The incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with lower limb cast immobilization occurs in up to 20% of patients. This may result from altered calf pump function causing venous stasis. Our aim was to determine the effects of below knee cast on calf pump function. Nine healthy participants were enrolled in this research and ethics approved prospective study. Four foot and ankle movements (toe dorsiflexion, toe plantar flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, ankle plantar flexion) and weight bearing were performed pre and post application of a below knee cast. Baseline and peak systolic velocity within the popliteal vein was measured during each movement. Participants with peripheral vascular disease, varicose veins, deep venous thrombosis or previous foot and ankle surgery were excluded.Introduction
Method
Operative and non-operative treatment regimens for Achilles tendon ruptures vary greatly but commonly involve rigid casting or functional bracing. The aim of our study was to investigate the extent of tendon apposition following such treatments. Twelve fresh-frozen, adult below knee lower-extremity cadaveric specimens with intact proximal tibiofibular joints were used. Each was prepared by excising a 10cm × 5cm skin and soft tissue window exposing the Achilles tendon. With the ankle in neutral position, the tendon was transfixed with a 2mm k-wire into the tibia, 8cm from its calcaneal insertion. A typical post-rupture gap was created by excising a 2.5cm portion of tendon between 3.5cm and 6cm from its calcaneal insertion. The specimens were then placed into a low profile walker boot (SideKICKTM, Procare) without wedges and a window cut into the back. The distance between the proximal and distal Achilles tendon cut edges was measured and repeated with 1, 2 and 3 (10mm) wedges. Subsequently the specimens were placed into a complete below knee cast in full equinus which was also windowed. The Achilles tendon gap (mean +/− SD) measured: 2.7cm (0.5) with no wedge, 2.3cm (0.4) with 1, 2.0cm (0.4) with 2, 1.5cm (0.4) with 3 wedges and 0.4cm (0.3) in full equinus cast. The choice of treatment had a significant effect on tendon gap (p< 0.0001 – repeated measures ANOVA), and all pairwise comparisons were significantly different (Bonferroni), with all p< 0.001, apart from 0 wedge vs. 1 wedge (p< 0.01) and 1 wedge vs. 2 wedges (p< 0.05). Our results showed that each wedge apposed the tendon edges by approximately 0.5cm with the equinus cast achieving the best apposition. Surgeons should consider this when planning appropriate immobilisation regimes for Achilles tendon ruptures.
NICE guidelines state that every patient should be assessed for their VTE risk on admission to hospital. The aim of this study was to determine whether currently recommended risk assessment tools (Nygaard, Caprini, NICE and Plymouth) can correctly identify the patients at risk. In a consecutive series of over 750 trauma patients treated with cast immobilisation 23 were found to have suffered a VTE. Their notes were retrospectively reviewed to discover how many had been assessed for their VTE risk on admission. Additionally, the 4 most current Risk Assessment Tools were used to retrospectively score the patients for their VTE risk to determine whether they would have been identified as at risk of sVTE, had the RAMs been used at the time. We also identified a matched group of patients in the same cohort who had not suffered a VTE and they were also retrospectively risk assessed.Introduction:
Methods:
Peri prosthetic fracture is a recognised complication following Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). There is limited literature on post operative management following TAA and controversies exist based on surgeon preferences. This project reports the incidence of peri- prosthetic fractures in patients managed with 2 different post-operative protocols. Patients undergoing primary TAA with a diagnosis of Osteoarthritis (OA) or Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis (PTOA) were recruited into a randomized controlled trial. These patients did not require any additional procedures. Patients were consented for the trial and randomized to one of two treatment groups (Early mobilisation after surgery vs. immobilisation in a plaster cast for 6 weeks post operatively). Plaster group patients underwent a graduated physiotherapy program from 6-12 weeks and early mobilisation group patients from 1-12 weeks. Complications any were recorded at 2, 4, 6 and 12 weeks post-operatively.Introduction
Materials and Methods
Aims. The purpose of this study was to compare symptomatic treatment
of a fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal with immobilisation
in a cast. Our null hypothesis was that immobilisation gave better patient
reported outcome measures (PROMs). The alternative hypothesis was
that symptomatic treatment was not inferior. Patients and Methods. A total of 60 patients were randomised to receive four weeks
of treatment, 36 in a double elasticated bandage (symptomatic treatment
group) and 24 in a below-knee walking cast (immobilisation group).
The primary outcome measure used was the validated Visual Analogue
Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS-FA) Score. Data were analysed by a clinician,
blinded to the form of treatment, at presentation and at four weeks,
three months and six months after injury. Loss to follow-up was
43% at six months. Multiple imputations missing data analysis was performed. Results. At four weeks and six months, symptomatic treatment proved non-inferior
in terms of primary outcome. Take home message:
Introduction:. The National institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for thromboprophylaxis following lower limb surgery and plastercast immobilisation recommend pharmacological prophylaxis be considered until the cast is removed. These guidelines have been extrapolated from data for hip and knee arthroplasty, and trauma studies. Recent studies have questioned the validity of these guidelines. At Portsmouth, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is prescribed for 14 days following surgery in high risk patients. The protocol predates the most recent NICE guidance. We set out to investigate whether this was a safe method of thromboprophylaxis following elective hindfoot surgery. Methods:. A retrospective audit of all patients undergoing hindfoot surgery between 01/01/10 and 31/12/12 was performed. All patients were immobilised in a POP backslab and prescribed 14 days of LMWH. All patients were reviewed at 2 weeks and converted to a full cast or boot.
Clinicians are often asked by patients, “When
can I drive again?” after lower limb injury or surgery. This question
is difficult to answer in the absence of any guidelines. This review
aims to collate the currently available evidence and discuss the
factors that influence the decision to allow a patient to return
to driving. There is currently insufficient evidence for any authoritative
body to determine fitness to drive. The lack of guidance could result
in patients being withheld from driving for longer than is necessary,
or returning to driving while still unsafe. Cite this article:
