Background

Venous Thrombo-Embolism is a recognized complication of lower limb immobilization. In the neuropathic patient total contact casting (TCC) is used in the management of acute charcot neuroathropathy and/or to off-load neuropathic ulcers, frequently for long time periods. To our knowledge there is no literature stating the prevalence of VTE in patients undergoing TCC. We perceive that neuropathic patients with active charcot have other risk factors for VTE which would predispose them to this condition and would mandate the use of prophylaxis. We report a retrospective case series assessing the prevalence of VTE in the patients being treated with TCCs.

We aim to demonstrate the value of deep tissue biopsies to guide antimicrobial treatment of diabetic ulcers. Some recent studies have advocated the role of superficial swabs to guide antibiotic treatment in comparison to deep tissue biopsies previously perceived as the gold standard of microbiology diagnosis. We performed a retrospective analysis of microbiology culture results of patients with infected diabetic ulcers comparing superficial versus deep biopsy microbiology results.

Forty-one diabetic ulcers in 41 patients were included. The mean numbers of isolates from soft tissue and bone biopsies were 2.1 and 1.8 respectively. 39/41 combined soft tissue and bone biopsies were culture positive. The most prevalent organism seen in deep samples was Staphylococcus aureus (14) followed by anaerobes (9), and enterococcus (9). In superficial swab cultures 21 patients (51%) cultured non-specific, mixed skin flora and enteric species. The remaining 20 patients cultured Staphylococcus aureus (11), Streptococcus (6), Pseudomonas (2) and anaerobes (6).

Three superficial swabs matched deep tissue biopsy cultures. 16 deep biopsies grew organisms seen none specifically in superficial swab cultures with 22 deep tissue biopsies cultures growing organisms not seen on superficial swab with 8 being anaerobes.

We have shown that in 54% of cases, deep tissue cultures isolated organisms that were not grown by superficial swab cultures. We highlight the importance of deep tissue biopsies to guide effective treatment.

Introduction:

Diabetic ulcer superficial swab cultures have a low specificity for guiding antibiotic treatment. Some studies have recently re-assessed and advocated the role of superficial swabs. We have performed an analysis of microbiology results in patients with infected diabetic ulcers to further appraise the need for using deep tissue cultures as a guide for antimicrobial treatment.

Introduction

Whilst most cases of plantar fasciitis can be resolved with existing conservative established treatment options, a few intractable cases can be difficult to resolve. New biologic treatments have been proposed for a variety of soft tissue tendon problems. We evaluated the results of PRP in the treatment of recalcitrant chronic cases of plantar fasciitis.

Aims

Solitary plasmacytoma of bone is a locally aggressive lesion seen by sarcoma teams. Some patients progress to myeloma. Local therapy decisions can be complex. This study reviews the experience of this condition in a single centre with a view to informing future treatment.

Introduction: Adult acquired flatfoot is a common cause of foot pain. The majority of series describe surgery although important non-surgical series exist. This series of 166 patients gives an overview of the clinical spectrum of the condition and outcomes.

Materials and Methods: Data was collected prospectively on 166 consecutive patients with adult acquired flatfoot between 1995 and 2005. 104 patients were reviewed at a median of eight years (range 3–13). A standardised clinical examination, AOFAS hindfoot and visual analogue satisfaction scores were performed.

Results: There were 40 men (median age 56 years) and 126 women (median age 60 years). 68% had other musculoskeletal problems. Patients were Truro staged at presentation; Stage 1: 26 patients. Stage 2A: 84 patients. Stage 2B: 25 patients. Stage 2C: 23 patients. Stage 3: 6 patients. Stage 4: 2 patients.

Stage 1 patients were younger (p< 0.001). 133 patients had soft-tissue symptoms, but 33 had degenerative problems. Degenerative patients had a higher median age (p=0.0138) and stiffer deformities (p< 0.0001). Most patients (131, 78.9%) were managed conservatively. Surgery was commoner in the arthritic group (p=0.001).

Fifty-two conservatively treated feet were clinically reassessed. In 31 (59%) patients the Truro stage had not changed, 11 (21%) had improved and 10 (20%) had deteriorated. Twenty percent of patients treated with orthoses stopped using them after 18 to 24 months. In non-surgically treated patients, the median AOFAS score was 73/100 and satisfaction score 71/100. In surgically treated patients the median AOFAS score was 74/100 and satisfaction score 83/100.

Discussion: There is a young group of patients with adult acquired flatfoot, with soft tissue symptoms but no progressive deformity. There is a large group with a flexible deformity who can mostly be treated with orthoses, and an older group with stiffer, arthritic deformities who are more likely to need surgery.

Conclusion: Final outcomes and satisfaction were similar in surgically and non-surgically treated patients.

Introduction: Current evidence for treatment of Achilles tendon rupture suggests that open surgical repair reduces the re-rupture rate compared to conservative treatment, but with a higher risk of infection. Modern non-surgical treatment and surgical aftercare involves early weight-bearing in functional orthoses. It is therefore appropriate to measure the re-rupture rates and outcomes in patients treated in this manner.

Materials and methods: Between 2002 and 2008 our unit prospectively collected data on 80 patients treated with a below-knee functional orthoses for complete Achilles tendon rupture. Patients made their own choice of treatment following evidence-based counselling. The patients were treated either surgically or conservatively and entered the appropriate arm of the standard orthotic and early weight-bearing treatment protocol. Patients were contacted by telephone or post for follow-up and completed a VISA-A and Achilles Total Rupture Score (ATRS) questionnaire.

Results: There were 61 Males, 19 Females with an age range of 24–80 (median 42). The median time in the functional brace was eight weeks. 51 patients were treated conservatively and 29 patients surgically. The conservative group were a decade older (median age 47y, range 27–80) than the surgical group (median age 37y, range 24–55y). In the non-operative treatment group the re-rupture rate was 3.9% (2/51, 95% confidence interval 0.5–13.5%). In the surgical group it was 3.4% (1/29, 95% confidence interval 0–17.8%), in this group the wound infection rate was 6.8% (2/29, 95% confidence interval 0.9–22.8%) with no nerve injuries reported. The median ATRS was 82 in the conservative group and 95 in the surgical group. The median VISA-A scores were 57 and 92 respectively.

Discussion: Our case series shows comparable low re-rupture rates in both groups. Functional scores, using the newly validated ATRS score, were lower in the non-surgical, older group.

Conclusion: Functional care after surgical and non-surgical treatment of Achilles rupture produces similar re-rupture rates.