Tyler Gonzalez

Economic Analysis and Patient Satisfaction Associated With Outpatient Total Ankle Arthroplasty

Background: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is a rapidly growing treatment for end-stage ankle arthritis that is generally performed as an inpatient procedure. The feasibility of outpatient total ankle arthroplasty (OTAA) has not been reported in the literature. We sought to establish proof of concept for OTAA by comparing outpatient vs inpatient perioperative complications, postoperative emergency department (ED) visits, readmissions, patient satisfaction, and cost analysis. Methods: From July 2010 to September 2015, a total of 36 patients underwent TAA. Patients with prior ankle replacement, prior ankle infections, neuroarthropathy, or osteonecrosis of the talus were excluded from the study. All patient demographics, tourniquet times, estimated blood loss, comorbidities, concomitant procedures, complications, return ED visits, and readmissions were recorded. Patient satisfaction questionnaires were collected. Twenty-one patients had outpatient surgery and 15 had inpatient surgery. The cohorts were matched demographically. Results: The average length of stay for the inpatient group was 2.5 days. The overall cost differential between the groups was 13.4%, with the outpatient group being less costly. This correlates to a cost savings of nearly

ICD 10: A Primer for the Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon

2500 per case. One patient in the outpatient group had a return ED visit on postoperative day 1 for urinary retention. There were no 30-day readmissions in either group. Seventy-one percent of the outpatient group and 93% of the inpatient group would not change to a different postoperative admission status if they were to have the procedure again. Conclusion: Our results show that OTAA was a cost-effective and safe alternative with low complication rates and high patient satisfaction. With proper patient selection, OTAA was beneficial to both the patient and the health care system by driving down total cost. It has the capacity to generate substantial savings while providing equal or better value to the patient. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Arthroscopically Assisted Versus Standard Open Reduction and Internal Fixation Techniques for the Acute Ankle Fracture

The use of the 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) will likely be required as of October 2015. ICD-10 was developed to increase the specificity and accuracy of disease and injury reporting. The number of diagnostic codes in this system has increased substantially, and approximately half of all ICD-10 codes are related to the musculoskeletal system, whereas 25% of all codes are related to fractures. For most foot and ankle injuries, the new code structure includes location, laterality, degree of healing, and encounter type. At the provider level, navigating this system will initially be a complex task. Understanding the ICD-10 code structure, properly training appropriate staff, and financially preparing for implementation will minimize potential practice disruption.

Ankle Arthritis: You Can't Always Replace It.

Background: Ankle fractures represent one of the most common orthopaedic injuries requiring operative treatment. Although open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of ankle fractures leads to good results in most patients, poor functional outcomes continue to be reported in some patients for whom anatomic reduction was achieved. It has been theorized that these lesser outcomes may in part be due to a component of missed intra-articular injury that reportedly ranges between 20% and 79%, although to date the true explanation for this subset of lower functional outcomes remains unknown. Such concerns have recently spawned novel techniques of arthroscopically assisted ankle fracture assessment in hopes of enabling better detection and treatment of concomitant intra-articular ankle injuries. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the literature comparing standard ORIF to arthroscopically assisted ORIF (AAORIF) for ankle fractures. Methods: A systematic review of the English literature was performed using the PubMed database to access all studies over the last 50 years that have documented the functional outcomes of acute ankle fracture management using either a traditional ORIF or an AAORIF technique in the adult population. Relevant publications were analyzed for their respective Levels of Evidence as well as any perceived differences reported in operative time, outcomes, and complications. Results: A total of only 14 ORIF and 4 AAORIF papers fit the criteria for review. There is fair quality (grade B) evidence to support good to excellent outcomes following traditional ORIF of malleolar fractures. There is fair-quality (grade B) evidence that ankle arthroscopy can be successfully employed for identification and treatment of intra-articular injuries associated with acute ankle fractures, but insufficient (grade I) evidence examining the functional outcomes and complication rates after treatment of these injuries and little documentation that this approach portends any improvement in patient outcome over historical techniques. There is also insufficient (grade I) evidence from 2 prospective randomized studies and 1 case-control study to provide any direct comparative data on functional outcomes, complication rates or total operative time between AAORIF and ORIF for the treatment of acute ankle fractures. Conclusions: Ankle arthroscopy is a valuable tool in identifying and treating intra-articular lesions associated with ankle fractures. The presence of such intra-articular pathology may lead to the unexpectedly poor outcomes seen in some patients who undergo surgical fixation of ankle fractures with otherwise anatomic reduction on postoperative radiographs; the ability to diagnose and address these lesions therefore has the potential to improve patient outcomes. To date, however, currently available literature has not shown that treatment of these intra-articular injuries provides any improvement in outcomes over standard ORIF, and few prospective randomized controlled studies have been performed comparing these 2 operative techniques—rendering any suggestion that AAORIF improves clinical outcomes over traditional ORIF difficult to justify. Further research is indicated for what may be a potentially promising surgical adjunct before we can advocate its routine use in these patients. Level of Evidence: Level II, systematic review.

Posterior Facet Settling and Changes in Bohler’s Angle in Operatively and Nonoperatively Treated Calcaneus Fractures

End-stage arthritis of the tibiotalar joint is disabling and causes substantial functional impairment. Most often it is the residual effect of a previous traumatic injury. Nonsurgical treatment of end-stage arthritis of the ankle includes bracing, shoe-wear modifications, and selective joint injections. For patients who fail to respond to nonsurgical modalities, the two primary treatment options are arthroplasty and arthrodesis. Each has its proponents. Although no ideal treatment of ankle arthritis exists, high-quality studies can help guide treatment in patients of varying demographics. Inherent risks are linked with each treatment option, but those of greatest concern are early implant loosening that requires revision following arthroplasty and the acceleration of adjacent joint degeneration associated with arthrodesis.

Overtightening of the syndesmosis revisited and the effect of syndesmotic malreduction on ankle dorsiflexion

Background: Patients with calcaneus fractures often exhibit settling of the posterior facet with a corresponding decrease in Bohler’s angle (BA) following either operative or nonoperative treatment. Both injury BA and postoperative BA have been shown to be prognostic for outcomes; however, the demographic and surgeon-specific factors that may contribute to settling have not been critically examined in the literature. The purpose of this study was to identify these causative factors. Methods: 234 patients with intra-articular calcaneus fractures were analyzed. All patients had preoperative plain radiographs, at least 5 months of orthopedic follow-up, and computed tomography scanning performed. BA was measured on the injury radiographs for all patients. For operatively treated patients, BA was measured on the immediate postoperative radiographs and compared with the last available radiograph. For nonoperatively treated patients, BA was measured on the last available radiograph. All patients were fully weightbearing at the time of final follow-up but not on initial radiographs due to their recent injury. Demographic data including age, gender, energy of injury mechanism, tobacco use, diabetes, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and substance/alcohol abuse were retrospectively collected. Fractures were classified using the Essex-Lopresti and Sanders classifications. Time to full weightbearing was documented, as were any reports of noncompliance with weightbearing restrictions. For patients treated operatively, type of fixation (calcaneal-specific perimeter plate, nonperimeter plate, screw fixation), use of locking screws, use of bone graft or graft substitutes, and the number of screws supporting the posterior facet were documented. Results: There was a statistically significant amount of settling within the operative and nonoperative groups, but there was no statistically significant difference in settling of BA between the groups. The average settling of BA for the operative and nonoperative group was 8 degrees. Age greater than 50 years, diabetes, and alcohol abuse were all statistically significant and independent predictors of BA settling irrespective of treatment. Conclusion: The amount of BA settling between the operative and nonoperative group was not significant and showed an average decrease of 8 degrees in each group. However, the amount of settling that we found, irrespective of treatment, increased with patient age, alcohol abuse, and diabetes. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Determining Measurement Error for Bohler’s Angle and the Effect of X-Ray Obliquity on Accuracy

BACKGROUND Ankle syndesmotic injuries are a significant source of morbidity and require anatomic reduction to optimize outcomes. Although a previous study concluded that maximal dorsiflexion during syndesmotic fixation was not required, methodologic weaknesses existed and several studies have demonstrated improved ankle dorsiflexion after removal of syndesmotic screws. The purposes of the current investigation are: (1) To assess the effect of compressive syndesmotic screw fixation on ankle dorsiflexion utilizing a controlled load and instrumentation allowing for precise measurement of motion. (2) To assess the effect of anterior & posterior syndesmotic malreduction after compressive syndesmotic screw fixation on ankle dorsiflexion. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifteen lower limb cadaveric leg specimens were utilized for the study. Ankle dorsiflexion was measured utilizing a precise micro-sensor system after application of a consistent load in the (1) intact state, (2) after compression fixation with a syndesmotic screw and (3) after anterior & (4) posterior malreduction of the syndesmosis. RESULTS Following screw compression of the nondisplaced syndesmosis, dorsiflexion ROM was 99.7±0.87% (mean±standard error) of baseline ankle ROM. Anterior and posterior malreduction of the syndesmosis resulted in dorsiflexion ROM that was 99.1±1.75% and 98.6±1.56% of baseline ankle ROM, respectively. One-way ANOVA was performed showing no statistical significance between groups (p-value=0.88). Two-way ANOVA comparing the groups with respect to both the reduction condition (intact, anatomic reduction, anterior displacement, posterior displacement) and the displacement order (anterior first, posterior first) did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect (p-value=0.99). CONCLUSION Maximal dorsiflexion of the ankle is not required prior to syndesmotic fixation as no loss of motion was seen with compressive fixation in our cadaver model. Anterior or posterior syndesmotic malreduction following syndesmotic screw fixation had no effect on ankle dorsiflexion. Poor patient outcomes after syndesmotic malreduction may be due to other factors and not loss of dorsiflexion motion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV.

Transfibular Approach to Posterior Malleolus Fracture Fixation Technique Tip

Background. Bohler’s angle (BA) is the most commonly utilized radiographic measurement in the study of calcaneus fractures and has been shown to be prognostic in nature. Therefore, it is critical that the measurement of BA be accurate as both therapeutic and prognostic information relies on it. Oblique lateral radiographs can be a cause of error in BA measurements. However, measurement error and the effects of X-ray beam obliquity on BA have not been established in the literature. The purpose of this study was to determine measurement error and understand the effects of X-ray beam’s obliquity on the measurement of BA. Methods. A cadaver specimen was imaged using a C-arm to obtain a perfect lateral radiograph of the ankle and slightly oblique lateral views in the anterior, posterior, cephalad, and caudad directions in 5° increments (21 images). Metallic beads were then placed on the anterior calcaneal process, posterior facet, and the superior aspect of the posterior tuberosity, and the same 21 images were then obtained. The metallic beads placed on the reference radiographs allowed the authors to accurately measure BA for each image and served as reference for the corresponding test radiographs. Thirty-four orthopaedic staff members participated in the study and used DICOM measurement tool to measure BA on each of the 21 test radiographs. The measurements were then compared to the measurements of BA from the reference radiographs to determine error in measurement. Results. A total of 714 different measurements were obtained. Average measurement error was 6° (95% confidence interval = −4° to 15°). The difference between the observed BA measurements compared to the true BA measurements increased with increasing X-ray obliquity. Conclusions. Measurement error for BA is ±6° and increases most with cephalad oblique radiographs. Orthopaedic surgeons’ ability to accurately measure BA significantly decreases with increasing obliquity of the lateral radiograph. Levels of Evidence: Level V: Cadaver bench study

Proximity of the Lateral Calcaneal Artery With a Modified Extensile Lateral Approach Compared to Standard Extensile Approach

Posterior malleolus (PM) fractures represent a frequent component of many ankle injury patterns, with overall incidence ranging from 7% to 44% in the literature. The best treatment approach continues to be debated among orthopedic surgeons, but most favor surgical management whenever more than 25% to 30% of the articular surface is involved or there exists persistence of posterior talar subluxation. Many operative techniques have been described for fixation of PM fractures. The most common technique reported in the literature appears to be an indirect reduction maneuver followed by anterior-posterior (AP) screw placement. A recent study by Gardner et al showed that subspecialty training surgeons choose direct versus indirect reduction. A number of formal open approaches for fixation of the posterior malleolus fragment have also been described. Posteromedial exposure adjacent to the neurovascular bundle as well as a posterolateral approach between the flexor hallucis longus and peroneus longus interval have both been described. These techniques, however, often require additional exposures for ankle fracture fixation, and hardware insertion can be more difficult when the patient is in a supine position. Because PM fractures are often associated with adjacent malleolar injuries, approaches that incorporate incisions for fixation of these fractures have also been utilized— although to our knowledge a formal transfibular approach to aid direct reduction and fixation of the PM fragment has yet to be described. Over the past 20 years at a busy tertiary academic Level I trauma center, whenever a clinically significant PM fracture has occurred in conjunction with a distal fibula fracture that requires fixation, we have employed this approach with great success. This approach, however, does not work for every PM fracture associated with a fibula fracture. PM fractures that have posterormedial and posterolateral fragments which are severely comminuted or too small for screw fixation, for example, will not be amendable to this approach. Specific fibula fracture patterns such as Weber A distal fibula fractures, high transverse fractures, and fractures not in the same plane as the PM fracture line will also not be amenable to this approach. Syndesmotic injury does not affect utilization of this approach. In contrast to alternatively described methods of reduction and fixation, however, this approach enables both direct fracture fragment and posterior ankle visualization and reduction with minimal additional soft tissue disruption, with the patient in a supine position, and without requiring additional surgical exposures. 617760 FAIXXX10.1177/1071100715617760Foot & Ankle InternationalGonzalez et al research-article2015

How much is too much? A guide to appropriately bending ball tip guide wires when using intramedullary nails for the treatment of lower extremity long bone fractures.

Background: The extensile lateral approach (EL) has been associated with increased wound complications such as apical necrosis which may be due partially from violation of the lateral calcaneal artery (LCA). Traditionally, the vertical limb has been placed half-way between the fibula and Achilles tendon, which may be suboptimal given the proximity to the LCA. We hypothesized that placing the vertical limb further posterior (ie, modified EL [MEL]) would increase the distance from the LCA. The purposes of this study were to quantify the location of the LCA in relation to the vertical limb of the traditional EL approach and to determine if utilizing the MEL approach endangered the LCA to a lesser extent. Methods: 20 cadavers were used. For the EL approach, the fibula and Achilles tendon were palpated and a line parallel to the plantar foot was drawn between the two. A vertical line (VL), representing the vertical limb of the approach, was drawn at the midway point as a perpendicular extending proximally from the junction of the glabrous/non-glabrous skin (JGNG). For the MEL approach, the anterior border of the Achilles tendon was palpated and a similar vertical line (MVL) was drawn 0.75 cm anterior. Dissection was performed and if the LCA was identified crossing the line VL/MVL, the distance from the JGNG was documented. Results: For the EL approach, the LCA was identified in 17/20 (85%) cadavers at an average distance of 5.0 cm (range 3-7 cm, SD = 1.3 cm) from JGNG. For the ML approach, the LCA was identified in 4/20 (20%) cadavers at an average distance of 5.9 cm (range 3-6.5 cm, SD = 1.7 cm) from the JGNG (P < .001). Conclusions: The LCA was encountered 4 times more often during the EL approach as compared to the MEL approach. Clinical Relevance: A modification of the EL approach may decrease iatrogenic injury to the LCA and may decrease wound complications.