The Journal of foot and ankle surgery : official publication of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
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Malreduction of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis (DTFS) leads to poor functional outcomes after ankle fracture surgery. Difficulty achieving anatomic alignment of the syndesmosis is due to variable morphology of the fibular incisura of the tibia and a paucity of literature regarding its morphologic characteristics. We surveyed 775 consecutive ankle computed tomography (CT) scans performed from June 2008 to December 2011, and 203 (26.2%) were included for evaluation. ⋯ ICC for incisura shape and depth assessments was poor on both modalities (0.13 to 0.38). This comprehensive CT study reports on quantitative and qualitative descriptive measures to evaluate fibular incisura morphologies and fibular orientation. It also defines the frequency of DTFS measures and the interobserver performance on 2 CT evaluation methods.
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Calcaneal fractures are complex injuries and have historically had a poor prognosis that results in substantial disability. However, no studies have been performed that analyze both the radiographic and plantar pressure changes after treatment of intraarticular calcaneus fracture. Patients with an intrarticular calcaneus fracture treated at our institution during the study period were identified from computerized hospital records. ⋯ Pedabarographic results showed that the mean maximum force in the midfoot, forefoot, and toes (p = .001; p = .04; p = .002) and peak pressure in the midfoot, forefoot (p = .001; p = .007), and contact area of the midfoot and toes (p = .038; p = .004) were significantly increased in the injured foot. Radiologic findings showed hindfoot varus, forefoot adductus, and an increase in the medial arch. Even after appropriate anatomic realignment with open reduction and internal fixation of calcaneus fractures, residual differences in plantar pressures and radiographic measures are noted compared to uninjured foot.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Effectiveness of Four Different Treatment Modalities in the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis During a 36-Month Follow-Up Period: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
No consensus has been reached about the best treatment method of plantar fasciitis and the results of the treatment methods have been inconsistent. The objective of the present study was to compare the therapeutic effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy, platelet-rich plasma injection, local corticosteroid injection, and prolotherapy for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis using a randomized, controlled, prospective study. We performed a randomized controlled prospective clinical study of 4 groups. ⋯ The corticosteroid injection was more effective in the first 3 months and extracorporeal shock wave therapy was an effective treatment method in the first 6 months in regard to pain. The corticosteroid injection lost its effectiveness during the follow-up period. The effect of prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma was seen within 3 to 12 months; however, at the 36-month follow-up point, no differences were found among the 4 treatments.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Comparative Outcomes of Cast and Removable Support in Fracture Fifth Metatarsal Bone: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Fractures of the metatarsals account for 35% of all foot fractures. Conservative management of fractures proximal to the metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction of the fifth metatarsal bone (pseudo-Jones) is protected weightbearing. The methods of protected weightbearing include a short-leg cast and splint (boot cast, Jones bandage, and elastic bandage). ⋯ The unstandardized mean difference of early (within 1 month) and last follow-up foot scores for the short leg cast were -14.58 (95% confidence interval [CI] -24.12 to -5.04) and -3.89 (95% CI -6.30 to -1.49), significantly lower than the scores for the splint (bandage or boot support) for pseudo-Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone. The risk of nonunion of the fifth metatarsal bone fracture of the patients who were treated with short leg cast method was insignificantly greater at 1.57 times (95% CI 0.29 to 8.49) that compared with the splint. The treatment of fracture of the pseudo-Jones fifth metatarsal bone with a splint (boot or bandage) resulted in foot function scale scores better than those with short leg cast treatment and a lower nonunion rate.
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To build an appropriate strategy of pain management after ankle fracture surgery, surgeons need to know the characteristics of postoperative ankle pain and its contributing factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the maximum pain period after ankle fracture surgery and the factors affecting postoperative pain using a linear mixed model when patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was used as a basic modality. A total of 219 adult patients (108 males and 111 females; mean age 51.2 ± 15.9 years) who had undergone operative treatment for ankle fractures were included. ⋯ The severity of fracture (p = .01) was the only significant factor contributing to postoperative pain after ankle fracture surgery on multivariate analysis. Clinicians should consider the chronologic pattern of postoperative pain after ankle fracture surgery during postoperative pain management. Interventions for pain control, in addition to PCA, might be needed at ~8 hours postoperatively, especially for those with severe ankle fractures.