Subtalar dislocation: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Subtalar joint dislocation (1% of all dislocations) is the permanent loss of articular relationships in the talonavicular and talocalcaneal joints, without other involvement of the foot. Dislocation can occur medially (85%), laterally (15%), posteriorly (2.5%) and anteriorly (1%). Reduction can be performed by closed or open technique; lateral dislocations often require open reduction because of inclusion of soft tissues or bone fragments. Lateral dislocations are frequently complicated by bone exposure, risk of infection and associated soft tissues injuries. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to explain main characteristics and to clarify the most important pitfalls of subtalar dislocations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 47 articles published in the last thirty years (389 cases). For each dislocation we reviewed its main characteristics: direction, bone exposure, need for open reduction and for surgical stabilisation, associated injuries and method used for diagnosis. RESULTS: Medial dislocations (68.1%) has greater incidence compared to lateral ones (27.7%). Bone exposure (44.5%), associated lesions (44.5%) and need for surgical reduction (48.2%) are much more represented in lateral dislocation than in the others. CONCLUSIONS: Subtalar dislocations, especially the lateral one, represent a challenge for surgeons. Lateral subtalar dislocation occurs following high-energy trauma often involving associated injuries. Closed reduction could be unsuccessful and patients must undergo surgical reduction. After reduction CT scan is recommended. Our narrative review confirms these findings.

Clinical comparison of oral administration and viscosupplementation of hyaluronic acid (HA) in early knee osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive, chronic and degenerative joint disease characterized by a loss of articular cartilage. Treatment of OA is largely palliative based on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids and injections of steroids. Regarding conservative treatment, intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) can play a role in early symptomatic knee OA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 2015 and September 2015, sixty patients (32 males and 28 females) between 40 and 70 years old were randomly allocated into two groups: Half were treated with three weekly intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid 1.6 % (group A), while the others were treated with Syalox 300 Plus® (hyaluronic acid 300 mg + Boswellia serrata extract 100 mg) 1 tab/die for 20 days and afterward Syalox 150® (hyaluronic acid 150 mg) 1 tab/die for other 20 days (group B). All patients were evaluated clinically with American Knee Society Score (AKSS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for the pain before the treatment and after 3 months. RESULTS: AKSS of the patients in both groups was significantly increased by the treatment, and VAS score was significantly reduced. In both groups, two subgroups were created with patients older than 60 years and patients younger than 60 years. Better results are reported in younger patients of group A and older subjects in group B. CONCLUSIONS: Despite several limitations, the results of the study have shown that HA injection and oral administration may have beneficial therapeutic effects on patients with early osteoarthritis. Different outcomes in younger and older subject suggested a combined therapy first with local infiltrations and then with oral composition.

Temporary bridging external fixation in distal tibial fracture.

Fractures that involve the distal area of the tibia are associated with a high percentage of complications. Soft tissue oedema, swelling, blisters, skin abrasions and open wounds could compromise the outcome of these lesions. The waiting time before surgery with ORIF is mostly due to soft tissue conditions. Early application of a simple joint-spanning external fixator would achieve the initial goal of stability and the respect of soft tissue, thereby decreasing the time necessary for definitive treatment. A total of 40 consecutive patients (22 male and 18 female) with a mean age of 52 years (range 17-82 years) with distal tibial fracture treated between January 2010 and January 2013 were evaluated. Early temporary external fixation was the first treatment step. Twenty patients had pilon fractures, characterised by the intra-articular involvement of the distal tibia with metaphyseal extension, and 20 patients had malleolar fracture-dislocation. Patients were divided into two groups, A and B. Group A comprised 10 patients with ankle fracture-dislocation and bone fragmentation, who were treated with a temporary bridging external fixation that was maintained after ORIF to exploit ligamentotaxis during the first phases of bone healing. In Group B (30 patients), the external fixation was removed after ORIF. The results of the study are in line with the recent literature: temporary external fixation in high-energy trauma and fracture-dislocation of the ankle enables soft tissue to be restored, which facilitates postoperative assessment of bone fragments by CT scan. The complication rate in this study was 5% in patients with malleolar fractures and 20% in patients with pilon fractures. The maintenance of temporary external fixation after ORIF synthesis during the entire first stage of bone healing seems to be a good method of treatment that has a low rate of soft tissue complications.