The influence of smoking on foot and ankle surgery: a review of the literature

The effect of tobacco smoking on foot and ankle procedures is likely to be more pronounced when compared to other orthopaedic surgery. This is due to the peripheral nature of the vasculature involved. This paper reviews the current clinical evidence on the effects of smoking foot and ankle surgery. In the trauma setting, the evidence suggests that wound complications and non-unions are significantly higher in the smoking population. In the elective setting there is a significantly increased risk of non-union in ankle and hindfoot arthrodeses in smokers. In the setting of diabetes, ulceration rate in smokers is higher and there may be a higher risk of amputation.     

A comparison of double single suture-button fixation,suture-button fixation,and screw fixation for ankle syndesmosis injury: A retrospective cohort study

Different methods have been used throughout the years for syndesmotic injury but there is no consensus on the ideal treatment. Some methods are expensive and some have more complications. The aim of this study is to compare single suture endobutton with double suture endobutton and screw fixation for syndesmotic injury.Sixty nine patients with syndesmotic injury with fibular fractures whom were treated with a single interosseous suture endobutton system (ZipTight^TM, Zimmer Biomet), a double interosseous suture endobutton system (ZipTight^TM, Zimmer Biomet) and 1 syndesmotic screw (TST, Istanbul, Turkey) were included in this study. Functional and radiological results from patient records between 2015 and 2018 were retrospectively evaluated.Twenty patients were treated with the double interosseous suture endobutton, 23 were treated with the single interosseous suture endobutton, and 26 were treated with traditional AO screw fixation. Three patients from the screw fixation group (11.5%) required revision surgery (P < .05). All the radiologic and clinical outcomes were statistical similar in all 3 groups.Our findings showed that the interosseous suture endobutton system is at least as safe as the screw fixation technique for treatment of syndesmosis joint injuries and can be used as an alternative to the screw method. The interosseous suture endobutton system eliminates the need for a second surgery to remove the hardware, which minimizes the probability of re-diastasis. Since our results showed no statistical difference between single and double interosseous suture endobutton systems, the less costly single endobutton system may be the better alternative.     

Relationship between lower limb muscle strength and hallux valgus severity in older people

ObjectiveTo examine differences in lower limb muscle strength between older people with varying degrees of hallux valgus deformity.MethodsMuscle strength was measured at the knee, ankle and foot using hand-held dynamometry and a clinical test of toe strength (the paper grip test) in 157 older people (99 women and 58 men) aged 65 to 91 (mean 74.1, SD 5.9) years. Hallux valgus severity was documented as none, mild, moderate or severe using validated photographs. Differences in muscle strength according to hallux valgus severity were evaluated using analysis of variance, adjusting for age. Paper grip test performance was compared across the hallux valgus severity groups using the chi-square (χ²) statistic.ResultsKnee extension, ankle joint dorsiflexion, ankle joint plantar flexion, ankle joint inversion, ankle joint eversion and lesser toe plantarflexion strength were not significantly different across the four hallux valgus severity groups. However, there was a significant, dose-response reduction in hallux plantarflexion strength with increasing severity of hallux valgus. This persisted after adjustment for age (F₃ = 5.5, p = 0.001) with a medium effect size (partial η² = 0.10). The number of participants who could successfully complete the paper grip test of the hallux significantly reduced across the four hallux valgus categories (χ² = 18.5, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThere is a specific and progressive reduction in hallux plantarflexion strength with increasing severity of hallux valgus in older people. This finding has potential implications for both the aetiology and treatment of this common and disabling condition.     

胫前动脉踝上穿支皮瓣修复足踝部软组织缺损19例

目的探讨胫前动脉踝上穿支皮瓣修复足踝部软组织缺损的临床疗效。方法回顾性研究2018年4月至2019年6月采用胫前动脉踝上穿支皮瓣修复足踝部软组织缺损19例的资料,其中男11例,女8例;年龄为21~75岁,平均39岁。根据前踝上穿支皮瓣解剖学基础,按照足踝部软组织缺损大小和形状,在小腿下端前外侧设计并切取皮瓣转位修复创面。切取胫前动脉踝上穿支皮瓣面积为6.0 cm×5.0 cm^14.0 cm×8.0 cm,均为带蒂皮瓣转位。根据皮瓣成活、感染控制、弹性色泽、外观形态、供区瘢痕、皮肤感觉、患者认可等情况,对患者足踝部软组织缺损的修复情况进行综合评价。结果本组19例皮瓣全部成活,软组织缺损、肌腱、骨质及钢板外露均得以修复。供区均I期愈合。术后门诊随访2~16个月,皮瓣血运良好,颜色接近周围正常皮肤,臃肿不明显,患者对外观表示满意;供区皮片愈合良好,无明显增生、挛缩及溃疡,踝关节功能良好。结论胫前动脉踝上穿支皮瓣是修复足踝部软组织缺损较为理想的方法之一,手术操作简便,穿支较恒定,血供可靠,具有一定的临床应用价值。