From second webspace syndrome to second cross over toe: Clinical and radiological findings following Weil osteotomy with no soft tissue procedure.

BACKGROUND: The second webspace syndrome (SWS) refers to the progressive divergence between 2nd and 3rd toes associated with pain at the second intermetatarsal space that can be confused with Morton's neuroma and treated as such without considering the underlying deformity. There is yet no consensus regarding the best treatment, from isolated soft tissue or bony procedures or a combination of both. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of the disease, as well as to evaluate the radiological outcomes of patients with SWS treated with open Weil's osteotomy or distal metatarsal minimal invasive osteotomy (DMMO) of the second metatarsal, with main emphasis on medialization of the head in the anteroposterior plane in either procedure. METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients with SWS treated with Weil's medializing osteotomy (open and percutaneous) associated or not with other forefoot procedures, treated between 2012 and 2019, was performed. Radiological variables such as metatarsal-phalangeal angle (MTPA), percentage of metatarsal uncoverage of M2 with respect to its phalanx, intermetatarsal angle (M1, M2 and M3), length of second metatarsal and intermetatarsal distance M2 - M3 were measured and compared before and after surgery. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included, with a mean follow-up of 26 months. All patients presented divergence between the 2nd and 3rd toes, 75 % associated pain at the level of the second intermetatarsal space and two patients presented neuropathic symptoms. After surgery (nineteen open and seven DMMO), all patients rated their results as good or excellent, and the two patients with neuropathic symptoms had improvement in their symptoms. Regarding the radiological results, the percentage of subluxation of the second MTP decreased in a large percentage of the operated patients (from 43.3 % to 3.9 %) with statistical significance as well as the length of M2, IM angle between M1 - M2, IM distance between M2-M3 and the percentage of uncoverage of the second MTP (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Medial translation associated with open Weil osteotomy or DMMO seems to correct the muscle-ligament imbalance of the second metatarsophalangeal joint and restore normal radiographic measurements, especially in the coronal and sagittal plane, without the need for soft tissue procedures, as well as the resolution of associated neuropathic symptoms in some patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Preoperative mechanical axis has no influence on reoperation rate in primary rotating-hinge knee arthroplasty.

Background: The purpose of the study is to evaluate reoperation rate and its relationship to preoperative mechanical axis of rotating-hinge TKA used as the primary implant in complex knees. Methods: Patients subjected to primary TKA with a rotating-hinge knee prosthesis due to primary osteoarthritis between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative mechanical axis was measured using the last preoperative telemetry x-ray image. Preoperative axis was classified according to the type of deformity (varus or valgus) and its magnitude (0-15°, 16-25° or >25°). Reoperation rate (with or without implant removal) was the primary outcome of the current study. We studied if the preoperative mechanical axis (either varus-valgus, or magnitude of malalignment) was related to implant survival rate. Results: Forty-two patients were included in the study. Mean follow-up was 51.42 ± 31.88 months. The 83.3% of patients presented a valgus axis while the 16.7% presented a varus axis. Need of reoperation occurred in eight patients (19.0%). However, no patients (0%) required implant removal with revision TKA. No association was seen between the preoperative mechanical axis and risk of reoperation (p = 0.16). Conclusion: In selected situations that do not permit less constrained implants, primary rotating-hinge arthroplasty could be a good alternative. Risk of reoperation does not seem to depend upon the preoperative mechanical axis when using a rotating-hinge knee prosthesis for primary arthroplasty in non-tumoral complex knees.

Reconstruction of infected post-traumatic bone defects of the distal femur with the CompressⓇ implant. Preliminary results of a staged non-biological strategy.

INTRODUCTION: Infected post-traumatic distal femur defects remain a therapeutic challenge. Non-biological reconstruction offers an option for avoiding complex biological knee arthrodesis procedures. The CompressⓇ implant is an alternative to the traditional distal femur stemmed megaprosthesis. The aim of this study is to analyse the first patients treated with a distal femur CompressⓇ prosthesis to manage massive infected post-traumatic defects of the distal femur with joint involvement. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with massive infected defects of the distal femur where this implant was used in a two-stage strategy, together with an antibacterial coating hydrogel (DACⓇ). The specific protocol, microbiological data, clinical and radiological results, complications, functional results and prosthesis survivorship were determined. Follow-up was for a minimum of 12 months, or until implant removal. RESULTS: Ten patients (11 CompressⓇ implants) with a mean age of 52 years (range 35-73) were included. On average, patients had undergone 4.4 previous surgical procedures before index surgery. The mean bone defect was 14 cm (range 8-21). After a median follow-up of 27 months (range 12-50 months) no patient had presented with recurrence of the infection, and limb salvage was achieved in all cases. Two patients suffered aseptic loosening which required revision of the femoral component. The short-term survivorship of the implant in our series was 81.8% at 4 years, with all failures occurring in the first 7 months. After this 7-month time threshold, we encountered no further loosening. Regarding functional outcomes, patients had a mean knee ROM of -4/86, expressed high overall satisfaction with the procedure according to the SAPS scale, and had an average LEFS of 52.5% (40-72.5%). CONCLUSION: Non-biological reconstruction of the distal femur with the CompressⓇ implant is a valid option in selected patients with massive infected defects with joint involvement. Survivorship was high, with all loosening occurring in the first months after surgery-representing a failure in the osseointegration of the implant.