We studied a cohort of 26 diabetic patients with chronic ulceration under the first metatarsal
Aims. Arthroscopic microfracture is a conventional form of treatment for patients with osteochondritis of the talus, involving an area of < 1.5 cm. 2. However, some patients have persistent pain and limitation of movement in the early postoperative period. No studies have investigated the combined treatment of microfracture and shortwave treatment in these patients. The aim of this prospective single-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to compare the outcome in patients treated with arthroscopic microfracture combined with radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) and arthroscopic microfracture alone, in patients with ostechondritis of the talus. Methods. Patients were randomly enrolled into two groups. At three weeks postoperatively, the rESWT group was given shockwave treatment, once every other day, for five treatments. In the control group the
We dissected 12 fresh-frozen leg specimens to
identify the insertional footprint of each fascicle of the Achilles tendon
on the calcaneum in relation to their corresponding muscles. A further
ten embalmed specimens were examined to confirm an observation on
the retrocalcaneal bursa. The superficial part of the insertion
of the Achilles tendon is represented by fascicles from the medial
head of the gastrocnemius muscle, which is inserted over the entire
width of the inferior facet of the calcaneal tuberosity. In three
specimens this insertion was in continuity with the plantar fascia
in the form of periosteum. The deep part of the insertion of the
Achilles tendon is made of fascicles from the soleus tendon, which
insert on the medial aspect of the middle facet of the calcaneal
tuberosity, while the fascicles of the lateral
There are few reports of the surgical treatment for late stage Freiburg’s disease with flattening of the metatarsal
Arthroplasty for end-stage hallux rigidus (HR) is controversial. Arthrodesis remains the gold standard for surgical treatment, although is not without its complications, with rates of up to 10% for nonunion, 14% for reoperation and 10% for metatarsalgia. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of a double-stemmed silastic implant (Wright-Medical, Memphis, Tennessee, USA) for patients with end-stage HR. We conducted a retrospective review of 108 consecutive implants in 76 patients, between January 2005 and December 2016, with a minimum follow-up of two years. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 61.6 years (42 to 84). There were 104 females and four males. Clinical, radiological, patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) data, a visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, and satisfaction scores were collected.Aims
Methods
To evaluate the donor site morbidity and tendon morphology after harvesting whole length, full-thickness peroneus longus tendon (PLT) proximal to the lateral malleolus for ligament reconstructions or tendon transfer. A total of 21 eligible patients (mean age 34.0 years (standard deviation (SD) 11.2); mean follow-up period 31.8 months (SD 7.7), and 12 healthy controls (mean age, 26.8 years (SD 5.9) were included. For patients, clinical evaluation of the donor ankle was performed preoperatively and postoperatively. Square hop test, ankle strength assessment, and MRI of distal calf were assessed bilaterally in the final follow-up. The morphological symmetry of peroneal tendons bilaterally was evaluated by MRI in healthy controls.Aims
Methods
There is little information about how to manage patients with a recurvatum deformity of the distal tibia and osteoarthritis (OA) of the ankle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional and radiological outcome of addressing this deformity using a flexion osteotomy and to assess the progression of OA after this procedure. A total of 39 patients (12 women, 27 men; mean age 47 years (28 to 72)) with a distal tibial recurvatum deformity were treated with a flexion osteotomy, between 2010 and 2015. Nine patients (23%) subsequently required conversion to either a total ankle arthroplasty (seven) or an arthrodesis (two) after a mean of 21 months (9 to 36). A total of 30 patients (77%), with a mean follow-up of 30 months (24 to 76), remained for further evaluation. Functional outcome, sagittal ankle joint OA using a modified Kellgren and Lawrence Score, tibial lateral surface (TLS) angle, and talar offset ratio (TOR) were evaluated on pre- and postoperative weight-bearing radiographs.Aims
Patients and Methods
We hypothesized that there is no difference in the clinical and radiological outcomes using local bone graft We prospectively studied 28 calcaneal malunion patients (the study group) who were managed by subtalar distraction arthrodesis using local calcaneal bone graft. The study group included 16 male and 12 female patients. The median age was 37.5 years (interquartile range (IQR) 29 to 43). The outcome of the study group was compared with a control group of ten patients previously managed by subtalar distraction arthrodesis using iliac bone graft. The control group included six male and four female patients. The median age was 41.5 years (IQR 36 to 44).Aims
Patients and Methods
We studied prospectively 30 patients who had a Mitchell’s osteotomy secured by either a suture followed by immobilisation in a plaster boot for six weeks, or by a cortical screw with early mobilisation. The mean time for return to social activities after fixation by a screw was 2.9 weeks and to work 4.9 weeks, which was significantly earlier than those who had stabilisation by a suture (5.7 and 8.7 weeks, respectively; p <
0.001). Use of a screw also produced a higher degree of patient satisfaction at six weeks, and an earlier return to wearing normal footwear. The improvement in forefoot scores was significantly greater after fixation by a screw at six weeks (p = 0.036) and three months (p = 0.024). At one year, two screws had been removed because of pain at the site of the screw
The pathogenesis of intraneural ganglion cysts is controversial.
Recent reports in the literature described medial plantar intraneural
ganglion cysts (mIGC) with articular branches to subtalar joints.
The aim of the current study was to provide further support for
the principles underlying the articular theory, and to explain the
successes and failures of treatment of mICGs. Between 2006 and 2017, five patients with five mICGs were retrospectively
reviewed. There were five men with a mean age of 50.2 years (33
to 68) and a mean follow-up of 3.8 years (0.8 to 6). Case history,
physical examination, imaging, and intraoperative findings were
reviewed. The outcomes of interest were ultrasound and/or MRI features
of mICG, as well as the clinical outcomes.Aims
Patients and Methods
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. A total of seven consecutive patients (four women and three men,
mean age 39 years (19 to 61)) underwent attempted surgical treatment
of a closed Hawkins type II talar neck fracture using arthroscopically
assisted reduction and percutaneous screw fixation. Functional and
radiological outcome were assessed using plain radiographs, as well
as weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing CT scans as tolerated.
Patient satisfaction and pain sensation were also recorded.Aims
Patients and Methods
Morton’s neuroma is common condition of the forefoot, but its
aetiology remains unclear. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship
between the width of the forefoot and the development of a Morton’s
neuroma. Between January 2013 and May 2016, a total of 84 consecutive
patients (17 men, 67 women) with a unilateral Morton’s neuroma were
enrolled into the study. The involved and uninvolved feet of each
patient were compared. A control group of patients with symptoms
from the foot, but without a neuroma who were matched for age, gender, affected
side, and web space location, were enrolled. The first to fifth
intermetatarsal distance, intermetatarsal angle and intermetatarsal
distance of involved web space on standing radiographs were assessed.Aims
Patients and Methods
Fractures of the navicular can occur in isolation but, owing
to the intimate anatomical and biomechanical relationships, are
often associated with other injuries to the neighbouring bones and
joints in the foot. As a result, they can lead to long-term morbidity
and poor function. Our aim in this study was to identify patterns
of injury in a new classification system of traumatic fractures
of the navicular, with consideration being given to the commonly associated
injuries to the midfoot. We undertook a retrospective review of 285 consecutive patients
presenting over an eight- year period with a fracture of the navicular.
Five common patterns of injury were identified and classified according
to the radiological features. Type 1 fractures are dorsal avulsion
injuries related to the capsule of the talonavicular joint. Type
2 fractures are isolated avulsion injuries to the tuberosity of
the navicular. Type 3 fractures are a variant of tarsometatarsal
fracture/dislocations creating instability of the medial ray. Type
4 fractures involve the body of the navicular with no associated
injury to the lateral column and type 5 fractures occur in conjunction
with disruption of the midtarsal joint with crushing of the medial
or lateral, or both, columns of the foot.Aims
Patients and Methods
The purposes of this study were to clarify first, the incidence
of peroneal tendon dislocation in patients with a fracture of the
talus and second the factors associated with peroneal tendon dislocation. We retrospectively examined 30 patients (30 ankles) with a mean
age of 37.5 years, who had undergone internal fixation for a fracture
of the talus. Independent examiners assessed for peroneal tendon
dislocation using the pre-operative CT images. The medical records
were also reviewed for the presence of peroneal tendon dislocation.
The associations between the presence of dislocation with the patient
characteristics or radiological findings, including age, mechanism
of injury, severity of fracture, and fleck sign, were assessed using Fisher’s
exact tests.Aims
Patients and Methods
In recent years, the plantaris tendon has been
implicated in the development of chronic painful mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy.
In some cases, a thickened plantaris tendon is closely associated
with the Achilles tendon, and surgical excision of the plantaris
tendon has been reported to be curative in patients who have not
derived benefit following conservative treatment and surgical interventions. The aim of this review is to outline the basic aspects of, and
the recent research findings, related to the plantaris tendon, covering
anatomical and clinical studies including those dealing with histology,
imaging and treatment. Cite this article
The mainstay of surgical correction of hallux valgus is first
metatarsal osteotomy, either proximally or distally. We present
a technique of combining a distal chevron osteotomy with a proximal
opening wedge osteotomy, for the correction of moderate to severe
hallux valgus. We reviewed 45 patients (49 feet) who had undergone double osteotomy.
Outcome was assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle
Society (AOFAS) and the Short Form (SF) -36 Health Survey scores.
Radiological measurements were undertaken to assess the correction. The mean age of the patients was 60.8 years (44.2 to 75.3). The
mean follow-up was 35.4 months (24 to 51).Aims
Patients and Methods
Injuries to the foot in athletes are often subtle
and can lead to a substantial loss of function if not diagnosed
and treated appropriately. For these injuries in general, even after
a diagnosis is made, treatment options are controversial and become
even more so in high level athletes where limiting the time away
from training and competition is a significant consideration. In this review, we cover some of the common and important sporting
injuries affecting the foot including updates on their management
and outcomes. Cite this article:
The aim of this study was to report a single surgeon series of
consecutive patients with moderate hallux valgus managed with a
percutaneous extra-articular reverse-L chevron (PERC) osteotomy. A total of 38 patients underwent 45 procedures. There were 35
women and three men. The mean age of the patients was 48 years (17
to 69). An additional percutaneous Akin osteotomy was performed
in 37 feet and percutaneous lateral capsular release was performed
in 22 feet. Clinical and radiological assessments included the type
of forefoot, range of movement, the American Orthopedic Foot and
Ankle (AOFAS) score, a subjective rating and radiological parameters. The mean follow-up was 59.1 months (45.9 to 75.2). No patients
were lost to follow-up.Aims
Patients and Methods
The purpose of this study was to analyse the biomechanics of
walking, through the ground reaction forces (GRF) measured, after
first metatarsal osteotomy or metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP) arthrodesis. A total of 19 patients underwent a Scarf osteotomy (50.3 years,
standard deviation (Aims
Patients and Methods
Moderate to severe hallux valgus is conventionally
treated by proximal metatarsal osteotomy. Several recent studies
have shown that the indications for distal metatarsal osteotomy
with a distal soft-tissue procedure could be extended to include
moderate to severe hallux valgus. The purpose of this prospective randomised controlled trial was
to compare the outcome of proximal and distal Chevron osteotomy
in patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral correction of moderate
to severe hallux valgus. The original study cohort consisted of 50 female patients (100
feet). Of these, four (8 feet) were excluded for lack of adequate
follow-up, leaving 46 female patients (92 feet) in the study. The
mean age of the patients was 53.8 years (30.1 to 62.1) and the mean
duration of follow-up 40.2 months (24.1 to 80.5). After randomisation,
patients underwent a proximal Chevron osteotomy on one foot and
a distal Chevron osteotomy on the other. At follow-up, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society
(AOFAS) hallux metatarsophalangeal interphalangeal (MTP-IP) score,
patient satisfaction, post-operative complications, hallux valgus
angle, first-second intermetatarsal angle, and tibial sesamoid position
were similar in each group. Both procedures gave similar good clinical
and radiological outcomes. This study suggests that distal Chevron osteotomy with a distal
soft-tissue procedure is as effective and reliable a means of correcting
moderate to severe hallux valgus as proximal Chevron osteotomy with
a distal soft-tissue procedure. Cite this article: