Use of Fibula Nails With Proximal and Distal Fixation.

Background: Ankle fractures are a frequent injury in the adult population and a quarter of all ankle fractures are classified as unstable, requiring surgical intervention. Plate-and-screw construct is the traditionally used fixation method for fibula fractures. The use of an intramedullary nail is an alternative fixation method, with current literature supporting very low complication rates and hardware removal surgeries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes, including complication rates and implant removal rates, using a fibula nail with both proximal and distal fixation capabilities by an experienced surgeon. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 203 consecutive fibula nail cases from a single surgeon using a mini-open technique for anatomic reduction. Demographic, operative, clinical, and radiographic outcome data were analyzed, specifically examining complication rates and need for implant removal. Results: The average follow-up was 18.8 months (6-54 months). All fractures healed. We identified 2 cases of superficial wound infection, 1 superficial peroneal nerve irritation, and 1 case of implant removal. In the first 110 cases, 2 fractures were converted to a plate intraoperatively prior to a technique modification which has prevented this occurrence. No deep infection, delayed union, or nonunion occurred. Conclusion: Our data support that fibula nails with proximal and distal locking capabilities offer an alternative to plating with the potential for lower complication rates and lower need for implant removal. Level of evidence: Level IV, case series.

Teaching a New Dog Old Tricks: Ultrafast Liquid Chromatography/Tandem-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Nine ß-Lactam Antibiotics for Improved Therapeutic Drug Monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of ß-lactam antibiotics provides critical knowledge in hospital intensive care unit environments to support dosing within the narrow window between therapeutic failure and toxicity. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the most suitable analytical technique for these drugs; however, clinicians, patients, and laboratories would benefit from shortening the timeframe between the collection of samples and reporting of results. METHODS: The authors developed a very rapid LC-MS/MS method for 9 ß-lactam antimicrobial drugs on a commercial core-shell reverse-phase LC column by exploiting the performance of such stationary phase materials at a high mobile-phase linear velocity and using a simple flow split to optimize ionization conditions in the mass spectrometer ion source. The method's performance was assessed using a currently validated routine LC-MS/MS assay performed on the same instrument. RESULTS: Routine ß-lactam assays were reduced from >6 minutes per sample to less than 2 minutes with improved chromatographic resolution, while still maintaining acceptable analytical performance (average correlation coefficient: 0.99670, interday imprecision: 2.0%-10.8%, and bias: -1.68%), hence generating results in agreement with an existing validated method for patient and quality assurance program samples. CONCLUSIONS: Time-critical results, such as those for ß-lactam antimicrobials, may be reported by the TDM laboratory several hours earlier than current methods allow, providing improved patient care and generating capacity on LC-MS/MS instruments for larger batch sizes and/or additional assays. The simple-to-implement technique demonstrated in this study may be applicable to other TDM assays or any LC-MS/MS method where faster turnaround times are desirable.

Simultaneous monitoring of eight human respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2 using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Diagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has primarily been achieved using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for acute infection, and serology for prior infection. Assay with RT-PCR provides data on presence or absence of viral RNA, with no information on virus replication competence, infectivity, or virus characterisation. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is typically not used in clinical virology, despite its potential to provide supplemental data about the presence of viral proteins and thus the potential for replication-competent, transmissible virus. Using the SARS-CoV-2 as a model virus, we developed a fast 'bottom-up' proteomics workflow for discovery of target virus peptides using 'serum-free' culture conditions, providing high coverage of viral proteins without the need for protein or peptide fractionation techniques. This workflow was then applied to Coronaviruses OC43 and 229E, Influenza A/H1N1 and H3N2, Influenza B, and Respiratory Syncytial Viruses A and B. Finally, we created an LC-MS/MS method for targeted detection of the eight-virus panel in clinical specimens, successfully detecting peptides from the SARS-CoV-2 ORF9B and nucleoprotein in RT-PCR positive samples. The method provides specific detection of respiratory viruses from clinical samples containing moderate viral loads and is an important further step to the use of LC-MS/MS in diagnosis of viral infection.

First 30 Days Wound-Related Complications in Young Smokers Following Primary Achilles Repair.

The Achilles tendon is frequently injured in the young to middle aged population. Previous studies have shown that there is an increased risk of delay in postsurgical wound healing amongst tobacco smoking patients with Achilles tendon injury. This study utilized the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (ACS-NSQIP) database. We included patients between the ages of 18 and 35 years who underwent primary Achilles tendon repair between years 2011 and 2020. The procedure type (with or without graft, CPT 27650 and 27652), patient demographics, and comorbidities were included. Primary outcomes of interest were 30-day readmission, minor complications, outcomes related to wound healing (wound disruption, superficial surgical site infection, deep incisional surgical site infection, organ-space site infections) and reoperations within 30 days of index surgery. A total of 1944 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. One thousand six hundred and fifty-nine patients were nonsmokers, while 285 were smokers. Logistic regression showed no differences between smokers and nonsmokers (reference group) for 30-day readmission, reoperation, and minor complications. However, Black non-Hispanic patients were found to be 0.3 times (95% confidence interval: 0.1, 0.98) as likely to develop minor complications as compared to the White non-Hispanic patients. Wound-related complications after Achilles tendon repair remain low in younger (18-35 years) patients. When comparing clinical outcomes between nonsmokers and smokers, we found no statistically significant difference in this retrospective study.

Fibula Nailing: A Retrospective Review of 110 Consecutive FibuLock Nails.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the treatment of unstable lateral malleolar fractures using a fibula nail with both proximal and distal locking capabilities. DESIGN: Retrospective review of 110 single-surgeon consecutive fibula nails. SETTING: Single-surgeon, private practice community hospital. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: One hundred ten fractures, 92 OTA/AO 44B and 18 OTA/AO 44C. INTERVENTION: FibuLock fibula nail (Arthrex, Naples, FL). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Demographic, operative, clinical, and radiographic outcome data. RESULTS: One hundred two patients/102 fractures met criteria. Ninety percent had a f/u of ≥12 months (mean 12.2 months). All fractures healed. There were no superficial or deep infections, no nonunions, or malunions. Two fractures required conversion to plate fixation intraoperatively because of excessive comminution which precluded the use of a nail, while one patient sustained an iatrogenic superficial peroneal nerve neuroma. No patients reported implant irritation, and none have required implant removal. CONCLUSION: Fibula nails with proximal locking capabilities offer an alternative to plating with the potential for lower complication rates and lower need for implant removal. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Epidemiology of Sports-Specific Foot and Ankle Injuries.

The epidemiology of any given topic sometimes is overlooked. This is true particularly with sports physicians and sports injuries. The identification of sports-specific injury patterns by collection and examination of data can help prevent injuries. Thus, as a physician involved in any sport, it is essential to have this knowledge because understanding it and imparting it may allow a valuable contribution to the health and safety of the athletes and success of the teams.

Lesser Metatarsophalangeal Instability: Diagnosis and Conservative Management of a Common Cause of Metatarsalgia.

CONTEXT: Lesser metatarsophalangeal (MTP) instability is a common condition that can become debilitating and require surgery. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: An extensive literature review was performed through MEDLINE and Google Scholar for publications relating to the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of lesser MTP instability using the keywords metatarsophalangeal instability, athlete, forefoot pain, and metatarsalgia from database inception to 2019. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. RESULTS: Lesser MTP instability is a common condition, especially in the active and aging populations. It is frequently misdiagnosed, causing delays in treatment that allow for progressive pain and deformity, which prevents an active lifestyle. Fortunately, MTP instability can be diagnosed easily with the drawer test. Magnetic resonance imaging is helpful when still in doubt. Conservative treatment entails joint immobilization and gradual return to play with taping and offloading metatarsal pads. CONCLUSION: Lesser MTP instability is a common diagnosis. Its early detection and conservative treatment can help the patient regain their previous level of activity and avoid surgery.

Pseudoaneurysm of the Second Dorsal Metatarsal Artery: Case Report and Literature Review.

Pseudoaneurysms are a rare complication of foot and ankle surgeries that can potentially lead to serious sequelae, especially when there is delay in the diagnosis. Due to the rarity of this occurrence, guidelines for management are limited for orthopedic surgeons. Once diagnosed, the surgeon has to decide quickly on many options for how to best manage the patient. In this case report, we present the occurrence of a dorsal second metatarsal artery pseudoaneurysm that occurred after removal of hardware. We also discuss the most current literature on the subject to help guide other surgeons in the diagnosis and management of this condition.

Football injuries of the ankle: A review of injury mechanisms, diagnosis and management.

Football is the most popular sport worldwide and is associated with a high injury rate, most of which are the result of trauma from player contact. Ankle injuries are among the most commonly diagnosed injuries in the game. The result is reduced physical activity and endurance levels, lost game time, and considerable medical cost. Sports medicine professionals must employ the correct diagnostic tools and effective treatments and rehabilitation protocols to minimize the impact of these injuries on the player. This review examines the diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative rehabilitation for common football injuries of the ankle based on the clinical evidence provided in the current literature.

Ankle sprains and instability in dancers.

Ankle inversion injuries are the most common traumatic injuries in dancers. Ankle stability is integral to normal mobilization and to minimizing the risk for ankle sprain. The ability of the dynamic and static stabilizers of the ankle joint to maintain their structural integrity is a major component of the normal gait cycle. In the world of dance, this quality assumes even greater importance given the range of movement and stresses imposed on the ankle during various dance routines.

Tendon injuries in dance.

Professional ballet dancers require an extraordinary anatomic, physiologic, and psychologic makeup to achieve and sustain their level of ability and activity. They are subject to a myriad of injuries as a result of the extreme demands of this profession. Tendon injuries are common and often coexist with other pathologies of the bone, ligaments, and psyche. It is critical that the dance doctor not examine the tendon injury in isolation, but rather the cause of the injury, either intrinsic from anatomic malalignment or from external sources, including poor form.

Foot and ankle fractures in dancers.

Fractures in the dance population are common. Radiography, CT, MRI, and bone scan should be used as necessary to arrive at the correct diagnosis after meticulous physical examination. Treatment should address the fracture itself and any surrounding problems such as nutritional/hormonal issues and training/performance techniques and regimens. Compliance issues in this population are a concern, so treatment strategies should be tailored accordingly. Stress fractures in particular can present difficulties to the treating physician and may require prolonged treatment periods. This article addresses stress fractures of the fibula, calcaneus, navicular, and second metatarsal; fractures of the fifth metatarsal, sesamoids, and phalanges; and dislocation of toes.

Cycling injuries of the lower extremity.

Cycling is an increasingly popular recreational and competitive activity, and cycling-related injuries are becoming more common. Many common cycling injuries of the lower extremity are preventable. These include knee pain, patellar quadriceps tendinitis, iliotibial band syndrome, hip pain, medial tibial stress syndrome, stress fracture, compartment syndrome, numbness of the foot, and metatarsalgia. Injury is caused by a combination of inadequate preparation, inappropriate equipment, poor technique, and overuse. Nonsurgical management may include rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injection, ice, a reduction in training intensity, orthotics, night splints, and physical therapy. Injury prevention should be the focus, with particular attention to bicycle fit and alignment, appropriate equipment, proper rider position and pedaling mechanics, and appropriate training.

Isolated carpal scaphoid dislocation.

Isolated carpal scaphoid dislocations are rare. Because of this, treatment strategies can be conflicting and vague. The current authors present a case of isolated scaphoid dislocation that was treated initially with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. Failure of this index treatment necessitated open reduction and internal fixation providing an adequate short-term outcome. Current treatment strategies now advocate ligament reconstruction as a first-line treatment to restore normal anatomy and preserve function.

Outcomes after standardized screw fixation technique of ankle arthrodesis.

Several methods of obtaining ankle fusion have been described, with numerous studies reporting on patient populations with varied diagnoses and various methods of fixation. This has led to outcome analyses that are difficult to interpret. Our hypothesis is that using a standard method of fusion, without the aid of allograft, a solid ankle fusion can be achieved in patients with end-stage ankle arthritis, and that this outcome can be reflected in standardized outcome tools. Forty-one consecutive ankle fusions in 40 patients were included in our study, with a minimum followup of 3 years. All patients had an ankle arthrodesis using two parallel retrograde 7.3-mm screws and local fibular graft. All but two patients obtained a solid talocrural union (95%), with a mean postoperative improvement in the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score of 23 points. Results of our study showed that a simple technique based on sound mechanical and biologic principles can yield excellent outcomes for patients.

A collaborative approach to reducing stress among staff.

Stress has been identified as an important issue among residential carers looking after individuals with learning disabilities. This article describes the implementation of a stress-management programme on a residential site for people with learning disabilities, which significantly reduced levels of anxiety and burnout.