In-Office Needle Arthroscopy for the Foot and Ankle.

In-office needle arthroscopy (IONA) has been a readily available tool dating back to the 1990s, primarily for diagnostic purposes. This technique was not fully accepted and implemented because of significant limitations with the image quality and lack of instrumentation available to simultaneously treat the identified pathologies. However, recent advancements in IONA technology have made it possible to perform arthroscopic procedures under local anesthesia in the office setting, which once required a full operating suite. IONA has revolutionized how we treat foot and ankle pathologies in our practice. IONA allows the patient to be an active participant in the procedure and provides an interactive experience. IONA can be used to treat a range of foot and ankle pathologies, including anterior ankle impingement, posterior ankle impingement, osteochondral lesions of the ankle joint, hallux rigidus, lateral ankle ligament repair, and tendoscopic treatment of Achilles, peroneal, and posterior tibial tendon disorders. Excellent outcomes with regard to subjective clinical outcomes, return to play times, and complications have been reported following IONA for these pathologies.

Supramalleolar osteotomy for the treatment of ankle osteoarthritis leads to favourable outcomes and low complication rates at mid-term follow-up: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate both the clinical and radiographic outcomes following supramalleolar osteotomy (SMO) in patients with ankle osteoarthritis, and to analyse the level of evidence (LOE) and quality of evidence (QOE) of the included studies. METHODS: A systematic review of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies reporting clinical data following SMO for the treatment of ankle osteoarthritis were included and assessed. The level and quality of evidence of the included studies were also evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies with 1160 patients (1182 ankles) were included. Overall, 78.8% patients presented with post-traumatic ankle osteoarthritis. The weighted mean AOFAS score improved from 52.6 ± 9.7 (range 33.8-78.4) preoperatively to 78.1 ± 5.7 postoperatively at weighted mean follow-up of 50.4 ± 18.6 months (range 24.5-99.0). The most frequently utilised radiographic parameter was the tibial anterior surface angle, which improved from a preoperative weighted mean of 86.3° ± 5.6° (range 76.0°-102.0°) to a postoperative weighted mean of 89.9° ± 3.7° (range 84.9°-99.6°). The complication rate was 5.1% with non-union as the most commonly reported complication (1.6%). Secondary procedures were carried out in 28.2% of patients, the most common of which was implant and hardware removal (17.6%). The failure rate was 6.8%. Two studies were LOE II, 3 studies were LOE III, and 19 studies were LOE IV. The mean Modified Coleman Methodology Score was 59.3 ± 6.6 and the mean MINORS criteria score of all the included studies was 9.5 ± 3.7. CONCLUSION: This systematic review demonstrates good clinical and radiological outcomes, together with a low failure rate at mid-term follow-up following supramalleolar osteotomy in patients with ankle osteoarthritis. However, a moderate reoperation rate (28.2%) was reported. A low failure rate (6.8%) was reported, which must be interpreted in light of the shortcomings of the design of the included studies and a relatively short follow-up period. In addition, there is a low level and quality of evidence in the current literature with inconsistent reporting of data which underscores the need for further higher quality research to be conducted. Our review highlights that SMO may be an effective and safe procedure in the setting of early-to-intermediate-stage ankle osteoarthritis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Education in United States Schools: Shortcomings and Future Directions.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving procedure that is performed during a cardiac arrest. CPR consists of chest compressions, rescue breaths, and the usage of an automated external defibrillator (AED) based on availability. Performance of CPR can greatly increase the chances of survival by enabling the manual perfusion of vital organs in lieu of the heart's normal function. Despite extensive studies demonstrating the efficacy and necessity of CPR in an emergency, most of the public across the United States is ill-equipped and/or educated on how to perform it. While there may be other contributing factors, the lack of CPR education across schools in the United States almost certainly furthers the CPR illiteracy of the general population. Although states require some degree of CPR training, the level of education that students receive varies widely across communities and school districts, largely dictated by the available funding for training courses. Despite the lack of CPR education in the United States, studies conducted abroad have shown the efficacy of a CPR course in preparing students to respond in emergencies-lending hope to mending the current situation in the United States. In this article, we analyze legislation dictating CPR instruction and hypothesize ways in which states' Department of Education might be able to promote education and hands-on experience for students across all ages of schooling. Ultimately, we hope to highlight the importance and feasibility of preparing the next generation of citizens across the United States to respond when their name is called upon in an emergency.

Navigating Post-Traumatic Osteoporosis: A Comprehensive Review of Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Directions.

Post-traumatic osteoporosis (PTO) presents a significant challenge in clinical practice, characterized by demineralization and decreased skeletal integrity following severe traumatic injuries. This literature review manuscript addresses the knowledge gaps surrounding PTO, encompassing its epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and future directions. This review emphasizes the complexity of the etiology of PTO, highlighting the dysregulation of biomineralization processes, inflammatory cytokine involvement, hormonal imbalances, glucocorticoid effects, vitamin D deficiency, and disuse osteoporosis. Moreover, it underscores the importance of multidisciplinary approaches for risk mitigation and advocates for improved diagnostic strategies to differentiate PTO from other musculoskeletal pathologies. This manuscript discusses various treatment modalities, including pharmacotherapy, dietary management, and physical rehabilitation, while also acknowledging the limited evidence on their long-term effectiveness and outcomes in PTO patients. Future directions in research are outlined, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying PTO and the evaluation of treatment strategies' efficacy. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of PTO and highlights avenues for future investigation to enhance clinical management and patient outcomes.

Osteochondral Lesions of the Subtalar Joint: Clinical Outcomes in 11 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective case series was to evaluate clinical outcomes following both conservative treatment and arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for the management of symptomatic subtalar osteochondral lesions (OCLs). DESIGN: All symptomatic subtalar OCLs with a minimum of 12 months follow-up having undergone either a conservative management or arthroscopic procedure were included. Patient-reported outcomes were collected via questionnaires consisting of the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) of pain in rest, during walking, during stair climbing, and during running. In addition, return to sports data, return to work data, reoperations, and complications were collected and assessed. In total, 11 patients across 2 academic institutions were included (3 males, 8 females). The median age was 43 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 32-53). RESULTS: All patients underwent conservative treatment first; in addition, 9 patients underwent subtalar arthroscopic debridement with or without BMS. The median follow-up time was 15 months (IQR: 14-100). In the surgically treated group, the median NRS scores were 2 (IQR: 1-3) during rest, 3 (IQR: 2-4) during walking, 4 (IQR: 4-5) during stair climbing, 5 (IQR: 4-5) during running and the median FAOS score at final follow-up was 74 (IQR: 65-83). In the conservatively treated patients, the median NRS scores were all 0 (IQR: 0-0) and the median FAOS scores were 90 (IQR: 85-94). In the group of surgical treated patients, 4 were able to return to the same level of sports, 2 returned to a lower level of sports. Both conservatively treated patients returned to the sport and the same level of prior participation. All patients except one in the surgical group returned to work. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective case series demonstrated that a high number of patients converted to surgery after initial conservative treatment. In addition, debridement and BMS show good clinical outcomes for the management of symptomatic subtalar OCLs at short-term follow-up. No complications nor secondary surgical procedures were noted in the surgically treated group. The high rate of failure of conservative treatment suggests that surgical intervention for symptomatic subtalar OCLs can be the primary treatment strategy; however, further research is warranted in light of the small number of patients.

Surgical Management of Chronic Achilles Tendon Ruptures: A Systematic Review and Proposed Treatment Algorithm.

Background: As no evidence-based treatment guidelines exist for chronic Achilles tendon rupture (CATR), a systematic review of the literature was performed to compare the different treatment options and recommend a literature-based algorithm. Methods: In June 2022, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically reviewed based on the PRISMA guidelines. The level of evidence (LOE) and quality of evidence were evaluated, and statistics on clinical outcomes and complications were calculated. Results: Twenty-seven studies with 614 patients were included. Three studies were LOE III and 25 studies were LOE IV. The mean Achilles tendon rupture score improved from a preoperative weighted mean of 38.8 ± 12.4 to a postoperative score 90.6 ± 4.7. The overall complication rate was 11.4%. Single techniques were used in 23 studies and dual techniques were used in 5 studies. The FHL tendon transfer was the most frequently used technique. We devised an algorithmic approach based on time from injury to surgical intervention and the length of the gap between the tendon stumps: >3 months: FHL transfer; <3 months (a) gap <2 cm, end-to-end repair; (b) gap 2 to 5 cm, gastrocnemius transfer, (c) gap >5 cm, semitendinosus autograft. Conclusion: Surgical management of CATR produced improvements in patient-reported outcome scores at midterm follow up, but a high complication rate (11.4%) was noted. Our proposed treatment algorithm may assist in shared decision making for this complex problem.

Calcaneal reconstruction using a femoral head allograft and biologic adjuncts: A case report.

We present a case of calcaneal reconstruction after both an improvised explosive device injury and subsequent salvage procedures left the patient with a large calcaneal defect and damaged hindfoot soft tissue. A subtalar arthrodesis was performed with a femoral head allograft, where it was fused to the remaining calcaneus and superiorly through the talus, to successfully reconstruct this defect. Demineralized bone matrix, bone morphogenetic protein, and concentrated bone marrow aspirate were also added as adjuncts to promote bone remodeling. At final follow-up, the patient denied pain, was fully weight-bearing, and had resumed an active lifestyle. Level of Evidence: Level V, Case Report.