Foot & ankle international
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Human tibial plafond cadaveric specimens were coronally sectioned and imaged to assess the accuracy of evaluation of ankle joint line congruity using anteroposterior radiography. Two interesting representative clinical cases are discussed. ⋯ In severe fractures of the tibial plafond multiple forms of internal and external devices are frequently used for fixation. In these circumstances hardware may obscure the lateral view making it impossible to obtain adequate lateral radiographs to assess fracture reduction and joint line congruity. In this scenario, the anteroposterior radiograph is frequently relied upon to confirm the anatomic relationship of the displaced fragments. However, this view fails to accurately characterize reduction in the entire joint line and, intra-operatively, may mislead the surgeon to accept a reduction as anatomic when intra-articular incongruity still exists. Strict attention to pre-operative radiographs and the use of additional rotated views may aid the surgeon in this setting to assess fracture reduction and joint line congruence.
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Foot and ankle operations are being performed with greater frequency as outpatient procedures. Although the surgical procedure remains the same whether the operation is done in an inpatient or an outpatient setting, the anesthesia and postoperative analgesia are greatly affected when patients must be discharged soon after their operation. ⋯ This was the sole anesthetic technique for both the operation and the immediate postoperative period. This technique appears to have several advantages: 1) Excellent anesthesia during the operation and for about ten hours postoperatively; 2) Use of a proximal calf tourniquet, and 3) Absence of systemic or local complications as might be seen with general, spinal or epidural anesthesia.