Treatment of Traumatic Degloving Injury of the Foot Using a Biologic Dressing in a Pediatric Patient.

INTRODUCTION: Degloving injuries of the foot involve the management of extensive soft tissue and osseous damage secondary to significant forced avulsion of soft tissue, which can present a major challenge for the surgeon. Surgical procedures on pediatric foot degloving involving split-thickness and/or full-thickness skin grafts and rotational flaps can result in negative consequences, such as donor site comorbidities and psychosocial implications when the pediatric patient returns to daily life. CASE REPORT: The authors report the case of a 16-year-old girl with no past medical history who sustained an extensive degloving injury to her right foot involving severe subcutaneous and muscular soft tissue disruption and contamination. The initial treatment consisted of debridement, copious irrigation, primary wound closure at several sites, and application of an extracellular matrix (ECM) substitute graft. Shortly thereafter, secondary treatment consisted of application of primary musculoskeletal repair, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), and application of a dermal regeneration template. Over the 5-month course of treatment, an additional 3 trips to the operating room occurred, involving serial irrigation and debridement, NPWT application, and dermal/ECM substitute graft applications, leading to full epithelialization. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case in which an instance of pediatric foot degloving is presented with serial debridement, NPWT, and biological dressings, resulting in no additional plastic surgical techniques needed to provide return to functional outcome.

De-epithelialized fasciocutaneous turnover flap for recurrent calcaneal wound with osteomyelitis.

Recurrent ulcerations of the foot and ankle almost always present a challenge to lower extremity surgeons. Recalcitrant heel ulcerations with osteomyelitis are especially difficult to treat because of the lack of soft tissue coverage. The turnover flap is a simple, fast, and effective treatment method for lower extremity wounds. It is a de-epithelialized fasciocutaneous flap harvested from the adjacent area of the wound. We believe it is an underused technique for advanced wound closure in the lower extremity. It offers several advantages compared with traditional, more difficult to perform, flaps. We have seen an excellent result 18 months after using the turnover flap in a patient with recurrent posterior heel ulceration with calcaneal osteomyelitis.

Pseudotetraploid clone with structural chromosomal rearrangements in a chondromyxoid fibroma: a case report.

Chondromyxoid fibroma is a rare benign tumor accounting for 1-2% of primary bone tumors. Most of the patients are young males in the 2nd and 3rd decades of life. Metaphyses of long bones are predominantly affected. The histology of this tumor is well established, but its genetic mechanism remains poorly characterized. To our knowledge, only 22 abnormal cytogenetic analyses have been reported, and all contained diploidy or near-diploidy karyograms as their primary event, and inv(6)(p25)(q13) and rearrangements involving regions 6p23-25, 6q12-15, and 6q23-27 constituted a recurrent observation. In this report, a pseudotetraploidy tumor clone with multiple numerical and structural aberrations involving 6p23 as well as other chromosomal loci was identified in a chondromyxoid fibroma from the metaphysis of the left fibula of an 18-year-old male, which has not been reported. The finding may relate to the atypical-looking large cells often seen in this benign tumor.

First metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis.

Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) is used primarily for end-stage hallux rigidus whereby pain, crepitus, and limitation of motion is noted at the joint. Arthrodesis at the first MTPJ also has it uses as a primary procedure for rheumatoid arthritis when severe deformity is present, as well as for salvage procedures for failed joint arthroplasties with or without implant, fractures with intra-articular extension, avascular necrosis, and infection management. A first MTPJ arthrodesis should provide stable fixation, attain suitable positioning for a reasonable gait, maintain adequate length, and create a stable platform for a plantigrade foot type.

Calcaneocuboid arthrodesis.

The calcaneocuboid joint is stable, although multiple conditions might affect the joint, including arthritis, fracture, subluxation, and dislocation. Calcaneocuboid arthrodesis is more commonly performed as an adjunct procedure with other rearfoot procedures such as triple arthrodesis and is less used as isolated fusion. This article reviews the main conditions of the lateral column and calcaneocuboid joint in particular. The surgical technique for isolated calcaneocuboid arthrodesis is discussed.

Ankle arthrodesis.

This article presents an overview of current ankle arthrodesis techniques. Surgical indications, pathophysiology of the ankle joint, preoperative assessment of the patient, surgical techniques for ankle fusion, and complications/sequelae are discussed. The surgical techniques section focuses on crossed screws arthrodesis and intramedullary nailing for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis. Other techniques, including arthroscopic fusion, are also discussed.

Salvage arthrodesis for charcot arthropathy.

The principles of fusion of a Charcot joint arise from the assertion that successful fusion requires removal of all cartilage, debris, and sclerotic bone. The authors believe that reconstruction can prevent amputation in patients who have unbraceable or unstable deformities, or recurrent ulcerations. The goal with any Charcot reconstruction procedure is to achieve a plantigrade foot free of ulceration, and to prevent any future collapse, deformity, or ulcerations. The authors strongly believe arthrodesis of unstable joints of the Charcot neuropathic foot can lead to limb salvage and better quality of life.

Synovial sarcoma arising in the foot: case report.

Synovial sarcomas occur primarily in the soft tissue structures adjacent to the joints and tendons of the extremities. A diagnostic dilemma exists when the clinical presentation is similar to that of an infection or soft tissue trauma. We report a case of soft tissue sarcoma of the foot in a previously healthy 19-year-old male who presented after hitting his right foot against a refrigerator. Initial radiographs were negative; however, 6 weeks later plain radiographs revealed destruction of the metatarsals. Histologic analysis on a specimen obtained via fine-needle aspiration confirmed the diagnosis of primary synovial sarcoma. Further workup revealed metastases to the lungs. An amputation at Chopart's joint was performed. Primary synovial sarcoma in the foot can mimic infection or edema from a traumatic event. Clinicians should always be suspicious of soft tissue masses and keep neoplastic processes in the list of differentials.

Effective management of major lower extremity wounds using an acellular regenerative tissue matrix: a pilot study.

Wound healing is a significant problem in orthopedics. Graftjacket tissue matrix (Wright Medical Technology, Inc, Arlington, Tenn), a novel acellular regenerative tissue matrix, has been designed to aid wound closure. A prospective, randomized study was initiated to determine the efficacy of this tissue product in wound repair compared with conventional treatment. Lower extremity wounds are refractile to healing in patients with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, researchers used diabetic foot ulcers to evaluate the efficacy of GraftJacket tissue matrix in wound repair. Only a single administration of the tissue matrix was required. After 1 month of treatment, preliminary results demonstrate that this novel tissue matrix promotes faster healing at a statistically significant rate over conventional treatment. Because wounds in this series of patients are deep and circulation around the wound is poor, the preliminary results suggest that this tissue matrix will be applicable to other types of orthopedic wounds.