The haemophilic ankle

Radiation synoviorthesis is a very effective procedure that decreases both the frequency and the intensity of recurrent ankle bleeds related to ankle synovitis. The procedure should be performed as soon as possible to minimize the degree of articular cartilage damage. It can also be used in patients with inhibitors with minimal risk of complications. On average, the efficacy of the procedure ranges from 76% to 80%, and can be performed at any age. The procedure slows the cartilaginous damage which intra-articular blood tends to produce in the long term. After 30 years of using radiation synovectomy worldwide, no damage has been reported in relation to the radioactive materials. Radiation synovectomy is currently the preferred procedure when radioactive materials are available; however, chemical synoviorthesis is an effective alternative method if radioactive materials are not available. Personal experience and the general recommendation among orthopaedic surgeons and haematologists is that when three early consecutive synoviorthesis (repeated every 3 months) fail to halt synovitis, a surgical synovectomy (open or by arthroscopy) should be immediately considered. For advanced haemophilic arthropathy of the ankle, the best solution is an ankle arthrodesis. Primary prophylaxis and radioactive synoviorthesis are the best ways that we have today of protecting against haemophilic synovitis and arthropathy of the ankle joint.     

Tuberculosis of ankle

The authors present a case of tuberculous arthritis of ankle with sinovial fluid and sputum aspirate Lowenstein positive (M. tuberculosis) in a patient non inmunocomprometid and review the clinical, diagnosis and treatment aspects of this entity, and show the difficult diagnosis in cases of radiology normal or low suspect.     

Tuberculous ankle versus pyogenic septic ankle arthritis: a retrospective comparison

Ankle tuberculosis (TB) manifests with varying symptoms and is easily confused with pyogenic septic ankle arthritis. In this study, all patients with either ankle TB or pyogenic septic ankle arthritis who were admitted to a medical center in southern Taiwan between May 1986 and October 2006 were reviewed retrospectively to identify risk factors for ankle TB. Compared with the 42 patients with culture-confirmed pyogenic septic ankle arthritis, the 26 patients with ankle TB (12 definitive, 5 probable, and 9 possible) were significantly more likely to have evidence of TB on chest radiographs (50 versus 10%; P<0.01), a history of trauma (58 versus 17%; P<0.01), presentation with sinus discharge (50 versus 12%; P<0.01), duration of symptoms of more than 3 months (69 versus 12%; P<0.01), a leukocyte count of <10,000/μL (58 versus 29%; P=0.03), and C-reactive protein of <5 mg/dL (42 versus 17%; P=0.03). Evidence of TB on chest radiographs was identified as an independent risk factor for ankle TB (odds ratio=35.1; 95% confidence interval=1.6?779.8; P=0.02) by multiple logistic regression analysis. Awareness of these factors is essential for the accurate and timely diagnosis of ankle TB.     

Prevalence of radiographic ankle osteoarthritis in different subgroups of patients referred for ankle radiography

BackgroundAnkle osteoarthritis(OA) has detrimental effects on physical health and has a relatively early disease onset compared to OA in other joints. However, the prevalence of radiographic ankle OA in different subgroups of patients referred for ankle radiography remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of radiographic talocrural, subtalar and talonavicular OA(Kellgren-Lawrence scale ≥2) in a population referred for ankle radiography. Moreover, we aimed to identify differences in prevalence between specific subgroups of patients i.e. Body Mass Index (BMI), sex, age and reason for referral.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at a radiology department serving primary and secondary care. Patients completed a questionnaire before radiography. Features of radiographic ankle OA were assessed for subgroups of patients, including; BMI, sex, age and reason for referral (chronic vs (sub)acute complaints). To examine the difference in (features of) radiographic OA for subgroups, multinomial and logistic regression were used to calculate Odds Ratios (ORs), with adjustment for age, sex and BMI.ResultsData from 893 patients that visited the radiology department across 16 months in 2017 or 2018 were included for analysis. Prevalence of radiographic ankle OA was 9.2%, 0.4% and 7.0%, for the talocrural, subtalar and talonavicular joint, respectively. Obesity was associated with radiographic talonavicular OA (adjusted OR 2.16, 95%CI:1.09; 5.26). Radiographic talocrural and talonavicular OA were both positively associated with male sex [(adjusted OR 4.64, 95%CI:276; 7.81) and (adjusted OR 1.95, 95%CI:1.13; 3.35), respectively].ConclusionRadiographic ankle OA was more common in men and obese patients that were referred to radiology.     

Haemophilic arthropathy of the ankle treated by total ankle replacement: a case series

Summary. The standard treatment for end‐stage osteoarthritis of the ankle joint in haemophilic patients has been fusion of the ankle joint. Total ankle replacement is still controversial as a treatment option. The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the mid‐term outcome in patients treated with total ankle replacement using an unconstrained three‐component ankle implant. Ten haemophilic ankles in eight patients (mean age: 43.2 years, range 26.7–57.5) treated with total ankle replacement were followed up for a minimum of 2.7 years (mean: 5.6, range 2.7–7.6). The outcome was measured with clinical and radiological evaluations. There were no intra‐ or peri‐operative complications. The AOFAS‐hindfoot‐score increased from 38 (range 8–57) preoperatively to 81 (range 69–95) postoperatively. All patients were satisfied with the results. Four patients became pain free; in the whole patient cohort pain level decreased from 7.1 (range 4–9) preoperatively to 0.8 (range 0–3) postoperatively. All categories of SF‐36 score showed significant improvements in quality of life. In one patient, open ankle arthrolysis was performed because of painful arthrofibrosis. For patients with haemophilic osteoarthritis of the ankle joint, total ankle replacement is a valuable alternative treatment to ankle fusion.     

Comparison of four ankle splint designs

Plaster splinting is often considered the initial immobilization method for acute ankle injuries. Although the posterior splint design is most commonly recommended, clinical experience suggests that it is not the most durable in the outpatient setting. To determine the sturdiness of the four most common splint designs, each was tested for its resistance to plantar flexion 30 minutes after application. The splints tested were: standard posterior, ridged posterior, modified figure-of-eight, and sugar-tong. In six healthy subjects, significantly less plantar flexion was achieved with the sugar-tong splint than with the other designs. In addition, more force was generated per degree of plantar flexion achieved with the sugar-tong than with the other designs. These results suggest that the sugar-tong splint may be preferred in the acute treatment of ankle injuries based on its greater strength.     

Bilateral ankle edema with bilateral iritis

I report two patient presented to me with bilateral symmetrical ankle edema and bilateral acute iritis. A 42-year-old female of Indian origin and 30-year-old female from Somalia both presented with bilateral acute iritis. In the first patient, bilateral ankle edema preceded the onset of bilateral acute iritis. Bilateral ankle edema developed during the course of disease after onset of ocular symptoms in the second patient. Both patients did not suffer any significant ocular problem in the past, and on systemic examination, all clinical parameters were within normal limit. Lacrimal gland and conjunctival nodule biopsy established the final diagnosis of sarcoidosis in both cases, although the chest x-rays were normal. I do not have any financial or proprietary interest in any method or material mentioned.     

Noninvasive ankle pressure measurements by oscillometry

Noninvasive ankle systolic, mean and diastolic pressures were obtained with an oscillometric instrument available commercially. Systolic pressures were also measured at either the posterior tibial or dorsal pedal artery by using the Doppler technique with the ultrasound probe. Ankle pressures were obtained in normal subjects and in patients with peripheral vascular disease, particularly patients with calcified or incompressible vessels or with different posterior tibial and dorsal pedal Doppler pressures. Systolic pressures by oscillometry and by Doppler were equal in normal subjects and in functionally normal limbs of patients. In the presence of mild vascular disease, systolic pressure was decreased and mean and diastolic pressures were within normal limits. Measurements by Doppler and by oscillometry were similar. In patients with moderate disease, the systolic pressure by oscillometry, although decreased, was consistently higher than Doppler pressures, and the mean ankle pressure was decreased. In patients with different posterior tibial and dorsal pedal pressures, the systolic oscillometric pressure was closer to the highest Doppler pressure measured. In contrast, in patients with partially incompressible vessels, the systolic oscillometric pressure was consistently lower than Doppler pressures. The oscillometric instrument available did not detect pressure pulses in patients with severe vascular disease; the weak pressure pulses present can, however, be detected with more sensitive instrumentation.     

Erratum to: Accessory navicular bone: when ankle pain does not originate from the ankle

A young girl suffering from ankle pain occurring after gymnastics classes was referred to the rheumatology department by an orthopedic surgeon because a rheumatological condition was suspected to cause her symptoms. MRI was useful in pointing to the correct diagnosis of accessory navicular bone (AN). The morphological classification of ANs is discussed and the imaging modalities for diagnosis are presented.     

健康人群脉搏波传导速度与踝臂指数影响因素的研究

目的探讨健康人群脉搏波传导速度（pulse wave velocity，PWV）、踝臂指数的影响因素。方法用全自动动脉硬化测定仪测定PWV与踝臂指数855例，分为5个年龄组，了解年龄、血压、体质量指数等临床指标与PWV和踝臂指数的相关性。结果①男性PWV和踝臂指数比女性高（P〈0．01）；②PWV与踝臂指数随年龄增加而逐渐增加（P〈0．01）：③多元线性相关表明：年龄、收缩压、平均动脉压、舒张压、脉压、体质量指数、心率与PWV相关（P〈0．01）；年龄、体质量指数、脉压、平均动脉压、收缩压、舒张压，与踝臂指数相关（P〈0．01），心率与踝臂指数相关无统计学意义。结论①男性PWV和踝臂指数高于女性，随年龄增加而增加：②年龄、脉压、平均动脉压、收缩压、舒张压和体质量指数与PWV和踝臂指数呈正相关。