Correlation Between Visual Inspection and Ultrasonography to Identify the Distal Branches of the Superficial Peroneal Nerve: A Cadaveric Study.

The anatomy of the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) and, more precisely, of the distal branches of the SPN at the ankle has attracted interest owing to the possibility of injury when performing ankle arthroscopy. The anterolateral portal is one of the most commonly used portals in ankle arthroscopy, and the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve can easily be injured during portal placement. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether visual inspection and palpation of the cutaneous nerves at the ankle differed from examination with ultrasonography and whether the 2 examination techniques correlated with the anatomic location of the SPN, which was verified by cadaver dissection. First, visual examination and palpation was performed to identify the SPN, after which 12 cadaver legs from separate specimens were examined with ultrasonography to mark the course of the SPN. We then measured the distance between the nerve as identified with gross visualization/palpation and ultrasound examination, and compared these with the precise location determined by anatomic dissection. The use of ultrasonography to determine the course of the SPN was good or excellent in 11 of the 12 legs (91.7%) studied. In contrast, gross visualization/palpation was good or excellent in 4 legs (33.3%). Excellent agreement was observed between the ultrasound markings and the anatomic dissection results. However, the visual examination poorly identified the course and the anatomic variations of the nerve branches evidenced in the anatomic dissection. From these findings in cadaver specimens, ultrasound identification of the SPN and its branches is likely preferable to gross visualization/palpation before placement of the anterolateral arthroscopic portal to the ankle.

Evaluation of first metatarsal head declination through a modified distal osteotomy in hallux rigidus surgery. A cadaveric model.

BACKGROUND: First metatarsal osteotomies have been described for treatment of hallux rigidus. Most of these techniques result in declination of the first metatarsal head through shortening of the metatarsal and transfer metatarsalgia may result. Our objective was to evaluate the declination effect of a distal metatarsal osteotomy when different angulations and lateral translations are applied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cadaveric study was conducted performing a modified distal oblique osteotomy, which produces head declination while limiting shortening. Several transverse inclination angles (0-10-20-30-40°) were used. Thereafter, plantar translation of the metatarsal head was registered at different lateral displacements (1, 3, 5mm). RESULTS: Twenty-two specimens were included. Three feet were operated on with a 0° of angulation in the transverse plane, 6 with 10°, 5 with 20°, 5 with 30°, and 3 with 40°. Head declination significantly increased with higher angulation and with greater lateral translations (p<0.001), but the interrelationship between these two variables did not achieve statistical significance (p=0.597). In regards to angulation, significant differences in head declination were found between 0° (0.1-0.7 mm), 10°-20° (0.5-1.2mm) and 30°-40° (1.3-2.4mm). The metatarsal sesamoid joint was compromised when the osteotomy was performed at a 40° inclination angle. CONCLUSIONS: Metatarsal head declination is determined by the inclination angle of the oblique limb of the osteotomy and lateral displacement of the metatarsal head. Our results suggest that the effect of lateral displacement is an independent factor from angulation. The latter may impact surgery planning and may improve clinical outcome by selecting a safer inclination angle when lateral displacement of the metatarsal head is being considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II-A, systematic review with homogeneity of cohort studies.

Comparison of postoperative costs of two surgical techniques for hallux valgus (Kramer vs. scarf).

BACKGROUND: Most studies of hallux valgus surgery focus on the radiological findings or on medium-term clinical follow-up. The results obtained using various osteotomy techniques do not differ greatly. However, patient comfort and the need for postoperative care do appear to present differences. In the Kramer technique, the osteotomy is secured with a wire extruding from the skin of the foot. In this situation, patients may well experience problems (or at least discomfort) in the immediate postoperative period. Previous studies of the Kramer technique (also known as SERI, or percutaneous distal metatarsal osteotomy) do not report an increased number of complications. Early complications may not influence the outcome in the medium to long term, and patient discomfort during the postoperative period is rarely reflected in the analysis of one-year results obtained with standard scales such as AOFAS; in our experience, however, patient discomfort, the care burden (i.e., the number of visits and emergency service consultations) and the economic cost of immediate postoperative care are all aspects that should be borne in mind when assessing the merits of different surgical techniques. In this study we compare the care burden and economic cost of two surgical approaches to hallux valgus correction--the Kramer and the scarf techniques--during the first postoperative year. METHODS: Retrospective review of two independent patient cohorts. Sixty-nine feet underwent Kramer osteotomy and 133 the scarf technique. Care burden was assessed by the number of visits each patient required and the complications. The follow-up and costs of each were assessed and compared independently. RESULTS: Both techniques obtain satisfactory clinical results at one year. However, comparison of clinical progression showed AOFAS score increases of 34.7 points for Kramer and 41.1 points for the scarf technique (p-value<0.05). Patients in the Kramer group required a higher number of visits, especially postoperative emergency department visits (p<0.05), and had a significantly higher number of complications (27.5% vs. 6.7%, p<0.05). The mean cost of follow-up was significantly higher in the Kramer group (€ 218.97 vs. € 171.41, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Kramer osteotomy presented significantly higher care burdens, complication rates and associated costs during the first year of follow-up. It is therefore a less cost-effective technique. Thus, even though according to the results of AOFAS we would not have changed our clinical practice, the analysis of these data has made us change our treatment strategy for hallux valgus and practically abandoned the use of the Kramer osteotomies.

The retromalleolar compression test: a useful exploratory maneuver in the clinical evaluation of flexor hallucis longus rupture.

The clinical examination of ruptures of the flexor hallucis longus can be difficult, especially spontaneous defects that arise without a definitive history of trauma. Advanced imaging, in particular, magnetic resonance imaging, can be a useful adjunct to the clinical examination. However, we believe that a simple clinical maneuver can be used to reliably ascertain the presence of a rupture of the flexor hallucis longus.

Analysis of the clinical score progressions during the first year after first MTPJ fusion.

BACKGROUND: Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is an effective procedure for many foot pathologies. Many studies have focused on the moment at which joint fusion is carried out, or on the medium- and long-term outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical progression of patients, evaluating both pain and changes on the AOFAS scale at various points during the first postoperative year. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study with 49 patients was conducted. The AOFAS scale and pain was collect both preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months after first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis with 20-mm memory compression staples. The data obtained were analyzed for functional status and pain during the first year after surgery. RESULTS: The mean preoperative AOFAS score was 39 compared with a mean postoperative score at 1-year followup of 85. The results of the AOFAS scale at 3- and 6-months post-surgery showed considerable variation. In contrast, at 12 months the mean results tended to converge, thus suggesting greater reliability in the prognosis. The change in pain over time differs from the AOFAS. Pain improved rapidly during the first 6 months; it peaked during the first 3 months, but the data suggests that it was from 6 months onward that prediction of pain levels begin to be more predictable and consistent. CONCLUSION: The present results show that scores on the AOFAS scale and for pain improve progressively throughout the first year following first MTPJ fusion. At 3 months the results for both pain and the AOFAS scale had a low predictive value due to the wide variation in scores. However, at 6 months, pain stabilized and scores showed greater precision, thus increasing the predictive value of the results. With the AOFAS scale, there continued to be considerable variation at 6 months, and it was not until 1-year post surgery that scores showed an acceptable degree of precision.

Recurrence of an intra-articular osteoid osteoma of the great toe: a case report and review of the literature.

Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a benign tumor that it is not generally seen in the foot and even less frequently in the phalanx (2-4%). The diagnosis when its location is intra-articular is a challenge and often delayed because the symptoms mimic a real arthritis. We report a clinical case involving a 16-year-old male patient who complained of persistent pain of the interphalangeal joint (IPJ) of the left hallux. A juxta-articular OO of the condyle of the proximal phalanx was identified. The patient underwent surgery that included tumor removal preserving the articular cartilage. After a non-complete nidus resection, there was a recurrence. The patient underwent surgery with a removal en-block of the distal part of the proximal phalanx and fusion of the IPJ with interposition of a tricortical autograft. After a follow-up of 30 months, the X-ray showed total arthrodesis of the joint without signs of recurrence or pain.

Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus With Bone Marrow Stimulation and Chitosan-Glycerol Phosphate/Blood Implants (BST-CarGel).

Bone marrow stimulation (BMS) techniques represent the first-line treatment for unstable osteochondral lesions of the talus or after conservative treatment failure. These techniques are intended to penetrate the subchondral bone to elicit bleeding and allow precursor cells and cytokines from bone marrow to populate the lesion. However, the fibrocartilaginous repair tissue arising after marrow stimulation confers inferior mechanical and biological properties compared with the original hyaline cartilage. The limitations of BMS can be overcome by the use of the soluble chitosan-based polymer BST-CarGel (Piramal Life Sciences, Laval, Quebec, Canada). When mixed with freshly drawn autologous whole blood and applied to a lesion surgically prepared by BMS, BST-CarGel acts as a natural bioscaffold that increases the quantity and improves the residency of the blood clot formed in the cartilage lesion, enhancing the local healing response. The use of BST-CarGel has been previously described in the knee and hip joints with successful results. We describe the arthroscopic technique for BST-CarGel application in combination with BMS techniques for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Ultrasound-guided ankle block for forefoot surgery: the contribution of the saphenous nerve.

BACKGROUND: Ankle blocks typically include the block of 5 nerves, the 4 branches that trace their origin back to the sciatic nerve plus the saphenous nerve (SaN). The sensory area of the SaN in the foot is variable. Based on our clinical experience, we decided to study the sensory distribution of the SaN in the foot and determine whether the block of this nerve is necessary as a component of an ultrasound-guided ankle block for bunion surgery. METHODS: One hundred patients scheduled for bunion surgery under ankle block were prospectively studied. We performed ultrasound-guided individual blocks of the tibial, deep peroneal, superficial peroneal, and sural nerves. After obtaining complete sensory block of these nerves, we mapped the SaN sensory territory as such area without anesthesia on the medial side of the foot. RESULTS: Every nerve block was successful within 10 minutes of injection. The saphenous territory extended into the foot to 57 ± 13 mm distal to the medial malleolus. This distal margin was 22 ± 11 mm proximal to the first tarsometatarsal joint. The proximal end of the surgical incision was located 1 cm distal to the first tarsometatarsal joint. In only 3 patients (3%), the area of SaN innervation reached the proximal end of the planned incision. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided ankle block is a highly effective technique for bunion surgery. The sensory territory of the SaN in the foot seems to extend only to the midfoot. According to our sample, 97% of the patients undergoing bunion surgery under an ankle block would not benefit from having a SaN block.