The aponeurosis of the “slacksole” of the foot

Summary A case is presented with folded sole of the foot caused by absence of the aponeurosis and hypertrophy of the muscles of the little toe. Operative treatment gave a good result.     

The development of foot microsurgery：the past and the future

The occurrence and development of microsurgical technique is one of the most wonderful medical achievements in the twentieth century.By assistance of optic system, it has successfully made surgery from macroscopic field into microcosmic world and evidently broadened the applied scope of surgical technique.The microsurgical technique has also made surgery more accurate.Now it has been used most widely in the reparative and reconstructive surgery and almost leaves nothing to be desired in small vascular anastomosis.Microsurgery has greatly extended the scope and depth of the reparative and reconstructive surgery andmade many accurate operations which were never proceeded to come true before.Many new subjects therefore have been formed for this reason.     

Revisiting the pathogenesis of podagra: why does gout target the foot?

This invited paper provides a summary of a keynote lecture delivered at the 2011 Australasian Podiatry Conference. Gout is the most prevalent inflammatory arthropathy. It displays a striking predilection to affect the first metatarsophalangeal joint as well as joints within the mid-foot and ankle. A number of factors are known to reduce urate solubility and enhance nucleation of monosodium urate crystals including decreased temperature, lower pH and physical shock, all of which may be particularly relevant to crystal deposition in the foot. An association has also been proposed between monosodium urate crystal deposition and osteoarthritis, which also targets the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Cadaveric, clinical and radiographic studies indicate that monosodium urate crystals more readily deposit in osteoarthritic cartilage. Transient intra-articular hyperuricaemia and precipitation of monosodium urate crystals is thought to follow overnight resolution of synovial effusion within the osteoarthritic first metatarsophalangeal joint. The proclivity of gout for the first metatarsophalangeal joint is likely to be multi-factorial in origin, arising from the unique combination of the susceptibility of the joint to osteoarthritis and other determinants of urate solubility and crystal nucleation such as temperature and minor physical trauma which are particularly relevant to the foot.     

Can partial foot prostheses effectively restore foot length?

Our understanding of how partial foot prostheses function stems from static force analyses, where assumptions about the location of the ground reaction force during terminal stance have been made. While such assumptions seemed reasonably based on an understanding of normal gait, they are often illogical based on what is observed clinically. As such, the aim of this work was to evaluate the belief that partial foot prostheses are able to restore the effective foot length. Centre of pressure (CoP) excursion data were collected as part of a complete gait analysis incorporating an Advanced Mechanical Technology Inc. force platform. The CoP excursion patterns, observed in a cohort of eight partial foot amputees and matched control subjects, highlight the inability of toe fillers and slipper sockets to restore the 'effective' foot length in transmetatarsal and Lisfranc amputees, whereas clamshell prostheses fitted to the Chopart amputees were able to restore the effective foot length. In the transmetatarsal and Lisfranc amputees, the observed CoP excursion patterns could indicate a learned gait strategy necessary to reduce the requirement of the weak triceps surae musculature as well as spare the sensitive distal stump from extreme forces. The toe fillers and slipper sockets fitted to these amputees may not be stiff enough to support the amputee's body weight or the device may not be designed appropriately to assist the weakened triceps musculature to resist the external moments caused by loading the forefoot. The clamshell prostheses restored the 'effective' foot length due to the rigid toe lever and clamshell socket, which could allow and comfortably support the generation of substantial external moments during terminal stance.     

The use of ‘off-the-shelf’ foot orthoses in the reduction of foot symptoms in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundFoot pain in patients diagnosed with early rheumatoid arthritis is common.ObjectivesTo investigate effects of off-the-shelf foot orthoses on outcomes of swollen and tender joints, and pain, in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.MethodsThirty-five patients with painful and swollen foot joints were recruited. None had previously used foot orthoses or had contraindications to their use. Any patients with concomitant musculoskeletal disease, endocrine disorders, and neurological disease, were excluded. At baseline, participants were prescribed a customised off-the-shelf foot orthosis with chair-side modifications. Data was collected at baseline, three and six months. Foot pain (using Visual Analogue Scale) and the number of tender and swollen foot joints was measured.ResultsThere was a trend towards a reduction in the number of swollen and tender joints by 3 months with a further improvement by 6 months. Statistically (p < 0.05) and clinically significant reductions in pain levels were also noted.ConclusionPatients diagnosed with early RA may benefit from using off-the-shelf foot orthoses with the majority of their pain reduction occurring within the first 3 months of use, but with some small further symptomatic improvement up to 6 months. There was a tendency to a reduction in swollen and tender joints although more studies are required to substantiate these findings.     

Is the foot structure of preschool children moderated by gender?

OBJECTIVE: Although boys are frequently reported to have flatter feet than girls, there has been little systematic research to confirm or explain this structural difference between the genders. The objective of this study was to determine whether flat-footedness was moderated by gender in Australian preschool children and, if so, to determine the cause of this between-gender difference in structure of the plantar surface of the foot. METHODS: Foot anthropometry, Arch Index derived from plantar footprints, and midfoot plantar fat pad thickness measured by ultrasound were obtained for the left and right feet of 52 girls and 36 boys (mean age, 4.2 +/- 0.6 years). The children were recruited from 10 randomly selected preschools from the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. RESULTS: In agreement with previous research, the preschool boys displayed significantly flatter feet than the girls (P < or = 0.04). Although there were no between-gender differences in structural foot dimensions, the boys had a significantly thicker midfoot fat pad than the girls by approximately 0.4 and 0.5 mm on both the right and left feet, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of flat-footedness in boys compared with girls of the same age seems to be caused by a thicker plantar fat pad in the medial midfoot in boys. This suggests that the development of the medial longitudinal arch may be progressing at a slower rate in boys than in girls, and that intervention for a flexible flat foot, particularly for young boys, may be unnecessary.     

What lessons can history teach us about the Charcot foot?

Regrettably, physicians today receive very little instruction in the history of medicine. Most health care providers have a very limited, contemporary knowledge of the condition that we know of as the Charcot foot. Yet, historical concepts of the pathogenesis and natural history of this condition provide us with important lessons that enhance our understanding, recognition, and management of this rare but debilitating neurogenic arthropathy. It is my belief that knowledge of the history of medicine provides us with a better understanding of present-day issues and clearer vision as we look to the future. This article describes some of the important lessons learned from the history of the Charcot foot.     

Bone marrow edema in the foot—MRI findings after conservative therapy

Bone marrow edema (BME) is a rare cause of pain in the foot. We reviewed 23 patients with unilateral idiopathic bone marrow edema located in the foot. The patients' mean age was 59.1 years (32–73). Bone marrow edema was located 12 times in the talus, four times in the cuneiform bones, four times in the metatarsal bones, two times in the calcaneus, and once in the navicular bone. Edema secondary to an activated osteoarthritis, to mechanic stress, to a chronic regional pain syndrome or to trauma were excluded. The size of BME was categorized large in nine cases (50–100% of the bone involved), in nine cases medium (25–50%) and in five cases small (<25%).Conservative therapy consisted of infusions with the vasoactive substance iloprost and limited weight-bearing for a period of three weeks. After 3 months, in 15 patients BME showed total regression on MRI scan. In three there was subtotal regression and in three no change in the size of the BME (p<0.0001).No correlation between the primary size of BME and outcome was seen (p=0.453). No progression to AVN occurred in our patients. In two patients BME appeared to migrate to neighbouring bones and in one patient to a femoral head.Conclusions. Bone marrow edema syndrome is rarely seen in the foot. Progress to avascular necrosis is unlikely. Conservative therapy can be recommended.     

Changing perspectives in diabetic foot ulcer management

Diabetic foot ulceration is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus; it is the cause of more than half of nontraumatic lower limb amputations. Diabetic foot ulcers are the major cause of hospital admission for diabetic patients. Treatment costs are high. There have been advances in managing diabetic foot ulceration with the development of new dressings, growth factors, skin substitutes, and other novel approaches to stimulating wound healing. The management of vascular disease in the patient with diabetes mellitus is an essential and important consideration. However, the need for a multidisciplinary team to provide good foot care to diabetic patients is still vital for the prevention and treatment of diabetic foot ulceration.     

糖尿病足部溃疡外科保肢治疗进展

糖尿病足部溃疡是糖尿病的一个严重并发症,占非创伤性截肢的第1位。糖尿病足发病涉及足踝外科、血管外科、内分泌科.、感染控制,治疗方案需多学科联合诊治。清创术是治疗糖尿病足部溃疡的基础,清创过程中须注意维持足部正常解剖结构;负压封闭引流技术以及抗生素骨水泥在外科感染控制、溃烂创面愈合方面优势明显,疗效满意;肌腱延长术可缓解足底部应力集中导致的溃疡发生、进展等,其适应证广泛,优势在于既可预防足部溃疡形成也可治疗溃疡;皮瓣移植虽可以解决创口愈合问题,但是需要考虑移植皮瓣能否承担与足底组织相同的功能;胫骨骨搬运是一项较新的技术,具体机制还不清楚,但从临床疗效看具有一定的应用前景。     

A simple and effective approach for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers with different Wagner grades

Diabetic foot infections are the major cause of morbidity. Infection is the common sequel of diabetic foot ulceration that leads to delayed wound healing. These infections are difficult to control. If not addressed well in time, they may lead to amputation of foot. An attempt has been made to develop simple and effective treatment modality by using citric acid as a sole antimicrobial agent to control diabetic foot infections not responding to conventional treatment. Hundred and fifteen cases of diabetic foot ulcers of different Wagner grades infected with a variety of bacteria were investigated for culture and susceptibility, and susceptibility to citric acid. Citric acid gel was applied to ulcer to determine its efficacy in the management of diabetic foot ulcers with different Wagner grades. Citric acid gel was found effective in the control of foot infections; especially in Wagner grades I and II, the success rate was found to be more than 94%. In Wagner grade III also, it was found effective in complete healing of ulcers without deep osteomyelitis. Citric acid treatment is effective in the control of diabetic foot infections and in successful management of diabetic foot ulcers with Wagner grades I and II, and even with Wagner grade III, without deep osteomyelitis.     

New insights in diabetic foot infection

Foot ulcers are common in diabetic patients,have a cumulative lifetime incidence rate as high as 25%and frequently become infected.The spread of infection to soft tissue and bone is a major causal factor for lowerlimb amputation.For this reason,early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential,including treatment which is both local(of the foot)and systemic(metabolic),and this requires coordination by a multidisciplinary team.Optimal treatment also often involves extensive surgical debridement and management of the wound base,effective antibiotic therapy,consideration for revascularization and correction of metabolic abnormalities such as hyperglycemia.This article focuses on diagnosis and management of diabetic foot infections in the light of recently published data in order to help clinicians in identification,assessment and antibiotic therapy of diabetic foot infections.     

Prevalence of risk factors for foot ulceration in a general haemodialysis population

It is well documented that diabetic foot ulceration contributes to increased morbidity and mortality associated with renal replacement therapy. Much less is known about the risk of foot ulceration and lower limb amputation in the non‐diabetic dialysis population. The aim of this study was to determine if the prevalence of risks factors for lower limb amputation in a stable haemodialysis population was greater in the diabetic cohort compared with the non‐diabetic cohort. The study design is a prospective observational cohort study. Sixty patients attending a satellite haemodialysis unit in Cardiff were invited to have a comprehensive foot assessment as part of a Podiatry service review. The medical notes and hospital information system were used to identify the diabetic cohort. Patients were classified according to diabetic status (diabetic versus non‐diabetic). The Renal Foot Screening Tool was developed to prospectively identify risk factors associated with foot ulceration. The assessment included peripheral neuropathy (PN), peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and foot pathology (FP). Fifty‐seven patients gave informed verbal consent prior to inclusion. Risk factors for foot ulceration were recorded at baseline in the diabetic (n = 24) and non‐diabetic (n = 33) groups and mortality data was revisited after a 3‐year period. FP was identified in 79% of patients. Eighteen per cent of the non‐diabetic patients had PN. PAD was identified in 45% of diabetic and 30% of non‐diabetic patients. Forty‐nine per cent of the total cohort had ≥2 of the 3 independent risk factors for foot ulceration (16/24 diabetic versus 12/33 non‐diabetic). The presence of PAD and PN was predictive of mortality independent of age. The limitations of this study are its small sample size and patients were from a single satellite dialysis unit. There was a high prevalence of risk factors for foot ulceration in this population, which were not confined to the diabetic cohort. These findings suggest that non‐diabetic patients on haemodialysis therapy are also at risk of developing foot ulceration. Further work on strategies to monitor and prevent FP in this high‐risk cohort is needed to minimize morbidity and mortality associated with foot ulceration.     

Diabetic foot infection treatment and care

Foot infections in diabetic patients are a common, complex and costly problem. They are potentially adverse with progression to deeper spaces and tissues and are associated with severe complications. The management of diabetic foot infection (DFI) requires a prompt and systematic approach to achieve more successful outcomes and to ultimately avoid amputations. This study reviews a multi‐step treatment for DFIs. Between September 2010 and September 2012, a total of about 37 patients were consulted for DFI. The treatment algorithm included four steps, that is, several types of debridement according to the type of wound, the application of negative pressure therapy (NPT), other advanced dressings, a targeted antibiotic therapy local or systemic as the case may, and, if necessary, reconstructive surgery. This treatment protocol showed excellent outcomes, allowing us to avoid amputation in most difficult cases. Only about 8% of patients require amputation. This treatment protocol and a multidisciplinary approach with a specialised team produced excellent results in the treatment of DFI and in the management of diabetic foot in general, allowing us to improve the quality of life of diabetic patients and also to ensure cost savings.     

Clinical predictors of treatment failure for diabetic foot infections: data from a prospective trial

To aid clinicians in selecting the appropriate approach for treating patients with diabetic foot infections, we investigated whether any baseline clinical findings predicted an unfavourable clinical outcome. Using data from a large, prospective treatment trial of diabetic foot infections (SIDESTEP), we assessed the association between clinical treatment failure and baseline history, physical and laboratory findings, by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Among 402 patients clinically evaluable 10 days after completing antibiotic therapy, baseline factors significantly (P < 0.05) associated by univariate analysis with treatment failure were 'severe' (versus 'moderate') University of Texas (UT) wound grade; elevated white blood cell count, C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate; high wound severity score; inpatient treatment; low serum albumin; male sex; and skin temperature of affected foot >10 degrees C above that of unaffected foot. By multivariate logistic regression only severe UT wound grade (odds ratio 2.1) and elevated white blood cell count [odds ratio 1.7 for a 1 standard deviation (2971 cells/mm(3)) increase] remained statistically significant. Clinical failure rates were 46% for patients with both risk factors compared with 10% for patients with no risk factors and 16-17% for patients with one risk factor. Increased white blood cell count and severe UT wound grade at baseline, but not other features, were significant independent and additive risk factors for clinical failure in patients treated for a diabetic foot infection.