Republication of "How Will the Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Community Respond to the Growing Opioid Epidemic?".

In the midst of the current opioid crisis, it has become critically important to properly manage opioid-prescribing patterns for the treatment of postoperative pain. There is currently a scarcity of literature specifying prescription and consumption patterns following orthopedic surgery and specifically foot and ankle surgery. Clinical guidelines for postoperative pain management are deficient.

Arthroscopic assessment of syndesmotic instability: Are we pulling correctly in the coronal plane?

Background: While the lateral hook test (LHT) has been widely used to arthroscopically evaluate syndesmotic instability in the coronal plane, it is unclear whether the angulation of the applied force has any impact on the degree of instability. We aimed to determine if changing the direction of the force applied while performing the LHT impacts the amount of coronal diastasis observed in subtle syndesmotic injuries.

Methods: In 10 cadaveric specimens, arthroscopic evaluation of the syndesmotic joint was performed by measuring anterior and posterior-third coronal plane diastasis in the intact state, and repeated after sequential transection of the 1) anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL), 2) interosseous ligament (IOL), and 3) posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (PITFL).

Incidence of (Osteo)Chondral Lesions of the Ankle in Isolated Syndesmotic Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To determine and compare the incidence rate of (osteo)chondral lesions of the ankle in patients with acute and chronic isolated syndesmotic injuries.

Design: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed (MEDLINE) and EMBASE (Ovid) databases from 2000 to September 2021. Two authors independently screened the search results, and risk of bias was assessed using the MINORS (Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies) criteria.

Short-Term Risk Factors for Subtalar Arthrodesis After Primary Tibiotalar Arthrodesis.

While adjacent joint arthritis is a recognized long-term downside of primary tibiotalar arthrodesis (TTA), few studies have identified risk factors for early subtalar arthrodesis (STA) after TTA. This study aims to identify the risk factors for STA within the first few years following TTA. All patients older than 18 years undergoing TTA between 2008 and 2016 were identified retrospectively.

Isolated injuries to the lateral ankle ligaments have no direct effect on syndesmotic stability.

Purpose: This study aim was to detect the impact of lateral ankle ligaments injury on syndesmotic laxity when evaluated arthroscopically in a cadaveric model. The null hypothesis was that lateral ankle ligament injury does not affect the stability of syndesmosis.

Methods: Sixteen fresh-frozen above-knee amputated cadaveric specimens were divided into two groups of eight specimens that underwent arthroscopic evaluation of the distal tibiofibular joint.

Novel values in the radiographic diagnosis of ligamentous Lisfranc injuries.

Background: Ligamentous Lisfranc instability is commonly missed on unilateral radiographs. However, measurement protocols for bilateral weightbearing radiographs have not been standardized. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the optimal cut-off values for diagnosing Lisfranc instability by evaluating the side-to-side differences of preoperative bilateral weightbearing radiographs among patients with surgically-confirmed ligamentous Lisfranc instability.

Lisfranc injury: Refined diagnostic methodology using weightbearing and non-weightbearing radiographs.

Background: To compare diagnostic parameters for Lisfranc instability on WB and NWB radiographs and to assess the inter-observer reliability of a standardized diagnostic protocol.

Patients And Methods: Patients who had undergone surgical treatment for subtle, purely ligamentous Lisfranc injury with both WB and NWB post-injury, pre-surgery films (n = 26) were included in this multicentre, retrospective comparative study. Also included was a control group (n = 26) of patients with isolated fifth metatarsal avulsion fractures who similarly had both WB and NWB films.

Medial Ankle Stability Evaluation With Dynamic Ultrasound: Establishing Natural Variations in the Healthy Cohort.

Introduction: Destabilizing injuries to the deltoid ligament have relied on radiographic stress examination for diagnosis, with a focus on medial clear space (MCS) widening. Recently, studies have demonstrated the use of ultrasonography to assess deltoid ligament injury, but not the medial ankle stability. The purpose of this study was to assess the MCS via ultrasonography while weight-bearing and with a gravity stress test (GST) in the uninjured ankle as a means of establishing normative values for future comparison.

Screw versus suture button in treatment of syndesmosis instability: Comparison using weightbearing CT scan.

Background: The superiority of screw or suture button fixation for syndesmotic instability remains debatable. Our aim is to compare radiographic outcomes of screw and suture button fixation of syndesmotic instability using weight bearing CT scan (WBCT).

Methods: Twenty patients with fixation of unilateral syndesmotic instability were recruited and divided among two groups (screw = 10, suture button = 10).

Fusion Versus Joint-Sparing Reconstruction for Patients With Flexible Flatfoot.

Aims: Passively correctible, adult-acquired flatfoot deformities (AAFD) are treated with joint-sparing procedures. Questions remain as to the efficacy of such procedures when clinical deformities are severe. In severe deformities, a primary fusion may lead to predictable outcomes, but risks nonunion.

The Effect of Gastrocnemius Recession and Tendo-Achilles Lengthening on Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity Surgery: A Systematic Review.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the available clinical and radiographic evidence for incorporation of a gastrocnemius recession or tendo-Achilles lengthening into the surgical correction of adult acquired flatfoot deformity. A systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Among the relevant articles, the level of evidence and quality was identified using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies tool.

Arthroscopic coronal plane syndesmotic instability has been over-diagnosed.

Purpose: Ankle arthroscopy is widely used for diagnosis of syndesmotic instability, especially in subtle cases. To date, no published article has systematically reviewed the literature in aggregate to understand which instability values should be used intraoperatively. The primary aim was to systematically review the amount of tibiofibular displacement that correlates with syndesmotic instability after a high ankle sprain.

Utility of Volumetric Measurement via Weight-Bearing Computed Tomography Scan to Diagnose Syndesmotic Instability.

Background: Weight-bearing computed tomography (WBCT) allows evaluation of the distal syndesmosis under physiologic load. We hypothesized that WBCT volumetric measurement of the distal syndesmosis would be increased on the injured as compared to the contralateral uninjured side and that these 3-dimensional (3D) calculations would be a more sensitive determinant than 2-dimensional (2D) methodology among patients with syndesmotic instability.

Methods: Twelve patients with unilateral syndesmotic instability requiring operative fixation who underwent preoperative bilateral foot and ankle WBCT were included in the study group.

Follow-up radiographs in isolated Greater Tuberosity fractures lead to a change in treatment recommendation; an online survey study.

Introduction: It is common practice to obtain follow-up radiographs of non-operatively treated isolated greater tuberosity (GT) fractures 1 to 2 weeks after trauma. However, the majority of non-operatively treated GT fractures remain stable and do not require reconsideration of the initial treatment decision. Radiological follow-up therefore might be unnecessary.

Tibial Stress Fracture Following Ankle Arthrodesis.

Background: End-stage ankle arthritis is frequently treated with either tibiotalar or tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis, but the inherent loss of accommodative motion increases mechanical load across the distal tibia. Rarely, patients can go on to develop a stress fracture of the distal tibia without any antecedent traumatic event. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of tibial stress fracture after ankle arthrodesis, highlight any related risk factors, and identify the effectiveness of treatment strategies and their healing potential.

Range of Normal and Abnormal Syndesmotic Measurements Using Weightbearing CT.

Background: Early recognition of syndesmotic instability is critical for optimizing clinical outcome. Injuries causing a more subtle instability, however, can be difficult to diagnose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate both distal tibiofibular articulations using weightbearing computed tomography (CT) in patients with known syndesmotic instability, thereafter comparing findings between the injured and uninjured sides.

Evaluation of Syndesmosis Reduction on CT Scan.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) imaging has traditionally been considered the gold standard for evaluation of syndesmostic reduction, but there is no uniformly accepted method to assess reduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra- and interobserver reliability of published measurement techniques for evaluation of syndesmotic reduction on weightbearing CT scan (WBCT) in hopes of determining which method is best.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed to identify patients who underwent operative stabilization of unilateral syndesmotic injuries.

Opioid Consumption Rate Following Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Background: The rapid increase in the consumption of prescription opioids has become one of the leading medical, economic, and sociological burdens in North America. In the United States, orthopedic surgery is the fourth leading specialty in the number of opioids prescribed, and the largest among all operative specialties. There is insufficient evidence to guide surgeons about appropriate opioid prescription amounts after orthopedic foot and ankle (F&A) procedures.

Effect of Fixation Type and Bone Graft on Tarsometatarsal Fusion.

Background:: End-stage tarsometatarsal (TMT) arthritis is commonly treated with arthrodesis of involved joints. Fixation hardware can consist of varying combinations of screws, plates, and staples with or without supplemental bone graft. There are limited data to demonstrate either superiority of a given fixation method or the impact of bone graft on fusion rates.

Graft Site Morbidity in Elbow Ligament Reconstruction Procedures: A Systematic Review.

Background: It is unclear which tendon harvest for ulnar or lateral collateral ligament reconstruction has the lowest graft site morbidity rate.

Purposes: To obtain graft site morbidity rates after tendon harvest for ulnar and lateral collateral ligament reconstruction procedures.

Study Design: Systematic review/Meta-analysis.