Republication of "Open Repair of Acute Achilles Tendon Ruptures: Is the Incidence of Clinically Significant Wound Complications Overestimated?"

Background: Conflicting evidence exists regarding the optimal management of acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Operative repair is thought to afford patients a lower risk of rerupture, albeit at a higher overall risk of wound complications. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 369 consecutive patients undergoing open repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures performed by a single foot and ankle fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon was undertaken. Healing was classified as no complications, complications without prolonging treatment, complications requiring prolonged local treatment, and complications requiring operative intervention. A statistical analysis comparing the rates of complications in this cohort to that reported in the literature was conducted. Results: There were a total of 33 (8.94%) wound complications. Compared to the rates reported in the literature, no significant difference was detected (P = .3943; CI 6.24-12.33). However, when the complications not requiring additional treatment or prolonged care were excluded, only 9 wound complications (2.44%) were identified-a significantly lower complication rate than that reported in the literature (P < .0001; CI 1.12-4.58). There were only 2 (0.54%) major complications requiring operative intervention, also a significantly lower rate than in the literature (P < .0001; CI 0.067-1.94). Conclusion: In the past, wound-healing complications have been cited as a concern when treating patients operatively. We found that when solely looking at healing complications prolonging the patients' overall recovery, a significantly lower rate of complications existed compared to that reported in the literature. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

Opioid Consumption Patterns and Prolonged Opioid Use Among Opioid-Naïve Ankle Fracture Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Previous literature has demonstrated an association between acute opioid exposure and the risk of long-term opioid use. Here, the investigators assess immediate postoperative opioid consumption patterns as well as the incidence of prolonged opioid use among opioid-naïve patients following ankle fracture surgery. METHODS: Included patients underwent outpatient open reduction and internal fixation of an ankle or tibial plafond fracture over a 1-year period. At patients' first postoperative visit, opioid pills were counted and standardized to the equivalent number of 5-mg oxycodone pills. Prolonged use was defined as filling a prescription for a controlled substance more than 90 days after the index procedure, tracked by the New Jersey Prescription Drug Monitoring Program up to 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: At the first postoperative visit, 173 patients consumed a median of 24 out of 40 pills prescribed. The initial utilization rate was 60%, and 2736 pills were left unused. In all, 32 (18.7%) patients required a narcotic prescription 90 days after the index procedure. Patients with a self-reported history of depression (P = .11) or diabetes (P = .07) demonstrated marginal correlation with prolonged narcotic use. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that, on average, patients utilize significantly fewer opioid pills than prescribed and that many patient demographics are not significant predictors of continued long-term use following outpatient ankle fracture surgery. Large variations in consumption rates make it difficult for physicians to accurately prescribe and predict prolonged narcotic use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Improved Pain and Function After TTC Fusion With a Custom Cage.

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional custom cages can be used to treat complex ankle and hindfoot pathology and bone loss with potentially better patient satisfaction and higher fusion rates than tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) fusion alone or in combination with bulk femoral head allograft. Yet there is limited literature to support this procedure. The purpose of this study is to objectively quantify the clinical and radiologic outcomes of patients undergoing patient-specific 3D-printed custom cage implantation to fill large defects around the ankle joint region as part of a limb-salvaging TTC fusion. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 21 patients (mean age 59.3 years) who underwent custom cage implantation with a TTC retrograde fusion nail by a single surgeon for massive bone loss of the ankle and hindfoot. Patient charts were reviewed for pain and functional outcomes, complications, and various demographics, including number of previous surgeries to the ipsilateral ankle. Mean follow-up was 32 months. All 21 patients had preoperative and postoperative pain and function scores available for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 20 (95.2%) of the 21 patients had their cage in situ at final follow-up. Overall, with the numbers available, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) activities of daily living subscale, and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) mental and physical health scores significantly improved from preoperative to final follow-up. However, when compared to the overall US population of age-matched 55- to 64-year-old individuals, patients still remained relatively disabled. There were 2 failures, one of which required amputation and the other was treated nonoperatively with bracing. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, in this relatively small, single-surgeon series, we found that 3D-printed custom cage technology offered a viable option for complex TTC fusion procedures performed in the presence of significant bone loss, with good fusion rates, however relatively modest improvement in functional outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Paediatric ankle cartilage lesions: Proceedings of the International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle.

BACKGROUND: The evidence supporting best practice guidelines in the field of cartilage repair of the ankle are based on both low quality and low levels of evidence. Therefore, an international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance toward consensus opinions based on the best available evidence on key topics within cartilage repair of the ankle. The purpose of this article is to report the consensus statements on "Pediatric Ankle Cartilage Lesions" developed at the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. METHODS: Forty-three international experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 20 countries convened to participate in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within four working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed and the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred in cases where statements were not agreed upon in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held, and the strength of consensus was characterised as follows: consensus: 51-74%; strong consensus: 75-99%; unanimous: 100%. RESULTS: A total of 12 statements on paediatric ankle cartilage lesions reached consensus during the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. Five achieved unanimous support, and seven reached strong consensus (>75% agreement). All statements reached at least 84% agreement. CONCLUSIONS: This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with the management of paediatric ankle cartilage lesions.

Comparison Between Closed Suction Drainage and No Drainage Following Total Ankle Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of closed suction drains after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is associated with lower wound complications in the first postoperative year as compared to no drain usage. METHODS: A total of 324 TAA were reviewed and included for analysis. One hundred forty-four did not have a postoperative drain placed, whereas 180 did have a postoperative drain. Demographic data, including age, sex, tobacco or alcohol use, and various medical comorbidities, were obtained. Follow-up data were collected and reviewed at 2, 6, and 12 weeks; 6 months; and 1 year postoperatively for minor and major wound complications, as well as wound-related reoperations. RESULTS: At the 2-week mark, the use of a drain demonstrated a significant increase in wound complications. No significant difference in wound complications was found at each subsequent follow-up visit. Within the first postoperative year, a total of 46 patients (31.9%) without drains and 69 patients (38.3%) with drains had a wound complication. This was not statistically significant. Most wound complications were minor, and no significant difference in reoperation rates occurred between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: A postoperative closed suction drain may increase wound complications in the first 2 weeks after TAA and should therefore be used with caution. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Terminology for osteochondral lesions of the ankle: proceedings of the International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle.

BACKGROUND: The evidence supporting best practice guidelines in the field of cartilage repair of the ankle is based on both low quality and low levels of evidence. Therefore, an international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance toward consensus opinions based on the best available evidence on key topics within cartilage repair of the ankle. The purpose of this article is to report the consensus statements on "terminology for osteochondral lesions of the ankle" developed at the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. METHODS: Forty-three international experts in cartilage repair of the ankle representing 20 countries were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within four working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed, and the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred in cases where statements were not agreed on in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held, and the strength of consensus was characterised as follows: consensus, 51%-74%; strong consensus, 75%-99%; unanimous, 100%. RESULTS: A total of 11 statements on terminology and classification reached consensus during the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. Definitions are provided for osseous, chondral and osteochondral lesions, as well as bone marrow stimulation and injury chronicity, among others. An osteochondral lesion of the talus can be abbreviated as OLT. CONCLUSIONS: This international consensus derived from leaders in the field will assist clinicians with the appropriate terminology for osteochondral lesions of the ankle.

Delayed pathologic tibial fracture with chronic osteomyelitis after fibula free flap.

The reported donor site morbidity of the fibula free flap (FFF) is low; however, several uncommon complications have been reported with tibia fracture rarely being reported. We present a case of a pathological tibial fracture in the setting of chronic osteomyelitis after FFF. A 54-year-old female presented with a benign fibro-osseous lesion of the right mandible and was treated with mandibulectomy and reconstructed with a left FFF. Approximately 1 year following surgery, the patient presented to the emergency department. Imaging showed a pathological fracture of the distal third of the tibial shaft with persistent erythema and cellulitis of the lateral prior graft harvest site without signs of systemic infection. She was taken to the operating room for irrigation and debridement with culture and biopsy as well as external fixation of the tibial fracture. Intraoperative biopsy and culture demonstrated fracture site change with callus formation and negative culture. The patient was discharged on 6 weeks of IV vancomycin and ceftriaxone. In conclusion, tibial fracture following FFF is an uncommon complication, yet it can be exacerbated by chronic osteomyelitis. This report highlights the importance of close observation and comprehensive wound care of donor sites after free flap harvest for head and neck reconstruction.

Osteochondral Lesions of the Tibial Plafond and Ankle Instability With Ankle Cartilage Lesions: Proceedings of the International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle.

BACKGROUND: An international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance toward consensus opinions based on the best available evidence on key topics within cartilage repair of the ankle. The purpose of this article is to present the consensus statements on osteochondral lesions of the tibial plafond (OLTP) and on ankle instability with ankle cartilage lesions developed at the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. METHODS: Forty-three experts in cartilage repair of the ankle were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within 4 working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed and the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred in cases where statements were not agreed on in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held. RESULTS: A total of 11 statements on OLTP reached consensus. Four achieved unanimous support and 7 reached strong consensus (greater than 75% agreement). A total of 8 statements on ankle instability with ankle cartilage lesions reached consensus during the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. One achieved unanimous support, and seven reached strong consensus (greater than 75% agreement). CONCLUSION: These consensus statements may assist clinicians in the management of these difficult clinical pathologies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, mechanism-based reasoning.

Surgical Management of Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Lower Extremity: Outcome Analysis and Return to Sport.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient-reported outcomes and return to sport after open fasciotomy for lower extremity chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Foot and ankle specialty service at a large multisite academic medical center. PATIENTS: All patients undergoing lower extremity fasciotomy for CECS from 2009 to 2017 by one surgeon were eligible. Patients that underwent a fasciotomy for trauma, infection, or an acute pathologic process were excluded. Fifty-nine patients that underwent 63 procedures were included. The average age was 26.6 years, and 35 (59%) patients were women. Thirty-seven patients underwent simultaneous bilateral fasciotomies, 4 had staged bilateral fasciotomies, and 18 underwent unilateral fasciotomy. Four-compartment fasciotomy was performed 15 times. INTERVENTIONS: Retrospective email/telephone follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Return to sports questionnaire, the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Sports subscale, and visual analog scale for pain. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 58.8 months, significant postoperative improvement was seen in patient-reported outcome scores compared with preoperative scores (P < 0.0001). Overall, 55 (93%) patients were able to return to sport, 42 (76%) returned to the same level of sport, and 13 (24%) returned to a lower level of competition. Bivariate regression analysis demonstrated that a higher preoperative body mass index [odds ratio: 0.829 (95% confidence interval: 0.688, 0.999); P = 0.049] was associated with a lower likelihood of return to sport. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that lower extremity fasciotomy for CECS results in improvement of patient-reported outcomes and a high rate of return to sport.

Self-Reported Pain Tolerance and Opioid Pain Medication Use After Foot and Ankle Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Orthopaedic surgeons must consider their postoperative pain management strategies to minimize harm from prescription opioid use. Patients often reference their pain threshold to predict how they will tolerate surgical pain and the need for postoperative analgesia, but the direct relationship between these factors has not yet been studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between patients' self-reported pain tolerance and prescription opioid usage after foot and ankle surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective follow-up of a prospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent outpatient foot and ankle surgeries. Patient and procedural demographics, opioid pills dispensed, and opioid pills consumed by the first postoperative visit were obtained. Patients were contacted at a mean of 13.1 ± 4.0 months postoperatively and asked to respond to the qualitative statement "Pain doesn't bother me as much as it does most people." Patients were also asked their quantitative pain threshold (0-100), with 0 being "very pain intolerant" and 100 being a "very high pain tolerance," as well other questions regarding past surgical and narcotic consumption history. RESULTS: Of the 700 survey respondents, the average age was 50.9 years and 34.7% were male. Bivariate analysis determined that predictors of lower postoperative opioid consumption included higher quantitative (P = .047) and qualitative (P = .005) pain tolerance scores. Multivariate analysis for the entire cohort demonstrated that higher qualitative pain threshold was associated with lower postoperative opioid consumption (P = .005) but this did not meet statistical significance as an independent predictor of the top quartile of pill consumers. CONCLUSION: Assessment of both qualitative and quantitative score of patients' pain threshold prior to surgery may assist the surgeon in tailoring postoperative pain control. Additionally, asking this question can create an opportunity for educating patients regarding responsible utilization of narcotic medication. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Management of Ankle Fractures With Syndesmotic Disruption: A Survey of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

INTRODUCTION: With no current "gold standard" fixation strategy for syndesmotic injuries and differences in preferred preoperative and intraoperative diagnostic techniques and criteria, methods of reduction, fixation constructs, and postoperative management, the goals of this study were to determine how orthopaedic surgeons currently manage ankle fractures with concomitant syndesmotic disruption, as well as to identify surgeon demographics predictive of syndesmotic management techniques. METHODS: This study was conducted as a web-based survey of foot and ankle fellowship-trained surgeons, Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) members, and Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA) members. The survey, sent and completed via the HIPAA-compliant Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) system, consisted of 18 questions: 6 surgeon demographic questions and 12 specific syndesmotic management questions regarding perioperative protocols and syndesmotic fixation construct techniques. RESULTS: One hundred and ten orthopaedic surgeons completed our survey. Years of practice and type of fellowship were found to be the variables that influenced perioperative syndesmotic management strategies the most, while a number of fractures operated on per year, country of practice, and practice setting also influenced management decisions. Additionally, 59% (65/110) surgeons indicated that the way they have managed syndesmotic injuries has changed at some point in their career, while 33% (36/110) specified that they could foresee themselves changing their management of these injuries in the future. CONCLUSIONS: There was significant variability among responders in preoperative and intraoperative assessment technique, fixation construct, screw removal protocol, and postoperative weightbearing protocol. This study raises awareness of differences in and factors predictive of management strategies and should be used for further discussion when determining a potential gold standard for the management of these complex injuries.

Outcomes of 2B Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity Correction in Patients With and Without Spring Ligament Tear.

BACKGROUND: It is currently unclear how injury to the spring ligament (SL) affects the preoperative presentation of adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD) or the outcome of operative reconstruction. The purposes of this study were to assess the preoperative features and pre- or postoperative function of patients who underwent direct operative repair of an SL tear compared to those without a tear. METHODS: 86 patients undergoing operative correction of grade 2B AAFD by a single fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon were reviewed at an average follow-up of 45.9 months. There were 35 feet found to have an SL tear that underwent concomitant debridement and direct repair of the SL. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic information, preoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain level, and their Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) activities of daily living (ADL) and sports subscales. Preoperative radiographic parameters were assessed. Patient outcomes of VAS pain, FAAM-ADL, and FAAM-Sports were collected and compared between groups. RESULTS: Those with an SL tear had significantly lower FAAM-ADL and sports scores, with higher VAS pain scores preoperatively. Patient age, talonavicular uncoverage percentage, and talonavicular angle were found to be associated with spring ligament degeneration. At final follow-up, patients demonstrated a significant improvement in all outcome parameters, with no statistical difference found with patient satisfaction, final postoperative VAS pain, FAAM-ADL, or FAAM-Sports in those requiring a repair of their SL as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Increasing patient age, increasing talonavicular uncoverage percentage, and decreasing talonavicular angle are all independently associated with increased likelihood of patients with AAFD having an SL tear. At follow-up for operative treatment of grade 2B AAFD flatfoot with our approach, we found no clinical outcomes difference between those without SL tears and those with SL tears treated with concomitant SL debridement and repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Predictors of Improvement After Fasciotomy for Treatment of Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Lower Extremity.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of lower extremity fasciotomies in treating chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS). However, not all patients have demonstrated the same level of symptom improvement. HYPOTHESIS: Specific patient variables will lead to enhanced functional improvement after fasciotomy for CECS of the lower extremity. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. METHODS: A review of patients undergoing fasciotomy of the lower extremity for treatment of CECS by a single surgeon from 2009 to 2017 was performed. Pre- and postoperative measures of Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Sports subscale (FAAM-Sports), FAAM-Sports Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain during sporting activities were collected at a minimum of 12 months postoperatively. The primary outcomes of change in FAAM-Sports, FAAM-Sports SANE, and VAS during sporting activities were calculated by taking the difference of post- and preoperative scores. Generalized multiple linear regression analyses was performed to determine independent predictors of functional and pain improvement. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients (58% response rate) who underwent 65 procedures were included in this study, with postoperative outcome measures obtained at mean duration of 57.9 months (range, 12-115 months) after surgery. Patients had a mean ± SD improvement in FAAM-Sports of 40.4 ± 22.3 points (P < 0.001), improvement in FAAM-Sports SANE of 57.3 ± 31.6 points (P < 0.001), and reduction of VAS pain of 56.4 ± 31.8 points (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed deep posterior compartment involvement, younger age, a history of depression, and male sex to be significant independent predictors of enhanced improvement after fasciotomy. CONCLUSION: Fasciotomy is an effective treatment of CECS, with our study identifying certain patient variables leading to greater functional improvement. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Male patients, younger patients, patients with depression, and patients with deep posterior compartment involvement may serve to benefit more with fasciotomies for treatment of CECS.

High Prevalence of Degenerative Changes at the Metatarsal Head Sesamoid Articulation Found During Hallux Valgus Correction Surgery.

Background. Despite the absence of complications and a restoration of normal hallux alignment, some patients have suboptimal outcomes from hallux valgus correction surgery. One risk factor for persistent pain may be the presence of arthritic changes at the metatarsal head articulation with the sesamoids, an area not easily assessed with standard radiographs unless dedicated sesamoid views are obtained. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the metatarsal head for degenerative changes during hallux valgus correction surgery and identified preoperative risk factors associated with these changes. Methods. We prospectively evaluated 200 feet in 196 patients who underwent hallux valgus surgery intraoperatively for the pattern and severity of arthritic changes at the metatarsal head. Mann-Whitney U testing was implemented to compare differences in arthritic scores between preoperative deformity groups. The Spearman correlation test was used to determine the association between age and preoperative deformity with the severity of degenerative changes. Results. More than half of all feet assessed had severe arthritic changes at the plantar medial aspect of the metatarsal head and 40% of feet at the plantar lateral aspect. Age and intermetatarsal angle were found to be positively correlated with arthritis in this area. Conclusion. Our prospective study has demonstrated the high prevalence of arthritic changes at the metatarsal head sesamoid articulation and the positive influence of age and severity of deformity on metatarsal head arthritic changes seen during hallux valgus correction surgery. Furthermore, these arthritic changes were found to have no significant influence on preoperative functional and pain levels.Levels of Evidence: Level IV: Case series.

Return to Driving After Foot and Ankle Surgery: A Novel Survey to Predict Passing Brake Reaction Time.

Introduction. Brake reaction time (BRT) is an accepted method for establishing recommendations for safe return to driving by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Other than performing a BRT test in clinic, there is no established clinical tool to help physicians differentiate safe from unsafe drivers once patients reach general recovery milestones. The purpose is to present individual recommendations to the patient through a novel, validated survey evaluating safe return to driving after orthopaedic surgery of the right foot and ankle. Methods. A total of 171 patients undergoing 1 of 3 specific foot and ankle procedures were prospectively enrolled. A 4-question survey and BRT were completed 6 weeks postoperatively. The following questions were asked: (1) "I think my brake reaction time is slower than most drivers my age," (2) "I think my brake reaction time is faster than most drivers my age," (3) "I think my brake reaction time is about the same as most drivers my age," (4) "Based on what I think my brake reaction time is, I think I am ready to drive." Internal consistency was determined with Cronbach's α and item total correlation. External validity was determined by Spearman's correlation coefficient. A BRT less than 0.850 s was considered as a pass. Results. Of 171 patients, 162 (95%) with ages ranging from 21 to 83 years achieved a passing BRT by 7.6 weeks. After removing 1 question because of internal inconsistency, the optimal threshold for predicting passing BRT was 10/15 points or higher, which had 99% probability of success that a patient would pass the BRT (95% CI = 96%, 100%). Conclusion. This novel, 3-question driving readiness survey can accurately predict a passing BRT Achilles rupture repair, total ankle arthroplasty, and hallux valgus correction performed in the right foot and ankle as early as 6 weeks postoperatively.Level of Evidence: Level II: Comparative study.

Application of Computerized Adaptive Testing to the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures are an increasingly important tool for assessing the impact of treatments orthopedic surgeons render. Despite their importance, they can present a burden. We examined the validity and utility of a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) method to reduce the number of questions on the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), a validated anatomy-specific outcome measure. METHODS: A previously developed FAAM CAT system was applied to the responses of patients undergoing foot and ankle evaluation and treatment over a 3-year period (2017-2019). A total of 15 902 responses for the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) subscale and a total of 14 344 responses for the Sports subscale were analyzed. The accuracy of the CAT to replicate the full-form score was assessed. RESULTS: The CAT system required 11 questions to be answered for the ADL subscale in 85.1% of cases (range, 11-12). The number of questions answered on the Sports subscale was 6 (range, 5-6) in 66.4% of cases. The mean difference between the full FAAM ADL subscale and CAT was 0.63 of a point. The mean difference between the FAAM Sports subscale and CAT was 0.65 of a point. CONCLUSION: The FAAM CAT was able to reduce the number of responses a patient would need to answer by nearly 50%, while still providing a valid outcome score. This measure can therefore be directly correlated with previously obtained full FAAM scores in addition to providing a foot/ankle-specific measure, which previously reported CAT systems are not able to do. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

Immediate Weight-Bearing and Range of Motion After Internal Fixation of Selected Malleolar Fractures: A Retrospective Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVES: We studied the safety of immediate weight-bearing as tolerated (IWBAT) and immediate range of motion (IROM) after open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of selected malleolar ankle fractures (defined as involving bony or ligamentous disruption of 2 or more of the malleoli or syndesmosis without articular comminution) and attempted to identify risk factors for complications. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: Level 1 Urban Trauma Center and multiple community hospitals, orthopedic specialty hospitals, and outpatient surgicenters within one metropolitan area. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Of 268 patients at our level 1 trauma center who underwent primary ORIF of a selected malleolar fracture from 2013 to 2018, we identified 133 (49.6%) who were selected for IWBAT and IROM. We used propensity score matching to identify 172 controls who were non-weight-bearing (NWB) and no range of motion for 6 weeks postoperatively. The groups did not differ significantly in age, body mass index, Charleston Comorbidity Index, smoking status, diabetes status, malleoli involved, percentages undergoing medial malleolus (60.9% IWBAT vs. 51.7% NWB), posterior malleolus (24.1% IWBAT, 26.7% NWB), or syndesmosis fixation (41.4% IWBAT, 42.4% NWB, P = 0.85). INTERVENTION: IWBAT and IROM after ankle ORIF versus NWB for 6 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Postoperative complications, including delayed wound healing, superficial or deep infection, and loss of reduction. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in total complications (P = 0.41), nonoperative complications (P = 0.53), or operative complications, including a loss of reduction (P = 0.89). We did not identify any factors associated with an increased complication risk, including posterior malleolus or syndesmosis fixation, diabetes, age, or preinjury-assisted ambulation. CONCLUSIONS: We failed to demonstrate a difference in complications in general and loss of reduction in particular when allowing immediate weight-bearing/ROM in selected cases of operatively treated malleolar fractures, suggesting this may be safe. Future prospective randomized studies are necessary to determine if immediate weight-bearing/ROM is safe and whether it offers any benefits to patients with operatively treated malleolar fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Coding Education in Residency and in Practice Improves Accuracy of Coding in Orthopedic Surgery.

The goal of training in orthopedic residency is to produce surgeons who are proficient in all aspects of the practice of orthopedic surgery; however, most residents receive either inadequate or no training in medical coding. The purpose of this study was to determine how well orthopedic residents code when compared with practicing surgeons and to identify whether coding education improves accuracy in medical coding. A mock coding survey was developed using commonly encountered orthopedic clinical scenarios. The survey was distributed to orthopedic trainees post-graduate years (PGY) 1 to 6 at 2 training programs and to attending surgeons. Results were analyzed in 3 groups: junior residents (PGY 1-3), senior residents (PGY 4-6), and attending surgeons. Overall and subcategory scores of (1) type of visit, (2) modifiers, (3) Evaluation and Management (E/M), and (4) Current Procedural Terminology code identification were recorded. Participants were also asked if they had ever received various forms of coding education. Sixty-seven total participants were enrolled, including 28 junior residents, 24 senior residents, and 15 attendings. Practicing surgeons performed significantly better than both senior (P<.027) and junior (P<.001) residents in all categories, with a mean overall correct response rate of 72.8%, 51.0%, and 47.4%, respectively. Any form of coding education was associated with a significantly improved overall score for residents (P=.013) and a nonsignificant increase for attending surgeons (P=.390). This study demonstrates that residents performed poorly when identifying proper billing codes for common procedures and encounters in orthopedic surgery. Further, those participants who received coding education did better than those who did not. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(6):380-383.].

Ankle Arthrodesis Through a Fibular-Sparing Anterior Approach.

BACKGROUND: The open anterior approach to ankle arthrodesis offers a technique that provides several advantages for surgeons, such as easier visualization of the joint for deformity correction and preservation of the malleoli for potential future conversion to total ankle arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes in a large series of patients undergoing open ankle arthrodesis via a fibular-sparing anterior approach. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing primary ankle arthrodesis with a single fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon between 2009 and 2017. Patients were excluded if an approach other than anterior was performed. Patient-reported outcome measures (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living [FAAM-ADL], Short-Form 12 [SF-12], and visual analog scale [VAS] pain) were subsequently collected at a minimum of 24 months (2 years) following index surgery, along with outcome satisfaction and likelihood to repeat surgery. Fusion of the tibiotalar joint at the time of last radiographic follow-up was also assessed. Paired t tests were performed to assess change in pre- to postoperative outcomes, while linear regression analysis was performed to identify any patient factors associated with outcomes. Eighty-one patients, including 31 women and 50 men, with a mean age of 51.5 years and a mean follow-up of 58.9 (range, 24-104) months, were included. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients reported significant improvement in mean FAAM-ADL (P < .0001), SF-12 Physical Composite Scale (P < .0001), and VAS pain (P < .0001), while the SF-12 Mental Composite Scale also improved, though not significantly (P = .2854). Twelve patients (14.8%) experienced complications following their arthrodesis procedure. Seventy-nine patients (97.5%) achieved fusion at their last radiographic follow-up. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed age (B = 0.071 [0.004, 0.128]; P = .0373) to have a positive association with postoperative VAS pain. CONCLUSION: Ankle arthrodesis utilizing a fibular-sparing anterior approach combined with the transarticular screw fixation technique offers surgeons several advantages, along with a low postoperative complication rate, high rate of radiographic evidence of joint fusion, and substantially large improvement in pain and functional levels. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.