Arthrodesis of the hindfoot for valgus deformity. An entirely medial approach

Correction of valgus deformity of the hindfoot using a medial approach for a triple fusion has only recently been described for patients with tight lateral soft tissues which would be compromised using the traditional lateral approach. We present a series of eight patients with fixed valgus deformity of the hindfoot who had correction by hindfoot fusion using this approach. In addition, we further extended the indications to allow concomitant ankle fusion. The medial approach allowed us to excise medial ulcers caused by the prominent medial bony structures, giving simultaneous correction of the deformity and successful internal fixation. We had no problems with primary wound healing and experienced no subsequent infection or wound breakdown. From a mean fixed valgus deformity of 58.8 degrees (45 degrees to 66 degrees) pre-operatively, we achieved a mean post-operative valgus angulation of 13.6 degrees (7 degrees to 23 degrees). All the feet were subsequently accommodated in shoes. The mean time to arthrodesis was 5.25 months (3 to 9). We therefore recommend the medial approach for the correction of severe fixed valgus hindfoot deformities.     

Endoscopic treatment of hindfoot pathology

The arthroscope has served the orthopaedic surgeon as a diagnostic and operative tool since 1931. Several reports on its use in the treatment of extra-articular injuries have been published over the past few years. The surgical approach to the posterior ankle region is associated with some complications stemming from the poor blood supply to this region that can lead to wound complications and the formation of painful scars that later cause irritation when shoes are worn. We describe our experience in treating 3 hindfoot pathologic conditions, chronic Achilles tendonitis, os trigonum syndrome, and Haglund’s deformity, by using an endoscope as an alternative to open surgical techniques. All the patients underwent a 2-portal endoscopic procedure, they suffered no complications, and they resumed their daily and sports activities after 2 to 3 months. Our results with the endoscopic treatment of hindfoot and Achilles tendon injuries indicate it to be a good alternative to the surgical approach, and to have the added advantage of reducing postoperative morbidity.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 19, No 2 (February), 2003: pp E13–E13     

A complementary thoracic implant for the surgical correction of the scoliotic curve. A preliminary report

Summary The results of the surgical correction of scoliosis through posterior approach have significantly improved by the introduction of new implants during the past decades. Even with these improvements the available implants only allow limited correction especially regarding axial rotation, and also their application is rather complicated. We developed a new implant which simultaneously grasps and exerts forces on both transverse processes of the vertebrae, to achieve a more efficient and safer correction with a simple surgical technique. In our paper we report on the concept of the new implant, its most important features, its mechanical tests, cadaver experimentations, and biomechanical assessments.     

Minimally invasive spine surgery for the treatment of adult degenerative deformity

The treatment of adult spinal deformity using minimally invasive surgery aims to decrease the morbidity associated with open correction in this traditionally elderly patient population. These techniques are continually evolving and allow decompression, fusion, and instrumentation to be performed with minimal soft tissue disruption, low rates of infection, and reliable surgical correction. Each approach and procedure has its own technical challenges and specific risks. We will provide an overview of multiple minimally invasive approaches for the treatment of adult spinal deformity correction.     

Deformity correction planning for hindfoot, ankle, and lower limb

Many patients with foot and ankle deformities have concurrent deformities (osseous and soft tissue), with or without limb length discrepancies. Lower extremity deformities and limb length discrepancies typically result from trauma, congenital abnormality, avascular necrosis, previous surgery, nonunion, and malunion. Limb deformity correction requires extensive surgical experience because many considerations and factors apply to realignment. The considerations and factors regarding realignment are highlighted throughout this article.     

Minimally invasive surgery and percutaneous surgery of the hindfoot and midfoot

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and percutaneous (PC) surgery recently spread as a new technique in operative forefoot correction, and by extension in hindfoot and midfoot. Numerous procedures were described, and a race for MIS and PC has started. However, performing surgery with small incisions should not be an end in itself. Biomechanical and anatomical concerns must be taken into account and shall not be sacrificed for cosmetic reasons. For the most common hindfoot and midfoot pathologies, we discuss what we consider the surgical necessities and then describe the MIS and/or PC procedure we choose, according to these fundamentals.     

Midfoot and hindfoot arthrodeses in diabetic Charcot arthropathy.

OBJECTIVES: To review the clinical outcome of arthrodesis of the foot in patients with diabetic Charcot arthropathy and to review the pathophysiology, clinical and radiographic features of Charcot arthropathy. DESIGN: A retrospective review and clinical follow-up of a series of patients. SETTING: St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, a tertiary care teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Ten diabetic patients treated between 1996 and 1998 who required an arthrodesis of the midfoot or hindfoot secondary to deformity of diabetic neuropathic joints. INTERVENTIONS: Three midfoot (Lisfranc) and 7 hindfoot arthrodeses with autogenous iliac-crest bone grafting and internal fixation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient satisfaction, maintenance of the correction of the deformity and avoidance of amputation. Western Ontario/McMaster University score and midfoot/hindfoot American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society foot ratios. Clinical examination including E-MED pedographic examination. Correction and evidence of bony or fibrous union assessed radiologically. RESULTS: The postoperative correction was maintained, no further skin ulceration occurred and amputation was avoided in 9 of 10 patients. Because this is a salvage procedure and there was often significant concomitant illness, the results of clinical rating systems were poor. Five of 9 patients had clinical and radiographic evidence of a solid bony arthrodesis; 4 had a stable fibrous union. CONCLUSIONS: With careful surgical technique, a reasonable number of feet can be salvaged by an arthrodesis of a diabetic neuropathic joint when nonoperative measures fail. Patient selection is important because there is a significant complication rate.     

Endoscopic surgery for pineal region tumors.

Endoscopic surgery may play an important role in most patients with pineal region tumors. We report our experience with 5 patients treated by a burr hole endoscopic technique. The procedure included in all cases third ventriculostomy for the correction of hydrocephalus, CSF sample for cytology and tumor markers, and tumor biopsy for histological diagnosis. Endoscopic biopsies showed a pineocytoma in two cases, a germinoma in 2 and a low-grade astrocytoma in one. We agree that endoscopic surgery may allow us to select cases requiring a microsurgical approach (medium-sized or large non-germ-cell tumors) from cases to be treated only by irradiation and chemotherapy (germinomas and other non-germ-cell tumors). Then, in some patients with pineal region tumors the endoscopic procedure remains the only surgical treatment. When a direct microsurgical approach is indicated, it may be performed in a non-emergency situation and after correction of the hydrocephalus by endoscopic third ventriculostomy.     

Nuss miniinvasive procedure for pectus excavatum in adolescents and adults

Pectus excavatum is a congenital chest wall deformity with depression of the sternum and adjacent costal cartilages. Severe forms of this deformity lead not only to psychosocial deprivation but also limit physical performance due to lung volume reduction and cardiac compression. Open surgical correction using stemochondroplasty represented the gold standard of surgical treatment of pectus excavatum. Miniinvasive technique of corrective steel bar insertion was published in 1998. Since then, so called Nuss operation has become widely accepted. Good experience with this type of the pectus excavatum correction have encouraged us to adopt this procedure. We use this technique not only in children and adolescencents but also in adults suffering from depressed anterior chest wall. We present our initial experience with the treatment of nine patients. We describe the benefits and pitfalls of the method which are known to us.     

Surgical correction of malunited fractures of the forearm in children

AIM: In our goal-oriented society the demands for a forearm with full function are increasing. Functional deficits are not acceptable even if they persist only for a limited period of time. Therefore a rising number of surgical corrections of malunited forearm fractures in the pediatric patient has been performed during the last years. However literature about indication, technique and outcome in these patients is rare. For that reason we report our experience about surgical correction of malunited fractures of the forearm in 14 children. METHODS: Fourteen patients with an average age of 13 years at the time of surgical correction of a malunited fracture of the forearm were included. Seven had a deformity of the shaft, five at the distal forearm without and two with growth disturbance. Malunions without growth disturbance were corrected with an osteotomy and plate fixation. Those with growth disturbance were first treated with callus distraction. Previous to and 24 (3 to 100) months after surgical correction the patients were examined clinically and radiologically. Range of motion was noted. Additionally to the range of motion, grip strength and pain (VAS) were documented. Patients with correction of the distal forearm were asked to fill out the DASH questionnaire. RESULTS: In all groups a significant increase of the range of motion was noted in pro-/supination of 61 per cent to 85-0-80 degrees. In patients with distal correction additionally the range of motion in extension/flexion of the wrist improved 30 per cent to 70-0-65 degrees and in ulnar/radialduction 22 per cent to 30-0-35 degrees. At follow-up the grip strength following distal corrections was 98 per cent of the opposite side. The patients had no pain (VAS < 3 points). The median subjective functional result was excellent with a median DASH score of 3.5 points. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that potent techniques for surgical correction of malunited forearm fractures in the growing skeleton are available. These techniques allow excellent functional outcome.     

Correction of ankle and hindfoot deformities by supramalleolar osteotomy

Ankle and hindfoot deformities in 11 patients with a mean age of 15 (range, four to 35) have been gradually corrected by an llizarov external fixator. In all patients, supramalleolar osteotomy was utilized by percutaneous drilling and osteotomy technique. The patients were evaluated clinically by the AOFAS scoring system and radiologically by malorientation and malalignment tests described by Paley. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the efficacy of supramalleolar osteotomy and correction by an Ilizarov device in treating hindfoot and ankle deformities. The mean external fixation period was five (2.5 to eight) months. The mean interval between the operation and last follow-up examination was 19 (13 to 26) months. The patients improved an average of 30 points after the operation regarding to AOFAS score. A plantigrade foot was achieved in the whole group. Radiologically, no malalignment or malorientation was measured. Equal leg lengths were achieved in all nine patients with one exception. Complications were graded after Paley as minor problems in 11 patients and as obstacles requiring surgical interventions in four patients. Sequelae remained in only one patient. Ankle and hindfoot deformities caused by various etiologies are complicated by poor soft tissue condition and a short foot. A supramalleolar osteotomy and Ilizarov external fixator can safely and effectively correct these deformities.     

Subtalar arthrodesis for flexible hindfoot deformities in children

Flexible hindfoot valgus deformities in 16 patients (20 feet) with poliomyelitis and 10 patients (16 feet) with cerebral palsy were surgically treated by a modified Dennyson-Fulford operation using a fibular dowel and a screw. The correction achieved was assessed clinically and radiologically after a mean follow-up of 3.6 years. Overall good results were achieved in 86%. There were no cases of under- or over-correction, pseudarthrosis or screw failure. The procedure is suitable even for spastic planovalgus deformities. Complications related to screw position can be avoided by following the recommendations given here. Use of fluoroscopy and cannulated screws facilitate quick and easy completion of the procedure. Received: 9 August 1996     

Long-term results after operation for funnel chest

Summary The cases of 36 out of 62 patients who underwent surgical correction of funnel chest deformity between 1978 and 1988 with an average follow-up of 7.6 years were reviewed. The mean age at which the Hegemann operation was performed was 14.1 years. Preoperative cardiorespiratory disorders were reported by 76% of patients, while 71% showed electrocardiographic and pulmonary alterations. Postoperatively, cardiorespiratory disorders were significantly reduced, but the electrocardiographic changes were not. The pre- and post-operative radiological and functional measurements of the chest deformity which allow an objective evaluation of the surgical result are described. Surgical treatment is indicated in most cases of funnel chest deformity, for cosmetic or psychological reasons. The long-term results were good or fair in 90% or more of our cases. We suggested that disfiguring scars with keloid formation cause less psychological distress than persistent congenital malformation of the chest.     

Percutaneous Bunionette Correction Without Fixation: Clinical Results and Radiographic Evaluations Including Rotation of Metatarsal Head and Sagittal Angle Change of Fifth Metatarsal

Bunionette deformities have been treated as an analog of hallux valgus, and the surgical techniques are similar. Most commonly anteroposterior image is evaluated pre- and postoperatively. To our knowledge, only one study has evaluated changes on the lateral radiograph and no study has evaluated changes in rotation of the fifth metatarsal head postoperatively. In percutaneous bunionette correction using a burr for osteotomy, shortening of the fifth metatarsal and elevation of the metatarsal head are inevitable. Without fixation, there is also a possibility of rotational change to the metatarsal head. We measured parameters on anteroposterior and lateral weightbearing radiographs in 18 feet pre- and postoperatively. Rotation of the fifth metatarsal head was graded according to the medial tubercle location. We also evaluated angular change of the fifth metatarsal on weightbearing lateral radiographs. Percutaneous bunionette correction without fixation could achieve satisfactory clinical and radiographic results, with less complication, when compared with previously published outcomes of open and percutaneous surgery with fixation. In this surgical method, bunionette is corrected in 3 dimensions. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate rotation of the metatarsal head and change in the sagittal angle of the fifth metatarsal after bunionette correction.     

Outcome after Metatarsal Osteotomy for Hallux Valgus: A Study of Postoperative Foot Function Using Revised Foot Function Index Short Form

The aim of the present study was to evaluate patients' perception of their functional outcome at 6 and 12 months after surgical correction for hallux valgus using the Foot Function Index Revised short form. A total of 59 patients underwent 68 osseous and soft tissue procedures for the correction of hallux valgus deformity from January 2009 through December 2010. The outcome analysis was based on the validated patient questionnaire, the Foot Function Index Revised. The preoperative data were collected on the day of the patient's surgery using the Foot Function Index Revised short-form questionnaire. The postoperative data were collected at 6 and 12 months after the patient's initial surgical date using the same validated questionnaire. The cumulative Foot Function Index Revised score and the scores in each subscale demonstrated statistically significant data at both 6 and 12 months of follow-up. On average, the Foot Function Index Revised scores had improved by 39% at 6 months and 50% at 12 months. The improvement in all scores indicated an improvement in health-related foot function after hallux valgus surgery, evidencing effective surgical intervention. Expectations are the best predictors of patient satisfaction, and the present study has provided statistically significant data to allow physicians to establish realistic outcomes after surgical correction for hallux valgus deformity.     

Severe kyphoscoliosis associated with osteomalacia.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Kyphoscoliosis is one of the most frequent complications of osteomalacia, which only rarely results in severe deformity requiring surgery. To the best of our knowledge, there has been only one previous report of a spinal deformity as a complication of osteomalacia that was sufficiently severe so as to require surgical treatment. PURPOSE: To report here the case of a 27-year-old woman who experienced back pain of gradual onset accompanied by progressive scoliosis resulting in severe dyspnea. STUDY DESIGN: A case report. METHODS: She was diagnosed with hypophosphatemic osteomalacia and secondary hyperparathyroidism. She underwent posterior surgical correction and fusion from Th4-L1 using the ISOLA spinal system. RESULTS: At the last follow-up (3 year and 9 months postoperatively), her body balance was good and the dyspnea had disappeared. Plain radiographs demonstrated no loss of correction and also showed no evidence of instrumentation failure. CONCLUSIONS: We present a unique instance of a young woman with severe kyphoscoliosis who underwent posterior surgical correction/fusion with spinal instrumentation.     

The modified converse technique in combination with cavum rotation

We report our experiences in 210 patients with protruding ears who underwent a surgical correction of their deformity using a modified "Converse technique." The technique combines a posterior incomplete cartilage incision with permanent cartilage sutures and a cavum rotation if necessary. The described technique provides a good anterior width and normal relief, with shaped anthelix and crus superior, can be achieved.     

A surgical case of eventration of diaphragma in ten-year-old boy: a newer approach of operative correction of eventration

A ten-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital for surgical treatment of eventration of diaphragma. He had operative correction of eventration with intrathoracic approach and recovered good health. We present a newer method of operative correction of eventration, which can be beneficial in prevention of "re-eventration", especially, on younger patients.     

Treatment of nonunited hindfoot fusions

The management of delayed union and nonunion is complex and is contingent on appropriate diagnosis and classification. Detection techniques and treatment options, including cast immobilization, electrical stimulation, surgical repair, or a combination of regimens, are discussed in this article.     

Acute complications in patients with surgical treatment of lumbar herniated disc

The complications of surgical treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) are important to know, but hard to measure because of their low incidence and varied pattern. Using data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey, which codes discharges and procedures according to the ICD-9-CM, we assessed acute complication rates for 3,289 surgically treated LDH patients and 4,025 nonoperative LDH patients, identifying complications from codiagnoses. The complication rates were significantly correlated with the postoperative length of stay and with the risk factors of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. We found fewer instances of thrombophlebitis (0.3/1,000) and slightly lower mortality (0.9/1,000) than previously reported. Although the frequency of the cauda equina syndrome in the literature approximates our findings of 5/1,000, our data did not allow correction for the fraction of preexistent cauda equina syndromes. Our any-complication-rate is 3.7%. Even though LDH surgery is relatively safe, its complications should not be overlooked.