Diabetes mellitus is considered an indicator of poor prognosis for acute ankle fractures, but this risk may be specific to an identifiable subpopulation. We retrospectively reviewed 42 patients with both diabetes mellitus and an acute, closed, rotational ankle fracture. Patients were individually matched to controls by age, gender, fracture type, and surgical vs non-surgical treatment. Outcomes were major complications during the first six months of treatment. We contrasted secondarily 21 diabetic patients with and 21 without diabetic comorbidities. Diabetic patients and controls did not differ significantly in total complication rates. More diabetic patients required long-term bracing. Diabetic patients without comorbidities had complication rates equal to their controls. Diabetic patients with comorbidities had complications at a higher rate (ten patients; 47%) than matched controls (three patients; 14%, p = 0.034). A history of Charcot neuroarthropathy led to the highest rates of complication. An increased risk of complications in diabetic patients with closed rotational fractures of the ankle are specific to a subpopulation with identifiable related comorbidities.

We reviewed 116 patients who underwent 118 arthroscopic ankle arthrodeses. The mean age at operation was 57 years, 2 months (20 to 86 years). The indication for operation was post-traumatic osteoarthritis in 67, primary osteoarthritis in 36, inflammatory arthropathy in 13 and avascular necrosis in two. The mean follow-up was 65 months (18 to 144). Nine patients (10 ankles) died before final review and three were lost to follow-up, leaving 104 patients (105 ankles) who were assessed by a standard telephone interview. The pre-operative talocrural deformity was between 22° valgus and 28° varus, 94 cases were within 10° varus/valgus. The mean time to union was 12 weeks (6 to 20). Nonunion occurred in nine cases (7.6%). Other complications included 22 cases requiring removal of a screw for prominence, three superficial infections, two deep vein thromboses/pulmonary emboli, one revision of fixation, one stress fracture and one deep infection. Six patients had a subtalar fusion at a mean of 48 months after ankle fusion. There were 48 patients with excellent, 35 with good, 10 with fair and 11 with poor clinical results.

Our aim was to evaluate the results of triple arthrodesis, performed without the use of supplementary bone graft. We carried out a retrospective review of 100 consecutive triple arthrodeses. All the operations had been performed by the senior author (TSS) using a standard technique. Only local bone graft from the excised joint surfaces had been used, thereby avoiding complications at the donor site.

The mean age of the patients at surgery was 58 years (18 to 84). The mean time to union was 5.1 months (3 to 17). There were 75 good, 20 fair and five poor results. There were four cases of nonunion.

Our study has shown that comparable rates of union are achieved without the need for supplementary bone graft from the iliac crest or other donor site.

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has been used most commonly as a treatment for cartilage defects in the knee and there are few studies of its use in other joints. We describe ten patients with an osteochondral lesion of the talus who underwent ACI using cartilage taken from the knee and were prospectively reviewed with a mean follow-up of 23 months. In nine patients the satisfaction score was ‘pleased’ or ‘extremely pleased’, which was sustained at four years. The mean Mazur ankle score increased by 23 points at a mean follow-up of 23 months. The Lysholm knee score returned to the pre-operative level at one year in three patients, with the remaining seven showing a reduction of 15% at 12 months, suggesting donor-site morbidity. Nine patients underwent arthroscopic examination at one year and all were shown to have filled defects and stable cartilage. Biopsies taken from graft sites showed mostly fibrocartilage with some hyaline cartilage. The short-term results of ACI for osteochondral lesions of the talus are good despite some morbidity at the donor site.

Our aim in this prospective study was to determine the best diagnostic method for discriminating between patients with and without osteochondral lesions of the talus, with special relevance to the value of MRI compared with the new technique of multidetector helical CT. We compared the diagnostic value of history, physical examination and standard radiography, a 4 cm heel-rise view, helical CT, MRI, and diagnostic arthroscopy for simultaneous detection or exclusion of osteochondral lesions of the talus. A consecutive series of 103 patients (104 ankles) with chronic ankle pain was included in this study. Of these, 29 with 35 osteochondral lesions were identified. Twenty-seven lesions were located in the talus.

Our findings showed that helical CT, MRI and diagnostic arthroscopy were significantly better than history, physical examination and standard radiography for detecting or excluding an osteochondral lesion. Also, MRI and diagnostic arthroscopy performed better than a mortise view with a 4 cm heel-rise. We did not find a statistically significant difference between helical CT and MRI. Diagnostic arthroscopy did not perform better than helical CT and MRI for detecting or excluding an osteochondral lesion.

We have assessed the long-term results after operative and non-operative treatment of undisplaced and displaced calcaneal fractures.

At a mean of 6.5 years, we reviewed 70 patients with a calcaneal fracture who were divided into four groups: group 1, 18 patients with undisplaced fractures and a normal Böhler’s angle (BA) who had been treated non-operatively; group 2, 23 with intra-articular fractures and a BA < 10° who had been treated non-operatively; group 3, 13 with intra-articular fractures and a BA > 10° who had been treated surgically; and group 4, 16 with intra-articular fractures and a BA < 10° who had been treated surgically.

The results were assessed by a clinical score considering pain, return to work, return to physical activity, change in shoe-wear and the requirement for subtalar arthrodesis.

Patients with undisplaced calcaneal fractures had a good outcome. Those with displaced fractures treated surgically who presented at follow-up with a BA > 10° had a satisfactory functional outcome and those with displaced fractures who had non-operative treatment had a poor outcome. The poorest outcome was consistently seen in patients who were treated operatively without restoration of BA. Open reduction and internal fixation of intra-articular calcaneal fractures can only be expected to benefit those patients in whom nearly anatomical reconstruction is obtained.

We performed nine metatarsal and three proximal phalangeal lengthenings in five patients with congenital brachymetatarsia of the first and one or two other metatarsal bones, by a one-stage combined shortening and lengthening procedure using intercalcary autogenous bone grafts from adjacent shortened metatarsal bones. Instead of the isolated lengthening of the first and the other metatarsal bones, we shortened the adjacent normal metatarsal and used the excised bone to lengthen the short toes, except for the great toe, to restore the normal parabola. One skin incision was used. All the operations were performed bilaterally and the patients were followed up for a mean period of 69.5 months (29 to 107). They all regained a nearly normal parabola and were satisfied with the cosmetic results.

Our technique is straightforward and produces good cosmetic results. Satisfactory, bony union is achieved, morbidity is low, and no additional surgery is required for the removal of metal implants.

The Chevron osteotomy was described in 1976. There have, however, been only short- to mid-term follow-up reviews, often with small numbers of patients.

We looked at 112 feet (73 patients) with a minimum follow-up of ten years following Chevron osteotomy with a distal soft-tissue procedure. Clinical evaluation was calculated using the hallux score of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). For 47 feet (30 patients), the results were compared with those from an interim follow-up of 5.6 years.

The AOFAS-score improved from a pre-operative mean of 46.5 points to a mean of 88.8 points after a mean of 12.7 years. The first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) angle showed a mean pre-operative value of 27.6° and was improved to 14.0°. The first intermetatarsal (IM) angle improved from a pre-operative mean value of 13.8° to 8.7°. The mean pre-operative grade of sesamoid subluxation was 1.7 on a scale from 0 to 3 and improved to 1.2. Measured on a scale from 0 to 3, arthritis of the first MTP joint progressed from a mean of 0.8 to 1.7. Comparing the results in patients younger and older than 50 years, the Chevron osteotomy performed equally in both age groups. Analysing the subgroup of 47 feet with a post-operative follow-up of both 5.6 and 12.7 years, the AOFAS pain and the overall score showed a further improvement between both follow-up evaluations. The MTP angle, first IM angle and sesamoid position remained unchanged. The progression of arthritis of the first MTP joint between 5.6 and 12.7 years post-operatively was statistically significant. Only one patient required a revision procedure due to painful recurrence of the deformity.

Excellent clinical results following Chevron osteotomy not only proved to be consistent, but showed further improvement over a longer follow-up period. The mean radiographic angles were constant without recurrence of the deformity. So far, the statistically significant progression of first MTP joint arthritis has not affected the clinical result, but this needs further observation.

We prospectively reviewed 24 patients (35 feet) who had been treated by a Scarf osteotomy and Akin closing-wedge osteotomy for hallux valgus between June 2000 and June 2002. There were three men and 21 women with a mean age of 46 years at the time of surgery. The mean follow-up time was 20 months.

Our results showed that 50% of the patients were very satisfied, 42% were satisfied, and 8% were not satisfied. The mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score improved significantly from 52 points pre-operatively to 89 at follow-up (p < 0.001).

The intermetatarsal and hallux valgus angles improved from the mean pre-operative values of 15° and 33° to 9° and 14°, respectively. These improvements were significant (p < 0.0001). The change in the distal metatarsal articular angle was not significant (p = 0.18).

There was no significant change in the mean pedobarographic measurements of the first and second metatarsals after surgery (p = 0.2). The mean pedobarographic measurements of the first and second metatarsals at more than one year after surgery were within the normal range.

Two patients had wound infections which settled after the administration of antibiotics. One patient had an intra-operative fracture of the first metatarsal and one required further surgery to remove a long distal screw which was irritating the medial sesamoids.

We conclude that the Scarf osteotomy combined with the Akin closing-wedge osteotomy is safe and effective for the treatment of hallux valgus.

This study relates the extent of cartilage lesions within the first metatarsophalangeal joint to hallux valgus.

We prospectively examined 265 first metatarsophalangeal joints of 196 patients with a mean age of 54.2 years at operation for the existence of cartilage lesions.

Grade I lesions were found in 41 feet (15.5%), grade II in 82 (30.9%), grade III in 51 (19.3%), grade IV in 20 (7.5%). Only 71 (26.8%) showed no cartilage lesion. Cartilage lesions were found within the metatarsosesamoid and metatarsophalangeal compartments in 66 feet (34.0%), within the metatarsophalangeal compartment in 26 (13.4%) and within the metatarsosesamoid compartment in 102 (52.6%). A statistically significant correlation was found between the grade of cartilage lesion and the hallux valgus angle, both for the changes within the metatarsophalangeal and the metatarsosesamoid joints.

Subtalar distraction bone-block arthrodesis for malunited calcaneal fractures was performed in 31 patients (26 men, five women), with a mean age of 38.5 years. The mean time from injury to arthrodesis was 36 months. There were no cases of nonunion.

One patient had an early dislocation of the bone block requiring a repeat arthrodesis, and one had a soft-tissue infection. The mean AOFAS hindfoot score improved significantly from 23.5 before operation to 73.2 at a mean follow-up of 33 months (p > 0.001). Compared with the unaffected side, the talocalcaneal height was corrected by 61.8%, the talus-first metatarsal axis by 46.5%, the talar declination angle by 38.5% and the talocalcaneal angle by 35.4%. Dynamic pedobarography revealed a return to normal of the pressure distribution during roll-over and a more energetic gait. The distribution of local transfer of load correlated well with the AOFAS score. The amount of correction of the heel height correlated with a normal pattern of pressure transfer on the heel (p < 0.05).

We reviewed, retrospectively, 13 patients who had undergone open anterograde autologous bone grafting of the talus for symptomatic osteochondral defects of the dome of the talus. The mean age of the seven men and six women was 38.4 years. The defects included the full thickness of articular cartilage, extended through the subchondral plate and were associated with subchondral cysts. Six patients (46%) were clinical failures requiring further surgery. Of the remaining seven, functional outcome results were obtained at a mean of 51.9 months after surgery. The mean outcome scores for the Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System foot and ankle questionnaire and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scale were 87.0 and 84.3, respectively. There was an overall 46.2% patient satisfaction rate.

We believe that the technique of autologous bone grafting presented should be used with extreme caution, when considered as the primary treatment for the adult patient with a symptomatic advanced osteochondral defect of the talus.

The results of treatment of Lisfranc injuries are often unsatisfactory. This retrospective study investigated 46 patients with isolated Lisfranc injuries at a minimum of two years after surgery. Thirteen patients had a poor outcome and had to change employment, or were unable to find work as a result of this injury. The presence of a compensation claim (p = 0.02) and a delay in diagnosis of more than six months were associated with a poor outcome (p = 0.01). There was no association between poor functional outcome and age, gender, mechanism of injury or previous occupation. This study may have medico-legal implications on reporting the prognosis for such injuries, and highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment.

The upper three-quarters of the fibula is commonly used as a non-vascularised autograft. Subsequent to this isolated weakness of extensor hallucis longus may occur. We have studied 26 patients in whom the upper and middle thirds of the fibula had been harvested as a graft through Henry’s posterolateral approach.

Isolated weakness of extensor hallucis longus was found after operation in ten patients but not in the remainder. EMG and nerve-conduction studies confirmed injury of the nerve to extensor hallucis longus in those with weakness. We dissected 40 cadaver limbs and found that those in which the nerve to extensor hallucis longus ran close to the fibular periosteum were at risk. The injury is mostly incomplete and recovery occurs within four to six months.

The relationship between the bone mineral density (BMD) and Charcot arthropathy is unclear. Prospectively, 55 consecutive diabetic patients presenting with a Charcot arthropathy of the foot or ankle were classified as having a fracture, dislocation, or a combination fracture-dislocation pattern of initial destruction. In these groups we used dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to compare the peripheral bone of the affected and unaffected limbs. The clinical data relating to diabetes and related major comorbidities and the site of the arthropathy (ankle, hindfoot, midfoot, forefoot) were also compared. There were 23 patients with a fracture pattern, 23 with a dislocation pattern, and nine with a combination.

The age-adjusted odds ratio for developing a Charcot joint with a fracture pattern as opposed to a dislocation pattern in patients with osteopenia was 9.5 (95% confidence interval 2.4 to 37.4; p = 0.0014). Groups also differed as to the site of the arthropathy. Fracture patterns predominated at the ankle and forefoot whereas dislocations did so in the midfoot. Diabetic Charcot arthropathy of the foot and ankle differs according to the pattern of the initial destruction. The fracture pattern is associated with peripheral deficiency of BMD. The dislocation pattern is associated with a normal BMD.

Injury to the dorsomedial cutaneous nerve in the foot may occur after operations for hallux valgus. Pressure neuropathy before operation is also described but remains largely unexplored. We have investigated the incidence of sensory deficit in the great toe before operating for hallux valgus and examined to what extent any deficit was related to the degree of angulation of the joint.

Forty-three patients with a total of 61 great toes with hallux valgus presenting for consideration of surgical correction had their sensation tested in pre-designated zones using a five-filament set of Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. These allowed good inter-observer reliability with an intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.84.

Sensory symptoms were noted by only 21% of the patients, a measurable reduction in sensation by one monofilament grade or more was found in an additional 44%. No relationship was found between the degree of sensory loss and the degree of angulation.

Patients with symptomatic hallux valgus may have sensory loss in the toe without being aware of it. Normal subjective sensation does not reliably predict normal sensory function. Given the potentially high rates of nerve damage following operations for hallux valgus, we recommend objective sensory testing as part of routine assessment before surgery.

During a six-year period (January 1996 to January 2002 ), we re-explored 60 interspaces (49 patients, 49 feet) for recurrence or persistent symptoms after one or more previous procedures for excision of an interdigital neuroma. Ten patients underwent concomitant excision of a primary neuroma from an adjacent interspace, and 19 underwent concomitant forefoot surgery. The mean follow-up was 39.7 months (6 to 79). Evaluation included review of records and radiographs, clinical assessment, and a questionnaire regarding satisfaction, pain, restriction of footwear and activity. In total, 15 patients (30.7%) were completely satisfied, 13 (26.5%) were satisfied with minor reservations, ten (20.4%) were satisfied with major reservations and 11 (22.4%) were dissatisfied with the outcome. Of the 49 patients, 28 (57.2%) had no or mild pain, 29 (59.2%) had moderate or severe restriction of footwear and eight (16.3%) had moderate restriction of activity.

Intra-operative findings, simultaneous surgery to adjacent interspaces, concomitant forefoot surgery and previous re-explorations did not significantly influence the outcome. Persistent or recurrent symptoms after transection of a nerve present a challenging problem for both the surgeon and patient. It is essential that there is a thorough pre-operative discussion with the patient, providing the rates of failure and the increased likelihood of restriction of footwear and activity after revision surgery.

We have studied 105 patients with 107 acute, primary, dislocations of the glenohumeral joint seen between January 1, 1991 and July 1, 1994. The mean time of follow-up was 71 months (46 to 91). In 34% the injury occurred during a sports activity and in 28% at home. The bias toward sport was even greater in patients less than 40 years of age, and in men. In patients older than 40 years of age, and in women, the dislocation occurred more often at home.

The overall probability of recurrence within four years was 26%. Age was the most significant prognostic factor in recurrence which took place in 64% of patients less than 20 years of age and in 6% of those older than 40 years. Statistically, there was no difference between the rates of recurrence in patients who were active in sport and those who were not. The mean Rowe score for the whole group was 87 (15 to 100). Associated fractures were found in 20 patients (19%) and nerve injuries in 22 (21%). None of those in whom a fracture of the greater tuberosity was seen subsequently suffered a recurrent dislocation.

At follow-up we found that 36 patients (34%) had not returned to their former employment but in only 2% was this owing to the injured shoulder.

Whilst a few studies have associated various symptoms with the presence of a peroneus quartus muscle in the peroneal compartment of the leg, little is known of the clinical relevance of this muscle.

We dissected 102 cadaver legs and reviewed the magnetic resonance images of 80 patients with symptoms from the ankle. The peroneus quartus, with a number of different attachments, was present in 6.6% of the legs. It most commonly arose from the peroneus brevis muscle and inserted into the retrotrochlear eminence of the calcaneum. Associated pathology included a longitudinal tear in the tendon of peroneus brevis, possible peroneal tendon subluxation or dislocation, and a prominent retrotrochlear eminence. On the MR scans its presence was associated with pain and weakness of the ankle.

Orthopaedic surgeons and radiologists should be aware of the possible presence of the peroneus quartus muscle, not only because of possible associated pathology, but also for its potential use for surgical reconstruction.

We treated 35 brachymetatarsal rays of 18 feet in 12 patients by one-stage lengthening with interpositional bone grafts or by gradual lengthening with callotasis combined with shortening of the adjacent metatarsals and phalanges. Definition of the two parabolas which connect the metatarsal heads and the tips of the toes, and recognition of three patterns of metatarsal length, were helpful guides in treatment. In total, 36 excisions of the phalanges and/or the metatarsals were undertaken. The mean shortening was 8 mm.

The radiological results were satisfactory. The mean values were as follows: one-stage lengthening, length gain, 1.3 cm; healing index, 1.3 months/cm; percentage increase, 30%; gradual lengthening, length gain, 2.0 cm; healing index, 2.0 months/cm; percentage increase, 50%.

Associated shortening of an adjacent bone can avoid the disadvantages of one-stage lengthening which may not achieve target length and can result in neurovascular complications. Reduction of the target length enables the surgeon to carry out one-stage instead of gradual lengthening. It also shortens the length of treatment in the group undergoing callotasis and improves cosmesis.