One assumed function of Total Ankle Replacement (TAR) is that by maintaining ankle joint motion we can protect the other hind foot joints from further degredation. 1. However, there is no work to our knowledge that compares hindfoot outcomes between TAR and arthrodesis. Sokolowski et al. found that 68% of TAR patients had no radiological progression of subtalar arthritis after TAR, and 4% went on to fusion. 2. However, no evaluation of the other hindfoot joints was made and no comparison made to other treatment. We performed a retrospective review of all patients at our centre who had had a TAR or ankle arthrodesis since 2002. Case notes and imaging were reviewed and all instances of hindfoot treatment (injections or surgical procedures) noted. Patients were excluded who had no documentation, were followed up at other hospitals, had prior hindfoot fusion, or were having staged surgeries at the time of index treatment. Chi squared analysis was used to compare the cohorts. 214 arthrodesis cases and 302 TAR were eligible. The average age was 57. Average time to follow up was 13 years (4–21). At the time of abstract submission 107 sets of notes had been reviewed fully. Full analysis will be performed by conference. 14% of TAR patients went on to have further procedures to the hindfoot joints while 35% of arthrodesis patients had further procedures (p=0.014). There was also a significant difference in the number of patients progressing to fusion of a further hindfoot joint between groups (TAR- 4%, arthrodesis- 20%, p=0.01). These data suggest that TAR are protective of symptomatic change of hindfoot joints. Patients with TAR had fewer hindfoot fusions than those with arthrodesis and also fewer procedures of any form, including injections

Aims

The number of revision total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs) which are undertaken is increasing. Few studies have reported the survival after this procedure. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the survival of revision ankle arthroplasties using large datasets. Secondary aims were to summarize the demographics of the patients, the indications for revision TAA, further operations, and predictors of survival.

Aims

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are a common cause of disability and chronic ankle pain. Many operative treatment strategies have been introduced; however, they have their own disadvantages. Recently lesion repair using autologous cartilage chip has emerged therefore we investigated the efficacy of particulated autologous cartilage transplantation (PACT) in OLT.

Introduction:. We report the outcomes of salvage procedures in total ankle replacement (TAR) in a single surgeon series. Methods:. This study was a retrospective review of patients who had undergone salvage procedures with tibio-talo-calcaneal (TTC) fusion for failed TAR over a period from 1999–2013 in a single centre. In this period, 317 TAR were performed of which 11 have failed necessitating conversion to TTC fusion. Clinical documentation and radiographs were reviewed for cause of failure, type of graft for fusion, time to radiological/clinical union and complications including further surgeries. Results:. The causes of failure of the TAR were pain from instability/impingement in 8, fracture in one, subsidence of the talar component in one and infection in one. From the group of 11 patients, 8 patients went onto union at a mean of 10 months (7–14). All 8 patients had femoral head structural allografts to maintain limb length for the procedure and 3 required a secondary procedure to dynamise the nail. 2 patients with femoral head structural allografts developed infections necessitating removal of the graft and conversion to an external fixator of which one united and the other developed a painless fibrous union. 1 patient developed non-union with progressive deformity of the ankle resulting in a Symes amputation. Conclusions:. From our series of patients we have demonstrated that failure of TAR requiring salvage procedures is a relatively rare event (3.5%). The use of TTC fusion is successful in the majority of patients and the use of femoral head structural allografts allows preservation of leg length with good rates of union

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate whether on-demand removal (ODR) is noninferior to routine removal (RR) of syndesmotic screws regarding functional outcome.

Introduction:. Instability and synovitis of the lesser metatarsalphalangeal (MTP) joints is a significant cause of forefoot pain. Plantar plate imaging traditionally has been through MRI and fluoroscopic arthrography. We have described ultrasound arthrography as a less resource-intensive technique without radiation exposure. We report the correlation between ultrasound arthographic and surgical findings. Methods:. Patients with lesser MTP joint instability and pain underwent ultrasound arthrography by a consultant musculoskeletal radiologist. The main finding was the presence of a full or partial tear of the plantar plate. In some patients the location of the tear along with its size in the long and short axis was also reported. Authors who were not involved in the imaging or surgery reviewed the operation notes of patients who underwent surgery to identify. Whether a partial or full thickness tear was identified. Size and location of the tear. The accuracy of ultrasound arthrography was calculated using surgical findings as the standard. Results:. 53 patients with 55 joints underwent ultrasound arthrography, and of these 34 went on to have surgery. 23 patients had adequate documentation of surgical and ultrasound findings. Surgery confirmed plantar plate tears in 21 patients (91.3%) with 9 full thickness tears and 7 partial thickness tears confirmed both operatively and with ultrasound (in 5 patients the operation note did not specify completeness of tear). In 2 patients, in whom ultrasound demonstrated a partial thickness tear, no tear was found at surgery. The sensitivity of ultrasound arthrography for plantar plate tears is 100%, specificity is 0% (although based on few patients), and positive predictive value of 91.3%. Conclusion:. Ultrasound arthrography has a high sensitivity, but low specificity for plantar plate tears, comparable with ultrasound in previous studies. It allows differentiation of partial and full thickness tears which may be important for treatment

Aims

This is a multicentre, non-inventor, prospective observational study of 503 INFINITY fixed bearing total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs). We report our early experience, complications, and radiological and functional outcomes.

It is recognised that as the severity of hallux valgus (HV) worsens, so do the clinical and radiological signs of arthritis in the first metatarsophalangeal joint. However, few studies specifically document the degenerate changes. The purpose of this study is to determine if intraoperative mapping of articular erosive lesions of the first MTP joint can be correlated to clinical and/or radiographic parameters used during the preoperative assessment of the HV deformity. Materials & Methods. We prospectively analysed 50 patients who underwent surgery between Jan 2009 & Jan 2010. Patients with a known history of previous first metatarsophalangeal joint surgical intervention, trauma, or systemic arthritis were excluded from analysis. Preoperative demographics and AOFAS scores were recorded. Radiographic measurements were obtained from weight bearing radiographs. Intraoperative evaluation of the first metatarsal head, base of the proximal phalanx, and sesamoid articular cartilage erosion was performed. Cartilage wear was documented using International Cartilage Research Society grading. Results. three patients did not have scoring or cartilage wear documentation carried out and were excluded. The mean age was 56 years. The mean hallux valgus angle was 31 degrees. The mean IMA was 15 degrees. The mean AOFAS score was 62. Patients with no inferomedial (IM) and inferolateral (IL) wear had significantly better AOFAS score than patients who had IM & IL wear (p < 0.05). Patients who had IM & IL wear had a significantly higher HVA (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between hallux valgus angle and AOFAS score. We also found correlation between sesamoid wear and AOFAS score and HV angle. Conclusion. we conclude that preoperative clinical and radiographic measurements can be used to predict the incidence and location of articular erosions in the 1st MTPJ and are helpful in the preoperative assessment of the HV deformity

Aims

To our knowledge, there is currently no information available about the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) or recommendations regarding chemoprophylaxis for patients whose lower limb is immobilized in a plaster cast. We report a retrospective case series assessing the rate of symptomatic VTE in patients treated with a lower limb cast. Given the complex, heterogeneous nature of this group of patients, with many risk factors for VTE, we hypothesized that the rate of VTE would be higher than in the general population.

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Arthroscopically controlled fracture reduction in combination with percutaneous screw fixation may be an alternative approach to open surgery to treat talar neck fractures. The purpose of this study was thus to present preliminary results on arthroscopically reduced talar neck fractures.

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Identifying predictors of compartment syndrome in the foot after a fracture of the calcaneus may lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment. The aim of our study was to identify any such predictors.

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This prospective cohort study aims to determine if the size of the tendon gap following acute rupture of the Achilles tendon shows an association with the functional outcome following non-operative treatment.

Neuropathic changes in the foot are common with a prevalence of approximately 1%. The diagnosis of neuropathic arthropathy is often delayed in diabetic patients with harmful consequences including amputation. The appropriate diagnosis and treatment can avoid an extensive programme of treatment with significant morbidity for the patient, high costs and delayed surgery. The pathogenesis of a Charcot foot involves repetitive micro-trauma in a foot with impaired sensation and neurovascular changes caused by pathological innervation of the blood vessels. In most cases, changes are due to a combination of both pathophysiological factors. The Charcot foot is triggered by a combination of mechanical, vascular and biological factors which can lead to late diagnosis and incorrect treatment and eventually to destruction of the foot.

This review aims to raise awareness of the diagnosis of the Charcot foot (diabetic neuropathic osteoarthropathy and the differential diagnosis, erysipelas, peripheral arterial occlusive disease) and describe the ways in which the diagnosis may be made. The clinical diagnostic pathways based on different classifications are presented.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1155–9.

We report an audit of 208 patients with a mean age of 39 years (16 to 65) attending the Orthopaedic Assessment Unit at the Wellington Hospital between January 2006 and December 2007 with an injury of the tendo Achillis requiring immobilisation in a cast. Information on assessment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk, prophylactic measures and VTE events for all patients was obtained from the medical records. A VTE risk factor was documented in the records of three (1%) patients. One of the 208 patients received aspirin prophylaxis; none received low molecular weight heparin. In all, 13 patients (6.3%, 95% confidence interval 3.4 to 10.5) developed symptomatic VTE during immobilisation in a cast, including six with a distal deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), four with a proximal DVT, and three with a confirmed pulmonary embolus. This incidence of symptomatic VTE is similar to that reported following elective hip replacement.

We propose that consideration is given to VTE prophylaxis during prolonged immobilisation of the lower limbs in a cast, to ensure that the same level of protection is provided as for patients undergoing elective hip replacement.

Introduction

The aetiology of hallux valgus is almost certainly multifactoral. The biomechanics of the first ray is a common factor to most. There is very little literature examining the anatomy of the proximal metatarsal articular surface and its relationship to hallux valgus deformity.