Age-based outcomes of cheilectomy for the treatment of hallux rigidus.

The results of cheilectomy, performed on 67 consecutive patients with hallux rigidus resulting in primary extraarticular symptoms are presented. Four patients who underwent subsequent fusion were rated as failures. Follow-up evaluation, averaging 65 months (28-117) on 53 additional patients available for follow-up, revealed an average AOFAS score of 80. with 91% of the patients stating that they were currently better than before surgery. There was a statistically significant higher mean score (89) in patients over 60 years of age at the time of surgery. There were no differences between other age groups, preoperative grade, duration of symptoms, or length of follow-up. Cheilectomy should be the treatment of choice for hallux rigidus with predominantly extra-articular symptoms, especially in patients over 60 years of age.

The diagnosis of PCL injury: literature review and introduction of two novel tests.

Isolated PCL injuries have become more prevalent in recent years, possibly as a result of improved awareness and clinical recognition. However, the diagnosis can be difficult, and many of these injuries continue to go undiagnosed. Several clinical tests for PCL laxity have been described over the years, with varying degrees of sensitivity and clinical applicability. These include the posterior drawer, the Muller Quadriceps Active Test, Godfrey's Test, Trillat's reverse lachman/total translation test, and the Dynamic Posterior Shift. All of these tests require significant posterior laxity associated with complete PCL disruption to be positive. Use of the KT-1000 arthrometer, and several radiographic tests have also been developed to help with diagnosis and quantification of laxity. It is the purpose of this paper to review the technique and application of the established diagnostic tests for PCL deficiency, and to introduce two new tests employed by the senior author for nearly three decades. It is the authors' experience that these new tests are sufficiently sensitive to allow the examiner to detect the presence of PCL insufficiency even in the most difficult diagnostic situations with subtle laxity.