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The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 100-B, Issue 7 | Pages 945 - 952
1 Jul 2018
Malhotra K Chan O Cullen S Welck M Goldberg AJ Cullen N Singh D

Aims

Gastrocnemius tightness predisposes to musculoskeletal pathology and may require surgical treatment. However, it is not clear what proportion of patients with foot and ankle pathology have clinically significant gastrocnemius tightness. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and degree of gastrocnemius tightness in a control group of patients with a group of patients with foot and ankle pathology.

Patients and Methods

This prospective, case-matched, observational study compared gastrocnemius tightness, as assessed by the lunge test, in a control group and a group with foot and ankle pathology. Gastrocnemius tightness was calculated as the difference in dorsiflexion of the ankle with the knee extended and flexed.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 98-B, Issue 10 | Pages 1418 - 1424
1 Oct 2016
Salandy A Malhotra K Goldberg AJ Cullen N Singh D

Aims

Smoking is associated with post-operative complications but smokers often under-report the amount they smoke. Our objective was to determine whether a urine dipstick test could be used as a substitute for quantitative cotinine assays to determine smoking status in patients.

Patients and Methods

Between September 2013 and July 2014 we conducted a prospective cohort study in which 127 consecutive patients undergoing a planned foot and ankle arthrodesis or osteotomy were included. Patients self-reported their smoking status and were classified as: ‘never smoked’ (61 patients), ‘ex-smoker’ (46 patients), or ‘current smoker’ (20 patients). Urine samples were analysed with cotinine assays and cotinine dipstick tests.