UK Foot and Ankle Thromboembolism (UK-FATE).

Aims: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potential complication of foot and ankle surgery. There is a lack of agreement on contributing risk factors and chemical prophylaxis requirements. The primary outcome of this study was to analyze the 90-day incidence of symptomatic VTE and VTE-related mortality in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery and Achilles tendon (TA) rupture.

Early weight bearing in elderly patients with ankle fractures reduces care needs and maintains independence.

Background: Ankle fractures in the elderly are increasingly prevalent and are associated with significant morbidity and loss of independence.

Method: Patients over the age of 70 suffering ankle fracture were identified using ICD-9-CM patient coding. Fracture stability was assessed using patient records and radiographic evidence.

Predictors of Positive Outcomes and a Scoring System to Guide Management After Fasciotomy for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome.

Background: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) of the lower limb usually responds well to fasciotomy in patients with failed nonoperative treatment. Careful history taking and compartment pressure testing are both required to accurately diagnose CECS.

Purposes: To evaluate patients with CECS after fasciotomy to establish predictive criteria of positive outcomes and to develop a scoring system to aid clinicians in their management of such patients.

How many acute orthopaedic injuries are preventable?

Purpose: Injury prevention is important. Injury as a result of an accident carries with it huge cost to the individual and society including health services costs. Understanding the mechanism of injury is important to identify those injuries that are preventable.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Effect of a Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion of Local Anesthetic Following Elective Surgery to the Great Toe.

Unlabelled: Local anesthetic use for wound infusions, single injection, and continuous nerve blocks for postoperative analgesia is well established. No study has investigated the effect of a continuous block of the saphenous and superficial peroneal nerves at the level of the ankle joint following first ray surgery. A double blind randomized controlled trial was designed.

Joint sparing correction of cavovarus feet in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: what are the limits?

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is an inherited neuropathy that results in lower limb muscle imbalance and a resultant cavovarus deformity of the foot. With recognized poor outcomes of triple arthrodeses in the young patient, joint sparing surgery is preferred, which takes the form of osteotomies, soft-tissue releases, and tendon transfers to achieve a plantigrade and balanced foot. Due to the variability in muscle involvement and the presence of both mobile and fixed deformities, surgery must be individualized to each patient.

Ground Reaction Force Calcaneal Offset: A new measurement of hindfoot alignment.

Background: The tibio-calcaneal angle (TCA) does not measure individual forefoot contributions to the overall foot balance. Using standard radiographs we calculated the ideal hindfoot alignment based on ground reaction force (GRF), independently from the tibial axis.

Methods: Thirty-six patients (40ft.

A comparison of the long gamma nail with the sliding hip screw for the treatment of AO/OTA 31-A2 fractures of the proximal part of the femur: a prospective randomized trial.

Background: Controversy exists with regard to whether to treat AO/OTA 31-A2 fractures of the proximal part of the femur with an intramedullary device or an extramedullary device. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was performed to compare the outcome of treatment of these unstable fractures of the proximal part of the femur with either a sliding hip screw or a long gamma nail.

Methods: Two hundred and ten patients presenting with an AO/OTA 31-A2 fracture of the proximal part of the femur were randomized, at the time of admission, to fixation with use of either a long gamma nail or a sliding hip screw.

Do Kirschner wires maintain reduction of displaced Colles' fractures?

Fifty-three patients underwent closed reduction and longitudinal k-wiring of displaced Colles' fractures and were reviewed after a mean of 26 months. Radiographs taken at the time of injury, after reduction and k-wiring, and at fracture union were compared for radial shortening and dorsal angulation. Manipulation significantly improved fracture position (P<0.