Foot & Ankle International

This is a retrospective study of the chevron osteotomy for hallux valgus. Subjective and objective postoperative results were evaluated. Differences in the postoperative correction of the intermetatarsal 1–2 angle and the first metatarsophalangeal angle were noted using two accepted measurement methods. Seventeen patients (23 feet) with an average age of 39 years (range, 15–51 years) and an average follow-up of 3 years (range, 1–5 years) were studied. The average preoperative intermetatarsal 1–2 angle was 11° (range, 8° to 14°), and the average hallux valgus angle was 23° (range, 7° to 39°). The apparent postoperative correction differed depending on the method of measurement used. One method consistently indicated a greater amount of correction in both the intermetatarsal and metatarsophalangeal angles.

The chevron procedure resulted in an overall satisfactory improvement of symptoms, function, and cosmesis. Four feet exhibited postoperative radiographic changes that could be construed as avascular changes, but there was no collapse noted, nor were there clinical symptoms of avascular necrosis. No nonunions, malunions, or infections developed, and no cases of hallux varus occurred.

At the present time, syndesmotic screw fixation is recommended when there is a tibiofibular diastasis, a Maisonneuve fracture, or syndesmotic instability after fixation of distal tibia-fibula fractures. The aim/purpose of this study was to demonstrate the optimal level of syndesmotic screw placement before creation of a Maisonneuve fracture. Legs of 17 embalmed cadavers underwent knee disarticulation. The legs were then dissected to expose the syndesmosis/interosseous membrane. The paired cadaver legs were tested in two groups. In group I (10 pairs), the left legs were tested without any syndesmotic fixation and the right legs were tested with the syndesmosis fixed at 2.0 cm above the tibiotalar joint. In group II (7 pairs), the syndesmosis in each left leg was fixed at 3.5 cm above the tibiotalar joint and the right leg syndesmosis was fixed at 2.0 cm above the tibiotalar joint. After ligament section and syndesmosis fixation, each leg was then jig mounted with transfixing wires through the proximal tibia and calcaneus. The ankle was placed in neutral with 15° of pronation and a load of 150 pounds and a strain gauge anchored medially and laterally. The proximal tibia was internally rotated while the ankle was held fixed until syndesmotic, bony, or hardware failure occurred. Torsional force, the degree of rotation and the amount of syndesmotic widening were quantitated. Two-tailed t-test comparing no fixation with fixation at 2.0 cm indicated less syndesmotic widening with screw placed at 2.0 cm (P = 0.04). Two-tailed t-test comparing screw fixation at 2.0 cm and 3.5 cm indicated less syndesmotic widening with screw placed at 2.0 cm (P = 0.07). It would seem reasonable to place a syndesmotic screw at 2.0 cm above tibiotalar joint.

Successful treatment of avulsion fractures of the base of the fifth metatarsal has been achieved using both short leg casts and soft (Jones) dressings. Sixty patients who presented to our institution were prospectively randomized to be treated with either a short leg cast or a soft (Jones) dressing for the purpose of assessing the efficacy of each treatment modality. Our results demonstrated that radiographic evidence of fracture healing was present in all patients by 65 days with 44 days representing the average elapsed time for such change. All patients returned to full weightbearing and full physical activity within 96 days. Significantly, the average length of recuperation for patients treated with a soft (Jones) dressing was 33 days as compared to 46 days for those treated with a short leg cast. Also, the average modified foot score for patients treated in a soft dressing was 92 (excellent) compared to 86 (good) for patients treated in a short leg cast. We conclude that a soft dressing allows patients to return to pre-injury levels of activity faster than when treated in a short leg cast and without compromising clinical or radiographic union of avulsion fractures of the base of the fifth metatarsal.

From January 1987 to December 1992, 38 patients (59 feet) with rheumatoid arthritis underwent reconstruction of the forefoot using Keller-Lelièvre arthroplasty of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and Hoffman resection of the lesser metatarsal heads. The average age of the patients was 61.3 years, with both feet involved in 21 patients and 17 with single foot involvement. The aim of our study was to evaluate the results both on a functional and an objective basis using dynamic and static pedodynographic measurements. Attention was given to dynamic pressure measurements under the metatarsal heads, the center of pressure distribution, gait analysis, and peak loads taken on different areas of the forefoot during normal walking. Correlations were made between these measurements and symptoms.

After a mean follow-up time of 35 months, the clinical results were satisfactory in 54%, satisfactory with some reservations in 39%, satisfactory with major reservations in 3%, and unsatisfactory in 3% of patients.

Ligaments surrounding the hindfoot joints play an important role in hindfoot stability. This in vitro study investigated anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of nine major ligamentous structures, including length and orientation at neutral position and physiological elongation with the foot in five different positions relative to the neutral position. The results showed that ligament elongation depended on the ligament length, orientation in neutral position, and movement of bones to which they were attached.

Thirty-five patients who had undergone neurolysis for Morton's neuroma were reviewed at a mean of 21.4 months. Those patients who had received diagnostic lidocaine (local anesthetic) injections as an evaluation tool before the operation did extremely well after this operation. Overall patient satisfaction was found to be extremely high, with 17 of 35 patients enjoying complete relief of their pain and 12 of 35 reporting minimal discomfort with activity. The likelihood of persistent symptoms seemed to be related to the presence of associated foot disorders.

The normal vascular supply of nerves in the tarsal tunnel was studied by intra-arterial injection of latex. In general, the blood supply to the tibial nerve and its branches came directly from corresponding arteries. Each nutrient artery to the tibial nerve bifurcated on the surface of the lateral plantar nerve fasciculus to create longitudinal vessels that made anastomoses with bifurcating nutrient vessels proximally and distally. This primary longitudinal system supplied intersubfascicular vessels to the medial plantar fasciculus. The last nutrient artery from the posterior tibial artery usually supplied the terminal branching point of the tibial nerve midway through the tarsal tunnel. The lateral and medial plantar nerves received most of the nutrient vessels from their corresponding arteries in shorter intervals. In 65% of cases, the lateral plantar nerve received a nutrient vessel from the medial plantar artery. Potential anatomical areas of vascular compromise in the etiology or surgical release of tarsal tunnel syndrome are discussed.

We first performed autogenous bone grafting for lesions of the hallux sesamoid in 1984. During the next 9 years, 21 patients (11 men and 10 women with an average age of 34 and 32 years, respectively) underwent this surgical procedure for symptomatic tibial hallux sesamoid nonunions. Successful bony union was achieved in all but two patients. The majority of patients obtained concomitant relief of preoperative symptomatology and returned to their preinjury level of activity. We believe that this procedure serves as an alternative to hallux sesamoid excision in selected cases.

Achilles tendon pain or rupture after fluoroquionolone treatment has been described as an uncommon adverse effect. We report two patients with ciprofloxacin-associated Achilles tendon disease, one with histopathological examination. Microscopic evaluation showed irregular collagen fiber arrangement, hypercellularity, and increased interfibrillar glycosaminoglycans. These pathological features are also seen in tendon overuse injuries in athletes.

We reviewed 20 revision ankle fusions performed using internal compression arthrodesis with screw fixation. Clinical, functional, and radiographic results were measured at an average follow-up of 30 months (range, 12–50 months). The reasons for the index procedures were nonunion in 11, malunion in 7, infected nonunion in 1, and nonunion associated with avascular necrosis of the talus in 1 case.

Fusion occurred in 15 of 20 patients. Two additional patients obtained fusion after subsequent procedures, for a final union rate of 85%. The average time to fusion was 6 months (range, 2–32 months). Nineteen additional operations were necessary in 12 patients, including three amputations for chronic infection (two infected nonunions and one chronic osteomyelitis). All but one patient had a plantigrade limb at follow-up.

Seventeen of 20 patients were satisfied with their ultimate outcome, including all three patients with amputations. The three dissatisfied patients were bothered by chronic pain.

Revision ankle fusion for nonunion or malunion using internal compression arthrodesis with screw fixation is beneficial for most patients. It is a technically demanding procedure that is associated with a high complication rate. Many patients can be expected to have residual pain. We emphasize the need for accurate alignment and early, aggressive treatment of infectious complications. Amputation should be considered a viable option to improve functional outcome in patients with solid, well-aligned fusions who are disabled by severe chronic pain.