement and removal of metal work. CRP sensitivity was 84%, while WCC sensitivity was only 28%. CONCLUSION: CRP has a relatively good sensitivity in the diagnosis of foot and ankle infections in non-diabetic patients, whereas WCC is a poor inflammatory marker in the detection of such cases. In presence of clinically high level of suspicion of foot or ankle infection, a normal CRP should not rule out the diagnosis of OM.

The influence of the site of rupture and gap distance in acute Achilles tendon rupture treated with functional rehabilitation.

AIM: To determine the influence of gap distance and its location on clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with acute rupture of Tendo-Achilles (TA) treated non-operatively with functional rehabilitation. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with acute complete TA rupture underwent ultrasound (US) scanning within a week of their injury. The measurements taken included the distance of the rupture from the enthesis and the gap distance between the tendon edges in varying degrees of ankle and knee positions. All patients were managed non-operatively in functional weight-bearing orthoses. Nineteen patients were then followed up at a mean of 6.1 years (range 5.8-6.5) to assess their clinical and radiological outcomes. The outcomes included ultrasound assessment of tendon healing, Achilles Tendon Rupture Score (ATRS) and modified Leppilahti Score (mLS). RESULTS: In the initial ultrasound, the mean distance of the rupture from the enthesis was 52 mm (range: 40-76). The mean gap distance with the foot plantigrade was 11.4 mm, which reduced to 4.8 mm with the foot in equinus. At final follow up, no re-ruptures had occurred. The mean ATRS and mLS were 86 and 71 respectively. There was a significant correlation between the distance of the rupture from the enthesis with the MLS total score (p = 0.02), mLS Fatigue domain score (p = 0.03), and the ATRS domains of strength (p = 0.04) and fatigue (p = 0.02). There was no significant correlation between the measured gap distance with respect to the mLS, ATRS or individual ATRS domain scores. Also, there was no significant difference in ATRS and mLS outcomes when comparing tendons with respect to healed tissue appearance and fibre orientation on ultrasound. CONCLUSION: The initial gap distance had no relationship with any of the measured clinical outcomes at the final follow up. The distance of the gap from the enthesis, however, may carry a greater prognostic value following non-operative treatment of Achilles tendon injuries.

Role of the posterior deep deltoid ligament in ankle fracture stability: A biomechanical cadaver study.

BACKGROUND: The deltoid ligament is a key component of ankle fracture stability. Clinical tests to assess deltoid ligament injury have low specificity. In supination external-rotation (SER) type-IV ankle fractures, there is either a medial malleolus fracture or deltoid ligament injury. These injuries are often considered unstable, requiring surgical stabilisation. We look to identify the anatomical basis for this instability. This study investigates the anatomical basis for such instability by re-creating SER type ankle fractures in a standardised cadaveric study model, investigating the anatomical basis for such instability. AIM: To investigate the anatomical basis for fracture instability in SER type ankle fractures. METHODS: Four matched pairs of cadaveric limbs were tested for stability both when axially loaded and under external rotation stress. Four matched pairs of cadaveric limbs (8 specimens) were tested for stability when axially loaded to 750 N with a custom rig. Specimens were tested through increasing stages of SER injury in a stepwise fashion before restoring the lateral side with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Clinical photographs and radiographs were recorded at each step. We defined instability in accordance with well accepted radiological parameters: > 4 mm medial clear space opening on a mortise-view radiograph or > 7 degrees of talar tilt. RESULTS: All specimens with an intact posterior deep deltoid ligament were stable. Once the posterior deep deltoid ligament was sectioned there was instability in all specimens. Stabilisation of the lateral side prevented talar shift, but not talar tilt. CONCLUSION: If the posterior deep deltoid ligament is intact then SER fractures can be managed without surgery. If the posterior deep deltoid is incompetent, ORIF and cautious rehabilitation is recommended because the talus can still tilt in the mortise.

The impact of deprivation on patients awaiting planned care.

AIMS: Deprivation underpins many societal and health inequalities. COVID-19 has exacerbated these disparities, with access to planned care falling greatest in the most deprived areas of the UK during 2020. This study aimed to identify the impact of deprivation on patients on growing waiting lists for planned care. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to orthopaedic waiting list patients at the start of the UK's first COVID-19 lockdown to capture key quantitative and qualitative aspects of patients' health. A total of 888 respondents were divided into quintiles, with sampling stratified based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD); level 1 represented the 'most deprived' cohort and level 5 the 'least deprived'. RESULTS: The least deprived cohort were older (mean 65.95 years (SD 13.33)) than the most deprived (mean 59.48 years (SD 13.85)). Mean symptom duration was lower in the least deprived areas (68.59 months (SD 112.26)) compared to the most deprived (85.85 months (SD 122.50)). Mean pain visual analogue scores (VAS) were poorer in the most compared to the least deprived cohort (7.11 (SD 2.01) vs 5.99 (SD 2.57)), with mean mood scores also poorer (6.06 (SD 2.65) vs 4.71 (SD 2.78)). The most deprived areas exhibited lower mean quality of life (QoL) scores than the least (0.37 (SD 0.30) vs 0.53 (SD 0.31)). QoL findings correlated with health VAS and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item (GAD2) scores, with the most deprived areas experiencing poorer health (health VAS 50.82 (SD 26.42) vs 57.29 (SD 24.19); GAD2: 2.94 (SD 2.35) vs 1.88 (SD 2.07)). Least-deprived patients had the highest self-reported activity levels and lowest sedentary cohort, with the converse true for patients from the most deprived areas. CONCLUSION: The most deprived patients experience poorer physical and mental health, with this most adversely impacted by lengthy waiting list delays. Interventions to address inequalities should focus on prioritizing the most deprived.Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(10):777-785.

Utilising the impact of COVID-19 on trauma throughput to adapt elective care models for more efficient trauma care.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has necessitated adaptations in local trauma services, with implementation of novel methods of practice, strategic adaptations, and shifting of resource management. Many of these may serve the driver for landmark changes to future healthcare provision. AIM: To analyse the impact of COVID-19 on service provision by comparing throughput and productivity metrics with preceding years to identify differences in practice that were successful, cost-effective, and sustainable. METHODS: We quantified orthopaedic trauma care provision at a single University Teaching Hospital over a three consecutive year period, from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2020. Each year was split into four phases based on the 2020 national COVID-19 pandemic periods. We quantitatively analysed change in rates of inpatient trauma operative case load, sub-specialty variation, theatre throughput, and changes in management strategy. Qualitative analysis was based on multidisciplinary team interviews to highlight changes to care pathways. RESULTS: Of 1704 cases were admitted in 2020, 11.9% and 12.4% fewer than 2019 and 2018, respectively. During phase 1, hip fractures encompassed the majority (48.8%) of trauma throughput, with all other subspecialties seeing a reduction. Mean length of stay was shorter during phase 1 (5.7 d); however, the time in theatre was longer (144.3 min). Both, Charlson (0.90) and Elixhauser (1.55) Comorbidity Indices indicated the most co-morbid admissions during 2020 phase 1. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has resulted in a paradigm shift in how care is accessed and delivered, with many evolving changes and adaptations likely to leave an impression upon healthcare provision in the future.

Platelet-Rich Plasma in acute Achilles tendon ruptures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is known to exert multi-directional biological effects favouring tendon healing. However, conclusions drawn by numerous studies on its clinical efficacy for acute Achilles tendon rupture are limited. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate this and to compare to those without PRP treatment. METHODS: The Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, Pubmed, Medline and Embase were used and assessed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria with the following search terms: ('plasma' OR 'platelet-rich' OR 'platelet-rich plasma' or 'PRP') AND ('Achilles tendon rupture/tear' OR 'calcaneal tendon rupture/tear' OR 'tendo calcaneus rupture/tear'). Data pertaining to biomechanical outcomes (heel endurance test, isokinetic strength, calf-circumference and range of motion), patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and incidence of re-ruptures were extracted. Meta-analysis was performed for same outcomes measured in at least three studies. Pooled outcome data were analysed by random- and fixed-effects models. RESULTS: After abstract and full-text screening, 6 studies were included. In total there were 510 patients of which 256 had local PRP injection and 254 without. The average age was 41.6 years, mean time from injury to treatment 5.9 days and mean follow-up at 61 weeks. Biomechanically, there was similar heel endurance, isokinetic strength, calf circumference and range of motion between both groups. In general, there were no differences in patient reported outcomes from all scoring systems used in the studies. Both groups returned to their pre-injured level at a similar time and there were no differences on the incidence of re-rupture (OR 1.13, 95% CI, 0.46-2.80, p = 0.79). CONCLUSION: PRP injections for acute Achilles tendon ruptures do not improve medium to long-term biomechanical and clinical outcomes. However, future studies incorporating the ideal application and biological composition of PRP are required to investigate its true clinical efficacy.

Rate of COVID-19 infection and 30 day mortality between blue and green (dedicated COVID-19 safe) pathways: Results from phase 1 and 2 of the UK foot and ankle COVID-19 national (UK-FAlCoN) audit.

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim was to determine the differences in COVID-19 infection rate and 30-day mortality in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery between different treatment pathways over the two phases of the UK-FALCON audit, spanning the first and second UK national lockdowns. SETTING: This was an ambispective (retrospective Phase 1 and prospective Phase 2) national audit of foot and ankle procedures in the UK in 2020 completed between 13th January 2020 and 30th November 2020. PARTICIPANTS: All adult patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery in an operating theatre during the study period were included from 46 participating centres in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Patients were categorised as either a green pathway (designated COVID-19 free) or blue pathway (no protocols to prevent COVID-19 infection). RESULTS: 10,846 patients were included, 6644 from phase 1 and 4202 from phase 2. Over the 2 phases the infection rate on a blue pathway was 1.07% (69/6470) and 0.21% on a green pathway (9/4280). In phase 1, there was no significant difference in the COVID-19 perioperative infection rate between the blue and green pathways in any element of the first phase (pre-lockdown (p = .109), lockdown (p = .923) or post-lockdown (p = .577)). However, in phase 2 there was a significant reduction in perioperative infection rate when using the green pathway in both the pre-lockdown (p < .001) and lockdown periods (Odd's Ratio 0.077, p < .001). There was no significant difference in COVID-19 related mortality between pathways. CONCLUSIONS: There was a five-fold reduction in the perioperative COVID-19 infection rate when using designated COVID-19 green pathways over the whole study period; however the success of the pathways only became significant in phase 2 of the study, where there was a 13-fold reduction in infection rate. The study shows a developing success to using green pathways in reducing the risk to patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery.

Can Weightbearing Cone-beam CT Reliably Differentiate Between Stable and Unstable Syndesmotic Ankle Injuries? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ankle injuries are common presentations to the emergency department and may lead to syndesmotic instability. These have a high socioeconomic burden due to prolonged rehabilitation, chronic pain, and posttraumatic arthritis. Early diagnosis is essential to minimize these complications, and the assessment of instability in the clinical setting is often limited by pain and clinician experience. Cross-sectional imaging of the distal syndesmosis accurately evaluates the syndesmosis through abnormal bony relationships, which in the presence of instability, worsens during physiological loading. Cone-beam CT (CBCT) has gained popularity in the diagnosis of these injuries because it enables syndesmotic assessment under weightbearing conditions, it mitigates the high radiation dose, and it is time-efficient. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purposes of this systematic review were: (1) to establish normal values for weightbearing CBCT of the syndesmosis in uninjured ankles and ascertain interobserver reliability and (2) to identify the impact of weightbearing on the syndesmosis in patients with occult ankle injuries and assess the effect of patient demographics on these metrics. METHODS: This systematic review was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (ID CRD42021248623). MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and Emcare databases were searched for studies assessing for syndesmotic instability, of which 307 studies were screened and 11 studies with 559 ankles in 408 uninjured patients and 151 patients with syndesmotic instability were included. All patients 18 years of age or older presenting with unilateral ankle injuries who underwent weightbearing CBCT for the diagnosis of an occult fracture or syndesmotic instability compared with the uninjured contralateral side were included. A control group of uninjured ankles was identified during weightbearing CBCT performed for other indications such as forefoot or midfoot injuries. Methodological assessment of the studies was performed using the Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies (ROBINS-1) tool and most included studies had a low risk of bias. Thus, a random-effects restricted maximum likelihood ratio model was used. RESULTS: In the uninjured ankle, the mean area of the tibiofibular syndesmosis was 112.5 ± 7.1 mm 2 , which increased to 157.5 ± 9.6 mm 2 after injury when compared with uninjured ankles with a standardized mean difference of 29.5 (95% confidence interval 19.5 to 39.5; p < 0.01), and an excellent interobserver agreement (κ = 1.0 [95% CI 0.9 to 1.0]). However, syndesmosis volume decreased with age (ß = -0.76; p = 0.04), and therefore, has a negative association with increasing age. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that the syndesmotic area is the most reliable parameter in the assessment of syndesmotic injuries because it increases in the presence of instability during weightbearing status. It is a composite measurement that could potentially allow clinicians to use weightbearing CBCT as an adjunct when there is a clinical suspicion of syndesmotic instability. Thus, weightbearing CBCT has the potential of being diagnostic of syndesmotic instability and should be evaluated against current radiological modalities to evaluate its accuracy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prognostic study.