Allograft Interposition Bone Graft for First Metatarsal Phalangeal Arthrodesis: Salvage After Bone Loss and Shortening of the First Ray.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated success in using autogenous bone graft for arthrodesis in patients with failed surgeries of the hallux. These patients have several causes for pain and dysfunction preoperatively, including a shortened first ray, nonunion, and poor hallux alignment. METHODS: In this study, a consecutive series of 36 patients (38 procedures) were treated with a patellar wedge interposition structural allograft to salvage bone loss from great toe arthrodesis malunion, painful joint replacement, failed osteotomy, or infection of the great toe metatarsophalangeal (MP) joint with shortening of the first ray. The goals of the surgery were to restore length to the first ray and provide a stable MP joint fusion to relieve pain. The 38 treated toes were evaluated for preoperative and postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) MP scores, subjective patient outcome scores, and clinically successful fusion of the hallux. RESULTS: At a minimum 1-year follow-up (mean, 3.2 years), all but 2 feet healed with a solid fusion, and all healed patients reported good or excellent outcomes. AOFAS MP scores averaged 43.5 preoperatively and 77.2 postoperatively. Three patients with infection as cause for nonunion of the initial procedure were treated with staged procedures, including the use of a temporary antibiotic spacer and mini external fixator; all 3 healed without recurrent infection. One patient had a fracture of her allograft following her interposition arthrodesis, but it fused successfully after a second interposition arthrodesis surgery. Two patients developed a nonunion of the revision arthrodesis. CONCLUSION: The use of an interposition patellar wedge allograft can restore length to the first ray and provide successful salvage of arthrodesis nonunions and bone loss from failed hemiarthroplasty and total joint implants of the great toe MP joint. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Operative Approach to Adult Hallux Valgus Deformity: Principles and Techniques.

Hallux valgus deformity is a progressive forefoot deformity consisting of a prominence derived from a medially deviated first metatarsal and laterally displaced great toe, with or without pronation. Although there is agreement that the deformity is likely caused by multifactorial intrinsic and extrinsic factors, the best method of operative management is debated despite the creation of basic algorithms. Our understanding of the deformity and the development of newer techniques is continuously evolving. Here, we review the general orthopaedic principles of operative decision-making and management of hallux valgus deformity.

Application of Ice for Postoperative Total Knee Incisions - Does this Make Sense? A Pilot Evaluation of Blood Flow Using Fluorescence Angiography.

Introduction Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common procedure with significant advances over the past several years, many pertaining to improved perioperative pain control. Cryotherapy is one method thought to decrease swelling and pain postoperatively. To our knowledge no study has directly visualized the effect cryotherapy has on skin blood flow following TKA. The primary aim was to determine if cryotherapy (icing) affects peri-incisional skin blood flow and if this is lessened with an alternate placement of the ice. We hypothesized that blood flow would decrease following cryotherapy, and this decrease would be greater with ice placed directly over the incision as compared to placement along the posterior knee. Methods This study included 10 patients who underwent TKA. During the postoperative hospitalization, they were given an injection of indocyanine green dye. A baseline image was recorded of the skin blood flow. Images were then collected following a five-minute interval placement of ice over the incision. The experiment was then repeated with the ice placed along the posterior knee.  Results There was an approximate 40% decrease in skin blood flow following placement of the ice compared to baseline. We observed a greater decrease in blood flow when ice was placed over the incision as compared to when ice was placed posterior to the knee (p ≤ 0.020). Conclusion We found a significant decrease in peri-incisional blood flow with icing of the knee. Physicians should be cognizant of this when recommending cryotherapy to patients after surgery, especially in at-risk wounds.

A Collaborative Approach to Pain Control Reduces In-hospital Opioid Use and Improves Range of Motion following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Opioid pain medications are commonly prescribed following orthopedic procedures, with overprescribing of these pain medications implicated as a driver of the current opioid epidemic. In an effort to reduce reliance on opioid pain medications, surgeons are relying on periarticular injections or peripheral nerve blocks. The purpose of this study was to compare numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores and oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) in patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with a periarticular injection alone to those who underwent a collaborative approach with a periarticular injection in the posterior tissue and an adductor canal catheter for anterior knee analgesia. METHODS: In this study, 236 patients underwent a primary TKA between December 2017 and April 2018. Forty patients received an adductor canal catheter and 196 underwent a periarticular injection alone. RESULTS: We found no difference in patient demographics between the cohorts (p>0.05). The patients that underwent the collaborative approach with a periarticular injection and adductor canal catheter had lower NRS pain scores on post-operative day 0, 1, and 2 (all P≤0.033). These patients demonstrated a reduction of 43% in opioid consumption during the hospitalization (P<0.001). These patients also demonstrated improved range of motion (ROM) (96 vs. 92 degrees) on the day of discharge (P=0.013). CONCLUSION: This study provides strong evidence that in patients undergoing TKA, the collaborative approach with the adductor canal catheter and periarticular injection is associated with lower post-operative pain scores, fewer total OMEs per hospital day, and a greater ROM arc prior to discharge compared to patients receiving a periarticular injection alone.

An Anatomic and Clinical Study of the Innervation of the Dorsal Midfoot Capsule.

BACKGROUND: Dorsal pain from osteoarthritic midfoot joints is thought to be relayed by branches of the medial and lateral plantar, sural, saphenous, and deep peroneal nerves (DPN). However, there is no consensus on the actual number or pathways of the nervous branches for midfoot joint capsular innervation. This study examined the DPN's terminal branches at the midfoot joint capsules through anatomic dissection and confirmation of their significance in a clinical case series of patients with midfoot pain relief after DPN block. METHODS: Eleven cadaveric lower leg specimens, 6 left and 5 right, were dissected using operative loupe magnification. We preserved the terminal branches and recorded their paths and branching patterns. Joint capsular innervations were individually noted. To confirm our hypothesis of significant dorsal midfoot joint capsular innervation by the DPN, we also performed an institutional review board-approved retrospective chart review of 37 patients with painful dorsal midfoot osteoarthritis who underwent diagnostic local anesthetic injection block of the DPN. The percentage of temporary pain relief after the injection was recorded. RESULTS: Terminal innervation of the DPN branches showed distribution of the second and third tarsometatarsal joints in all specimens. Inconsistent innervation of the naviculocuneiform (9/11), fourth (7/11), first (6/11), and fifth (4/11) tarsometatarsal and calcaneocuboid joints (1/11) were observed. The retrospective review of pain relief in patients with dorsal midfoot pain due to arthritis after diagnostic injection demonstrated a mean of 92.1% improvement. CONCLUSION: Innervation of the dorsal midfoot joint capsule appears to follow a consistent distribution across 3 joints: second and third tarsometatarsal joints and the naviculocuneiform joint. Acute relief of dorsal midfoot arthritic pain after diagnostic injection suggests that dorsal midfoot nociceptive pain is at least partly transmitted by the DPN. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

Early In-Hospital Pain Control Is a Stronger Predictor for Patients Requiring a Refill of Narcotic Pain Medication Compared to the Amount of Narcotics Given at Discharge.

BACKGROUND: The United States is combating an opioid epidemic. Orthopedic surgeons are the third highest opioid prescribers and therefore have an opportunity and obligation to assist in the efforts to reduce opioid use and abuse. In this article, we evaluate risk factors for patients requiring an opioid refill after primary total knee arthroplasty, with the goal to reduce opioid prescriptions for those patients at low risk of requiring a refill in order to reduce the amount of unused medication. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed narcotic-naïve patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty from December 2017 to May 2018. We performed multivariable analysis on demographics and preoperative, operative, and postoperative characteristics to determine risk factors for requiring a prescription refill following hospital discharge. RESULTS: One-hundred fifty-seven patients were included in the analysis. Sixty percent of patients required a prescription refill. Risk factors included younger age (P = .003) and increased pain on postoperative day one (P < .001). The amount of narcotic medication given at discharge did not independently affect the refill rate (P = .21). CONCLUSION: There is strong evidence that elderly patients and those with good pain control on postoperative day 1 are at a lower risk of requiring a narcotic refill postoperatively. With this information, physicians may begin to tailor narcotic prescriptions based on patient risk factors for requiring a prescription refill rather than provide patients with the same number of pills for a given surgery in an effort to reduce unused narcotic medication.

Management of Bunionette Deformity.

Bunionette deformity, historically known as tailor's bunion, is a forefoot protuberance laterally, dorsolaterally, or plantarlaterally along the fifth metatarsal head. Although bunionette deformity has been compared to hallux valgus deformity, it is likely due to a multifactorial, anatomic interplay between fifth metatarsal bony morphology and forefoot soft-tissue imbalance. Friction generated between the bony prominence, soft tissue, and associated constrictive footwear can result in keratosis, inflammation, pain, and ulceration. Symptomatic bunionettes are usually responsive to nonsurgical management. Surgical options are available based on the underlying bony deformity when nonsurgical treatment fails.

Saphenous nerve innervation of the medial ankle.

BACKGROUND: The distal saphenous nerve is commonly known to provide cutaneous innervation of the medial side of the ankle and distally to the base of the great toe. We hypothesize that the saphenous nerve innervates the periosteum of the medial malleolus and joint capsule. METHODS: Five fresh limbs were dissected and the saphenous nerve was traced distally with magnification. The medial malleolus, talus, and soft tissue were fixed in formaldehyde, decalcified, and embedded in paraffin and sectioned. Histologic slides were then prepared using S100 antibody nerve stains. RESULTS: Histologic slides were examined and myelinated nerves could be observed within the medial capsule and periosteum in all the specimens. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that the saphenous nerve innervates the periosteum of the medial malleolus and joint capsule.

Wound breakdown after total ankle arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Wound breakdown of the operative incision is commonly encountered as a complication following ankle replacement surgery. Healing problems can progress to full thickness necrosis of the skin and deeper tissues jeopardizing the ultimate retention of the implants leading to compromised patient outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 57 consecutive primary total ankle arthroplasties (TAA) were retrospectively reviewed after observing a higher than expected rate of wound-healing problems consistently involving the central third of the operative incision. RESULTS: The rate of wound breakdown was 28% in this series. Analysis of various possible risk factors showed a statistically significant increase in rate of wound breakdown associated with smoking greater than 12 pack years, peripheral vascular disease, and cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: Preoperative identification of patient risk factors associated with breakdown of the operative incision after TAA should improve outcome of the procedure. Screening of those patients with risk factors for wound breakdown is recommended prior to total ankle arthroplasty.