Subtalar arthroereisis for pediatric flexible pes planovalgus: fifteen years experience with the cone-shaped implant.

Flexible pes planovalgus is a common condition with flattening of the medial longitudinal arch accompanied by hindfoot valgus. Severe cases of pes planovalgus may need surgery, and a technique that has gained popularity over the past decades is subtalar arthroereisis. An endoorthotic implant of various shapes is inserted in the sinus tarsus, which limits the excessive eversion of the subtalar joint present in flexible pes planovalgus.

Ischemic patterns assessed by positron emission tomography predict adverse outcome in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Although patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) have no coronary artery disease, regional impairment of myocardial perfusion combined with preserved metabolism has been found using positron emission tomography (PET). Our aim was to assess the prognostic relevance of PET-mismatch between stress myocardial perfusion and glucose uptake on clinical outcome in DCM.

Methods: In 24 patients with DCM who underwent both myocardial perfusion and metabolism PET scanning, "mismatch" was assessed and the association with clinical outcome (hospitalization, mortality, and heart transplantation) was investigated.