Foot & Ankle International

Twenty-six patients (35 feet) underwent partial plantar fasciectomy with neurolysis of the nerve to the abductor digiti quinti muscle. Nonsurgical treatment for plantar fasciitis had been unsuccessful in these patients. Patients were followed after surgery for an average of 37.5 months. Six patients were male and 20 patients were female; the average age was 49 years. All patients had failed to respond to nonsurgical treatment for an average of 21.5 months. In addition to routine history and physical examination patients were evaluated before and after surgery with a subjective foot rating system, and a detailed questionnaire was used to assess postoperative functional outcome.

Thirty-two patients (92%) had a satisfactory functional outcome, and three patients (8%) had an unsatisfactory result (21 excellent, 11 good, 3 fair, 0 poor). The Maryland Foot Score increased from a preoperative average of 74.8/100 points to a postoperative average of 90.6/100 points. Four patients (11%) had postoperative complications, including superficial wound infection (two patients), deep venous thrombosis (one patient), and superficial phlebitis (one patient), all of which resolved uneventfully with treatment. Ten patients (28.6%) reported some degree of heel pain after surgery. All 10 patients denied limitation in activity related to postoperative pain. The average period before return to daily activity and restricted work duty was 5.6 weeks and to full work duty without restriction was 8.7 weeks. Although the length of time for partial or complete resolution of symptoms is variable, a successful treatment outcome can be expected in most patients who are treated for recalcitrant plantar fasciitis.

Four hundred eleven patients with a clinical diagnosis of plantar fasciitis were assessed for predisposing factors. Each patient completed an outcomes assessment survey instrument that ranked effectiveness of various nonsurgical treatment modalities. Listed in descending order of effectiveness, the treatment modalities assessed were short leg walking cast, steroid injection, rest, ice, runner's shoe, crepe-soled shoe, aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, heel cushion, low-profile plastic heel cup, heat, and Tuli's heel cup. Treatment with a cast ranked the best. The Tuli's heel cup ranked the poorest. Most of the treatments were found to be unpredictable or minimally effective. The ineffectiveness of nonsurgical treatments noted in this outcomes study is at variance with most published clinical studies in which generally favorable results are reported after nonsurgical treatment for plantar fasciitis.

Because of its excellent soft tissue contrast and ability to demonstrate soft tissue structures, magnetic resonance imaging is ideally suited to the evaluation of the soft tissues surrounding the ankle, including the lateral collateral ligaments. This study was undertaken to compare the clinical evaluation of 15 patients who suffered inversion injuries of the ankle with the results found on magnetic resonance imaging within 48 hours of the injury. Physical examination was found to be 100% accurate in the diagnosis of grade III ligament injuries but only 25% accurate in the diagnosis of grade II injuries. Clinicians most often underestimate the damage with a grade II ligament tear. Furthermore, other associated injuries, such as significant capsule ruptures and tendon damage, were often overlooked at physical examination.

Eight transtibial amputees had localized unremitting discomfort and pain in the distal anterior residual limb during prosthetic wear while weightbearing. Modification of the prosthetic socket did not change this pain. It was not consistent with “phantom limb” or causalgia/reflex sympathetic dystrophy-type etiologies. Thirteen randomly selected, pain-free, transtibial amputees were selected for comparison. The subjects in both groups used similar total-contact, “patellar tendon-bearing” prosthetic sockets fabricated and aligned with similar technique. The angles formed between the femur and tibia, femur and prosthetic socket, and tibia and socket were measured. Significant differences were found at each angle measurement between those patients who experienced pain and those who did not. The variable of tibia length had no effect. We conclude that bone alignment within the transtibial total-contact prosthetic socket may be partially dependent on surgical technique and not solely on prosthetic socket configuration.

The bony window available for posterior screw placement in the talus and the morphology of the talar neck were studied in 50 dry tali. In addition, 12 cadaver specimens were used to study the posterolateral approach. The bony window was bounded medially by the lateral tubercle of the posterior process of the talus, laterally by the fibular facet, superiorly by the trochlear articular surface, and inferiorly by the posterior calcaneal facet. The average vertical thickness at 2-mm increments was recorded across the talar neck to define the bony mass available for screw insertion. The smallest thickness of the talar neck was at a point 2 mm medial to the lateral border. The thickness progressively increased in a medial direction. The superior talar neck surface was found to have an average width of 18.4 ± 1.6 mm. The angle formed between the superior and lateral surfaces of the talar neck averaged 29.3°, which would account for the better delineation of the lateral border of the neck under fluoroscopy of the talus with the foot in pronation. The diameter of the screw in relation to the window height should be considered.

The aim of this study is to find basic quantitative geometric data that may contribute to the understanding of the etiology of hallux valgus. Embalmed specimens with existing hallux valgus (N = 39) were dissected; 28 variables were measured with a Vernier caliper gauge and toe goniometer. Correlations between pairs of independent variables were calculated. Linear dependency of the hallux angle, varus angle, and the width of the forefoot on a number of independent variables was analyzed by multiple linear regression. A least squares method and a stepwise procedure were used. The distance from the tendon of the flexor hallucis longus muscle to the head of the first metatarsal bone explains more than other variables the variation in hallux angle and width of the forefoot. A widened forefoot is significantly correlated with both hallux and varus angles. The interrelation of the predictor parameters illustrates the complicated hallux valgus phenomenon.

We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool for investigating pathology in the posterior tibial tendon by comparing the preoperative ultrasonograms for 17 patients with their recorded surgical findings. In all cases, the surgical findings confirmed the ultrasonographic diagnoses: 3 inflammations, 4 partial tears, and 10 ruptures. Interestingly, two ruptures had been undiagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasonography, which seems to be a reliable means of visualizing the extent of pathology of the symptomatic posterior tibial tendon, may be a valuable tool in surgical planning.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment of fractures of the proximal fifth metatarsal at the junction of the metaphysis and diaphysis (i.e., Jones fracture) in diabetics. Open reduction and internal fixation with bone grafting resulted in clinical and radiographic union 8 weeks after surgery in patients treated with either immediate or delayed open reduction and internal fixation. Open reduction and internal fixation with autologous bone grafting is an effective treatment regimen in the diabetic patient with a Jones fracture. An initial trial of casting can be attempted without any apparent deleterious effects on secondary open reduction and internal fixation.

The charts and radiographs of 48 surgically treated patients who underwent surgery for calcaneal fractures (right in 25 patients, left in 22, and bilateral in 1) between 1987 and 1994 were retrospectively reviewed. Coronal computed tomographic scans alone were obtained in 33 patients, and both coronal and axial computed tomographic scans were obtained in 9 patients. Three fractures exiting close to the calcaneocuboid joint (CCJ), but not involving the joint, were excluded.

Nineteen patients (38.7%) had involvement of the CCJ. The extension of the fracture to the CCJ was apparent in anteroposterior or oblique radiographs or both in 18 patients. There was intra-articular fracture displacement of ≤1 mm in 6 patients, and 13 patients had a step or a gap of ≥2 mm with or without angulation. Eleven patients had joint depression type fractures, 6 had tongue type fractures, and 2 had comminuted fractures. Extension of the calcaneal fracture into the CCJ was significantly more common with the joint depression type calcaneal fractures (chi-square test; P = 0.008). The coronal computed tomographic images showed significant lateral subluxation of posterior facet fragments in 8 patients and considerable comminution of the lateral calcaneal wall with or without lateral subluxation of posterior facet fragment in 10 patients. These patients also had CCJ involvement, thus establishing a strong correlation between lateral subluxation of the posterior facet fragment or comminution of the lateral calcaneal wall and CCJ involvement.

CCJ involvement is more common with joint depression type fractures. Extension of the fracture line into the CCJ should be suspected in presence of significant lateral column comminution or lateral talar subluxation.

Twenty patients received the installation of contrast material into the peroneal tendons while local anesthetic was injected as a diagnostic test. In three patients (15%), communication with the ankle joint and subtalar joint was noted, as well as failure of the contrast to fill the distal tendon. Injection of local anesthetic into the peroneal tendons as a diagnostic measure, therefore, may not have 100% sensitivity or specificity. Simultaneous injection of contrast material can be used to alert the clinician to a lack of specificity of the anesthetic test injection.

Twelve adult patients (13 feet), average age 33 years (range, 19–48 years), with calcaneonavicular coalitions remained symptomatic after a trial of conservative treatment. Surgical resections were performed. Before surgery, there was <5° of inversion/eversion in 11 patients, radiographic evidence of degenerative arthritis in 10 feet (77%), and talar beaking in 7 feet. At an average postoperative follow-up of 36 months, subjective relief of preoperative symptoms was achieved in all but two patients. Two patients required subsequent hindfoot arthrodesis. Resection of calcaneonavicular coalition in the adult can be successful and provides an option to arthrodesis after nonoperative methods have failed.

A clinical study was undertaken to ascertain the utility and complication rate of proximal calf tourniquet use for foot and ankle surgery. The surgical and clinical records of 446 patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery between March 1992 and December 1994 were examined for details pertaining to intraoperative tourniquet use and postoperative evidence of neurologic or vascular complications. All patients who had surgery performed under tourniquet control were included in the study.

A total of 454 limbs were operated on: 8 patients underwent bilateral surgical procedures. The patients comprised 172 men and 274 women. The average age was 48.9 (±16.0 SD) years. Surgery was completed in one tourniquet period in 435 cases (95.8%) and in two periods of tourniquet inflation in 19 cases (4.2%). The average duration of tourniquet ischemia was 49.2 minutes (±30.7 SD) for one tourniquet period and 131.1 minutes (±46.0 SD) for two tourniquet periods.

No postoperative compromise to either neurologic or vascular function was detected. Specifically, no alteration in peroneal nerve function was seen.

We conclude that a calf tourniquet placed proximally with adequate cast padding is a safe and effective method to achieve a bloodless surgical field for foot and ankle surgery.

This is a retrospective study of 12 cases of hyperplantarflexion injuries to the great toe and the lesser toes sustained in professional beach volleyball players. The hyperplantarflexion injury to the metatarsophalangeal joint, referred to as “sand toe,” can result in significant functional disability. Push-off, forward drive, running, and jumping are compromised. The average player in this series took 6 months to fully recover from the injury, and the most common problem after injury was the loss of dorsiflexion, seen in six players. Five players had residual discomfort in the injured toe, and two demonstrated an unstable toe.

Individuals who experience sand toe injuries should be treated conservatively, with taping, anti-inflammatory medications, shoe wear modification, ice, and rest. A toe strengthening program is also presented.