Superior pedal function recovery of newly designed three spike insole over total contact insole in refractory plantar fasciitis: A randomized, double-blinded, non-inferiority study.

INTRODUCTION: Plantar fasciitis is one of the common foot complaints that is chronic and can induce dysfunction. Total contact insole (TCI) is simple but effective in treating plantar fasciitis. Despite its effect, the cost and long duration for production have been the major flaws. Therefore, we developed a newly designed three-spike insole (TSI) that can be commercially productive and compared its clinical outcomes to TCI. METHODS: Patients with plantar fasciitis refractory to conservative treatment for more than 6 weeks were candidates. We produced insoles with hardness of 58 ± 5 Shore-A. Twenty-eight patients were randomized with equal allocation to either TSI or TCI. The following assessment tools were used: visual analog scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle score, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, Karlsson-Peterson (KP) score, Short Form-36 for quality of life, and Foot Function Index. Non-inferiority was declared if VAS was within the statistical variability of minimal important difference. A blinded assessor evaluated the groups at baseline and after 6, 12, and 24 weeks. RESULTS: The groups were homogenous for majority of variables at baseline. Overall patient-reported satisfaction showed improvement from mean 5.2 (range, 1-12) weeks of wearing and all clinical outcome scores showed significant improvements in both groups over time on Friedman test (p ≤.032). TSI showed non-inferiority to TCI at each time point. Post hoc analysis revealed that many scales showed significant superiority of TSI at 3 month (p ≤.008) and KP score at 6 month (p < .001). CONCLUSION: We reaffirmed that semi-rigid insole is effective in refractory plantar fasciitis and showed TSI restores pedal function more rapidly than TCI. TSI can be not only effective in deriving better clinical outcomes but also be manufactured for popularization to lower the price and producing time of orthosis.

Osteochondral allograft reconstruction of talar body fracture with a large bone defect.

Talar body fractures are rare and associated with a high rate of morbidity due to poor vascularity and the frequent occurrence of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. If talar body fractures are combined with a large bone defect, the situation becomes even more challenging due to difficult joint reconstruction. Only few reports have described the use of whole-bone fresh-frozen allografts for the treatment of foot trauma. Osteochondral bulk allografts can be used as an alternative to tibiotalar arthrodesis for the treatment of talar body fractures with large bone defects, especially in young patients. Here, we report a case of a talar body fracture associated with a large talar bone defect involving the posterior process that was treated by fresh-frozen osteochondral allograft for tibiotalar reconstruction in foot injuries.