The incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and
pulmonary embolism (PE) is thought to be low following foot and ankle
surgery, but the routine use of chemoprophylaxis remains controversial.
This retrospective study assessed the incidence of symptomatic venous
thromboembolic (VTE) complications following a consecutive series
of 2654 patients undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery. A total
of 1078 patients received 75 mg aspirin as routine thromboprophylaxis
between 2003 and 2006 and 1576 patients received no form of chemical
thromboprophylaxis between 2007 and 2010. The overall incidence
of VTE was 0.42% (DVT, 0.27%; PE, 0.15%) with 27 patients lost to follow-up.
If these were included to create a worst case scenario, the overall
VTE rate was 1.43%. There was no apparent protective effect against
VTE by using aspirin. We conclude that the incidence of VTE following foot and ankle
surgery is very low and routine use of chemoprophylaxis does not
appear necessary for patients who are not in the high risk group
for VTE.
Aims. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potential complication of foot and ankle surgery. There is a lack of agreement on contributing risk factors and chemical
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
Diagnostic and operative codes are routinely collected for every patient admitted to hospital in the English NHS. Data on post-operative complications following foot and ankle surgery have not previously been available in large numbers. Data on symptomatic venous thromboembolism events and mortality within 90 days were extracted for patients undergoing fixation of an ankle fracture, first metatarsal osteotomy, hindfoot fusions and total ankle replacement over a period of 42 months. For ankle fracture surgery (45 949 patients), the rates of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism and mortality were 0.12%, 0.17% and 0.37%, respectively. For first metatarsal osteotomy (33 626 patients), DVT, pulmonary embolism and mortality rates were 0.01%, 0.02% and 0.04%, and for hindfoot fusions (7033 patients) the rates were 0.03%, 0.11% and 0.11%, respectively. The rate of pulmonary embolism in 1633 total ankle replacement patients was 0.06%, and there were no recorded DVTs and no deaths. Statistical analysis could only identify risk factors for venous thromboembolic events of increasing age and multiple comorbidities following fracture surgery. Venous thromboembolism following foot and ankle surgery is extremely rare, but this subset of fracture patients is at a higher risk. However, there is no evidence that thromboprophylaxis reduces this risk, and these national data suggest that
The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of post-operative symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), as well as the risk factors for and location of DVT, in 665 patients (701 ankles) who underwent primary total ankle replacement. All patients received low-molecular-weight heparin
We report the medium-term outcomes of a consecutive series of 118 Zenith total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs) from a single, non-designer centre. Between December 2010 and May 2016, 118 consecutive Zenith prostheses were implanted in 114 patients. Demographic, clinical, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) data were collected. The endpoint of the study was failure of the implant requiring revision of one or all of the components. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the rate of failure calculated for each year.Aims
Methods
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. Patients treated with a lower limb cast between 2006 and 2018 were identified using plaster room records. Their electronic records and radiological reports were reviewed for details about their cast, past medical history, and any VTE recorded in our hospital within a year of casting.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome in patients undergoing implant removal (IR) after fracture fixation below the level of the knee. All adult patients (18 to 75 years) undergoing IR after fracture fixation below the level of the knee between November 2014 and September 2016 were included as part of the WIFI (Wound Infections Following Implant Removal Below the Knee) trial, performed in 17 teaching hospitals and two university hospitals in The Netherlands. In this multicentre prospective cohort, the primary outcome was the difference in functional status before and after IR, measured by the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), with a minimal clinically important difference of nine points.Aims
Patients and Methods
Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) surgery is complex and attracts a wide variety of complications. The literature lacks consistency in reporting adverse events and complications. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of each of these complications from a literature review, and to compare them with rates from our Unit, to aid clinicians with the process of informed consent. A total of 278 consecutive total ankle arthroplasties (251 patients), performed by four surgeons over a six-year period in Wrightington Hospital (Wigan, United Kingdom) were prospectively reviewed. There were 143 men and 108 women with a mean age of 64 years (41 to 86). The data were recorded on each follow-up visit. Any complications either during initial hospital stay or subsequently reported on follow-ups were recorded, investigated, monitored, and treated as warranted. Literature search included the studies reporting the outcomes and complications of TAA implants.Aims
Patients and Methods
We report the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of a consecutive series of 200 total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs, 184 patients) at a single centre using the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR) implants. Between November 1993 and February 2000, 200 consecutive STAR prostheses were implanted in 184 patients by a single surgeon. Demographic and clinical data were collected prospectively and the last available status was recorded for further survival analysis. All surviving patients underwent regular clinical and radiological review. Pain and function were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot scoring system. The principal endpoint of the study was failure of the implant requiring revision of one or all of the components. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were generated with 95% confidence intervals and the rate of failure calculated for each year.Aims
Patients and Methods
Patients with an acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) take a long
time to heal, have a high incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
and widely variable functional outcomes. This variation in outcome
may be explained by a lack of knowledge of adverse factors, and
a subsequent shortage of appropriate interventions. A total of 111 patients (95 men, 16 women; mean age 40.3, standard
deviation 8.4) with an acute total ATR were prospectively assessed.
At one year post-operatively a uniform outcome score, Achilles Combined
Outcome Score (ACOS), was obtained by combining three validated,
independent, outcome measures: Achilles tendon Total Rupture Score,
heel-rise height test, and limb symmetry heel-rise height. Predictors
of ACOS included treatment; gender; age; smoking; body mass index;
time to surgery; physical activity level pre- and post-injury; symptoms; quality
of life and incidence of DVT. Aims
Patients and Methods
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. 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.Aims
Patients and Methods
The rate of surgical site infection after elective
foot and ankle surgery is higher than that after other elective orthopaedic
procedures. Since December 2005, we have prospectively collected data on
the rate of post-operative infection for 1737 patients who have
undergone elective foot and ankle surgery. In March 2008, additional
infection control policies, focused on surgical and environmental
risk factors, were introduced in our department. We saw a 50% reduction in the rate of surgical site infection
after the introduction of these measures. We are, however, aware
that the observed decrease may not be entirely attributable to these
measures alone given the number of factors that predispose to post-operative
wound infection. Cite this article:
The Swansea Morriston Achilles Rupture Treatment
(SMART) programme was introduced in 2008. This paper summarises
the outcome of this programme. Patients with a rupture of the Achilles
tendon treated in our unit follow a comprehensive management protocol
that includes a dedicated Achilles clinic, ultrasound examination,
the use of functional orthoses, early weight-bearing, an accelerated
exercise regime and guidelines for return to work and sport. The
choice of conservative or surgical treatment was based on ultrasound
findings. The rate of re-rupture, the outcome using the Achilles Tendon
Total Rupture Score (ATRS) and the Achilles Tendon Repair Score,
(AS), and the complications were recorded. An elementary cost analysis
was also performed. Between 2008 and 2014 a total of 273 patients presented with
an acute rupture 211 of whom were managed conservatively and 62
had surgical repair. There were three
re-ruptures (1.1%). There were 215 men and 58 women with a mean
age of 46.5 years (20 to 86). Functional outcome was satisfactory.
Mean ATRS and AS at four months was 53.0
( The SMART programme resulted in a low rate of re-rupture, a satisfactory
outcome, a reduced rate of surgical intervention and a reduction
in healthcare costs. Cite this article:
There are few reports of the surgical treatment for late stage Freiburg’s disease with flattening of the metatarsal head and osteoarthritis. We describe the results of the surgical treatment of ten consecutive patients with advanced stage Freiburg’s disease (Smillie’s stage V), using a technique that has not been published previously.
