Postoperative physical therapy for podiatric surgery.

The authors discuss several rehabilitation protocols for different surgical procedures on the foot. These are designed to be used as a reference for the podiatrist and therapist. In addition, various modalities are highlighted to familiarize the practitioner with their uses.

Rotational scarf (Z) osteotomy bunionectomy for correction of high intermetatarsal angles.

A modification of the scarf osteotomy bunionectomy is described. The modification involves a change in the movement of the osseous fragments from lateral transposition to lateral rotation of the metatarsal head fragment around a stationary axis at the metatarsal base. Rotation of the distal fragment in this manner allows greater than 50% transposition and, therefore, higher intermetatarsal angle corrections can be obtained as compared to a transpositional scarf osteotomy.

Comparison of flurbiprofen and acetaminophen with codeine in postoperative foot pain.

The purpose of this double-blind, randomized, parallel, multiple-dose study was to compare the efficacy and safety of flurbiprofen with acetaminophen with codeine phosphate in the 96-hr postoperative period following foot surgery. Analysis of mean pain intensity and mean pain relief for the patients not requiring rescue medication did not reveal any significant differences between treatment groups. There were also no significant differences between treatment groups with respect to patient and investigator global evaluations of therapy.

Arthroscopic evaluation of traumatic injuries to the ankle and foot. Part I: Acute injuries.

Traumatic osseous and soft tissue injuries of the ankle have enjoyed significant attention in the world literature. Technologic advances over the past 3 decades have allowed investigators to develop parallel methods of treatment of surgical approaches to fractures and soft tissue injuries of diarthrodial joints. The result is the art, science, and technology of arthroscopic surgery.

Criteria for combined procedure selection in the surgical correction of the acquired flatfoot.

Surgical correction of the flexible acquired flatfoot has long been subject to procedures based on an unsound understanding of the true pathomechanics of the deformity. With the advent of modern biomechanics and the concept of planal dominance, procedure selection can become a more exacting science. A classification system based on the progression of symptoms, used in concert with a firm understanding of the primary and compensatory deformities can simplify the process of selecting combined procedures to deal with a particular foot type.