A Child with a Painful Foot: How to Get a Definitive Diagnosis.

This case report describes an 8-year-old healthy boy with a retained wooden foreign body in his 4th metatarsal bone of his right foot. He was presented several months after the initial trauma, stepping into a toothpick, had occurred. He was operated in our hospital, and the wooden toothpick was removed. The operation and recovery were both uncomplicated. History and physical examination are essential in these types of cases with a history of penetrating trauma but can be inconclusive due to the delay in presentation. Aggressive treatment on the other hand is necessary to prevent bigger problems such as the development of inflammatory problems and persisting complaints. A thorough, systematic, and complete work-up from the history to treatment is therefore necessary and will be described in this case report.

Dynamic trial fitting by an expanding trial cup does not jeopardize primary acetabular component stability.

BACKGROUND: Trial fitting of the acetabular component in uncemented total hip replacement is traditionally done by trial cups. Since trial cups do not resemble the real press-fit obtained by the definitive cup, a dynamic trial inserter, called the X-pander ®, was developed to mimic the real amount of press-fit. However, the concern is raised of losing the initial press-fit by using the X-pander® due to pre-expansion of the acetabulum. The purpose of this study was to assess if there is a difference in primary stability between both methods. METHODS: A biomechanical randomized study was performed with bovine calf acetabula, with randomization between either using the X-pander® or the traditional trial cups to assess primary stability. The primary outcome was the force needed to achieve lever out of the implanted cup (Anexys, Mathys or Trident, Stryker), measured in Newton meter (Nm) with a biomechanical testing set up. FINDINGS: In total, 54 cups (19 Anexys, 35 Trident) were inserted and tested after randomized trial fitting. Overall mean lever out was 45.1 Nm (SD 14.6) for the X-pander® group and 45.0 Nm (SD 14.5) for the trial cups group. After adjustment for potential confounders (cup size and type) mixed model analysis did not reveal a significant difference in lever out force between both testing devices (mean 1.0 Nm, 95%CI (-5.9; 8.0), p = .77). INTERPRATION: Initial press-fit of the implanted cup is not lost by pre-expansion as done with dynamic trial fitting with the X-pander®.

Ankle fusion after failed ankle replacement in rheumatic and non-rheumatic patients.

BACKGROUND: With longer follow-up, survival rate of total ankle replacements (TAR) diminishes. It is therefore important to have a reliable fall-back option in case of failed TAR. Revision arthroplasty is often impossible because of loss of bonestock or infection. Conversion to ankle fusion is then indicated. We investigated the clinical, radiographic and patient reported results for fusion after failed TAR in a consecutive group of patients. We concentrated on the influence of inflammatory joint disease (IJD) on union rate. METHODS: Patient files and radiographic images of 46 consecutive patients (47 ankles) were reviewed. There were 22 patients with IJD. Fixation methods included; anterior plating, blade plate fixation, intramedullary nailing, compression screws and external fixation. Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) were used to determine patient related outcomes. RESULTS: Forty out of 47 ankles (85%) Fused. Union rate in the non-IJD group (96%) was significantly higher compared to the IJD-group (73%, p=0.04). Revisions and complications were more frequent in the IJD group, but numbers were too small to detect a significant difference. Mean PROM scores were: FAOS-symptoms; 68.5, FAOS-pain; 70.3, FAOS-QoL; 43.7, FAOS-ADL; 68.1 and FAAM-ADL; 52.1, with no significant difference between IJD and non-IJD patients. CONCLUSIONS: IJD-patients have a higher nonunion rate after ankle fusion for failed TAR. However, patient reported outcome is not significantly different between the two groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective cohort.

Eponymous terms in anterior shoulder stabilization surgery.

Shoulder dislocation and its treatment are probably as old as time. Surgical treatment has gained acceptance recently, especially in recurrent cases. Within roughly the last 100years, numerous treatment strategies have been developed and questions elucidated regarding the entity of shoulder instability. Shoulder instability holds many eponymous terms. By means of literature and historical research, we present the biographical background of some common eponymous terms and the original publication on which those terms are based. We describe the Perthes lesion, Bankart lesion and repair, Hill-Sachs lesion, Bristow-Latarjet procedure and Eden-Hybbinette procedure. Shoulder instability has been recognized and treated for many centuries. Before the invention of X-rays and the ability to intervene surgically, empirical reduction and time were the only feasible treatment options. Understanding of the pathophysiology of this problem and its corresponding treatment has kept increasing since the 19th century. The originators involved still have their name attached to the different signs and procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.