Publications by authors named "Mark E Easley"

Background: In the surgical treatment of Haglund syndrome, combining a flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon transfer with Achilles tendon may improve plantarflexion strength and reduce strain on the repaired Achilles tendon. However, there is limited research comparing complication rates between surgical approaches with or without concurrent FHL tendon transfer.

Methods: This was retrospective study of patients who underwent surgical management for Haglund syndrome between January 2015 and December 2023.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines differences in foot deformities, specifically Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity (PCFD) with and without Hallux Valgus (HV), using weightbearing computed tomography in patients aged 18 and over.
  • Findings show that PCFD with HV exhibits greater angles and pronation at key joints compared to PCFD without HV, indicating significant structural variations.
  • The results highlight important associations between HV deformity and specific foot angles, suggesting a need for targeted clinical assessment and treatment based on these deformities.
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: Hallux valgus (HV) is recognized as a triplanar deformity. A biplanar locking plate (BLP) system corrects this deformity through first tarsometatarsal joint (TMTJ) arthrodesis, with specialized reduction tools and cutting guides. Yet the optimal surgical technique and fixation construct for first TMTJ arthrodesis remains controversial.

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Background: Haglund deformity is characterized by an enlarged posterosuperior calcaneus, often with inflammation of the retrocalcaneal bursa and Achilles tendon. This study aims to determine if obesity is associated with an increased rate of complications after Haglund resection.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent surgical resection for Haglund deformity from January 2015 to December 2023 at a single academic center.

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Background: Total talus replacement (TTR) implants are designed to replace the diseased talar anatomy, reduce pain, maintain ankle range of motion, and restore ankle function after conservative treatments have failed. Currently TTR implants are produced by 3D printing a patient-specific implant designed from the patient's preoperative anatomy. TTR surgery using patient-specific implants is a relatively new technique that remains understudied in the literature.

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Treatment of end-stage ankle conditions is a complex challenge in foot and ankle surgery. The talus is prone to issues such as osteoarthritis (OA) and avascular necrosis (AVN). Patient-specific total ankle and total talus replacement (TATTR) procedures have emerged as potential solutions, but the decision to include subtalar arthrodesis in these surgeries is multifaceted.

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This study assesses the comorbidities that are associated with failed revision total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) and explores the outcomes following a failed revision TAA. A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of patients who underwent a revision TAA at a single institution from 2008 to 2022. Patients were identified as having revision failure if they required explantation, below-knee amputation (BKA), or a revision of either metal component.

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The ankle infrequently develops primary osteoarthritis (OA), especially when compared to the hip and the knee. Ankle OA instead generally develops only after trauma. The consequences of end-stage ankle OA can nonetheless be extremely debilitating, with impairment comparable to that of end-stage kidney disease or congestive heart failure.

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Background: While total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has evolved over the years with improved designs and enhanced bony fixation methods, it remains a technically demanding procedure with a risk of early postoperative complications. One of the most common complications associated with TAA is medial and lateral gutter ankle impingement, which can lead to issues such as increased pain and decreased range of motion (ROM). However, there is a paucity of information in the literature discussing the impact of certain risk factors on gutter impingement complications.

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Background: This retrospective cohort study compared short-term complication rates following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), alone or with concomitant procedures. Secondary independent risk factors were also examined as they related to postoperative outcomes.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried using () codes to identify patients who underwent TAA (27702) between 2010 to 2021.

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Introduction: Launched in 2018 for revision total ankle arthroplasty (rTAA), the INVISION talar component addresses subsidence when poor talar bone stock is present. Due to the recency of the market-availability of the INVISION, studies evaluating its efficacy are lacking. This study presents the first analysis of early-term outcomes of patients undergoing rTAA with the INVISION talar component.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the surgical outcomes of custom 3D-printed total talus replacement (TTR) and combined total ankle total talus replacement (TATTR) in patients suffering from talus collapse and peri-talar arthritis, with a follow-up of around 22 months.
  • A total of 38 patients were examined, with findings indicating that 18.4% required secondary surgery, and 7.9% had their implants removed, while significant improvements were noted in talocalcaneal height and physical function post-surgery.
  • Overall, the results suggest that TTR and TATTR can significantly enhance foot and ankle alignment and patient activity levels, although initial pain relief diminished over time.
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This article describes the etiology, clinical presentation, surgical management, and outcomes for treatment of the failed first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint arthroplasty. Failure following implant arthroplasty typically creates large osseous deficits and surgical management can be difficult. Salvage arthrodesis provides reliable joint stability while maintaining hallux length.

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Article Synopsis
  • - First metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint fusion is a common surgery for advanced joint issues, effective for both older and younger patients since the 1950s
  • - The procedure generally results in good long-term success and needs few revisions, but complications like arthritis in adjacent joints can happen
  • - Successful fusion can sometimes lead to problems like nonunion or malunion, highlighting the importance of selecting the right patients for the surgery
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  • Flexible cavovarus deformity is commonly assessed using the Coleman block test, which evaluates first ray malposition and hindfoot flexibility.
  • A study compared weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT) measurements between 20 patients with flexible cavovarus and 20 control participants, focusing on the impact of the Coleman block test on foot and ankle alignment.
  • Results showed significant corrections in certain angles during the Coleman block test, but some measurements in cavovarus patients remained significantly different from normal controls, indicating residual deformity despite testing.
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Background: The incidence of primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is rising, with a corresponding increase in revision surgeries. Despite this, research on risk factors for revision TAA following primary TAA remains limited. Radiographic soft tissue thickness has been explored as a potential predictor for outcomes in hip, knee, and shoulder arthroplasty, but its role in TAA has not been assessed.

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Background: As total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) increases in popularity nationwide for the management of end-stage arthritis, it is essential to understand ways to mitigate the risk of infection. Diabetes increases the risk of infection due to compromised immunity and impaired wound-healing mechanisms. However, there is limited research on how diabetic management, inclusive of medications and glucose control, may impact infection risks post-TAA.

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Background: The utilization of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for managing severe ankle osteoarthritis has become increasingly common, leading to a higher occurrence of revision TAA procedures because of failure of primary TAA. This study aims to examine the clinical results associated with revision TAA using the INBONE II system. Given the growing number of TAA revision procedures and a focus on motion-preserving salvage options, we evaluated our early experience with revision TAA.

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Background: Despite substantial increase in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) nationwide, there are few studies comparing flat-cut vs chamfer-cut talar systems in TAA with regard to radiographic aseptic loosening rates of the implant.

Methods: This retrospective study included 189 Salto-Talaris TAA and 132 INBONE II primary TAA with a minimum 1-year follow-up. Patient characteristics were obtained including gender, age at surgery, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, primary diagnosis, surgical time, and the presence of diabetes.

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Background: Although many patients with posttraumatic ankle arthritis are of a younger age, studies evaluating the impact of age on outcomes of primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) have revealed heterogenous results. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of age on complication rates and patient-reported outcomes after TAA.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1,115 patients who had undergone primary TAA.

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Background: Infection is a serious complication of primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) and can lead to implant failure and revision surgery. Various demographic, comorbidity, and surgical factors have been associated with an increased risk of infection. However, the evidence base remains limited, and further research is needed regarding infection in TAA.

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Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) are a difficult pathologic entity to treat. They require a strong plan. Lesion size, location, chronicity, and characteristics such as displacement and the presence of subchondral cysts help dictate the appropriate treatment required to achieve a satisfactory result.

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Background: There is limited data evaluating the effect of obesity on outcomes following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), especially in adequate sample sizes to detect impacts on patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of obesity on complication rates and PROs.

Methods: This was a single-institution, retrospective study of 1093 primary TAA performed between 2001 and 2020.

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