The August 2015 Foot & Ankle Roundup. 360 . looks at: Is orthosis more important than physio in tibialis posterior deficiency?; Radiographic evaluation of ankle injury; Sciatic catheter quite enough!; A fresh look at avascular necrosis of the talus; Total ankle and VTE; Outcomes of posterior malleolar fracture; Absorbable sutures in the Achilles tendon; Lisfranc injuries under the spotlight

1. There seem to be two distinct methods of destruction of the foot, once pain sensibility has been lost: the first is a slow erosion and shortening associated with perforating ulcers under the distal weight-bearing end of the foot. The second is a proximal disintegration of the tarsus in which mechanical forces often determine onset and progress of the condition. 2. Once the tarsus begins to disintegrate it is difficult to halt the rapid destruction of the foot. 3. It is possible to detect early stages of this condition in time to take preventive measures. Routine palpation of anaesthetic feet will reveal patches of warmth localised to bones and joints which are in a condition of strain. Radiographs of such feet and a study of posture and gait may define early changes which point to one of several possible patterns of disintegration which may follow. 4. These patterns are described and discussed and suggestions made for preventive and corrective measures

Compression foot pumps are widely used for the prevention of postoperative venous thrombosis. We tested the efficiency of the pump in ten healthy subjects; the velocity of venous blood flow in the common femoral vein was measured in the horizontal, Trendelenberg (foot-up) and reverse-Trendelenberg (foot-down) positions. Application of the foot pump produced an increase in the venous velocity in all subjects. The mean increase in the horizontal position was 27.2% and in the Trendelenberg position 15.4%. In the reverse-Trendelenberg position, the foot pump produced a mean increase of 102.8%. The efficiency of the compression foot pump in increasing venous return is improved by adopting the reverse-Trendelenberg position. This may increase its thromboprophylactic effect

Diagnostic and operative codes are routinely collected for every patient admitted to hospital in the English NHS. Data on post-operative complications following foot and ankle surgery have not previously been available in large numbers. Data on symptomatic venous thromboembolism events and mortality within 90 days were extracted for patients undergoing fixation of an ankle fracture, first metatarsal osteotomy, hindfoot fusions and total ankle replacement over a period of 42 months. For ankle fracture surgery (45 949 patients), the rates of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism and mortality were 0.12%, 0.17% and 0.37%, respectively. For first metatarsal osteotomy (33 626 patients), DVT, pulmonary embolism and mortality rates were 0.01%, 0.02% and 0.04%, and for hindfoot fusions (7033 patients) the rates were 0.03%, 0.11% and 0.11%, respectively. The rate of pulmonary embolism in 1633 total ankle replacement patients was 0.06%, and there were no recorded DVTs and no deaths. Statistical analysis could only identify risk factors for venous thromboembolic events of increasing age and multiple comorbidities following fracture surgery. Venous thromboembolism following foot and ankle surgery is extremely rare, but this subset of fracture patients is at a higher risk. However, there is no evidence that thromboprophylaxis reduces this risk, and these national data suggest that prophylaxis is not required in most of these patients

The association between idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) and developmental dysplasia of the hip is uncertain. We present an observational cohort study spanning 6.5 years of selective ultrasound screening of hips in clubfoot. From 119 babies with CTEV there were nine cases of hip dysplasia, in seven individuals. This suggests that 1 in 17 babies with CTEV will have underlying hip dysplasia. This study supports selective ultrasound screening of hips in infants with CTEV

The exceptionally high prevalence of diastrophic dysplasia in Finland has enabled us to analyse the foot deformities of 102 patients at their first orthopaedic evaluation and classify 204 feet into five categories. The most common finding (43%) was a foot with tarsal valgus deformity and metatarsus adductus; 37% showed either equinovarus adductus (29%) or equinus (8%) deformities. At the first examination 13% showed metatarsus adductus deformity alone, and 7% were clinically normal. The expression 'club foot', generally used for the foot deformity in diastrophic dysplasia is a misnomer. There is a wide spectrum of deformities, some of them specific for the condition

We reviewed all patients with a clinically infected foot ulcer attending a specialised neuropathic foot clinic. Neuropathy was confirmed by the inability to feel a 5.07 Semmes-Weinstein hair, areflexia and impaired vibration sense, as measured by a biothesiometer. Of 40 patients who attended the clinic over a two-year period, six with ischaemic ulcers were excluded. The remaining 34 had plain radiographs of the foot followed by a . 99m. Tc-MDP bone scan. If the latter was positive, an . 111. In-labelled WBC scan was performed with planar and/or tomographic dual-isotope studies where appropriate. Bone and WBC scans were performed in 31 patients. In ten, isotope imaging showed infection localised to the soft tissues only and conservative treatment was successful in them all. Eighteen patients were treated surgically with excision of the involved bone, which was sent for culture and histological examination. Dual-isotope scans had a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 83%. . 99m. Tc-MDP bone scans with the appropriate . 111. In-labelled WBC scans can reliably determine the site and extent of osteomyelitis in the neuropathic diabetic foot

We hypothesised that adjuvant intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) beneath a plaster cast would reduce the risk of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) during post-operative immobilisation of the lower limb. Of 87 patients with acute tendo Achillis (TA) rupture, 26 were prospectively randomised post-operatively after open TA repair. The treatment group (n = 14) received two weeks of IPC of the foot for at least six hours daily under a plaster cast. The control group (n = 12) had no additional treatment. At two weeks post-operatively all patients received an orthosis until follow-up at six weeks. At two and six weeks the incidence of DVT was assessed using colour duplex sonography by two ultrasonographers blinded to the treatment. Two patients withdrew from the study due to inability to tolerate IPC treatment. An interim analysis demonstrated a high incidence of DVT in both the IPC group (9 of 12, 75%) and the controls (6 of 12, 50%) (p = 0.18). No significant differences in incidence were detected at two (p = 0.33) or six weeks (p = 0.08) post-operatively. Malfunction of the IPC leading to a second plaster cast was found to correlate with an increased DVT risk at two weeks (φ = 0.71; p = 0.019), leading to a premature abandonment of the study. We cannot recommend adjuvant treatment with foot IPC under a plaster cast for outpatient DVT prevention during post-operative immobilisation, owing to a high incidence of DVT related to malfunctioning of this type of IPC application. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1227–31

We report a prospective study of the causes and treatment of 26 long-standing neuropathic ulcers of the foot in 21 patients. The most important causal factor, well illustrated by pressure studies, was the presence of a dynamic or static deformity leading to local areas of peak pressure on insensitive skin. All but one of the 26 ulcers had healed after an average of 10 weeks of treatment in a light, skin-tight plaster cast, with the prohibition of weight-bearing. Recurrent ulceration was prevented in all but one foot by early operation to correct the causative deformity; this was performed after the ulcer had healed and before allowing weight-bearing on the limb. Pressure studies after operation confirmed that pressure points had been relieved

1. Tarsal coalition often presents with the clinical picture of a peroneal spastic flat foot, but may present with a painful varus foot and spasm of the tibial muscles. 2. Three cases of tibialis spastic varus foot are described with a calcaneo-navicular bar as the associated anomaly. 3. Complete excision of the bar with interposition of the origin of the extensor digitorum brevis muscle appears to be a satisfactory method of treatment when carried out at a sufficiently early age

The precise localisation of osteoarthritic changes is crucial for selective surgical treatment. Single photon-emission CT-CT (SPECT-CT) combines both morphological and biological information. We hypothesised that SPECT-CT increased the intra- and interobserver reliability to localise increased uptake compared with traditional evaluation of CT and bone scanning together. We evaluated 20 consecutive patients with pain of uncertain origin in the foot and ankle by radiography and SPECT-CT, available as fused SPECT-CT, and by separate bone scanning and CT. Five observers assessed the presence or absence of arthritis. The images were blinded and randomly ordered. They were evaluated twice at an interval of six weeks. Kappa and multirater kappa values were calculated. The mean intraobserver reliability for SPECT-CT was excellent (κ = 0.86; 95% CI 0.81 to 0.88) and significantly higher than that for CT and bone scanning together. SPECT-CT had significantly higher interobserver agreement, especially when evaluating the naviculocuneiform and tarsometatarsal joints. SPECT-CT is useful in localising active arthritis especially in areas where the number and configuration of joints are complex

Congenital dislocation of the peroneal tendons is a rare and infrequently reported deformity of the foot in the neonate. Four cases of this deformity associated with a congenital calcaneovalgus deformity of the foot have been treated and followed to the resolution of both of the deformities. The calcaneovalgus foot proved more resistant to correction and required more prolonged and aggressive treatment than was usual when it was found as an isolated deformity. All four patients demonstrated other stigmata of intra-uterine malposition and oligohydramnios or both. Our anatomical studies suggested that the superior peroneal retinacular ligament was the critical stabilising structure for the peroneal tendons. A concept of the pathogenesis of this deformity is discussed and a proven regimen for its treatment presented

We analysed the clinical and radiological outcomes of a new surgical technique for the treatment of heterozygote post-axial metatarsal-type foot synpolydactyly with HOX-D13 genetic mutations with a mean follow-up of 30.9 months (24 to 42). A total of 57 feet in 36 patients (mean age 6.8 years (2 to 16)) were treated with this new technique, which transfers the distal part of the duplicated fourth metatarsal to the proximal part of the fifth metatarsal. Clinical and radiological assessments were undertaken pre- and post-operatively and any complications were recorded. Final outcomes were evaluated according to the methods described by Phelps and Grogan. Forefoot width was reduced and the lengths of the all reconstructed toes were maintained after surgery. Union was achieved for all the metatarsal osteotomies without any angular deformities. Outcomes at the final assessment were excellent in 51 feet (89%) and good in six (11%). This newly described surgical technique provides for painless, comfortable shoe-wearing after a single, easy-to-perform operation with good clinical, radiological and functional outcomes. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:929–34

We reviewed the results of a selective à la carte soft-tissue release operation for recurrent or residual deformity after initial conservative treatment for idiopathic clubfoot by the Ponseti method. Recurrent or residual deformity occurred in 13 (19 feet) of 33 patients (48 feet; 40%). The mean age at surgery was 2.3 years (1.3 to 4) and the mean follow-up was 3.6 years (2 to 5.3). The mean Pirani score had improved from 2.8 to 1.1 points, and the clinical and radiological results were satisfactory in all patients. However, six of the 13 patients (9 of 19 feet) had required further surgery in the form of tibial derotation osteotomy, split anterior tibialis tendon transfer, split posterior tibialis transfer or a combination of these for recurrent deformity. We concluded that selective soft-tissue release can provide satisfactory early results after failure of initial treatment of clubfoot by the Ponseti method, but long-term follow-up to skeletal maturity will be necessary

We undertook a randomised clinical trial to compare treatment times and failure rates between above- and below-knee Ponseti casting groups. Eligible children with idiopathic clubfoot, treated using the Ponseti method, were randomised to either below- or above-knee plaster of Paris casting. Outcome measures were total treatment time and the occurrence of failure, defined as two slippages or a treatment time above eight weeks. A total of 26 children (33 feet) were entered into the trial. The above-knee group comprised 17 feet in 13 children (ten boys and three girls, median age 13 days (1 to 40)) and the below-knee group comprised 16 feet in 13 children (ten boys and three girls, median age 13 days (5 to 20)). Because of six failures (37.5%) in the below-knee group, the trial was stopped early for ethical reasons. The rate of failure was significantly higher in the below-knee group (p = 0.039). The median treatment times of six weeks in the below-knee and four weeks in the above-knee group differed significantly (p = 0.01). This study demonstrates that the use of a below-knee plaster of Paris cast in conjunction with the Ponseti technique leads to unacceptably high failure rates and significantly longer treatment times. Therefore, this technique is not recommended. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1570–4

1. Sixty feet operated upon either by triple or pantalar tarsal fusion for instability after poliomyelitis were re-examined ten to twenty-four years later. 2. After triple fusion with preservation of the ankle joint there was a striking absence of late osteoarthritis of the ankle, and only a low incidence of troublesome lateral instability of the ankle. The results were generally good provided the patient had reasonable power of extension of the knee. 3. Triple arthrodesis for completely flail foot in patients without active muscle control of the knee was often disappointing, so far as the limb as a whole was concerned, because of a persistent flexion deformity of the knee which usually necessitated the wearing of an appliance. 4. The results of pantalar arthrodesis for the flail foot were satisfactory. When this operation was performed (with the foot in slight equinus) in patients who lacked active extension of the knee it helped to stabilise the knee in walking by encouraging hyperextension

We performed electrophysiological studies on both legs of 52 children, aged from 3 months to 15 years, with idiopathic club foot. In only nine (17%) was no abnormality found. Isolated peroneal nerve damage was seen in 14 (27%). Abnormality of both peroneal and posterior tibial nerves was found in five (10%). Four patients (8%) had evidence of isolated spinal-cord dysfunction, whereas combined spinal-cord and peripheral-nerve lesions were seen in 14 (27%). Six patients (11%) had variable neurogenic electrophysiological patterns. In 13 patients in whom the studies were repeated neither progression nor improvement of the electrophysiological parameters was observed. Pathological electrophysiological findings were found in 66% of conservatively-treated patients. In the 43 patients treated surgically, all 16 with fair and poor results had pathological electrophysiological findings and 12 required further operations. Multiplicity of the pathological findings was related to the severity of the deformity of the foot; normal studies represent a good prognostic sign. Electrophysiological studies are useful in idiopathic club foot with residual deformities after conservative or operative treatment. Our findings support the theory that muscle imbalance is an aetiological factor in idiopathic club foot