Aims . This is the first prospective study to report the pre- and post-operative
patient reported outcomes and satisfaction scores following excision
of interdigital Morton’s neuroma. Patients and Methods. Between May 2006 and April 2013, we prospectively studied 99
consecutive patients (111 feet) who were to undergo
We describe five adolescent patients aged between 13 and 16 years with bipartite ossification of the posteromedial aspect of the talus. All presented without a history of trauma. All the ankles had a similar radiological appearance. Clinically, some restriction of movement was noted in three ankles and two subtalar joints, In addition, pain was noted over the posteromedial aspect of the ankle in three patients. In each patient the bipartite fragment was excised through a posteromedial approach to the ankle. Complete resolution was achieved at six months in three patients, with the remaining two describing exercise-induced symptoms. In one of these this precluded participation in sport. Despite numerous anatomical variations within the tarsus, a case series of a bipartite talus has not previously been reported. This anatomical variation should be recognised to avoid misinterpretation as post-traumatic or other pathological processes. In the presence of recalcitrant symptoms
In distal fibular resection without reconstruction,
the stabilising effect of the lateral malleolus is lost. Thus, the ankle
may collapse into valgus and may be unstable in varus. Here, we
describe a child who underwent successful staged surgical correction
of a severe neglected valgus deformity after
Chronic infections and ulceration around the tendo Achillis are difficult to manage. Split-skin grafts do not survive even on healthy exposed tendon. Refractory cases may require plastic surgical intervention with the use of free flaps. Patients with significant vascular disease are not suitable for such techniques. Flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer is an established treatment for chronic ruptures of the tendo Achillis. We report the successful treatment of an infected tendo Achillis with
Aims. A local injection may be used as an early option in the treatment of Morton’s neuroma, and can be performed using various medications. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of injections of hyaluronic acid compared with corticosteroid in the treatment of this condition. Methods. A total of 91 patients were assessed for this trial, of whom 45 were subsequently included and randomized into two groups. One patient was lost to follow-up, leaving 22 patients (24 feet) in each group. The patients in the hyaluronic acid group were treated with three ultrasound-guided injections (one per week) of hyaluronic acid (Osteonil Plus). Those in the corticosteroid group were treated with three ultrasound-guided injections (also one per week) of triamcinolone (Triancil). The patients were evaluated before treatment and at one, three, six, and 12 months after treatment. The primary outcome measure was the visual analogue scale for pain (VAS). Secondary outcome measures included the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and complications. Results. Both groups showed significant improvement in VAS and AOFAS scores (p < 0.05) after 12 months. The corticosteroid group had a significantly greater reduction in VAS and increase in AOFAS scores compared with the hyaluronic acid group, at one, three, and six months, but with no significant difference at 12 months. There were no complications in the hyaluronic acid group. There were minor local complications in six patients (six feet) (25.0%) in the corticosteroid group, all with discolouration of the skin at the site of the injection. These minor complications might have been due to the three weekly injections of a relatively high dose of corticosteroid. No patient subsequently underwent
When a total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) fails, it can be converted to a fusion or a revision arthroplasty. Despite the increasing numbers of TAAs being undertaken, there is little information in the literature about the management of patients undergoing fusion following a failed TAA. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the survival of fusions following a failed TAA using a large dataset from the National Joint Registry (NJR). A data linkage study combined NJR and NHS Digital data. Failure of a TAA was defined as a fusion, revision to a further TAA, or amputation. Life tables and Kaplan-Meier graphs were used to record survival. Cox proportional hazards regression models were fitted to compare the rates of failure.Aims
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
Aims. 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. Patients and Methods. 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. Results. The five intraneural cysts followed the principles of the unifying
articular theory. Connection to the posterior subtalar joint (pSTJ)
was identified or suspected in four patients. Re-evaluation of preoperative
MRI demonstrated a degenerative pSTJ and denervation changes in
the abductor hallucis in all patients. Cyst
Preoperative talar valgus deformity ≥ 15° is considered a contraindication for total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). We compared operative procedures and clinical outcomes of TAA in patients with talar valgus deformity ≥ 15° and < 15°. A matched cohort of patients similar for demographics and components used but differing in preoperative coronal-plane tibiotalar valgus deformity ≥ 15° (valgus, n = 50; 52% male, mean age 65.8 years (SD 10.3), mean body mass index (BMI) 29.4 (SD 5.2)) or < 15° (control, n = 50; 58% male, mean age 65.6 years (SD 9.8), mean BMI 28.7 (SD 4.2)), underwent TAA by one surgeon. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs, Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) pain and disability and 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) version 2 scores were collected prospectively. Ancillary procedures, secondary procedures, and complications were recorded.Aims
Methods
The hypothesis of this study was that bone peg fixation in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus would show satisfactory clinical and radiological results, without complications. Between September 2014 and July 2017, 25 patients with symptomatic osteochondritis of the talus and an osteochondral fragment, who were treated using bone peg fixation, were analyzed retrospectively. All were available for complete follow-up at a mean 22 of months (12 to 35). There were 15 males and ten females with a mean age of 19.6 years (11 to 34). The clinical results were evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score preoperatively and at the final follow-up. The radiological results were evaluated using classification described by Hepple et al based on the MRI findings, the location of the lesion, the size of the osteochondral fragment, and the postoperative healing of the lesion.Aims
Methods
Charcot osteoarthropathy of the foot is a chronic and progressive disease of bone and joint associated with a risk of amputation. The main problems encountered in this process are osteopenia, fragmentation of the bones of the foot and ankle, joint subluxation or even dislocation, ulceration of the skin and the development of deep sepsis. We report our experience of a series of 20 patients with Charcot osteoarthropathy of the foot and ankle treated with an Ilizarov external fixator. The mean age of the group was 30 years (21 to 50). Diabetes mellitus was the underlying cause in 18 patients. Five had chronic ulcers involving the foot and ankle. Each patient had an open lengthening of the tendo Achillis with
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
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
The purpose of this study was to determine the functional outcome and implant survivorship of mobile-bearing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) performed by a single surgeon. We reviewed 205 consecutive patients (210 ankles) who had undergone mobile-bearing TAA (205 patients) for osteoarthritis of the ankle between January 2005 and December 2015. Their mean follow-up was 6.4 years (2.0 to 13.4). Functional outcome was assessed using the Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) score, visual analogue scale, and range of movement. Implant survivorship and complications were also evaluated.Aims
Patients and Methods
To examine the mid-term outcome and cost utility of the BioPro
metallic hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of hallux rigidius. We reviewed 97 consecutive BioPro metallic hemiarthroplasties
performed in 80 patients for end-stage hallux rigidus, with a minimum
follow-up of five years. There were 19 men and 61 women; their mean
age was 55 years (22 to 74). No patient was lost to follow-up.Aims
Patients and Methods
The objective of this double-blind randomised controlled trial
was to assess whether ultrasound guidance improved the efficacy
of corticosteroid injections for Morton’s neuroma (MN). In all, 50 feet (40 patients) were recruited for this study but
five feet were excluded due to the patients declining further participation.
The mean age of the remaining 36 patients (45 feet) was 57.8 years
(standard deviation (Aims
Patients and Methods
While many forefoot procedures may be performed
as a day case, there are no specific guidelines as to which procedures
are suitable. This study assessed the early post-operative pain
after forefoot surgery performed a day case, compared with conventional
inpatient management. A total of 317 consecutive operations performed by a single surgeon
were included in the study. Those eligible according to the criteria
of the French Society of Anaesthesia (SFAR) were managed as day
cases (127; 40%), while the remainder were managed as inpatients. The groups were comparable in terms of gender, body mass index
and smoking status, although the mean age of the inpatients was
higher (p <
0.001) and they had higher mean American Society
of Anaesthesiologists scores (p = 0.002). The most severe daily
pain was on the first post-operative day, but the levels of pain
were similar in the two groups; (4.2/10, Apart from the most complicated cases, forefoot surgery can safely
be performed as a day case without an increased risk of pain, or
complications compared with management as an inpatient. Cite this article:
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:
Achieving arthrodesis of the ankle can be difficult
in the presence of infection, deformity, poor soft tissues and bone loss.
We present a series of 48 patients with complex ankle pathology,
treated with the Ilizarov technique. Infection was present in 30
patients and 30 had significant deformity before surgery. Outcome
was assessed clinically and with patient-reported outcome measures
(Modified American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (MAOFAS) scale and
the Short-Form (SF-36)). Arthrodesis was achieved in 40 patients with the Ilizarov technique
alone and in six further patients with additional surgery. Infection
was eradicated in all patients at a mean follow-up of 46.6 months
(13 to 162). Successful arthrodesis was less likely in those with
comorbidities and in tibiocalcaneal fusion compared with tibiotalar
fusion. These patients had poor general health scores compared with the
normal population before surgery. The mean MAOFAS score improved
significantly from 24.3 (0 to 90) pre-operatively to 56.2 (30 to
90) post-operatively, but there was only a modest improvement in
general health; the mean SF-36 improved from 44.8 (19 to 66) to
50.1 (21 to 76). There was a major benefit in terms of pain relief. Arthrodesis using the Ilizarov technique is an effective treatment
for complex ankle pathology, with good clinical outcomes and eradication
of infection. However, even after successful arthrodesis general
health scores remain limited. Cite this article:
Limited forefoot amputation in diabetic patients
with osteomyelitis is frequently required. We retrospectively reviewed
diabetic patients with osteomyelitis, an unhealed ulcer and blood
pressure in the toe of >
45 mmHg who underwent limited amputation
of the foot with primary wound closure. Between 2006 and 2012, 74
consecutive patients with a mean age of 67 years (29 to 93), and
a median follow-up of 31 months, were included. All the wounds healed
primarily at a median of 37 days (13 to 210; mean 48). At a median
of 6 months (1.5 to 18; mean 353 days), 23 patients (31%) suffered
a further ulceration. Of these, 12 patients (16% of the total) required
a further amputation. We conclude that primary wound closure following limited amputation
of the foot in patients with diabetes is a safe and effective technique
when associated with appropriate antibiotic treatment. Cite this article:
