Complete First Ray Polydactyly: A Case Report.

Polydactyly has been described as the most common congenital deformity in children. However, it is less common in the foot, with surgical treatment for the deformity less commonly described in reported studies. We present a rare case of polydactyly, with complete first ray duplication, in an infant female. The purpose of our report was to outline a surgical plan and to discuss our results when treating this rare presentation of polydactyly.

Pediatric heel pain.

Heel pain is a common complaint among young children and adolescents. It has many causes, including trauma, overuse injuries, and tumors, and therefore a thorough clinical examination is warranted. This article outlines some common causes of pediatric heel pain.

Internal fixation: a historical review.

Internal fixation has become a pillar of surgical specialties, yet the evolution of these devices has been relatively short. The first known description of medical management of a fracture was found in the Edwin Smith Papyrus of Ancient Egypt (circa 2600 bc). The first description of internal fixation in the medical literature was in the 18th century. The advancement of techniques and technology over the last 150 years has helped to preserve both life and function. The pace of advancement continues to accelerate as surgeons continue to seek new technology for osseous fixation. The authors present a thorough review of the history of internal fixation and the transformation into a multibillion dollar industry.

Outcomes of ankle fractures in patients with uncomplicated versus complicated diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes who sustain an ankle fracture are at increased risk for complications including higher rates of in hospital mortality, in-hospital postoperative complications, length of stay and non-routine discharges. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the complications associated with operatively treated ankle fractures in a group of patients with uncomplicated diabetes versus a group of patients with complicated diabetes. Complicated diabetes was defined as diabetes associated with end organ damage such as peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy and/or PAD. Uncomplicated diabetes was defined as diabetes without any of these associated conditions. Our hypothesis was that patients with uncomplicated diabetes would experience fewer complications than those patients with complicated diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the complication rates of ankle fracture repair in 46 patients with complicated diabetes and 59 patients with uncomplicated diabetes and calculated odds ratios (OR) for significant findings. RESULTS: At a mean followup of 21.4 months we found that patients with complicated diabetes had 3.8 times increased risk of overall complications 3.4 times increased risk of a non-infectious complication (malunion, nonunion or Charcot arthropathy) and 5 times higher likelihood of needing revision surgery/arthrodesis when compared to patients with uncomplicated diabetes. Open ankle fractures in this diabetic population were associated with a three times higher rate of complications and 3.7 times higher rate of infection. CONCLUSION: Patients with complicated diabetes have an increased risk of complications after ankle fracture surgery compared to patients with uncomplicated diabetes. Careful preoperative evaluation of the neurovascular status is mandatory, since many patients with diabetes do not recognize that they have neuropathy and/or peripheral artery disease.

Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with the use of a humeral locking plate.

Combined arthrosis or deformity of the subtalar and ankle joints presents a challenge to the foot and ankle specialist. Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis is a well-described surgical technique used for resolution of deformity and end-stage arthrosis of the ankle and subtalar joints and is currently the standard of care for this condition. This article highlights the technique of insertion of the humeral locking plate for the stabilization of tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis. A case study is provided to serve as an example of the technique.