Aoife MacMahon

Return to Sports and Physical Activities After Primary Partial Arthrodesis for Lisfranc Injuries in Young Patients

Background: Research regarding outcomes in sports and physical activities after primary partial arthrodesis for Lisfranc injuries has been sparse. The purposes of this study were to assess various sports and physical activities in young patients following primary partial arthrodesis for Lisfranc injuries and to compare these with clinical outcomes. Methods: Patients who underwent primary partial arthrodesis for a Lisfranc injury were identified by a retrospective registry review. Thirty-eight of 46 eligible patients (83%) responded for follow-up at a mean of 5.2 (range, 1.0 to 9.3) years with a mean age at surgery of 31.8 (range, 16.8 to 50.3) years. Physical activity participation was assessed with a new sports-specific, patient-administered questionnaire. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). Results: Patients participated in 29 different and 155 total physical activities preoperatively, and 27 different and 145 total physical activities postoperatively. Preoperatively, 47.1% were high impact, and postoperatively, 44.8% were high impact. The most common activities were walking, bicycling, running, and weightlifting. Compared to preoperatively, difficulty was the same in 66% and increased in 34% of physical activities. Participation levels were improved in 11%, the same in 64%, and impaired in 25% of physical activities. Patients spent on average 4.2 (range, 0.0 to 19.8) hours per week exercising postoperatively. In regard to return to physical activity, 97% of respondents were satisfied with their operative outcome. Mean postoperative FAOS subscores were significantly worse for patients who had increased physical activity difficulty. Conclusion: Most patients were able to return to their previous physical activities following primary partial arthrodesis for a Lisfranc injury, many of which were high-impact. However, the decreased participation or increase in difficulty of some activities suggests that some patients experienced postoperative limitations in exercise. Future studies could compare sports outcomes between primary partial arthrodesis and open reduction internal fixation for Lisfranc injuries. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Effect of Obesity on Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes Following Reconstruction of Stage II Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity

Background: Obesity is a known risk factor for the development of adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD), but obesity’s effects on outcomes following AAFD reconstruction are unknown. We hypothesized that obesity would negatively impact outcomes following joint-preserving stage II AAFD reconstruction. Methods: This retrospective study compared the outcomes of normal-weight (18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2), overweight (25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2), and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) patients after AAFD reconstruction. Clinical outcome measures included the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Short-Form 12 (SF-12), and Numeric Rating Scale of Pain (NRS Pain) administered preoperatively and at least 1 year postoperatively. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs were taken preoperatively and at least 6 months postoperatively. Pre- to postoperative changes in outcome measures were assessed within BMI classes. Preoperative, postoperative, and pre- to postoperative changes in outcomes were compared among BMI classes. There were 41 normal-weight patients, 39 overweight patients, and 44 obese patients with a mean age of 56 years, FAOS follow-up of 2.9 years, and radiographic follow-up of 2.1 years. Demographics and reconstructive procedures were comparable among the 3 BMI classes. Results: All outcomes significantly increased pre- to postoperatively in the 3 groups with the exception of the FAOS Symptoms subscale for normal-weight patients (P = .340) and SF-12 Mental Component score for all 3 BMI classes (P > .999). Preoperatively, obese patients had more symptoms than normal-weight patients, scoring 12 points lower on the FAOS Symptoms subscore (P = .008). Obese patients also scored 11 points lower preoperatively on the SF-12 Overall score (P = .028) and had 31% greater pain than normal-weight patients (P = .003). There were no differences among the 3 BMI classes in any postoperative outcomes assessed. Conclusion: Although obese patients had significantly worse symptoms, overall health, and NRS pain scores preoperatively, the short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of stage II AAFD reconstruction were similar for normal-weight, overweight, and obese patients. We suggest that joint-preserving reconstruction remains a viable alternative to fusion of the triple joint complex for the treatment of overweight and obese stage II AAFD patients. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Effects on the Tarsal Tunnel Following Malerba Z-type Osteotomy Compared to Standard Lateralizing Calcaneal Osteotomy

Background: Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a known complication of lateralizing calcaneal osteotomy. A Malerba Z-type osteotomy may preserve more tarsal tunnel volume (TTV) and decrease risk of neurovascular injury. We investigated 2 effects on the tarsal tunnel of the Malerba osteotomy compared to a standard lateralizing osteotomy using a cadaveric model: (1) the effect on TTV as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and (2) the proximity of the osteotomy saw cuts to the tibial nerve. Methods: Ten above-knee paired cadaveric specimens underwent MRI of the ankle to obtain a baseline measurement of TTV. One foot in each pair received a standard lateralizing calcaneal osteotomy, with the other foot receiving a Malerba osteotomy. MRIs were performed after each of 3 increasing amounts of lateral displacement, which were accompanied by increasing amounts of wedge resection in the Malerba osteotomy group. TTV was measured on MRI using previously described and validated parameters. Differences in TTV with osteotomy type, displacement, and their interaction were assessed with generalized estimating equations. After all MRIs were completed, each specimen was dissected and the nearest distance of tibial nerve branches to the osteotomy site was measured. Results: Baseline TTV averaged 13 229 ± 2354 mm3 and did not differ between groups (P = .386). TTV decreased on average by 7% after the first translation, 14% after the second, and 27% after the third (P < .005 for each). The magnitude of the decrease in TTV did not differ between those specimens with standard osteotomies versus those with Malerba osteotomies (P = .578). At least one of the major branches of the tibial nerve crossed the osteotomy site in 5 of 5 specimens that received the Malerba osteotomy versus 2 of 5 that received a standard osteotomy. Conclusion: Regardless of osteotomy type, lateralizing calcaneal osteotomy decreased TTV. In all specimens, the osteotomy was at the level of branches of the tibial nerve. Clinical Relevance: Our results demonstrate that lateralizing calcaneal osteotomies must be performed with care to avoid excessive lateral translation as well as direct nerve injury on the nonvisualized medial side of the calcaneus.

Patient Factors Associated With Higher Expectations From Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Background: Few authors have investigated patients’ expectations from foot and ankle surgery. In this study, we aimed to examine relationships between patients’ preoperative expectations and their demographic and clinical characteristics. We hypothesized that patients with more disability and those with anxiety or depressive symptoms would have greater expectations. Methods: All adult patients scheduled for elective foot or ankle surgery by 1 of 6 orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons were screened for inclusion over 8 months. Preoperatively, all patients completed the Hospital for Special Surgery Foot & Ankle Surgery Expectations Survey in addition to the Foot & Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Short Form (SF)–12, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)–8, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), and pain visual analog scale (VAS). The expectations survey contained 23 expectations categories, each with 5 answer choices ranging from “I do not have this expectation” to “complete improvement” expected. It was scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more expectations. Differences in expectations relating to numerous patient demographic and clinical variables were assessed. In total, 352 patients with an average age of 55 ± 15 (range, 18-86) years were enrolled. Results: Expectations scores were not related to age (P = .36). On average, women expected to achieve complete improvement more often than men (P = .011). Variables that were significantly associated with higher expectations scores (P < .05) included nonwhite race, use of a cane or other assistive device, and greater medical comorbidity. Worse function and quality of life (as assessed by all FAOS subscales and the SF-12 physical and mental components), more depressive and anxiety symptoms, and higher pain VAS scores were associated with higher expectations scores and more expectations (P < .01 for all). Conclusions: The results of this study may help inform surgeons’ preoperative discussions with their patients regarding realistic expectations from surgery. Generally, patients with worse function and more disability had higher expectations from surgery. Addressing these patients’ expectations preoperatively may help improve their ultimate satisfaction with surgery. Level of Evidence: Level II, cross sectional study.

Development of an Expectations Survey for Patients Undergoing Foot and Ankle Surgery

Background: Many authors have reported on patient satisfaction from foot and ankle surgery, but rarely on expectations, which may vary widely between patients and strongly affect satisfaction. In this study, we aimed to develop a patient-derived survey on expectations from foot and ankle surgery. Methods: We developed and tested our survey using a 3-phase process. Patients with a wide spectrum of foot and ankle diagnoses were enrolled. In phase 1, patients were interviewed preoperatively with open-ended questions about their expectations from surgery. Major concepts were grouped into categories that were used to form a draft survey. In phase 2, the survey was administered to preoperative patients on 2 occasions to establish test-retest reliability. In phase 3, the final survey items were selected based on weighted kappa values for response concordance and clinical relevance. Results: In phase 1, 94 preoperative patients volunteered 655 expectations. Twenty-nine representative categories were discerned by qualitative analysis and became the draft survey. In phase 2, another 60 patients completed the draft survey twice preoperatively. In phase 3, 23 items were retained for the final survey. For retained items, the average weighted kappa value was 0.54. An overall score was calculated based on the amount of improvement expected for each item on the survey and ranged from zero to 100, with higher scores indicating more expectations. For patients in phase 2, mean scores for both administrations were 65 and 66 and approximated normal distributions. The intraclass correlation coefficient between scores was 0.78. Conclusion: We developed a patient-derived survey specific to foot and ankle surgery that is valid, reliable, applicable to diverse diagnoses, and includes physical and psychological expectations. The survey generates an overall score that is easy to calculate and interpret, and thus offers a practical and comprehensive way to record patients’ expectations. We believe this survey may be used preoperatively by surgeons to help guide patients’ expectations and facilitate shared decision making. Level of Evidence: Level II, cross-sectional study.

Return to Sports and Physical Activities After the Modified Lapidus Procedure for Hallux Valgus in Young Patients

Background: The modified Lapidus procedure has successfully relieved pain and corrected deformity in patients with hallux valgus, but its effect on participation in specific sports and physical activities remains unclear. Our goals were to assess sports and physical activities in young patients following the modified Lapidus procedure and to compare these with clinical outcomes. Methods: Fifty-eight eligible patients were identified from a retrospective registry review. Of these, 48 (83%) were reached for follow-up at a mean of 2.8 (range, 1.0 to 6.1) years and had a mean age at surgery of 37.3 (range, 14.1 to 49.3) years. Physical activity participation was evaluated with a new sports-specific, patient-administered questionnaire. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and compared to sports outcomes. Results: Patients participated in 26 different physical activities, consisting of 212 total physical activities preoperatively and 209 total postoperatively. The most common were walking, running, bicycling, and swimming. Compared to preoperatively, patients rated 29% of activities as less difficult, 52% as the same, and 19% as more difficult and rated participation levels as improved in 40%, the same in 41%, and impaired in 19%. Eighty-one percent of patients were satisfied with their operative outcome in regard to return to physical activity. Changes in the FAOS Pain subscore were significantly associated with improvements in physical activity difficulty (P < .05), and changes in the Pain, Sports, and QOL subscores were significantly associated with changes in physical activity participation levels (P < .05). Conclusion: Four in 5 patients were able to participate in previous sports and physical activities, including high-impact activities, at their preoperative participation level or better after the modified Lapidus procedure, and were satisfied with surgery in regard to return to previous activity. However, several patients had increased difficulty and impaired participation in physical activity postoperatively. Altogether, this suggests that the procedure is a viable treatment option for hallux valgus in young, active patients. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.

MRI Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Rotation and Sural Nerve Anatomy Implications for Percutaneous and Limited-Open Achilles Tendon Repair

Background: Limited-open and percutaneous Achilles tendon (AT) repair techniques have limited visibility, which may result in sural nerve violation and poor tendon targeting. The goal of this study was to assess the in vivo rotation of the AT and its distance to the sural nerve in ruptured and nonruptured ATs to develop guidelines to aid in limited-open and percutaneous repair techniques. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted to identify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of patients with ruptured and healthy (nonruptured) ATs. AT rotation and distance to the sural nerve in the anterior-posterior (A-P) and medial-lateral (M-L) planes were measured at the level of and proximal to the ankle. Results: The AT was externally rotated in both ruptured and nonruptured cohorts. Ruptured ATs showed greater external rotation than nonruptured ATs at the ankle (15.8 ± 16.2 degrees vs 5.9 ± 9.0 degrees, P = .008) but not at 10 cm proximal to the tendon’s insertion (10.9 ± 10.9 degrees vs 6.1 ± 8.4 degrees, P = .139). Proximal AT rotation was negatively correlated with rupture height (r = −0.477, P = .029). At 4 cm proximal to the AT insertion, the sural nerve was closer anteriorly to and farther laterally from the AT in ruptures than in nonruptures (P < .001). At 10 cm proximal to the AT insertion, the sural nerve was farther posteriorly and laterally from the AT in ruptures than in nonruptures (P = .027 and P < .001, respectively). Conclusion: We found that the AT was more externally rotated in ruptured than in nonruptured tendons at the ankle and that its distance to the sural nerve differed between the 2 cohorts in the A-P and M-L planes, likely due to increased AT rotation and swelling with ruptures. To minimize sural nerve injury and improve tendon targeting, we suggest an external rotation of 11 degrees at the proximal end of the rupture and 16 degrees at the distal end when using percutaneous and limited-open AT repair devices to try to minimize sural nerve violation and increase tendon capture, which can decrease rates of complication and rerupture. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Achilles Tendon Repair With the PARS: Innovative Double Locking Techniques and Device Positioning Based on MRI Study

A variety of surgical techniques for Achilles tendon rupture repair have been reported, including open, percutaneous, and limited-open approaches. One device which has recently become available is the Percutaneous Achilles Repair System (PARS), which uses both locking and nonlocking sutures for Achilles tendon rupture repair. This article presents techniques using double locking or 2 locked repair sutures in each tendon, along with the standard repair technique. An important component of these techniques is anatomic positioning of the PARS, keeping the arms parallel to the Achilles tendon and properly externally rotated using the results of a magnetic resonance imaging study to improve tendon capture. Early studies have shown good clinical outcomes and suggest that minimally invasive techniques such as the PARS are clinically and biomechanically suitable alternatives to open repair for Achilles tendon ruptures. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level V, expert opinion. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

In Vivo Plantar Pressures in Adult-Acquired Flatfoot Compared to Control Using an Intraoperative Pedobarographic Device

BackgroundIntraoperative pedobarography has the potential to aid surgical decisions, but no parameters exist to guide its use.Questions/PurposesThis study compared supine plantar pressures between flatfoot patients and controls using a previously validated intraoperative pedobarographic device and examined associations between supine, walking, and standing plantar pressures.MethodsTen preoperative patients with stage II adult-acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD) were compared to ten healthy controls. Supine plantar pressures were assessed using the pedobarographic device. Standing and walking plantar pressures were assessed with an EMED-XT sensor array (Novel). Maximum force (MF) and peak pressure (PP) were calculated for nine anatomical foot regions adjusting for age and BMI.ResultsNo differences in plantar pressures were found between flatfoot patients and controls in the supine or standing positions. During walking, flatfoot patients had greater MF of the first, second, and third metatarsals (p ≤ 0.018) and greater PP of the first and second metatarsals than controls (p ≤ 0.010). Supine MF and PP were both strongly positively correlated with their respective pressure measurements for both standing and walking in multiple foot regions (p ≤ 0.05, all analyses). Correlations in the first metatarsal region were generally weak and not statistically significant.ConclusionThis device did not show differences in supine plantar pressures of flatfoot patients and healthy subjects, highlighting the limitations of intraoperative devices in guiding flatfoot correction. The differences between flatfoot and controls during walking and the correlations between supine and walking conditions suggest that dynamic plantar pressures are a more useful parameter in guiding flatfoot reconstruction.

Patients’ Expectations from Foot and Ankle Surgery: Relationships with Demographic and Clinical Characteristics

Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: Few authors have investigated patients’ expectations from foot and ankle surgery, and standardized means of assessing expectations are lacking. Managing patients’ preoperative expectations may help improve their ultimate satisfaction with surgery. In a previous study (in press), we developed a valid and reliable patient-derived expectations survey for patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery. In this study, we aimed to examine relationships between patients’ preoperative expectations and their demographic and clinical characteristics. We hypothesized that patients with more disability and those with anxiety or depressive symptoms would have greater expectations. Methods: All adult patients scheduled for elective foot or ankle surgery by one of six orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons were screened for inclusion over eight months. Preoperatively, patients completed the Foot & Ankle Surgery Expectations Survey in addition to the Foot & Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Short Form (SF)-12, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-8, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), and pain visual analog scale (VAS). The expectations survey contains 23 expectations categories, each with five answer choices ranging from I do not have this expectation to complete improvement expected. It is scored from 0-100; higher scores indicate greater expectations. Differences in expectations score with categorical variables were assessed with t-tests and single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA). Differences in number of expectations and number of expectations with complete improvement expected were assessed with Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests. Relationships between expectations and continuous variables were assessed with linear regression. Results: 352 patients (average age 55 ± 15, range 18 to 86) were enrolled. Expectations were not significantly related to age. Women expected to achieve complete improvement more often than men (p = 0.011). Other factors significantly associated with higher expectations (p < 0.05) included non-Caucasian race, workers’ compensation, use of a cane or other assistive device, diagnosis of ankle instability or osteochondral lesion, and greater medical comorbidity (Table). Patients with a history of prior orthopaedic surgery were less likely to expect complete improvement. Worse function and quality of life (as assessed by all FAOS subscales and SF-12 physical and mental components), more depressive and anxiety symptoms, and higher pain VAS scores were associated with higher expectations scores and more expectations (p < 0.001 for all). Conclusion: The results of this study may help inform surgeons’ preoperative discussions with their patients regarding realistic expectations from surgery. Generally patients with worse function and more disability had higher expectations from surgery. Addressing these patients’ expectations preoperatively may help improve their ultimate satisfaction with surgery.