Amputation in diabetic foot ulcer: A treatment dilemma.

Diabetic foot is a clinical manifestation of diabetes with a wide range of symptoms, including ulceration, osteomyelitis, osteoarticular destruction, and gangrene, as a consequence of advanced disease. Some diabetic foot cases present general indications for amputation, including dead limb, threat to the patient's life, pain, loss of function, or nuisance. Various tools have been introduced to help decision-making in amputation for diabetic foot. However, it remains a conundrum because diabetic foot involves multiple pathomechanisms and factors that hinder its outcomes. Sociocultural issues often impede treatment from the patient's side. We reviewed different perspectives in diabetic foot management, particularly related to amputation. In addition to deciding whether to amputate, physicians should address amputation level, timing, and ways to avoid patient deconditioning. Surgeons should not be autocratic in these circumstances and should be aware of beneficence and maleficence when considering whether to amputate. The main goal should be improving the patients' quality of life rather than preserving the limb as much as possible.

Subclinical ankle joint tuberculous arthritis - The role of scintigraphy: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis remains a complicated problem. A lack of awareness accompanied by difficulty in diagnosis hinders the management of tuberculosis. Delayed management, particularly in osteoarticular regions, results in unnecessary procedures, including joint-sacrificing surgery. CASE SUMMARY: Three cases of subclinical ankle joint tuberculosis without clear signs of tuberculosis were presented. The efficacy of technetium-99m-ethambutol scintigraphy in diagnosing early-stage tuberculous arthritis is reported. CONCLUSION: The reports suggested that scintigraphy is recommended to diagnose subclinical tuberculous arthritis, especially in tuberculosis endemic regions.

Hallux Valgus Interphalangeus with Large Ossicle Formation: A Case Report.

Hallux valgus interphalangeus (HVIP) is a deviation of the distal phalanx in relation to the proximal phalanx. Its etiology is considered multifactorial, including growth development disturbances, external pressure, and biomechanical alteration involving the interphalangeal joint. Here, we report a case of HVIP with the presence of a large ossicle at the lateral side, which was considered related to HVIP development. A 21-year-old woman presented HVIP that had developed since childhood. She complained of pain in her right great toe that worsened in the previous several months, particularly when walking and wearing shoes. Surgical correction consisted of Akin osteotomy, fixation with headless screw, ossicle excision, and medial capsulorrhaphy. The interphalangeal joint angle was improved from 28.69° pre-operatively to 8.93° post-operatively. The wound healed uneventfully and the patient was satisfied. Akin osteotomy with concomitant ossicle excision was effective in this case. Gaining more knowledge regarding ossicles around the foot will provide a better understanding of deformity correction, especially from the biomechanical standpoint.

Short-term outcomes of one-stage debridement and fusion for ankle joint tuberculosis.

PURPOSE: Tuberculosis remains a worldwide health problem, as well as its complications including arthritis in various joints. End-stage arthritis in weight-bearing joint would require surgery either arthroplasty or arthrodesis, in order to achieve painless and stable gait. In general, staged surgery consisted of debridement and subsequent definitive procedure is accepted. However, multiple surgery would be disadvantageous in terms of clinical and economic burdens. This study reported the short-term result of one-stage debridement and fusion for ankle joint tuberculosis. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of twenty-six patients with history of one-stage debridement and ankle fusion was conducted. Basic anthropometric measurement, local status, and surgical technique were recorded. Functional score using Foot and Ankle Ability Measures (FAAM) activities of daily living (ADL) was assessed pre-operatively and at two and half year post-surgery follow-up visit along with radiological fusion rate. Paired t test was used to analyse the improvement of the clinical scores. RESULTS: There was improvement in FAAM score from 43.38 ± 9.51 to 62.19 ± 6.63% (p < 0.001). All sinuses had been subsided, albeit at various time spans. Modified radiographic union score for tibia (RUST) revealed various fusion rate results, ranged from 5 to 11. CONCLUSION: One-stage debridement and fusion is proven efficacious for end-stage joint tuberculosis, with less surgery occasion compared with staged surgery. However, patient selection is important since any comorbidities or secondary infection may complicate the fusion.

Autologous osteophyte grafting for ankle arthrodesis.

PURPOSE: Various graft sources had been identified to facilitate gap-filling in ankle arthrodesis procedures with related articular defects. This was a preliminary study with the aim of analyzing the efficacy and feasibility of using autologous osteophyte as a grafting source. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of ten patients having ankle arthrodesis procedure using identical anterior approach and plate fixation technique was conducted. Basic anthropometric measurements and underlying disease were recorded. Functional outcome and fusion rate were assessed at a 12-month post-surgery follow-up visit. RESULTS: The underlying diseases include primary osteoarthritis (OA), post-traumatic OA, rheumatoid arthritis, and Charcot arthropathy. The patient's age mean was 56.6 years (range 36-71 years), and BMI varied from 17.9 kg/m2 to 29.3 kg/m2. Nearly all patients had improved functional outcomes as described by foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) score and fusion rate as described by modified radiographic union score for tibia (RUST). One patient had failed surgery due to implant failure with diminished protective foot sensory. CONCLUSION: Osteophytes from the distal tibia and talar neck were a viable source of bone graft, especially for ankle arthrodesis using anterior approach among various ages and BMI, in which the surgeons would not need additional incision for graft harvesting.

Diabetic foot: Which one comes first, the ulcer or the contracture?

Diabetic foot is among the most common complications of patients with diabetes. One of the known causes of foot ulceration is ankle equinus, which increases the pressure on the plantar surface during ambulation. Conversely, equinus contracture can be caused by a complicated wound, and it may be due to prolonged immobilization. In this paper, we reviewed the pathogenesis of both conditions and their clinical considerations. Poor glycemic control in patients with diabetes may result in angiopathy and neuropathy as an underlying condition. An ulcer can be precipitated by an injury, improper foot care, or increased biomechanical loading as seen in elevated plantar pressure following equinus contracture. Equinus contracture may be a direct effect of hyperglycemia or can arise in combination with another pathway, for example, involving the activation of transforming growth factor ß. Static positioning resulting from any prior foot wound may develop fibrotic changes leading to contracture. Wound healing promoting factors can also result in overhealing outcomes such as hypertrophic scarring and fibrosis. The body's repair mechanism during the healing cascade activates repair cells and myofibroblasts, which also serve as the main producers and organizers of the extracellular matrix. Considering this intricate pathogenesis, appropriate interventions are essential for breaking the vicious cycle that may disturb wound healing.

Modified Eden-Lange procedure for iatrogenic lateral scapular winging.

INTRODUCTION: Lateral winging scapula is rare and generated by the trapezius paralysis. It is most likely iatrogenic from procedures involving the posterior cervical triangle. The modified Eden-Lange procedures one of the options by restoring the major actions of a flaccid trapezius. This case report aims to evaluate the outcomes. CASE REPORT: A 34-year-old female came with right lateral scapular winging after radical neck tumor dissection and miss diagnosed by another hospital and underwent shoulder surgery. We performed a physical examination and showed lateral winging scapula. The best management therapy for this patient used modified Eden-Lange procedure. DISCUSSION: Conservative treatments for Lateral scapular winging caused by spinal accessory nerve injury might be successful in early 20 months. However, our patient was injured 26 months before surgery which made Eden-Lange Procedures was the best choice for the patient. Modifications to this procedure allowed her to achieve excellent results. CONCLUSION: Correction of the lateral scapular winging by modified Eden-Lange procedure combined with physical therapy for patient's trapezius palsy to gain adequate stability for daily activities.