D. Scot Malay

Neurosensory testing of the medial calcaneal and medial plantar nerves in patients with plantar heel pain.

Eighty-two patients with a chief complaint of plantar heel pain were evaluated for sensory abnormalities within the cutaneous distribution of both the medial calcaneal nerve and the medial plantar nerve, using quantitative neurosensory testing with a pressure-specified sensory device. The results showed that 22.68% of the patients displayed isolated abnormal sensory function within the distribution of the medial calcaneal nerve, whereas 49.48% of the patients displayed abnormal function within the distribution of both the medial calcaneal and the medial plantar nerves. Thus, 72.17% of the patients displayed abnormal sensory function within the distribution of the medial calcaneal nerve. Statistical analysis of the results, using the Pearson chi-square statistic and odds ratio, indicated that a significant percentage of patients with plantar heel pain, even early in the clinical course of plantar heel pain, display abnormal sensibility within the branches of the posterior tibial nerve, and specifically, within the distribution of the medial calcaneal nerve (P <.0008) and the medial plantar nerve (P <.0001).

Nonoperative Care for the Treatment of Adult-acquired Flatfoot Deformity

Nonoperative therapy for adult-acquired flatfoot is a reasonable treatment option that is likely to be beneficial for most patients. In this article, we describe the results of a retrospective cohort study that focused on nonoperative measures, including bracing, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications, used to treat adult-acquired flatfoot in 64 consecutive patients. The results revealed the incidence of successful nonsurgical treatment to be 87.5% (56 of 64 patients), over the 27-month observation period. Overall, 78.12% of the patients with adult-acquired flatfoot were obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30), and 62.5% of the patients who failed nonsurgical therapy were obese; however, logistic regression failed to show that BMI was statistically significantly associated with the outcome of treatment. The use of any form of bracing was statistically significantly associated with successful nonsurgical treatment (fully adjusted OR = 19.8621, 95% CI 1.8774 to 210.134), whereas the presence of a split-tear of the tibialis posterior on magnetic resonance image scans was statistically significantly associated with failed nonsurgical treatment (fully adjusted OR = 0.016, 95% CI 0.0011 to 0.2347). The results of this investigation indicate that a systematic nonsurgical treatment approach to the treatment of the adult-acquired flatfoot deformity can be successful in most cases.

Fixation of the Proximal Interphalangeal Arthrodesis with the Use of an Intraosseous Loop of Stainless-Steel Wire Suture

A wide range of options is available to surgeons for fixation of the proximal interphalangeal joint when arthrodesis is undertaken for repair of the hammertoe deformity. In this technical report, we describe the use of an intraosseous loop of stainless-steel wire for permanent stabilization of the interface between the proximal and middle phalanges during fusion of the interphalangeal joint.

A Retrospective Cohort Study of the BioPro® Hemiarthroplasty Prosthesis

We reviewed the outcomes of 79 procedures in 76 patients who underwent first metatarsophalangeal joint hemiarthroplasty. The cohort included 23 men (2 bilateral cases) and 53 women (1 bilateral case), with a mean age of 59.6 +/- 11.05 years and a mean follow-up of 2.91 years (range, 1.6-4.5 years). Hemiarthroplasty with the BioPro Hemi Implant (BioPro, Inc., Port Huron, MI) was undertaken in all cases, and 34 (43.04%) of the procedures involved long flexor transfer to the proximal phalanx. Mean first metatarsophalangeal joint dorsiflexion increased from 36.13 degrees +/- 17.89 degrees to 56.92 degrees +/- 9.82 degrees (P < .0001), plantarflexion increased from 2.71 degrees +/- 8.43 degrees to 9.05 degrees +/- 4.52 degrees (P < .0001), the first intermetatarsal angle decreased from 8.65 degrees +/- 1.17 degrees to 8.41 degrees +/- 0.90 degrees (P = .0009), and the prevalence of first-ray elevatus went from 52 (65.82%) to 44 (55.70%) (P = .0047). Postoperative prevalences included: antalgic gait, 11 (13.92%); normal hallux purchase, 74 (93.67%); satisfaction with the appearance of the great toe, 49 (62.03%); ability to wear conventional shoes, 42 (53.16%); freedom from pain, 45 (56.96%); and satisfaction or high level of satisfaction with the outcome, 68 (86.08%). The mean postoperative American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Universal Evaluation score was 94.00 (range, 44-100). Eight (10.13%) cases experienced complications: 2 severe pain (1 required implant removal), 1 sesamoiditis, 1 extensor hallucis longus contracture, 1 hallux subluxation and 1 dislocation, and 2 misaligned implants. Based on these results, use of the BioPro hemi-implant is a useful option for the treatment of first metatarsophalangeal joint degeneration.

Efficacy of Power-pulsed Lavage in Lower Extremity Wound Infections: A Prospective Observational Study

Power-pulsed lavage is a common adjunct to surgical wound debridement, although few studies have examined the effect of this technique in lower extremity wounds. Fifty-five consecutively enrolled patients underwent 73 surgical debridements with power-pulsed lavage, and specimens were obtained for Gram stain and culture and sensitivity analyses before and after lavage. A number of risk factors were analyzed in regard to a successful outcome, which was defined as the absence of any organisms observed on the immediate postlavage culture. The incidence of a successful outcome was 69.86%, and debridement plus power-pulsed lavage statistically significantly decreased bacteria between the immediate prelavage and immediate postlavage specimens, for Gram stain (P = .0004) and culture (P = .005) analyses. Generalized estimation equations provided fully adjusted effect estimates that revealed a decreased likelihood of observing success if the patients age was 85 years or older, or if rare or many organisms, or gram-negative rods, were present on the immediate prelavage Gram stain; whereas an increased likelihood of success was observed if the patients body mass index was indicative of normal weight, and if few bacteria were noted on the immediate prelavage culture specimen. Based on these results, we concluded that power-pulsed lavage can be effective in decreasing the presence of bacteria in lower extremity wounds, and an awareness of the patient characteristics and microbiological factors associated with the persistence of bacteria may be helpful to surgeons treating such wounds.

Subtalar Joint Septic Arthritis in a Patient with Hypogammaglobulinemia

The clinical presentation of a monoarticular, red, hot, and swollen joint has many possible diagnoses, including septic arthritis, which is 1 of the most devastating. The morbidity associated with this pathologic process involves permanent joint damage and the potential for progression to systemic illness and, even, mortality. The common risk factors for joint sepsis include a history of rheumatoid arthritis, previous joint surgery, joint prosthesis, intravenous drug abuse, alcoholism, diabetes, previous intra-articular steroid use, and cutaneous ulceration. The diagnosis is primarily determined from the culture results after arthrocentesis and correlation with direct visualization, imaging, and various serologies, including synovial analysis. In the present report, a case of an insidious presentation of subtalar joint septic arthritis and its association with a unique patient presentation concomitant with primary immunodeficiency and culture-proven Myocplasma hominis infection is discussed. Septic arthritis has a predilection for the lower extremities and typically is isolated to the hip or knee, with less common involvement of the ankle or metatarsophalangeal joints. Owing to the uncommon nature of primary immunodeficiency disorders and the paucity of studies discussing their association with septic arthridites, we aimed to raise awareness of subtalar joint septic arthritis and to provide a brief overview of the pathogenesis as it presented in a 33-year-old male with X-linked hypogammaglobulinemia/agammaglobulinema.

Health literacy and diabetic foot ulcer healing.

The adherence by patients to diabetic foot ulcer therapy is often difficult. The goal of this study was to begin to understand how a patients health literacy affects their foot ulcer management decisions. Initially using a cross‐sectional study design, we evaluated diabetics with foot ulcers within 4 weeks of being asked to participate in a longitudinal study. We assessed health literacy using measures of general health literacy, diabetes health literacy, diabetes self‐efficacy, and diabetes numeracy. Individuals enrolled in the study had higher health literacy based on the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults [33.8 (SD 2.3) versus 27.3 (SD 9.6); p = 0.009] as compared to individuals who previously declined an invitation to enroll in the study. Furthermore, patients with lower Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults scores had larger (p = 0.04) and older (p = 0.125) wounds (markers for poorer prognosis). Other measures of literacy showed similar results. In conclusion, those with diminished health literacy were less likely to enroll in an investigational study and had wounds that were less likely to heal.

Reliability of a Rating Scale for Assessing Alignment of the Posterior Facet after Surgical Repair of Joint Depression Fractures of the Calcaneus

Radiographs are frequently used to classify joint depression calcaneal fractures and assess the degree of repair of such injuries. To associate the degree of repair with clinical outcomes such as foot-related quality of life and subjective patient satisfaction, it would be useful to have a valid measuring instrument that has been shown to reliably categorize the alignment of the posterior facet of the calcaneus. To be considered valid, the measurement must have inter-rater and intrarater reliability. In an effort to demonstrate the validity of a coronal plane computed tomographic measurement for categorizing the alignment of the posterior facet after repair of joint depression fractures of the calcaneus, we measured the inter-rater and intrarater reliability of the classification system.

Conducting Clinical Research and Getting the Report Published

Providing satisfactory care and making a living are probably the two most common goals of the everyday practicing surgeon, whereas the goal implied by ‘‘publish or perish’’ is probably not very important to anyone who is not employed at an academic institution. Nonetheless, publication of the results of clinical research is a crucial part of the transfer of knowledge, and remains a worthwhile endeavor for foot and ankle surgeons everywhere. For this reason, clinicians should understand the way in which clinical questions become publishable research projects. For surgeons who want to publish their work, attention to a few important concepts will increase the likelihood that their work will get accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed biomedical journal. These key elements include reliable results, protocol development, prospective versus retrospective approaches, and attention to the particular journal’s guide for authors. The basis of a publishable paper is reliable results, the kind that can be used to formulate valid conclusions. Reliable results, and conclusions that are likely to be valid, are procured with the use of a study design (Table 1) that employs the building blocks of good clinical evidence (Table 2). Without results, there really is nothing

Instructional Technique Guide: Closed Reduction of the Supination-Eversion Stage IV (Weber Type B) Ankle Fracture

In this article we describe a method of closed reduction of a supination-eversion stage IV ankle fracture, complete with step-by-step instructions and a video depiction of the reduction maneuver.