Christopher W. Hodgkins

Cycling injuries of the lower extremity.

Cycling is an increasingly popular recreational and competitive activity, and cycling-related injuries are becoming more common. Many common cycling injuries of the lower extremity are preventable. These include knee pain, patellar quadriceps tendinitis, iliotibial band syndrome, hip pain, medial tibial stress syndrome, stress fracture, compartment syndrome, numbness of the foot, and metatarsalgia. Injury is caused by a combination of inadequate preparation, inappropriate equipment, poor technique, and overuse. Nonsurgical management may include rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injection, ice, a reduction in training intensity, orthotics, night splints, and physical therapy. Injury prevention should be the focus, with particular attention to bicycle fit and alignment, appropriate equipment, proper rider position and pedaling mechanics, and appropriate training.

Outcomes after standardized screw fixation technique of ankle arthrodesis.

Several methods of obtaining ankle fusion have been described, with numerous studies reporting on patient populations with varied diagnoses and various methods of fixation. This has led to outcome analyses that are difficult to interpret. Our hypothesis is that using a standard method of fusion, without the aid of allograft, a solid ankle fusion can be achieved in patients with end-stage ankle arthritis, and that this outcome can be reflected in standardized outcome tools. Forty-one consecutive ankle fusions in 40 patients were included in our study, with a minimum followup of 3 years. All patients had an ankle arthrodesis using two parallel retrograde 7.3-mm screws and local fibular graft. All but two patients obtained a solid talocrural union (95%), with a mean postoperative improvement in the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score of 23 points. Results of our study showed that a simple technique based on sound mechanical and biologic principles can yield excellent outcomes for patients.Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Ankle Sprains and Instability in Dancers

Ankle inversion injuries are the most common traumatic injuries in dancers. Ankle stability is integral to normal mobilization and to minimizing the risk for ankle sprain. The ability of the dynamic and static stabilizers of the ankle joint to maintain their structural integrity is a major component of the normal gait cycle. In the world of dance, this quality assumes even greater importance given the range of movement and stresses imposed on the ankle during various dance routines.

Tendon Injuries in Dance

Professional ballet dancers require an extraordinary anatomic, physiologic, and psychologic makeup to achieve and sustain their level of ability and activity. They are subject to a myriad of injuries as a result of the extreme demands of this profession. Tendon injuries are common and often coexist with other pathologies of the bone, ligaments, and psyche. It is critical that the dance doctor not examine the tendon injury in isolation, but rather the cause of the injury, either intrinsic from anatomic malalignment or from external sources, including poor form.

Clinical importance of the lateral branch of the deep peroneal nerve

Persistent recalcitrant dorsolateral foot pain after ankle sprain cannot always be explained by known anatomic nerve pathways. To determine whether an impingement of a lateral branch of the deep peroneal nerve might be responsible for atypical pain, we conducted a cadaveric anatomic study to identify the anatomy and course of the nerve. Furthermore, using this information, we conducted a clinical study to determine if targeted treatment to a lateral branch of the deep peroneal nerve would resolve these symptoms. We dissected 22 cadaveric feet to identify a large lateral branch of the deep peroneal nerve. This nerve arborized into five main branches. We identified two areas of compression in the lateral branch of the deep peroneal nerve. We also performed a prospective clinical study including 11 consecutive patients with a 1-year minimum followup. Pain and clinical findings corresponded to the anatomic compression sites in all 11 patients. All patients responded to a local anesthetic injection or surgical release of the lateral branch of the deep peroneal nerve. We identified a previously unreported complex course of the lateral branch of the deep peroneal nerve that correlated with clinical impingement syndrome and responded to specifically targeted treatment.Level of Evidence: Level II, prognostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Foot and Ankle Fractures in Dancers

Fractures in the dance population are common. Radiography, CT, MRI, and bone scan should be used as necessary to arrive at the correct diagnosis after meticulous physical examination. Treatment should address the fracture itself and any surrounding problems such as nutritional/hormonal issues and training/performance techniques and regimens. Compliance issues in this population are a concern, so treatment strategies should be tailored accordingly. Stress fractures in particular can present difficulties to the treating physician and may require prolonged treatment periods. This article addresses stress fractures of the fibula, calcaneus, navicular, and second metatarsal; fractures of the fifth metatarsal, sesamoids, and phalanges; and dislocation of toes.

Football injuries of the ankle: A review of injury mechanisms, diagnosis and management

Football is the most popular sport worldwide and is associated with a high injury rate, most of which are the result of trauma from player contact. Ankle injuries are among the most commonly diagnosed injuries in the game. The result is reduced physical activity and endurance levels, lost game time, and considerable medical cost. Sports medicine professionals must employ the correct diagnostic tools and effective treatments and rehabilitation protocols to minimize the impact of these injuries on the player. This review examines the diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative rehabilitation for common football injuries of the ankle based on the clinical evidence provided in the current literature.

Lesser Metatarsal Osteotomies in Metatarsalgia

ABSTRACT Metatarsalgia is one of the most common forefoot pain presentations seen in orthopedics. Surgical management has often been suboptimal with more than 20 surgical methods reported, differing in indication, technique, fixation, and postoperative mobilization. The literature has not yet recorded a definitive surgical solution to this problem. Outcome parameters including patient satisfaction, pedobarographic, and radiologic measurements have indicated the relative success of the different surgical techniques and their adverse outcome trends. The current authors present their experience with the Weil, chevron, and oblique sliding diaphyseal techniques in the context of their indications, techniques, and outcomes, and review their success in the literature.