Jeremy J. Cook

Treatment of Mild, Moderate, and Severe Onychomycosis Using 870- and 930-nm Light Exposure

BACKGROUND The Noveon is a unique dual-wavelength near-infrared diode laser used to treat onychomycosis. The device operates at physiologic temperatures that are thermally safe for human tissue. It uses only 870- and 930-nm near-infrared light, wavelengths that have unique photolethal effects on fungal pathogens. These wavelengths lack the teratogenic danger presented by ultraviolet light and the photoablation toxic plume associated with pulsed Nd:YAG lasers. METHODS In this randomized controlled study, treatments followed a predefined protocol and laser parameters and occurred on days 1, 14, 42, and 120. Toes were cultured and evaluated, and measurements were taken from standardized photographs obtained periodically during the 180 day follow-up period. RESULTS We treated mycologically confirmed onychomycosis in 26 eligible toes (ten mild, seven moderate, and nine severe). All of the patients were followed-up for 180 days. An independent expert panel, blinded regarding treatment versus control, found that at 180 days, 85% of the eligible treated toenails were improved by clear nail linear extent (P = .0015); 65% showed at least 3 mm and 26% showed at least 4 mm of clear nail growth. Of the 16 toes with moderate to severe involvement, ten (63%) improved, as shown by clear nail growth of at least 3 mm (P = .0112). Simultaneous negative culture and periodic acid-Schiff was noted in 30% at 180 days. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate a role for this laser in the treatment of onychomycosis, regardless of degree of severity. Ease of delivery and the lack of a need to monitor blood chemistry are attractive attributes.

Meta-analysis of first metatarsophalangeal joint implant arthroplasty.

UNLABELLED Management of late-stage degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) is a complex topic that is frequently the source of debate among foot and ankle surgeons. Several surgical interventions have been described to treat this condition. One of the most contested of these treatments is implant arthroplasty of the first MPJ. The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical benefit of first MPJ implant arthroplasty in regard to patient satisfaction. Reviewers formally trained in meta-analysis abstraction techniques searched databases and indices using medical subject heading terms and other methods to identify all relevant studies published since 1990. Initially, 3874 citations were identified and evaluated for relevance. Abstract screening produced 112 articles to be read in entirety, of which 47 articles studying 3049 procedures with a mean 61.48 (SD 45.03) month follow-up met all prospective inclusion criteria necessary for analysis. Overall crude patient satisfaction following first MPJ implant arthroplasty was 85.7% (95% confidence interval: 82.5%-88.3%). When adjusting for lower quality studies (retrospective, less than 5 years of follow-up, higher percent of patients lost to follow-up), the overall patient satisfaction increased to 94.5% (89.6%-97.2%) in the highest-quality studies. This adjustment also significantly decreased heterogeneity across studies (crude Q = 184.6, high-quality studies Q = 2.053). Additional a priori sources of heterogeneity were evaluated by subgroup analysis and meta-regression. In regards to patient satisfaction, this comprehensive analysis provides supportive evidence to the clinical benefit of first MPJ implant arthroplasties. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE 1.

A Retrospective Clinical Study of 188 Consecutive Patients to Examine the Effectiveness of a Biologically Active Cryopreserved Human Skin Allograft (TheraSkin ®) on the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Venous Leg Ulcers

A biologically active human skin allograft, currently distributed under the brand name TheraSkin®, was examined for safety and efficacy in the treatment of venous leg ulcers (VLUs) and diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The objective was to determine if TheraSkin could serve as a safe and effective alternative to bioengineered skin substitutes such as Apligraf® and Dermagraft®. The authors conducted a retrospective study of 214 consecutive patients seen at the Inova Wound Center (Mt Vernon, Virginia), with either a DFU or a VLU. After excluding patients who did not meet the study criteria, the final eligible cohort consisted of 188 subjects, with 134 VLUs and 54 DFUs. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between baseline wound size and the proportion of healed wounds after 12 and 20 weeks from initial allograft application. The authors found that by the 12th week, DFUs closed 60.38% of the time and VLUs closed 60.77% of the time. After 20 weeks, the number of closed DFUs increased to 74.1% and the number of VLUs increased to 74.6%. The mean wound size in the DFU group was 6.2 cm2 (±11.8) and 11.8 cm2 (±22.5) in the VLU group. The mean number of TheraSkin allografts required ranged from 1 to 8, with an average of 2.03 (±1.47) at the 12-week point and an average of 3.23 (±2.77) at the 20-week point. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate the odds of wound healing by week 12 and week 20 in each group. The authors also analyzed adverse events and found TheraSkin to be noncontributory to any adverse events, verifying the safety of TheraSkin in this study population. In this study, TheraSkin has been shown to be highly effective for the treatment of both VLUs and DFUs with an acceptable safety profile. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV

Bone Graft Substitutes and Allografts for Reconstruction of the Foot and Ankle

In reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, the use of bone graft is common. Whether for trauma, acquired or congenital deformities, arthrodeses, joint replacement, bone loss from infection, or bone tumor resection, the foot and ankle surgeon must be knowledgeable about current bone grafting options to make informed decisions. Innovation and technologic advances have produced an impressive and exciting array of options, advancing us closer to mimicking the gold standard: autograft. However, the sheer volume of available products makes it challenging for the foot and ankle surgeon to stay abreast of current bone graft technology. The purpose of this article is to simplify and classify current bone grafting options, discuss advantages and disadvantages, and provide relevant clinical examples.

Validation of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Scoring Scales.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) assembled a task force to develop a scoring scale that could be used by the membership and practitioners-at-large. The original publication that introduced the scale focused primarily on use of the scale and provided only brief background on the development of the health measurement instrument. Concerns regarding the validity and reliability of the scale were raised within the professional community, and ACFAS assembled a task force to address these concerns. The purpose of this article is to address the issues raised by reporting the detailed methods used in the development of the ACFAS Scoring Scales. The authors who constitute this task force reviewed the body of work previously conducted and applied standards that serve to evaluate the scoring scale for: 1) validity, 2) reliability, and 3) sensitivity to change. The results showed that a systematic and comprehensive approach was used in the development of the scoring scales, and the task force concluded that the statistical methods and instrument development process for all 4 modules of the scoring scales were conducted in an appropriate manner. Furthermore, modules 1 and 2 have been rigorously assessed and the elements of these modules have been shown to meet standards for validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change.

Healing in the New Millennium: Bone Stimulators : An Overview of Where We've Been and Where We May be Heading

Electromagnetic fields and their uses in bone healing have been fairly well studied, with most results showing improvement in healing of both bone and cartilage. Most supportive data are found in relation to the spine, femur, and tibia, but there is increasing evidence for its use in the foot and ankle for treatment of nonunions and as an adjunctive device in arthrodeses, particularly in high-risk populations. There are varying data and a significant variety of quality in the current research and publications concerning the use of electrical bone stimulation in the treatment of the foot and ankle. Thus, there is a definite need for further investigation and high-quality study designs to determine the most effective treatment modalities and pathologies best used with bone stimulation. Bone stimulation should be viewed as an adjunctive procedure in which the surgeon optimizes the high-risk patient both medically or surgically whenever possible. But when used appropriately, bone stimulation has the potential to influence outcomes and aid in bone healing when complications arise and in high-risk populations.

Epidemiology and Health Care Cost of Diabetic Foot Problems

In 1992, Zimmet first referred to the “epidemic of diabetes,” noting that its costs both in terms of economic burden and human suffering are rising at an alarming rate (Zimmet, Diabetes Care. 1992;15(2):232–52). The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus has been projected to nearly double from a baseline of 2.8% in 2000 to 4.4% by 2030, affecting over 350 million individuals (Wild et al. Diabetes Care. 2004;27(5):1047–53). In the decade beginning in 1997, the prevalence of diabetes in the USA has increased by 48% (http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDTSTRS/default.aspx) (Fig. 2.1). Lower extremity morbidity contributes substantially to the toll diabetes takes on the individual and the health care system. This chapter focuses on the epidemiologic aspects of risk factors and complications in the diabetic lower extremity, particularly as they relate to the outcome of amputation. Included in the discussion is the influence of demographic factors, such as gender, age, race, and socioeconomic considerations, as well as the cost to the health care system of lower extremity disease in diabetes.

Identifying Risk Factors in Subtalar Arthroereisis Explantation: A Propensity-matched Analysis

A case-control study was undertaken to identify differences in patients with flexible flatfoot deformity who required explantation of subtalar arthroereisis compared with those who did not. All patients who required removal of a self-locking wedge-type subtalar arthroereisis were identified between 2002 and 2008. Propensity scores matched 22 explanted subtalar arthroereises to 44 controls (nonexplanted arthroereises), resulting in a total of 66 implants that met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Multivariate logistic regression found that patients who required explantation had a greater odds of radiographic undercorrection, determined from radiographic anteroposterior talar-first metatarsal angles postoperatively, P = .0012, odds ratio (OR) = 1.175 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.066 to 1.295), or residual transverse plane-dominant deformities, as determined from radiographic calcaneocuboid abduction angles postoperatively, P = .05, OR = 1.096 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.203). Patients with smaller postoperative anteroposterior talocalcaneal angles had a 16.7% reduction in odds for arthroereisis explantation (P = .0019) (95% CI 6.5% to 25.8%). Age, gender, implant size, shape, duration, implant position, surgeon experience, and concomitant procedures were not statistically different between the 2 groups. This study helps identify key factors that may result in subtalar arthroereisis explantation.

Tenotomy and Tendon Transfer About the Forefoot, Midfoot and Hindfoot

Tendon lengthening and transfer are essential surgical procedures for every foot and ankle surgeon to master, because they are useful in restoring balance and correcting flexible foot deformities. These techniques are even more useful in treating the high-risk patient, because they involve minimal soft-tissue injury and maximum preservation of vascularity. The primary goal of this article is to supplement the foot and ankle surgeons options for treating static and dynamic foot deformities in the high-risk patient by discussing useful tendon lengthening and transfer procedures about the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot.

Bioscaffolds and the reconstruction of ligaments and tendons in the foot and ankle.

Biologic scaffolds have become an integral part of surgical soft tissue reconstruction in recent years. The increased use of these materials can be partially attributed to poor long-term outcomes with synthetic products as well as the cost and morbidity associated with allografts and autografts. Bioscaffolds can augment natural healing processes of tendons and ligaments while providing additional structural support. Although these implants lack the mechanical strength of synthetics and other transplants, proper preparation can optimize their load-sharing capacity. This article presents methods that can improve these characteristics of bioscaffolds. Available studies in foot and ankle applications have shown minimal complications in a variety of techniques.