Two to Five-Year Outcomes of Total Ankle Arthroplasty with the Infinity Fixed-Bearing Implant: A Concise Follow-up of a Previous Report.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Retrospective review of complications following long tourniquet time in foot and ankle surgery.

BACKGROUND: Tourniquet use is ubiquitous in orthopaedic surgery to create a bloodless field and to facilitate safe surgery, however, we know of the potential complications that can occur as a result of prolonged tourniquet time. Experimental and clinical research has helped define the safe time limits but there is not much literature specific to foot and ankle surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review of the postoperative course of patients with prolonged tourniquet time (longer than 180 min) for foot and ankle procedures was done. Data related to the patient factors and the surgical procedure was collected. The length of stay, re-admissions and complications were the important indicators of the individual patient's recovery. RESULTS: Twenty patients were identified with longer than 180-min tourniquet times for complex foot and ankle procedures. The average uninterrupted tourniquet time was 191 min. Eight of the twenty procedures were revision surgeries. The average length of stay was 3 days and there were no re-admissions within 30 days. Eight patients (40%) had at least one recorded complication. The complications seen in this group were transient sensory loss, wound issues, superficial infection, ongoing pain and non-union. CONCLUSIONS: This case series has not revealed any major systemic complications resulting from the prolonged tourniquet such as pulmonary embolism or renal dysfunction. Unlike past literature on knee procedures with extended tourniquet times, no major nerve palsies were seen in our patient group. Our understanding of the local and systemic effects of tourniquet is not complete and this study demonstrates that the complications do not necessarily increase in a linear fashion in relation to the tourniquet time.

Simulated weight reduction using an anti-gravity treadmill - A pilot study of the impact of weight loss on foot and ankle arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Despite a paucity of evidence, obesity is frequently cited as an exacerbator of symptoms in foot and ankle arthritis. The aims of the current study were to determine whether simulated weight loss would improve symptoms in obese patients with foot and ankle arthritis. METHODS: Patients walked on an "anti-gravity" treadmill allowing simulated weight reduction. Pain was recorded at baseline weight and then compared with pain at simulated normal BMI. RESULTS: Simulated reduction to BMI 25 caused a significant reduction in pain. Mean pain scores improved from baseline to BMI 25 by 32% (15.9 points, p=0.04). Paired analysis showed a significant improvement in pain scores (p=0.016) from BMI of 30 to 25. CONCLUSION: Simulated weight loss from high to normal BMI improved arthritic symptoms. This could be used to power future studies to further investigate the effects of weight loss in foot and ankle patients. Level of evidence Level II - repeated measures cohort study.

Can the introduction of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) reduce the variation in length of stay after total ankle replacement surgery?

BACKGROUND: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) has been successfully adopted across a range of procedures. This study explores whether there is scope to improve length of stay (LOS) for total ankle replacement surgery (TAR) in the UK by implementing ERAS pathways. METHODS: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data (April 2015/March 2016) on LOS for TAR were analysed. A literature search was then carried out to examine whether there were any publications on outpatient TAR and/or the use of ERAS protocols. RESULTS: Mean observed LOS was 3.3days (range 0-17.3) days. Case mix-adjusted expected LOS range was 2.0-5.7 days. It is likely that the wide observed LOS range is due to differences in local processes and pathways. Two papers were found by the literature search. CONCLUSIONS: TAR should aim to be outpatient surgery as the literature, and data demonstrating scope for improvement in LOS, suggest this should be possible.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Potential Role in the Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Ankle.

Given articular cartilage has a limited repair potential, untreated osteochondral lesions of the ankle can lead to debilitating symptoms and joint deterioration necessitating joint replacement. While a wide range of reparative and restorative surgical techniques have been developed to treat osteochondral lesions of the ankle, there is no consensus in the literature regarding which is the ideal treatment. Tissue engineering strategies, encompassing stem cells, somatic cells, biomaterials, and stimulatory signals (biological and mechanical), have a potentially valuable role in the treatment of osteochondral lesions. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive resource for regenerative medicine approaches, given their ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple stromal cell types, including chondrocytes. Although MSCs have demonstrated significant promise in in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies, their success in treating osteochondral lesions of the ankle is inconsistent, necessitating further clinical trials to validate their application. This review highlights the role of MSCs in cartilage regeneration and how the application of biomaterials and stimulatory signals can enhance chondrogenesis. The current treatments for osteochondral lesions of the ankle using regenerative medicine strategies are reviewed to provide a clinical context. The challenges for cartilage regeneration, along with potential solutions and safety concerns are also discussed.

Osteoid osteoma of the foot and ankle--A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Osteoid osteomas are responsible for 10% of benign bone tumours. Treatment typically involves surgical excision or radio frequency ablation. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate reported cases of foot and ankle osteoid osteomas. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature using the online databases Medline and EMBASE. We included studies reporting osteoid osteoma diagnosed either radiologically or histologically. RESULTS: 94 studies were included reporting 223 cases; 70.5% were male, mean age was 23 years, 69% reported night pain and 72% responded to NSAIDs. The commonest affected bone was the talus. CT scan was the most useful radiological investigation and MRI missed the diagnosis in 34% of cases. The majority of patients underwent surgical excision but an increasing trend of ablation therapy was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: A high index of suspicion based on salient history and appropriate imaging are essential for timely identification and treatment.

Bilateral atraumatic sequential rupture of tibialis anterior tendons.

Tibialis anterior tendon ruptures are rare but debilitating injuries. A high index of suspicion is warranted in patients presenting with atraumatic anterior ankle pain, especially in conjunction with diabetes or inflammatory disease. The authors present a case report of bilateral sequential rupture of tibialis anterior tendons, a discussion of management, and a review of the literature.

Ultrasound guided steroid injection in the treatment of interdigital neuralgia.

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound guided injection in the management of Morton's Metatarsalgia. Patients clinically diagnosed with interdigital Morton's neuroma were treated with ultrasound guided injection of local anaesthetic and steroid. Fifty four patients were available for follow-up, and all had detailed telephone questionnaires completed. These questionnaires included a pre and post injection symptom score, and Johnson Satisfaction score. The results indicate that 69% of patients had ultrasound diagnosis of Morton's neuroma and 31% had an ultrasound diagnosis of intermetatarsal bursa. Mean follow-up was 11.4 months. Sixty seven percent of the patients were satisfied with the results of treatment. At follow-up 63% of patients had no limitation in activity levels, and had no need to modify shoe wear. Of all patients included in the study, only three have gone on to require surgery for ongoing symptoms. Although some studies have suggested that neither injection nor imaging have a role in the treatment of Morton's neuroma, this study, however, demonstrates that ultrasound guided placement of local anaesthetic and steroid in either an intermetatarsal bursa or Morton's neuroma gives a good short and medium-term symptom relief and in the majority of cases avoids or at least delays the need for surgery.

The impact of self-retaining retractors on the paraspinal muscles during posterior spinal surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective pilot study examining pre-, intra- and postoperative measures. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of muscle retractors on the posterior spinal muscles during posterior spinal surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous studies have identified changes in the structure and function of the back extensor mechanism as a result of low back pain. However, the effect of surgery on the functioning of these muscles, particularly surgical retraction, has received less attention. METHODS: Twenty patients undergoing posterior spinal surgery were recruited into this study, and recordings of intramuscular pressure during surgery were performed using a pressure-monitoring system before insertion of retractors, 5, 30, and 60 minutes into surgery, and on removal of retractors. Before and following use of the retractors, muscle biopsies were taken from the multifidus muscle for analysis using birefringence techniques. RESULTS: A significant increase in intramuscular pressure (P < 0.001) was observed during surgery. On removal of retractors, this pressure returned to or near to the original value. Analysis of muscle biopsies using calcium activated adenosine triphosphatase birefringence revealed a reduction in muscle function following prolonged use of self-retaining retractors. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial rise in pressure in the erector spinae muscle during posterior spinal surgery was observed, and this appeared to be associated with marked changes in the function of the muscles. This could be an important factor in the generation of operative scar tissue and postoperative dysfunction of the spinal muscles.