Nonneurologic Cavovarus Feet in Skeletally Immature Patients: Main Causes and Principles of Treatment.

The foot resembles a tripod. The 3 legs consist of (1) the tip of the heel, (2) the first metatarsal, and (3) the fifth metatarsal. This concept is useful to explain cavus or flat feet. When the tips of the tripod move closer, the arch becomes higher. The leg of the tripod that moves the most will determine the type of cavus feet, which can be hindfoot cavus, forefoot cavus, or first metatarsal cavus. Cavovarus foot denotes the presence of a three-dimensional deformity of the foot, but it is much more a descriptive feature than a diagnosis.

Importance of computed tomography in posterior malleolar fractures: Added information to preoperative X-ray studies.

BACKGROUND: Ankle fractures are common lesions of the lower limbs. Approximately 40% of ankle fractures affect the posterior malleolus (PM). Historically, PM osteosynthesis was recommended when PM size in X-ray images was greater than 25% of the joint. Currently, computed tomography (CT) has been gaining traction in the preoperative evaluation of ankle fractures. AIM: To elucidate the similarity in dimensions and to correlate PM size in X-ray images with the articular surface of the affected tibial plafond in the axial view on CT (AXCT) of a PM fracture. METHODS: Eighty-one patients (mean age: 39.4 ± 13.5 years) were evaluated (54.3% were male). Two independent examiners measured PM size in profile X-ray images (PMXR) and sagittal CT (SAGCT) slices. The correlation of the measurements between the examiners and the difference in the PM fragment sizes between the two images were compared. Next, the PM size in PMXR was compared with the surface of the tibial plafond involved in the fracture in AXCT according to the Haraguchi classification. RESULTS: The correlation rates between the examiners were 0.93 and 0.94 for PMXR and SAGCT, respectively (P < 0.001). Fragments were 2.12% larger in SAGCT than in PMXR (P = 0.018). In PMXR, there were 56 cases < 25% and 25 cases ≥ 25%. When PMXR was < 25%, AXCT corresponded to 10.13% of the tibial plafond. When PMXR was ≥ 25%, AXCT was 24.52% (P < 0.001). According to the Haraguchi classification, fracture types I and II had similar PMXR measurements that were greater than those of type III. When analyzing AXCT, a significant difference was found between the three types, with II > I > III (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: PM fractures show different sizes using X-ray or CT images. CT showed a larger PM in the sagittal plane and allowed the visualization of the real dimensions of the tibial plafond surface.

Anterior tibial tendon transfer in idiopathic clubfoot: does the outcome differ with the initial treatment? Proposed classification to surgical indication.

PURPOSE: To establish parameters and propose a radiographic classification for foot adduction/supination deformities to assist the indication of Garceau procedure. Secondly, to investigate whether the outcome of Garceau surgery depends on the initial treatment used, peritalar release, or the Ponseti method, and verify the maintenance of correction until skeletal maturity. METHODS: Prospective cohort study, with follow-up evaluations in 2009 and 2019. Fifty-three consecutive patients (71 feet) with idiopathic congenital clubfoot (ICCF) were divided into two groups according to the initial treatment used: peritalar release (group I) or Ponseti method (group II). All patients underwent Garceau procedure. The patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically using the American Orthopedic Foot Association (AOFAS) score for ankle and hindfoot. A radiographic classification is proposed based on the adduction by talo-first metatarsal angle on dorsoplantar view and supination by the elevation of the head of the first metatarsal on lateral view, both weight-bearing. RESULTS: In the first clinical evaluation, the mean score on the AOFAS was 87 points in group I and 86 points in group II. In the second evaluation, group I had mean AOFAS of 92 points and group II of 94 points. No statistical differences were found between the two groups, neither between the first and the second evaluation. In the radiographic evaluation, the adduction deformity obtained an average correction of 4° in group I and 3.6° in group II; in supination deformity, the average depression of the first metatarsal head in relation to the ground was 6.7 mm in group I and 7.5 mm in group II, with no statistical difference between the two evaluations, indicating the correction was maintained until skeletal maturity. CONCLUSION: Garceau transfer is capable of correcting residual deformities in adduction/supination of mild and moderate degrees, regardless of the initial treatment, and maintaining the correction until skeletal maturity. The proposed radiographic classification might help to objectively indicate the surgical procedure.

Lesões agudas do tendão do calcâneo / Acute lesions of Achiles tendon

Objetivo: Apresentar o resultado do tratamento das lesões agudas do tendão do calcâneo tratadas no Grupo do Pé e Tornozelo da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo e suas complicações. Casuística e métodos: Reavaliamos 14 pacientes, 11 do sexo masculino e 3 do feminino, com média idade de 35 anos. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 63 meses. Avaliamos a amplitude de movimento do tornozelo e retropé, a hipotrofia da musculatura da perna, a força do tendão do calcâneo, a altura máxima atingida pelo calcâneo em relação ao solo e a capacidade de pular sobre o pé lesionado. Avaliamos também satisfação com o resultado obtido e a pontuação obtida na escala da ?American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society? ? AOFAS ? para o retropé. Resultados: Houve uma perda média de 4,8° na flexão plantar do tornozelo. Apresentavam hipotrofia muscular da perna sete pacientes, com perda média de 2,1 cm. Todos tinham grau V de força muscular e nenhum mostrava déficit na deambulação na ponta dos pés. A altura máxima entre o calcâneo e o solo no lado lesado foi de 8,5 cm em média e no lado contralateral foi de 9,2 cm. Dos pacientes, 92% apresentaram um resultado excelente na avaliação da capacidade de pular sobre o pé lesionado em apoio monopodal. Nos pacientes tratados cirurgicamente, encontramos cinco casos com complicações (35,7%). Todos estavam completamente satisfeitos com o resultado do tratamento e nenhum tinha incapacidade funcional no momento da reavaliação. Todos retornaram aos mesmos níveis de atividades laborativas de antes da lesão, sendo que 58,3% retornaram aos mesmos níveis de atividades esportivas de antes da lesão. A média do escore AOFAS para o retropé foi de 98 pontos. Conclusão: O número de complicações nos pacientes tratados pelo método cirúrgico foi elevado. No entanto, estes pacientes apresentaram bons resultados clínico-funcionais, assim como aqueles tratados pelo método conservador. Acreditamos que a controvérsia quanto ao melhor método permaneça, e novos estudos prospectivos e randomizados sejam necessários para elucidar esta questão.