Anatomic Limitations of the Transmetatarsal Amputation With Consideration of the Deep Plantar Perforating Branch of the Dorsalis Pedis Artery.

The transmetatarsal amputation is considered a durable procedure with respect to limb salvage when managing the consequences of diabetic foot disease. The success of the procedure is, in part, determined by the preoperative appreciation of arterial and functional status. The objectives of the present investigation were to determine the length of the remaining first metatarsal required during transmetatarsal amputation to preserve the anastomotic connection of the deep plantar perforating artery and subsequent "vascular arch" of the foot and the insertion of the tibialis anterior tendon. The primary outcome measure of our investigation was a measurement of the distance between the first metatarsal-medial cuneiform articulation and the distal extent of the deep plantar perforating artery in 85 embalmed lower limbs. As a secondary outcome measure, the insertion of the tibialis anterior tendon was evaluated relative to the deep plantar perforating artery. The most distal extent of the deep plantar perforating artery was observed at a mean ± standard deviation of 15.62 ± 3.74 (range 6.0 to 28.28) mm from the first metatarsal-medial cuneiform articulation. Most (89.41%) of the arteries were found within 20 mm of the first metatarsal-medial cuneiform articulation. The insertion of the tibialis anterior tendon was found to be proximal to the deep plantar perforating artery in all specimens (100.0%). In conclusion, 2.0 cm of remnant first metatarsal might represent an anatomic definition of how "short" a transmetatarsal amputation can safely be performed in most patients when considering the vascular and biomechanical anatomy.

Podiatric Resident Performance on a Basic Competency Examination in Musculoskeletal Medicine.

A basic competency examination in musculoskeletal medicine has previously been administered to residents across a variety of medical specialties and has demonstrated that medical school preparation in musculoskeletal medicine might be inadequate. The objectives of the present study were to assess podiatric surgical resident performance on this examination and to assess podiatric surgical residency director opinions of the level of importance of the test subject areas. A total of 117 podiatric surgical residents from 15 residency programs completed the 25-question examination. The residents scored a mean ± standard deviation of 60.32% ± 12.60% (range 22.00% to 92.00%). On the 7 questions rated by podiatric residency directors as ≥8 on a 10-point scale of relative importance, this score improved to 84.92% ± 11.93% (range 39.29% to 100.0%). Senior level residents did not outperform junior level residents (60.76% versus 60.44%; p = .898), and those who had completed a general orthopedics rotation at some point in their education did not outperform those who had not (61.12% versus 58.64%; p = .370). The podiatric residency directors assigned a mean ± standard deviation importance score of 6.97 ± 2.07 out of 10 for the 25 questions and suggested a mean ± standard deviation passing score of 69.14% ± 9.03% for the examination. The results of the present investigation provide original data on podiatric surgical resident performance on a basic competency examination in musculoskeletal medicine. Although the residents scored well for some specific test areas, the overall performance was similar to that of previous iterations of the examination given to general surgery and internal medicine residents. The lower scores compared with those from the orthopedic and physical therapy specialties might indicate a need for improved general musculoskeletal medicine education within the podiatric curriculum.

Pictorial Review and Basic Principles of Foot and Ankle Hardware Extraction.

UNLABELLED: This pictorial review presents basic principles of the types of hardware extraction commonly encountered in foot and ankle surgical practice. We review the indications, contraindications and complications of hardware removal including pain, intra-articular fixation, and carcinogenesis, as well as special considerations in pediatric patients and in the setting of infection. Figures are then used to describe the appropriate techniques for use of the screwdriver shafts, conical extraction screws, extraction bolts, hollow reamers, and other instruments found in most hardware extraction sets. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level V: Expert opinion.

Assessment of Anatomic Risk During Syndesmotic Stabilization With the Suture Button Technique.

The suture button technique represents an accepted method of fixation for acute or chronic injury to the tibiofibular syndesmosis. The objective of the present investigation was to assess the anatomic risk to the superficial medial neurovascular structure with insertion of a syndesmotic suture button and to measure the distance of the button to the greater saphenous vein during a standardized insertion. A syndesmotic suture button was inserted with a standardized technique in 20 fresh frozen cadaveric limbs. Of 20 suture buttons, 14 (70.0%) were inserted posterior to the greater saphenous vein, 2 (10.0%) were inserted anterior to the greater saphenous vein, and 4 (20.0%) were inserted directly onto the greater saphenous vein. A total of 11 suture buttons (55.0%) were inserted with some entrapment of a medial neurovascular structure. The absolute mean ± standard deviation distance of the suture button to the greater saphenous vein was 4.88 ± 4.44 mm. The results of the present investigation have indicated that a risk of entrapment of superficial medial neurovascular structures exists with insertion of a suture button for syndesmotic fixation and that a medial incision should be used to ensure that structures are not entrapped.

Evaluation of the Sagittal Saw Blade as an Intraoperative Fomite During Diabetic Foot Surgery.

UNLABELLED: Surgical site infection is a major potential complication of all operative interventions, and the diabetic foot is particularly at risk for bacterial recontamination and infectious sequelae. The objective of this study was to identify whether the sagittal saw blade used during partial foot amputations and diabetic foot debridements carries the potential to serve as a bacterial fomite. We physically cultured the sagittal saw blade during 20 foot debridements involving the resection of bone in patients diagnosed with a diabetic foot infection. The culture was taken after the initial debridement and during the irrigation phase of the procedure. We observed 16 positive routine intraoperative culture results, with positive saw blade culture results in 15 (93.8%; 15/16) of these cases. In 14 (93.3%; 14/15) of these cases, the saw blade culture grew at least one of the same bacteria as our other routine intraoperative cultures. We observed 4 negative routine intraoperative culture results, with negative saw blade culture results in 3 (75.0%; 3/4) of these cases. This results in agreement between routine intraoperative cultures and saw blade culture of 85.0% (17/20). The results of this investigation demonstrate that the sagittal saw blade used for osseous resection during diabetic foot debridements and partial foot amputations carries the potential for intraoperative bacterial transmission. We recommend changing at least the sagittal saw blade if more bone is resected following irrigation, particularly if it is used to obtain a "clean margin" for microbiological or histological examination. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level IV: Case series.

Can foot and ankle surgeons accurately estimate patient body mass index?

The body mass index (BMI) is an objective patient finding that has been established to have a negative effect on the development and outcomes of podiatric pathologic entities and interventions. The objective of the present investigation was to assess the ability of podiatric physicians to estimate the patient BMI from clinical and radiographic observation. For the clinical estimation of the patient BMI, podiatric specialists across 3 levels of experience (i.e., students, residents, and practicing clinicians) performed 294 estimations on 72 patients in 3 clinical situations (standing, sitting in a treatment chair, and lying in a hospital bed). It was more common to inaccurately estimate the patient BMI (77.9%) than it was to correctly estimate it (22.1%), with underestimations being the most common error (48.3%). The estimations were particularly inaccurate when the patients were in the common clinical situation of sitting in a treatment chair or lying in a hospital bed and with patients actually classified as obese. For the radiographic estimation of patient BMI, 150 consecutive lateral ankle radiographs were analyzed, with the ratio of the overlying soft tissue diameter to the underlying bone diameter calculated and compared. Positive, but weak, relationships were observed with these ratios. From these data, we have concluded that podiatric practitioners should perform an actual calculation of the patient BMI during the patient examination and medical decision-making process to fully appreciate the potential risks inherent to the treatment of obese patients.