The 100 most cited papers in foot and ankle surgery

BackgroundThe number of citations of a paper gives an indication of an article's merit and importance within a medical specialty. We identify and analyse the 100 most cited papers in foot and ankle surgery.MethodThe Science Citation Index Expanded was searched for citations in 15 respected journals containing foot and ankle articles. Papers were analysed for subject, authorship, institution, country and year of publication. The average yearly citation was compared to total number of citations.Results3501 foot and ankle papers were returned. The maximum number of citations was 1084 and the mean was 104. The top 100 papers were published between 1979 and 2007, with the majority published in the last decade. The ankle was the most important anatomical region discussed, and basic science and degenerative disease were popular topics. We found a large discrepancy between the total number of citations with average yearly citation.ConclusionFoot and ankle surgery is a young and rapidly developing sub-specialty within orthopaedics. Recently there has been a significant increase in influential papers published. Certain topics are popular indicating their importance within the field. This study highlights important papers in foot and ankle surgery giving an insight into readership.     

The impact of COVID-19 on foot and ankle surgery in a major trauma centre

Introduction and aimsCOVID-19 has had a significant impact on orthopaedic surgery globally. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on foot and ankle trauma in a major trauma centre.MethodsA retrospective observational study of prospectively collected data was performed. All foot and ankle trauma patients over a 33 week period (1st December 2019–16th July 2020) were analysed. All patients with trauma classified by the AO/OTA as occurring at locations 43 and 81–88 were included.ResultsOver the 33 weeks analysed, there was a total of 1661 trauma cases performed; of these, only 230 (13.85%) were foot and ankle trauma cases. As percentage of cases during each period of lockdown, foot and ankle made up 15.20% (147 out of 967) pre-lockdown, 8.81% (17 out of 193) during lockdown and 13.17% (66 out of 501) post lockdown. This difference was statistically significant (p < .001). The most significant change in trauma management was the treatment of malleolar fractures.Further analysis showed that during the lockdown period 29 foot and ankle fractures were treated the same and 13 were treated differently, (i.e. 31% of fractures were treated conservatively, when the consultants preferred practice would have been surgical intervention). Of the 13 patients, 3 have had surgical management since lockdown has been eased.ConclusionIt is evident that the trauma case activity within foot and ankle was significantly reduced during the COVID-19 period. The consequences of change in management were mitigated due to a reduction in case load.     

Platelet-rich plasma for foot and ankle pathologies: A systematic review

BackgroundThe aim of this article is to review systematically all the literature available on the clinical application of PRP for the treatment of foot and ankle pathologies, to understand its potential and best indications for clinical use.MethodsA systematic search of the PubMed database was performed. Research criteria were the following: (1) papers in the English language, (2) dealing with the clinical application of PRP for the treatment of orthopedic-related conditions affecting the foot and ankle district, (3) with I to IV level of evidence, and (4) reporting clinical results.ResultsA total of 17 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Nine papers dealt with Achilles tendon management, 2 articles with plantar fasciitis, 3 papers with talar osteochondral lesions, 2 with PRP application in total ankle replacement, and 1 article with PRP in foot and ankle fusions. The overall evaluation of the results reported does not clearly demonstrate the potential of PRP treatment in any of the specific fields of application.ConclusionsConsidering the literature currently available, no clear indications for using PRP in the foot and ankle district emerged.Level of evidenceLevel IV, systematic review of Level I, II, III and IV studies.     

Comparison of postoperative pain control methods after bony surgery in the foot and ankle

Background

We performed a prospective study to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of postoperative pain control methods after bone surgery in the foot and ankle.

Stress fractures of the foot and ankle

Stress fractures occur as a result of microscopic injuries sustained when bone is subjected to repeated submaximal stresses. Overtime, with repeated cycles of loading, accumulation of such injuries can lead to macro-structural failure and frank fracture.There are numerous stress fractures about the foot and ankle of which a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon should be aware. These include: metatarsal, tibia, calcaneus, navicular, fibula, talus, medial malleolus, sesamoid, cuneiform and cuboid.Awareness of these fractures is important as the diagnosis is frequently missed and appropriate treatment delayed. Late identification can be associated with protracted pain and disability, and may predispose to non-union and therefore necessitate operative intervention.This article outlines the epidemiology and risk factors, aetiology, presentation and management of the range of stress fractures in the foot and ankle.     

Advanced foot and ankle fixation techniques in patients with diabetes

This article presents advanced techniques and current fixation constructs that are advantageous for the management of diabetic foot and ankle trauma and Charcot neuroarthropathy. Both these pathologies are often intimately related, and the fixation constructs that are required often require sound biomechanical concepts coupled with innovative approaches to achieve bone healing and limb salvage.     

超声引导下腓肠肌平面阻滞对足踝部手术患者术后镇痛的影响

目的 评价单次腓肠肌平面阻滞(GPB)用于择期全身麻醉下足踝部手术患者术后镇痛的有效性。方法 选择全身麻醉下足踝部手术患者60例,男34例,女26例,年龄18～64岁,BMI 18～28 kg/m²,ASAⅠ—Ⅲ级。将患者随机分为两组：GPB组和对照组,每组30例。GPB组术前进行GPB,于腓肠肌表面共注入0.375%罗哌卡因30 ml,对照组不予GPB。两组麻醉诱导和麻醉维持方法一致。术后均行无背景剂量羟考酮静脉镇痛。记录术后4、8、12、16、24、48 h静息和活动(足踝部背曲与跖曲)时NRS评分,术后0～16、16～24、24～48、0～48 h疼痛-时间曲线下面积(AUC),术中瑞芬太尼的用量,术后48 h内地佐辛补救情况,术后0、4、8、12、16、24、48 h的羟考酮滴定量,术后48 h有效按压次数、总按压次数和首次按压时间,术后住院时间、首次下床活动时间,以及头晕、发热、恶心呕吐、皮肤瘙痒和神经并发症等不良反应发生情况。结果 与对照组比较,GPB组术后4、8、12、16 h静息和活动时NRS评分明显降低(P<0.01),静息时和活动时0～1...     

Dance medicine of the foot and ankle: a review

All forms of dance are highly demanding activities, with a lifetime injury incidence of up to 90%. Most dance types are stressful, particularly on the dancer's forefoot, but certainly there is no area of the foot or ankle that is exempt from potential injury. Dancers often have unusual difficulties related to the dynamic biomechanical forces required by their individual dance form. A thorough understanding of these movements guides the physician to the cause of the injury, particularly in understanding specific overuse injuries. This article discusses biomechanics of the foot and the imaging and treatment of dance-related injuries.     

Role of anti-oxidant (vitamin-C) in post-operative pain relief in foot and ankle trauma surgery: A prospective randomized trial

BackgroundPost-operative pain may adversely affect a patient’s quality of life. Studies have shown that vitamin C, being an anti-oxidant and neuro-modulating agent, can help to reduce pain in a variety of clinical settings. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to assess the effectiveness of vitamin C in reducing post-operative pain, analgesia requirements and improving functional outcome.MethodsPatients with isolated foot and ankle trauma, who had undergone surgery, were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin C 500 mg or a placebo tablet twice a day. VAS score, analgesia requirement and functional outcome were assessed during their regular follow up. Results were compared and analyzed at the end of 3 months.ResultsThe group which received vitamin C, showed improvement in VAS score at the end of second and sixth week of follow up, reduced analgesia requirements and improved functional outcome as compared to the placebo group.ConclusionsThis study shows that the supplementation of vitamin C in patients undergoing surgery for foot and ankle trauma helps to reduce analgesic requirements, improve VAS scores and achieve better functional outcome.     

足踝手术后连续腓肠肌平面阻滞的镇痛效果

目的：探索连续腓肠肌平面阻滞镇痛用于足踝部手术患者术后镇痛效果。
方法：选择全麻下行足踝部择期手术患者42例,男19例,女23例,年龄18～64岁,BMI 18～28 kg/m²,ASAⅠ—Ⅲ级。将患者随机分为两组：连续腓肠肌平面阻滞镇痛组（CN组）和患者自控静脉镇痛（PCIA）组（I组）,每组21例。CN组术毕行连续腓肠肌平面阻滞镇痛,配方为0.125%罗哌卡因300 ml,背景剂量为3 ml/h,单次给药剂量为 8 ml,锁定时间为25 min。I组术毕使用羟考酮PCIA,配方为羟考酮30 mg、托烷司琼6 mg加生理盐水至150 ml,输注速度0.5 ml/h,单次追加剂量5 ml。观察两组术后0～16、16～24、24～48、0～48 h时段静息和活动时NRS评分曲线下面积（AUC）,1、8、16、24、32、48 h静息和活动时NRS评分,CN组术后胫神经和腓总神经运动功能恢复时间、羟考酮滴定量、术后48 h内补救镇痛药物的吗啡当量累计使用量、补救镇痛次数、补救镇痛率、首次下床活动时间、术后恶心呕吐的发生情况和患者满意度评分。
结果：与I组比较,CN组0～16、16～24、24～48、0～48 h静息和活动时NRS评分AUC明显降低（P<0.01）,术后1、8、16、24、32、48 h NRS评分明显降低（P<0.01）,CN组16 h有10例（50%）患者腓总神经运动功能恢复,24 h有17例（85%）患者腓总神经运动功能恢复,32～48 h所有患者腓总神经运动功能恢复,48 h内所有患者胫神经运动功能正常。与I组比较,CN组吗啡当量累计使用量和补救镇痛次数明显减少（P<0.01）,补救镇痛率明显降低（P<0.01）,患者满意度评分明显升高（P<0.01）。两组羟考酮滴定量、首次下床活动时间,恶心呕吐发生率差异无统计学意义。
结论：超声引导下连续腓肠肌平面阻滞可以实现胫神经运动和感觉阻滞分离,可在足踝手术后提供良好且持续的镇痛效果。     

足踝部急性损伤的治疗要点与最新进展

目的对足踝部急性损伤的评估、治疗要点及相关进展进行评述。方法根据临床治疗经验和近期文献报道结果,对常见的足踝部损伤,包括软组织损伤和骨性损伤的相关基础研究结果、术前评估、合理及个体化的治疗方案选择进行分析评述,并对相关临床报道进行总结。结果足踝部急性损伤的修复仍是临床和基础研究的热点。急性跟腱断裂手术与非手术治疗均可获得较为满意的疗效,早期负重并不增加再断裂发生率。足踝部开放性损伤首次清创时机延迟至24 h以内并不显著增加感染的发生率。在治疗严重踝部骨折时,应注意是否存在软骨损伤,解剖复位、纠正力线和恢复关节协调性是获得良好预后的前提。跟骨骨折治疗方案的确定依赖于对跟骨骨折损伤机制、分型及各种治疗方法的充分理解。距骨骨折的手术治疗尽量由经验丰富的医师完成。Lisfranc损伤应根据不同的损伤类型选择合理的手术及固定方案。结论足踝部急性损伤临床常见,对损伤的正确评估、手术时机和治疗方式的合理选择以及对特殊部位损伤和力学机制的正确认识,对获得良好治疗结果有重要意义。     

Physical examination of the foot and ankle by orthopaedic and accident and emergency clinicians

Our aim was to test the knowledge of clinicians in the Orthopaedic clinic and in the Emergency department of the surface anatomical landmarks that should be examined routinely in the assessment of foot and ankle injuries. A survey of 109 clinicians was conducted. Each participant was asked to palpate six important surface landmarks. Two participants failed to identify even a single landmark. Of 109 assessed only 27% correctly identified all six landmarks. The mean number of landmarks correctly identified by each clinician was 4.1 with a standard deviation of 1.5 and range of 0-6. The knowledge of surface anatomy overall by junior Orthopaedic and Emergency clinicians was found to be very poor. Clinicians are becoming more reliant on potentially unnecessary and expensive imaging investigations. They have neglected the basic art of physical examination based on a sound knowledge of human anatomy. At present, the authors believe that the anatomical teaching that should begin in undergraduate medicine is inadequate.     

A rare pentad of foot and ankle deformities in hyperlax children

Objective    The aim of this paper is to describe the clinical features and radiological appearance of a rare and complex lower leg and foot deformity in hyperlax children. Methods    Four children were included in the study; of these, two had bilateral feet involvement. All deformities were present since birth, comprising a pentad of conditions: (1) pathologic external tibia and fibula torsion, (2) ball and socket ankle joint with medial subluxation and talus medial subluxation, (3) excessive hindfoot valgus, (4) peroneal and Achilles tendon displacement anterior to the lateral malleolus and (5) generalized ligament laxity. All children had failed cast manipulation. Only two had undergone a minimal soft tissue procedure, but there had been no improvement. Results    All patients were ambulatory and pain free at the mean age of 6.5 years. Conclusion    Conservative or minimal soft tissue procedures are not effective in restoring the anatomy of such feet.     

Vitamin D levels in 577 consecutive elective foot & ankle surgery patients

BackgroundVitamin D deficiency is a global concern impacting upon large communities and certain disease populations. It can adversely affect the outcome of orthopaedic operations. We aimed to perform an audit of the Vitamin D status of patients in two centres in the United Kingdom undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery.MethodsSerum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (vitamin D) levels were obtained prospectively in 577 consecutive elective patients undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery between October 2014 and March 2017 (29 months). Variables including age, gender, ethnicity, location, season, month and procedure type were recorded.Results577 patients were included over the study period. 62.0% were female. Mean age was 53.2 (median 54.5, range 16.7–86.6). 300 patients were treated in Northampton and 277 in Leicester. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D levels for the patient group were normally distributed. The mean was 52.3 nmol/L (SD 28.0; range 7.5–175) and the median 47.5 nmol/L. 21.7% were grossly deficient, 31.9% deficient, 28.9% insufficient and 17.5% within normal range. Age, gender and procedure type did not statistically affect vitamin D levels (p = 0.5, t-test). Ethnicity, location and Winter season did affect Vitamin D levels (p < 0.05). August was the most significant month with levels significantly higher than January, February, March, April, June, November and December (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA).ConclusionsOnly 1 in 5.7 patients had a normal Vitamin D level and 1 in 4.6 were grossly deficient. Ethnicity and patient location significantly affected Vitamin D results. Summer months were noted to demonstrate significantly the highest levels and August the highest. We did not find that age or gender affected Vitamin D levels in our cohort.     

Advancements in percutaneous fixation for foot and ankle trauma

Operative fixation of foot and ankle trauma can be challenging. Often times, the soft tissue envelope can have extensive damage as a result of the fracture. In these cases, percutaneous fixation may be used. Percutaneous fixation can benefit both soft tissue and osseous healing when used correctly. Many techniques have been described in the literature that may help to preserve blood supply, minimize soft tissue dissection, and restore a functional limb. This article reviews general guidelines for fracture and soft tissue management, osseous healing of fractures, and how certain techniques influence fracture healing. It also illustrates certain techniques for specific fracture reduction.     

逆行腓肠神经营养皮瓣修复足踝部软组织缺损体会

目的观察应用逆行腓肠神经营养皮瓣修复足踝部软组织缺损的临床效果。方法应用同侧逆行腓肠神经营养皮瓣修复足踝部皮肤软组织缺损11例,并观察皮瓣存活情况及术后效果。结果11例皮瓣全部存活,1例皮瓣出现淤青、水泡,经换药愈合;1例皮瓣远端部分皮肤坏死,使用中厚皮植皮愈合;随访1～6个月,患肢能正常步态行走,皮瓣耐磨。结论逆行腓肠神经营养皮瓣切取简单,存活率高,是修复足踝部软组织缺损的较理想方法。     

Complications following total ankle arthroplasty: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis

BackgroundTotal ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is increasingly used as a treatment for end-stage ankle arthropathy. However, TAA may be more sensitive to complications, failure and subsequent re-operations compared to ankle arthrodesis. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to generate an overview of complications of TAA surgery.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library were searched between 2000 and 2020 to identify all papers reporting on complications in TAA surgery. Meta-analysis was conducted based on type of complication in TAA surgery. Pooled estimates of complications were calculated using a random effects model. Risk of bias and quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias and ROBINS-I tools. The confidence in estimates was rated and described according to the recommendations of the GRADE working group.ResultsOne hundred twenty-seven studies were included in this systematic review. All combined, they reported on 16.964 TAAs with an average follow-up of 47.99 ± 29.18 months. Complications with highest reported pooled incidence were intra-operative fracture 0.06 (95 %CI 0.04–0.08) (GRADE Very low) and impingement 0.06 (95 %CI 0.04–0.08) (GRADE low) respectively.ConclusionReported complication incidence of TAA surgery is still high and remains a significant clinical problem that can be severely hampering long-term clinical survival of the prosthesis. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis can help guide surgeons in informing their patient about complication risks. Implementation of more stringent patient selection criteria might contribute to diminishing TAA complication rates.     

负压封闭引流技术治疗足踝部开放性骨折脱位

目的观察负压封闭引流(VSD)技术应用于足踝部开放性骨折脱位治疗的临床结果。方法收集2006年3月至2010年3月收治的足踝部开放性骨折脱位患者520例,其中406例接受VSD治疗(VSD治疗组),114例接受常规清创换药治疗(换药组)。结果全部患者获随访2～5年,平均为3.5年。VSD组与换药组浅表感染率分别为5.17%和10.53%,细菌培养阳性率分别为1.03%和11.43%,术后GustilloⅡ型、Ⅲ型软组织损伤优良率分别为83.19%、75.96%和50.63%、31.43%,VSD组与换药组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论利用VSD技术治疗足踝部开放性骨折脱位可降低感染率,提高治疗效果,是一种安全有效的治疗方法。