Effect of Body Mass Index on Pedobarographic and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Adolescent Flexible Flat Feet.

Background: Although adolescent flexible flatfoot deformity (FFD) is common, little is known regarding the effect of weight on associated symptomatology. This study uses pedobarography and patient-reported outcome measures (PROs) to determine if overweight adolescents with FFD have more severe alterations in dynamic plantar pressures than normal body mass index percentiles (wnBMI) with FFD and if such alterations correlate with pain and activity.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients aged 10 to 18 years with nonsyndromic symptomatic FFD was performed.

Obesity Increases Risk for Wound Complications After Pediatric Foot Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Review Using the NSQIP-Pediatric Database.

Background: As the incidence of childhood obesity continues to rise, so too does the number of obese children who undergo foot surgery. As the childhood obesity epidemic rolls on, pediatric orthopaedic surgeons will encounter obese patients with even greater frequency. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with obesity is valuable to maximize patient safety.

Interference screw versus suture button fixation for tibialis anterior tendon transfer: a biomechanical analysis.

Tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) transfer to the lateral cuneiform is commonly utilized to treat dynamic supination for relapsed clubfoot deformity. Traditional suture button fixation (SBF) may lead to skin necrosis at the button/skin interface. While interference screw fixation (ISF) would mitigate this concern, this fixation method has not been investigated in clubfoot patients.

Functional Implications of Flat-Topped Talus Following Treatment of Idiopathic Clubfoot Deformity.

Background: Though flatness of the talar dome (TD) is a potential consequence of operative and nonoperative clubfoot management, the functional impact of this deformity is not well understood. This study analyzes the relationship between TD morphology and ankle function at skeletal maturity in patients treated for idiopathic clubfoot during infancy.

Methods: 33 skeletally mature patients (average age 17.

Reconceptualizing the Juvenile Bunion.

Background: The operative management of the juvenile bunion has not enjoyed the same level of success as its adult counterpart leading to the concern that we do not fully understand what differentiates these 2 deformities. This study aims to (1) characterize the radiographic and pedobarographic features commonly encountered in the juvenile bunion and (2) determine which of these radiographic or pedobarographic parameters correlate with patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores at the time of presentation.

Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective analysis of prospectively enrolled patients between 10 and 18 years of age with bunion deformities was performed at a single pediatric institution over a 4-year period.

Evaluation and Management of Adolescents With a Stiff Flatfoot.

While flatfeet are normal in children, persistence into adolescence with associated pain or asymmetry warrants additional evaluation. Rigidity of a flatfoot deformity, whether a clinical report or evident on examination, should raise suspicion for pathology. The differential diagnosis includes tarsal coalition, neurogenic planovalgus, and peroneal spasticity.

The Efficacy of Intra-articular Subtalar Steroid Injection for Symptomatic Talocalcaneal Coalitions: A 30-Year Single Institution Experience.

Purpose: While intra-articular steroid injection has been used anecdotally in patients with symptomatic talocalcaneal coalitions recalcitrant to traditional conservative modalities, the ability of this treatment to provide symptomatic relief and obviate or delay surgical intervention remains unknown. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to assess the treatment efficacy of intra-articular subtalar steroid injection in children with symptomatic talocalcaneal coalitions.

Methods: A retrospective study of all patients with isolated subtalar coalitions was performed at a single pediatric orthopaedic institution over a 30-year period.

Lateral Cuneiform Ossification and Tibialis Anterior Tendon Width in Children Ages 3 to 6: Implications for Interference Screw Fixation of Tibialis Anterior Tendon Transfers in Children.

Background: While the transfer of the tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) to the lateral cuneiform (LC) following serial casting has been used for nearly 60 years to treat relapsed clubfoot deformity, modern methods of tendon fixation remain largely unstudied. Interference screw fixation represents an alternative strategy that obviates concerns of plantar foot skin pressure-induced necrosis and proper tendon tensioning associated with button suspensory fixation. A better understanding of LC morphology in young children is a necessary first step in assessing the viability of this fixation technique.

Arthrodesis of Ipsilateral Hallux Metatarsophalangeal and Interphalangeal Joints.

Background: Arthrodesis of the ipsilateral hallux metatarsophalangeal (MTP) and interphalangeal (IP) joints may be required for severe arthritis or deformity at both joints. The purpose of this study was to review outcomes of ipsilateral first MTP and IP joint arthrodesis.

Methods: Twenty feet were identified, for which the diagnosis was rheumatoid arthritis in 14, failed hallux valgus surgery in 5, and hallux rigidus in 1.

Narrative review of ring fixator management of recurrent club foot deformity.

Despite the widespread use of the Ponseti method for treatment of clubfeet, there continue to be a significant number of patients who present with a severe, stiff clubfoot as a result of extensive intra-articular soft tissue release or lack of access to care. In such patients, circular external fixators can be utilized for deformity correction with distraction across soft tissues, joints, and osteotomies. Ilizarov or hexapod circular fixators may be utilized according to surgeon preference.

Accessory Cuboid Facet Associated With Calcaneonavicular Coalitions.

Background: Calcaneonavicular (CN) coalitions are the most commonly encountered tarsal coalition. No study has assessed anatomic variations of the adjacent joints in the presence of a CN coalition. This study sought to identify differences in the anatomy of the calcaneocuboid (CC) articulation in feet with and without CN coalitions.

Do We Really Need to Worry About Calcaneocuboid Subluxation During Lateral Column Lengthening for Planovalgus Foot Deformity?

Background: Although lengthening of the lateral column through an osteotomy of the anterior calcaneus is an integral component of flatfoot reconstruction in younger patients with flexible planovalgus deformities, the procedure has been implicated in iatrogenic calcaneocuboid (CC) subluxation and subsequent degenerative changes at the CC articulation. The purpose of this study is to characterize alterations at the CC joint after lateral column lengthening (LCL) and determine if Steinmann pin stabilization of the CC joint before distraction maintains a normal relationship.

Methods: Seven matched pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric feet underwent preprocedure plain radiography and cross-sectional computed tomography (CT) imaging.

Effect of Lateral Column Lengthening on Subtalar Motion in a Cadaveric Model.

Background: Although lengthening of the lateral column through a calcaneal neck osteotomy is an integral component of flatfoot reconstruction in younger patients with flexible planovalgus deformities, concern exists as to the effect of this intra-articular osteotomy on subtalar motion. The purpose of this study was to quantify the alterations in subtalar motion following lateral column lengthening (LCL).

Methods: The subtalar motion of 14 fresh-frozen cadaveric feet was assessed using a 3-dimensional motion capture system and materials testing system (MTS).

Instagram and Pilon Fractures: An Analysis of Social Media and Its Relationship to Patient Injury Perception.

The purpose of this study was to investigate social media posts regarding pilon fractures and its relationship to patient injury perception. We evaluated Instagram media posts in patients who have suffered pilon fractures for the following variables: gender, tone, discussion of rehabilitation, activities of daily living (ADL) reference, incision/scar reference, pain, post of radiograph/imaging, external fixation reference, discussion of bracing/splinting, pre- or postoperative swelling, and need for reoperation. Results were determined by comparing each variable to gender and tone of the post to study patient injury perception.

The Adolescent Bunion.

The management of bunion deformities in adolescent patients is often a source of consternation for orthopaedic surgeons. Reports of recurrence and surgical failure along with a multitude of procedures to choose from create a wariness to manage the problem surgically. The biggest challenge in managing this problem is a lack of understanding by orthopaedic surgeons that adolescent bunions and adult bunions frequently arise from two distinct etiologies.

Radiographic assessment of the subtalar joint: An evaluation of the Kellgren-Lawrence scale and proposal of a novel scale.

Objective: To evaluate the reliability of grading subtalar (ST) arthrosis on lateral weightbearing radiographs in a heterogenous patient population using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) scale, correlate these findings to advanced imaging (CT and/or MRI), and to validate a novel scale.

Materials And Methods: A random collection of 40 lateral weightbearing radiographs presenting to a foot and ankle clinic were reviewed by nine multi-disciplinary independent reviewers. Interobserver reliability was assessed for KL scores.

Treatment of Freiberg Disease.

Freiberg disease, or osteochondrosis of the lesser metatarsal head, usually involves the second metatarsal and presents during the second or third decades of life. Conservative measures to relieve pressure on the affected metatarsal head are the first-line treatments, with good success for Smillie stage I to III disease. Operative treatments are divided into joint-preserving and joint-reconstructing procedures.

Acute Peroneal Injury.

A high clinical suspicion and greater understanding of the anatomy and pathophysiology of lateral ankle injuries have enabled early diagnosis and treatment-improving outcomes of acute peroneal tendon tears. Multiple conditions can be the cause of lateral ankle pain attributed to the peroneal tendons: tenosynovitis, tendinosis, subluxation and dislocation, stenosing tenosynovitis, abnormality related to the os peroneum, as well as tears of the peroneal tendons. It is imperative for the clinician to maintain a high suspicion for peroneal tendon abnormality when evaluating patients with lateral ankle pain.

A Biomechanical Analysis of Interference Screw Versus Bone Tunnel Fixation of Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon Transfers to the Calcaneus.

The flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer is commonly used to restore function in chronic Achilles tendon ruptures and chronic Achilles tendinopathy. The tendon is often secured to the calcaneus either through a bone tunnel or by an interference screw. We hypothesized that tenodesis using the bone tunnel method would be mechanically superior to interference screw fixation for flexor hallucis longus transfers.

Current Controversies in Management of Calcaneus Fractures.

Displaced intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus represent a technically challenging injury. Although there is conflicting evidence regarding advantages and disadvantages of operative versus nonoperative treatment, a growing body of literature suggests operative management with near-anatomic reduction of the posterior facet and restoration of overall calcaneal morphology offers greater potential for superior short- and long-term outcomes. A thorough understanding of calcaneal anatomy, fracture pattern, and associated injuries, along with careful selection of surgical approach and timing to surgery are critical to minimize the risk of complication and maximize potential for optimal outcomes.

Arthrodesis for the cavus foot: when, where, and how?

When the cavus foot has become rigid, midfoot and triple arthrodesis may be the only reasonable surgical options left. The apex of the deformity is multiplanar and some deformities may have more than one apex. The best outcomes are achieved with minimal shortening of the foot, so correction should be by rotation and translation and with minimal wedge resection wherever possible.

Management of varus ankle osteoarthritis with joint-preserving osteotomy.

The goal of osteotomy in the treatment of varus ankle arthritis is to shift the forces imparted to the ankle to a portion of the joint that is not involved in the degenerative process. The redistribution of loads and stresses seen by the tibiotalar joint can be approached either above or below the ankle with an osteotomy of the tibia or calcaneus. Evaluation of the deformity as being subtalar, supramalleolar, or a combination allows the surgeon to best address the increased joint stresses, thereby reducing the risk of failure of the osteotomy.

Prospective study of the treatment of adult primary hallux valgus with scarf osteotomy and soft tissue realignment.

Background: The scarf osteotomy has been a widely practiced bunion operation, but relatively limited prospective data on its outcomes have been reported. The purpose of this investigation was to prospectively evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of treatment of adult primary hallux valgus using the scarf osteotomy of the first metatarsal with soft tissue realignment.

Methods: Hallux valgus corrections were performed on 51 patients (53 feet), who were followed for at least 1 year with an average follow-up of 24 months.

Revised modified Oxford bone score: a simpler system for prediction of contralateral involvement in slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Background: The decision to prophylactically treat the uninvolved hip in slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) remains controversial. The modified Oxford bone score (mOBS) is predictive of future contralateral involvement in slipped capital femoral epiphysis. The scoring method for this system is challenging to remember because out-of-context irrational number sequences and total score range (16 to 26) are used.