Reliability, validity and responsiveness of the Spanish Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) in patients with foot or ankle surgery.

Background: The Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) has been validated in Spanish for use in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery.

Methods: 120 patients completed the MOXFQ and the SF-36 before surgery and 6 and 12 months postoperative. Surgeons completed the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Clinical Rating System.

Salvage of compartment syndrome of the leg and foot.

Early diagnosis and treatment of compartment syndrome of the leg or foot is invaluable in avoiding a chronic and often debilitating course. In cases where an ischemic contracture results in pain, disability or soft tissue compromise, surgical intervention is indicated. Thorough physical examination of patients and a thorough understanding of pathomechanics of the foot and ankle are paramount.

The mechanics behind the image: foot and ankle pathology associated with gastrocnemius contracture.

Contracture of the gastrocnemius musculature is a prevalent finding in the setting of foot and ankle pathology. Tightness of the posterior musculotendinous structures in the leg limits ankle range of motion and affects an equinus posture of the foot. Increased contact pressures are generated in the plantar foot with weightbearing.

Accurate measurement of ankle range of motion after total ankle arthroplasty.

There is no standardized method reported in the literature to measure ROM of the ankle after a total ankle arthroplasty, which limits the possibility to compare results from the various ankle designs. It seems that most of the measurements are a combination of ankle and midfoot motion, not the tibiotalar joint. A protocol was developed to accurately measure the true tibiotalar and midfoot motion before and after an ankle replacement.

Arthrodesis of the navicular.

Isolated arthrodesis of the navicular complex is a means of restoring the integrity of the medial column. This facilitates pain relief and improved function. This option should be considered in the treatment of degenerative disease in these joints.

The indications and biomechanical rationale for various hindfoot procedures in the treatment of posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction.

Several procedures are available for the treatment of posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction. The procedure that is chosen for a specific patient should address the patient's unique problem and make biomechanical sense. A fusion should be avoided, if possible; however, if a fusion is the appropriate solution, one should not hesitate to do it.

Ankle biomechanics.

The developers of a successful prosthetic implant for ankle replacement must consider the biomechanical properties that are unique to this complex joint. The prosthesis needs to provide structural support while allowing for motion in the sagittal, transverse, and coronal planes. Although the design must conform to and function within the soft tissue constraints of the ankle, it is only a component of the overall success.