The February 2025 Foot & Ankle Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at:Percutaneous Zadek osteotomy for insertional Achilles tendinopathy; Association of extraosseous arterial diameter with talar dome osteochondral lesions; Autologous chondrocyte implantation for osteochondral lesions of the talus; Symptomatic thromboembolism and mortality in foot and ankle surgery in the UK; Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid in Morton’s neuroma?

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Over time, the locking mechanism of Modular Universal Tumour and Revision System (MUTARS) knee arthroplasties changed from polyethylene (PE) to polyether-ether-ketone Optima (PEEK) and metal-on-metal (MoM) in an attempt to reduce the risk of mechanical failure. In this study, we aimed to assess the cumulative incidence of locking mechanism revision for symptomatic instability by type of material, and assess potential associated risk factors.

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Worldwide controversy exists on the optimal treatment of stable dysplastic hips. The most common treatment options are abduction brace treatment and active surveillance. The primary aim of this study was to assess the effect of active surveillance in stable hip dysplasia, by investigating the percentage of Graf IIb stable dysplastic hips that recover spontaneously without abduction brace treatment. The second aim was to identify prognostic factors for spontaneous recovery of stable dysplastic hips.

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The Peri-Implant and PeriProsthetic Survival AnalysiS (PIPPAS) study aimed to investigate the risk factors for one-year mortality of femoral peri-implant fractures (FPIFs).

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The “2 to 10% strain rule” for fracture healing has been widely interpreted to mean that interfragmentary strain greater than 10% predisposes a fracture to nonunion. This interpretation focuses on the gap-closing strain (axial micromotion divided by gap size), ignoring the region around the gap where osteogenesis typically initiates. The aim of this study was to measure gap-closing and 3D interfragmentary strains in plated ovine osteotomies and associate local strain conditions with callus mineralization.

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Excellent outcomes have been reported following CT-based robotic arm-assisted total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) compared with manual THA; however, its superiority over CT-based navigation THA (nTHA) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether a CT-based robotic arm-assisted system helps surgeons perform accurate cup placement, minimizes leg length, and offsets discrepancies more than a CT-based navigation system.

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The aim of this study was to perform an incremental cost-utility analysis and assess the impact of differential costs and case volume on the cost-effectiveness of robotic arm-assisted medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (rUKA) compared to manual (mUKA).

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(12):790–792.

Aims

Functional alignment (FA) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) aims to achieve balanced gaps by adjusting implant positioning while minimizing changes to constitutional joint line obliquity (JLO). Although FA uses kinematic alignment (KA) as a starting point, the final implant positions can vary significantly between these two approaches. This study used the Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee (CPAK) classification to compare differences between KA and final FA positions.

Aims. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the in vivo ankle kinetic alterations in patients with concomitant chronic ankle instability (CAI) and osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT), which may offer opportunities for clinician intervention in treatment and rehabilitation. Methods. A total of 16 subjects with CAI (eight without OLT and eight with OLT) and eight healthy subjects underwent gait analysis in a stair descent setting. Inverse dynamic analysis was applied to ground reaction forces and marker trajectories using the AnyBody Modeling System. One-dimensional statistical parametric mapping was performed to compare ankle joint reaction force and joint moment curve among groups. Results. The patients with OLT showed significantly increased dorsiflexion moment in the ankle joint compared with healthy subjects during 38.2% to 40.9% of the gait cycle, and increased eversion moment in the ankle joint compared with patients without OLT during 25.5% to 27.6% of the gait cycle. Compared with healthy subjects, the patients with OLT showed increased anterior force during 42% to 43% of the gait cycle, and maximal medial force (p = 0.005, ηp2 = 0.399). Conclusion. The patients with concomitant CAI and OLT exhibit increased dorsiflexion and eversion moment, as well as increased anterior and medial ankle joint reaction force during stair descent, compared with patients with CAI but without OLT and healthy subjects, respectively. Thus, a rehabilitative regimen targeting excessive ankle dorsiflexion and eversion moment may help to reduce ankle joint loading. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(12):716–724

Introduction. Knee osteoarthritis often causes malalignment and altering bone load. This malalignment is corrected during total knee arthroplasty surgery, balancing the ligaments. Nonetheless, preoperative gait patterns may influence postoperative prosthesis load and bone support. Thus, the purpose is to investigate the impact of preoperative gait patterns on postoperative femoral and tibial component migration in total knee arthroplasty. Method. In a prospective cohort study, 66 patients with primary knee osteoarthritis undergoing cemented Persona total knee arthroplasty were assessed. Preoperative knee kinematics was analyzed through dynamic radiostereometry and motion capture, categorizing patients into four homogeneous gait patterns. The four subgroups were labeled as the flexion group (n=20), the abduction (valgus) group (n=17), the anterior drawer group (n=10), and the tibial external rotation group (n=19). The femoral and tibial component migration was measured using static radiostereometry taken supine on the postoperative day (baseline) and 3-, 12-, and 24- months after surgery. Migration was evaluated as maximum total point motion. Result. Of the preoperatively defined four subgroups, the abduction group with a valgus-characterized gait pattern exhibited the highest migration for both the femoral (1.64 mm (CI95% 1.25; 2.03)) and tibial (1.21 mm (CI95% 0.89; 1.53)) components at 24-month follow-up. For the femoral components, the abduction group migrated 0.6 mm (CI95% 0.08; 1.12) more than the external rotation group at 24 months. For the tibial components, the abduction group migrated 0.43 mm (CI95% 0.16; 0.70) more than the external rotation group at 3 months. Furthermore, at 12- and 24-months follow-up the abduction group migrated 0.39 mm (95%CI 0.04; 0.73) and 0.45 mm (95%CI 0.01; 0.89) more than the flexion group, respectively. Conclusion. A preoperative valgus-characterized gait pattern seems to increase femoral and tibial component migration until 2 years of follow-up. This suggests that the implant fixation depends on load distributions originating from specific preoperative gait patterns

Introduction. Weight is a modifiable risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Despite the emphasis on weight loss, data quantifying the changes seen in joint biomechanics are limited. Bariatric surgery patients experience rapid weight loss. This provides a suitable population to study changes in joint forces and function as weight changes. Method. 10 female patients undergoing gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy completed 3D walking gait analysis at a self-selected pace, pre- and 6 months post-surgery. Lower limb and torso kinematic data for 10 walking trials were collected using a Vicon motion capture system and kinetics using a Kistler force plate. An inverse kinematic model in Visual 3D allowed for no translation of the hip joint centre. 6 degrees of freedom were allowed at other joints. Data were analysed using JASP with a paired samples t-test. Result. On average participants lost 28.8±7.60kg. No significant changes were observed in standing knee and hip joint angles. Walking velocity increased from 1.10±0.11 ms. -1. to 1.23±0.17 ms. -1. (t(9)=-3.060, p = 0.014) with no change in step time but a mean increase in stride length of 0.12m (SE: 0.026m; t(9)=-4.476, p = 0.002). A significant decrease of 21.5±4.2% in peak vertical ground reaction forces was observed (t(9)=12.863, p <0.001). Stride width significantly decreased by 0.04m (SE: 0.010m; t(9)=4.316, p = 0.002) along with a decrease in lateral impulse of 21.2Ns (SE: 6.977Ns; t(7), p = 0.019), but no significant difference in knee joint angles were observed. Double limb support time also significantly reduced by 0.02s (SE: 0.006s; t(9) = 3.639, p=0.005). Conclusion. The reduction in stance width and lateral impulse suggests a more sagittal compass-gait walk is being achieved. This would reduce valgus moments on the knee reducing loading in the medial compartment. The reduction in peak ground reaction force would reduce knee contact forces and again potentially slow OA progression

Introduction. Understanding the implications of decreased femoral torsion on gait and running in children and adolescents might help orthopaedic surgeons to optimize treatment decisions. To date, there is limited evidence regarding the kinematic gait deviations between children with decreased femoral torsion and typically developing children as well as regarding the implications of the same on the adaptation of walking to running. Method. A three dimensional gait analysis study was undertaken to compare gait deviations during running and walking among patients with decreased femoral torsion (n=15) and typically developing children (n=11). Linear mixed models were utilized to establish comparisons within and between the two groups and investigate the relation between clinical examination, spatial parameters and the difference in hip rotation between running and walking. Result. Patients exhibited increased external hip rotation during walking in comparison to controls accompanied by higher peaks for the same as well as for, knee valgus and external foot progression angle. A similar kinematic gait pattern was observed during running with significant differences noted in peak knee valgus. In terms of variations from running to walking, patients internally rotated their initially external rotated hip by 4°, whereas controls maintained the same internal hip rotation. Patients and controls displayed comparable kinematic gait deviations during running compared to walking. The passive hip range of motion, torsions and velocity did not notably influence the variation between mean hip rotation from running to walking. Conclusion. This study underlines the potential of 3D gait kinematics to elucidate the functional implications of decreased FT and hence may contribute to clinical decision making

Introduction. The ability to walk over various surfaces such as cobblestones, slopes or stairs is a very patient centric and clinically meaningful mobility outcome. Current wearable sensors only measure step counts or walking speed regardless of such context relevant for assessing gait function. This study aims to improve deep learning (DL) models to classify surfaces of walking by altering and comparing model features and sensor configurations. Method. Using a public dataset, signals from 6 IMUs (Movella DOT) worn on various body locations (trunk, wrist, right/left thigh, right/left shank) of 30 subjects walking on 9 surfaces were analyzed (flat ground, ramps (up/down), stairs (up/down), cobblestones (irregular), grass (soft), banked (left/right)). Two variations of a CNN Bi-directional LSTM model, with different Batch Normalization layer placement (beginning vs end) as well as data reduction to individual sensors (versus combined) were explored and model performance compared in-between and with previous models using F1 scores. Result. The Bi-LSTM architecture improved performance over previous models, especially for subject-wise data splitting and when combining the 6 sensor locations (e.g. F1=0.94 versus 0.77). Placement of the Batch Normalization layer at the beginning, prior to the convolutional layer, enhanced model understanding of participant gait variations across surfaces. Single sensor performance was best on the right shank (F1=0.88). Conclusion. Walking surface detection using wearable IMUs and DL models shows promise for clinically relevant real-world applications, achieving high F1 levels (>0.9) even for subject-wise data splitting enhancing the model applicability in real-world scenarios. Normalization techniques, such as Batch Normalization, seem crucial for optimizing model performance across diverse participant data. Also single-sensor set-ups can give acceptable performance, in particular for specific surface types of potentially high clinical relevance (e.g. stairs, ramps), offering practical and cost-effective solutions with high usability. Future research will focus on collecting ground-truth labeled data to investigate system performance in real-world settings

Introduction. A recent study to identify clinically meaningful benchmarks for gait improvement after total hip replacement (THA) has shown that the minimum clinically important improvement (MCII) in gait speed after THA is 0.32 m/sec. Currently, it remains to be investigated what preoperative factors link to suboptimal recovery of gait function after THA. This study aimed to identify preoperative lower-limb muscle predictors for gait speed improvement after THA for hip osteoarthritis. Method. This study enrolled 58 patients who underwent unilateral primary THA. Gait speed improvement was evaluated as the subtraction of preoperative speed from postoperative speed at 6 months after THA. Preoperative muscle composition of the glutei medius and minimus (Gmed+min) and the gluteus maximus (Gmax) was evaluated on a single axial computed tomography slice at the bottom end of the sacroiliac joint. Cross-sectional area ratio of individual composition to the total muscle was calculated. Result. The females (n=45) showed smaller total cross-sectional areas of the gluteal muscles than the males (n=13). Gmax in the females showed lower lean muscle mass area (LMM) and higher ratios of the intramuscular fat area and the intramuscular adipose tissue area to the total muscle area (TM) than that in the males. Regression analysis revealed that LMM/TM of Gmed+min may correlate negatively with postoperative improvement in gait speed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for prediction of MCII in gait speed at ≥ 0.32 m/sec resulted in the highest area under the curve for Gmax TM with negative correlation. The explanatory variables of hip abductor muscle composition predicted gait speed improvement after THA more precisely in the females compared with the total group of both sexes. Conclusion. Preoperative Gmax TM could predict gait speed MCII after THA. Preoperative muscle composition should be evaluated separately based on sexes for achievement of clinically important improvement in gait speed after THA

Introduction. Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine with unclear etiology. Due to the asymmetry of lateral curves, there are differences in the muscle activation between the convex and concave sides. This study utilized a comprehensive thoracic spine and ribcage musculoskeletal model to improve the biomechanical understanding of the development of AIS deformity and approach an explanation of the condition. Methods. In this study, we implemented a motion capture model using a generic rigid-body thoracic spine and ribcage model, which is kinematically determinate and controlled by spine posture obtained, for instance, from radiographs. This model is publicly accessible via a GitHub repository. We simulated gait and standing models of two AIS (averaging 15 years old, both with left lumbar curve and right thoracic curve averaging 25 degrees) and one control subject. The marker set included extra markers on the sternum and the thoracic and lumbar spine. The study was approved by the regional Research Ethics Committee (Journal number: H17034237). Results. We investigated the difference between the muscle activation on the right and left sides including erector spinae (ES), psoas major (PS), and multifidus (MF). Results of the AIS simulations indicated that, on average throughout the gait cycle, the right ES, left PS and left MF had 46%, 44%, and 23% higher activities compared to the other side, respectively. In standing, the ratios were 28%, 40%, and 19%, respectively. However, for the control subject, the differences were under 7%, except ES throughout the gait, which was 17%. Conclusion. The musculoskeletal model revealed distinct differences in force patterns of the right and left sides of the spine, indicating an instability phenomenon, where larger curves lead to higher muscle activations for stabilization. Acknowledgement. The project is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 program through Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant No. [764644]

Introduction. Many patients with obesity experience knee pain. Excess body weight is a modifiable risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) and weight loss is encouraged in patients with OA. Bariatric surgery could improve or limit the progression of these conditions through significant weight loss. The Oxford Knee Score (OKS) is a validated tool in the assessment of knee replacement surgery for OA. We present a novel application of the OKS to assess knee pain & function after weight loss surgery. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether there was a significant difference in mean OKS before and 24 months after weight loss surgery. Method. Eighteen female participants were included in this study. They underwent sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Patient demographics, body mass index (BMI) and OKS were collected pre- and 24 months post operatively. Result. There was an increase in the mean OKS from 31.8 (SD 11.8) pre surgery to 36.6 (SD 12.3) at 24 months. This was statistically significant (95% CI 0.99-10.5, p=0.02). Mean BMI reduced from 46.6 kg/m. 2. (SD 5.8) to 33.0 kg/m. 2. (SD 3.5). Conclusion. A significant improvement in mean OKS was seen after weight loss surgery. These findings demonstrate an improvement in knee pain & function with weight loss. This study contributes to a larger project evaluating the kinetic and kinematic changes to walking gait from weight loss

Aims

Day-case success rates after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (mUKA) may vary, and detailed data are needed on causes of not being discharged. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between surgical procedure type and successful day-case surgery, and to analyze causes of not being discharged on the day of surgery when eligible and scheduled for day-case THA, TKA, and mUKA.

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Machine learning (ML), a branch of artificial intelligence that uses algorithms to learn from data and make predictions, offers a pathway towards more personalized and tailored surgical treatments. This approach is particularly relevant to prevalent joint diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA). In contrast to end-stage disease, where joint arthroplasty provides excellent results, early stages of OA currently lack effective therapies to halt or reverse progression. Accurate prediction of OA progression is crucial if timely interventions are to be developed, to enhance patient care and optimize the design of clinical trials.