Interposition Arthroplasty in the Treatment of End-Stage Hallux Rigidus: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: Patients affected by moderate to severe hallux rigidus may opt for interposition arthroplasty to avoid the movement restrictions of arthrodesis and the complications related to prosthetic replacement. The propose of this article was to review the current literature about interposition arthroplasty to examine the overall outcomes and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different types of technique, compared with more consolidated procedures. METHODS: A literature PubMed search was performed. Studies reporting the results of interposition arthroplasty in moderate to severe hallux rigidus were included. The data were pooled and weighted for number of patients in every study. RESULTS: The overall results for interposition arthroplasties are comparable to other alternatives for end-stage hallux rigidus, providing better plantar load distribution than arthrodesis and avoiding the drawbacks of prosthetic replacement. Among the various interposition arthroplasty techniques, the Modified Oblique Keller Capsular Interposition Arthroplasty technique preserves toe length and flexor hallucis brevis function, showing the highest satisfaction rate, with lowest metatarsalgia and revision rate. CONCLUSION: Although long-term randomized controlled trials are lacking for interposition arthroplasty, it represents a valid alternative for the treatment of end-stage hallux rigidus also in the young active patient who wants to avoid a definitive intervention immediately. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III (systematic review of level III-IV-V studies).

Hallux rigidus: current concepts review and treatment algorithm with special focus on interposition arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: Hallux rigidus represents a surgical challenge, with a multitude of possible surgical options, but with no ideal procedures.  The propose of this paper was to review the actual knowledge on the operative techniques, paying particular attention to the evolution of interposition arthroplasties, as an alternative to arthrodesis and prosthesis in the advanced stages of the disease. METHODS: A comprehensive literature PubMed search was performed, and the actual literature regarding hallux rigidus was overviewed. The operative and nonoperative options for HR were described. Studies on interposition arthroplasty were classified by publication year, summarizing the operative technique, results and complications. RESULTS: Among the various techniques for interposition arthroplasty, the Modified Oblique Keller Interposition Arthtoplasty (MOKCIA) showed the lower complication rate. It does not sacrifice the insertion of the flexor halluces brevis, maintaining the stability, length and strength of the big toe. CONCLUSIONS: Although long-term randomized controlled trials are lacking for interposition arthroplasties, the reported results are comparable to the other alternatives for the treatment of end-stage hallux rigidus, making this technique a valid alternative also in the young active patient, without precluding other end-stage procedures in case of failure. Based on the current knowledge, a treatment algorithm was developed, according to the Coughlin classification.

Quadriceps or patellar ligament reconstruction with artificial ligament after total knee replacement.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: Ruptures of the quadriceps or patellar tendon after TKA implantation are a fearful and disabling complication. Direct reconstructions highlighted various problems, such as the decrease in extensor force, failure, need for prolonged post-operative immobilization. So augmentation techniques have been proposed with autologous tendons, allografts, artificial ligaments. Among these, the LARS seems the most modern and promising. For this reason, we have retrospectively reviewed a case series patients operated with this artificial ligament, to evaluate the results and highlight the tips and tricks for this procedure. METHODS: Ten patients with a mean age of 69.4 years suffered an extensor apparatus lesion after knee replacement. These patients underwent primary reconstruction and augmentation with LARS. They were retrospectively reviewed at a mean follow-up of 3.8 years, by measuring active flexion and extension, and by Lysholm scoring scale. RESULTS: We did not observe any problems with healing of the surgical wound, nor phenomena of intolerance to the implanted material, such as inflammation, skin rashes or fistulas. The mean flexion was 117 degrees. Active extension was allowed in all patients, but with a mean extensor lag of 18 degrees. The mean Lysholm score was 74.2. CONCLUSIONS: LARS offers good results without completely solving the problem of extensor lag, linked to the softness of the tissues in the quadriceps. The major advantages of LARS reside in the good tissue ingrowth, the absence of adverse tissue reactions, the ubiquitous availability, the possibility of stable fixation with early rehabilitation.

Anterior and antero-lateral mini-invasive approaches for primary total hip replacement.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: the literature provides conflicting data regarding the various approaches for hip prosthetic surgery. This study analysed our case series on the anterior and anterolateral minimally invasive approaches, trying to define the indications, complications, the technical tips, the advantages and disadvantages. METHODS: from 2011 to 2019 we performed 1227 interventions of which 1020 had a regular follow-up, up to an average period of 5.1 years. 625 anterolateral and 395 anterior approaches were performed, of which 149 with longitudinal incision and 246 with an oblique "bikini" incision. RESULTS: the Harris Hip Score showed similar results in the two groups, except from the early post-operative period, which showed slight superior results for the anterior approach. Surgical times were in favour of the anterolateral approach, while hospitalization times were less for the anterior approach. With the anterior approach, we recorded a greater number of complications, in particular malpositioning, periprosthetic fractures and neurological injuries, especially in the first two years of experience. CONCLUSIONS: there was no clear superiority of one approach over another. We conclude that the surgeon should know both techniques, to be adapted to the type of patient in consideration of the size and deformity. The traction bed provides more disadvantages than advantages, and in our experience it is not recommended.

Five Centimeters Morton's Neuroma in a 46-Year-Old Woman Affected by Macrodactily.

The present article described the case of a voluminous Morton's neuroma of the third intermetatarsal space in a patient affected by macrodactily. The case was unique because of its dimensions, the uncommon surgical approach which was needed for removal, the association with macrodactily of the fourth toe with Raynaud's phenomenon, and the postoperative defect in the intrinsic muscles. The patient was operated in February 2016 by transverse plantar approach. Twelve months after surgery, the patient complained for hypoesthesia on third and fourth toes with inability to actively spread the toes and enlargement in the second interdigital space. The dimensions of the lesions may be explained with the presence of macrodactily in the fourth toe with occasional Raynaud's phenomenon, which may have caused an abnormal arrangement of the nerve branches for the fourth interspace with related microtrauma. A plantar approach was highly recommended as the size of the lesion forced it to the plantar surface of the foot. The inability to actively spread the toes and the enlargement of the second interdigital space are likely to be related to a deficiency of the interosseous muscles, innervated by the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve, which had probably been sacrificed because of the size of the lesion and the subversion of the surrounding anatomical relationships.

Morton's interdigital neuroma of the foot: A literature review.

Morton's neuroma is one of the most common causes of metatarsalgia. Despite this, it remains little studied, as the diagnosis is clinical with no reliable instrumental diagnostics, and each study may deal with incorrect diagnosis or inappropriate treatment, which are difficult to verify. The present literature review crosses all key points, from diagnosis to surgical and nonoperative treatment, and recurrences. Nonoperative treatment is successful in a limited percentage of cases, but it can be adequate in those who want to delay or avoid surgery. Dorsal or plantar approaches were described for surgical treatment, both with strengths and weaknesses that will be scanned. Failures are related to wrong diagnosis, wrong interspace, failure to divide the transverse metatarsal ligament, too distal resection of common plantar digital nerve, an association of tarsal tunnel syndrome and incomplete removal. A deep knowledge of the causes and presentation of failures is needed to surgically face recurrences.

Postarthroscopy Osteonecrosis of the Knee: Current Concepts.

Knee osteonecrosis is a severe disease rapidly leading to end-stage osteoarthritis, which was classified into three categories: spontaneous, secondary, and postarthroscopy. To understand postarthroscopy osteonecrosis of the knee, all the three types of knee osteonecrosis have to be deepened. This article reviewed spontaneous and secondary osteonecroses of the knee, with special focus upon postarthroscopy osteonecrosis, which is a rare form, affecting patients operated for arthroscopic knee surgery, most commonly for meniscectomy. Due to its rarity, patients and surgeons are often unprepared for this complication. A correct diagnosis is essential for appropriate treatment, and also to determine if a preexisting osteonecrosis was present, avoiding medicolegal sequelae, although many authors agree that osteonecrosis (both spontaneous and postarthroscopy) represent unpreventable and unpredictable conditions. In spontaneous osteonecrosis, the treatment is defined according to the size and the degree of the lesion, whereas in postarthroscopy osteonecrosis, the size of the lesion has no prognostic value, and therefore, the choice of the correct treatment is based more on the timing of the diagnosis. A diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm was outlined on the basis of the actual knowledge.

Cementless knee arthroplasty.

Total knee replacement is a common treatment for advanced knee osteoarthritis. The most common and widespread method is cemented arthroplasty. As in the prosthetic hip a gradual transition from cemented to uncemented fixation techniques occurred over time, increasing interest is growing also around cementless knee fixation, with the theoretical advantages of preserving the bone stock and obtaining a biological fixation avoiding cement fragmentation. On the basis of the actual knowledge, the uncemented knee prosthesis represents an interesting alternative especially for the patient under 65 years of age, with viable bone quality, in which a biological bone-prosthesis fixation is desirable, while avoiding the drawbacks of cement fragmentation and of the possible future revision of a cemented implant. However the weak link remains the tibial fixation, so that technical tips are important to avoid micromovements with subsequent lack of osteointegration. In our experience, gap balancing, mobile bearings and no haemostatic tourniquet well combine with this kind of implant.