Biomechanical analysis of stresses to the fifth metatarsal bone during sports maneuvers: implications for fifth metatarsal fractures.

Fifth metatarsal stress fractures are an increasing problem in elite and recreational athletic populations. One possible mechanism of injury is the many bending moments applied to the fifth metatarsal during dynamic sports maneuvers involving rapid changes in direction and speed. A potentially important bending moment is loading of the base versus the head of the fifth metatarsal, which tends to cause a bending moment along the bone.

Regional foot pressure during running, cutting, jumping, and landing.

Background: Evaluating shoes during sport-related movements may provide a better assessment of plantar loads associated with repetitive injury and provide more specific data for comparing shoe cushioning characteristics.

Hypothesis: Accelerating, cutting, and jumping pressures will be higher than in straight running, differentiating regional shoe cushioning performance in sport-specific movements.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Foot and ankle injuries in dance.

Although dancers develop overuse injuries common in other athletes, they are also susceptible to unique injuries. This article reviews common foot and ankle problems seen in dancers and provides some basic diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Perioperative medication management for the patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has improved dramatically in recent years with the advent of the latest generation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Despite these advances, in some patients inflammation is not diminished sufficiently to prevent irreversible musculoskeletal damage, thus requiring surgical intervention to reduce pain and improve function. In these cases, the orthopaedic surgeon frequently encounters patients on a drug regimen consisting of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, methotrexate, and biologic agents (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs).

Alternative to the modified jones procedure: outcomes of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon transfer procedure for correction of clawed hallux.

Background: The modified Jones procedure is the traditional operative procedure for correction of a clawed hallux, although the deformity may be caused by overpull of one of three different muscles. In this study we present the radiographic and functional outcomes of flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon transfer as treatment for clawed hallux. The transfer is performed by drawing two thirds of the FHL tendon up through a drill hole in the proximal phalanx and then suturing it medially back to the remaining third.

Reliability of the Foot Function Index:: A report of the AOFAS Outcomes Committee.

Background: There currently is no widely used, validated, self-administered instrument for measuring musculoskeletal functional status in individuals with nonsystemic foot disorders. The purpose of this paper was to report on the assessment of reliability of one of these instruments. We wanted to determine if the Foot Function Index (FFI), which has been validated in rheumatoid patients without fixed foot deformity or prior foot surgery, would be reliable for a population of patients with foot complaints without systemic disease.

Issues of importance to patients seeking care from members of the AOFAS: a preliminary report of the outcomes committee of the AOFAS.

Background: The purpose of this multi-center study was to examine the outcomes of importance for patients seeking treatment for foot and ankle disorders. An improved understanding of patient outcome preferences will assist surgeons in improving patient satisfaction.

Methods: An open-ended priority function questionnaire was administered to 235 patients presenting as new patients to five different outpatient locations.

Impact of educational intervention on confidence and competence in the performance of a simple surgical task.

Background: Many complex new procedures involve a learning curve, and patients treated by individuals who are new to a procedure may have more complications than those treated by a practitioner who has performed the intervention more frequently. Still, at some point on the learning curve, each individual must decide that he or she is qualified to perform a procedure, presumably on the basis of his or her level of confidence, background, education, and skill. To evaluate the interrelationship of these factors, we designed a study in which we assessed the performance of a simulated knee joint injection.

The effect of walking speed on center of mass displacement.

The movement of the center of mass (COM) during human walking has been hypothesized to follow a sinusoidal pattern in the vertical and mediolateral directions. The vertical COM displacement has been shown to increase with velocity, but little is known about the mediolateral movement of the COM. In our evaluation of the mediolateral COM displacement at several walking speeds, 10 normal subjects walked at their self-selected speed and then at 0.

The efficacy of two methods of ankle immobilization in reducing gastrocnemius, soleus, and peroneal muscle activity during stance phase of gait.

Background: Immobilization to limit muscle activity is a common therapeutic and posttreatment event. There are potential time and resource savings if a prefabricated boot can replace a custom applied cast. The purpose of this study was to determine if muscle activity reduction is similar using a fiberglass cast versus a prefabricated (Aircast FoamWalker) boot.

Ordering and interpreting rheumatologic laboratory tests.

Many mechanical and systemic conditions can cause joint pain and synovitis. When rheumatologic illness is suspected, the initial evaluation begins with an accurate history, physical examination, and selective use of confirmatory testing, which can help avoid common pitfalls inherent in serologic evaluation. Tests for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies, anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant, HLA-B27, uric acid level, and Lyme disease, either alone or in combination, may support certain diagnoses.