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Background: Chronic wounds, especially in patients with diabetes, oftenrepresent clinical challenges. Recently the use of a topically applied blood clot has garnered significant interest. This stromal matrix contains viable cells that are autologous, biocompatible, biological and consistent with a metabolically active scaffold. It has been shown to be safe, effective, and cost efficient. However, the mechanism of action of this modality remains elusive. The objective of this manuscript is to identify a potential mechanism of action of an autologous blood clot.Methods: Review of clinical and scientific literature hypothesizes on how autologous blood clots may stimulate healing and facilitate the movement of critical substrates while lowering bioburden and fostering angiogenesis.Results: Blood serves as a carrier for many components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, proteins, clotting factors, minerals, electrolytes, and dissolved gasses. In response to tissue injury, the hemostatic mechanism employs a host of vascular and extravascular responses initiating primary, secondary, and tertiary hemostasis. The scaffold created by the autologous blood clot tissue provides a medium in which the body can transform the wound from a non-healing chronic condition into a healing "acute" condition. The autologous blood clot tissue also creates a protective setting for the body to utilize its own mechanisms to promote wound healing in an organized manner. This transient scaffold recruits surrounding fibroblasts and promotes cell ingrowth to foster granulation tissue remodeling. Cells in this matrix not only sense soluble factors, but also their physical environments. This well-orchestrated mechanism includes signals from soluble molecules, from the substrate/matrix to which the cell is adherent, from the mechanical or physical forces acting on it, and from contact with other cells. Topically applied autologous blood clot tissue can lower bacterial bioburden while stimulating angiogenesis and fostering the movement of keratinocytes and fibroblasts.Conclusions: Topically applied autologous blood clot tissue represents a formidable cellular and tissue based therapy that has been shown to be safe and effective. Although the central component of this therapy is blood, the autologous clot tissue creates a scaffold that performs as a biologic delivery system that functions to control the release of growth factors and cytokines over several days.
Background: Many authors have highlighted the role of muscle strength imbalance around the ankle in the development of recurrent clubfoot following Ponseti treatment. Nevertheless, this possible underlying mechanism behind recurrences has not been investigated sufficiently to date. This study aimed to explore whether there is a relationship between Achilles tendon elongation and recurrent metatarsus adductus deformity in children with unilateral clubfeet treated by Ponseti method. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 20 children (14 boys, 6 girls; mean age: 7 years; age range: 5-9) with a recurrent metatarsus adductus deformity treated by the Ponseti method for unilateral idiopathic clubfoot. At the final follow-up, isometric muscle strength was measured using a portable, hand-held dynamometer in reciprocal muscle groups of the ankle. The length of the tendons around the ankle was ultrasonographically measured. Results: The plantar flexion/dorsiflexion ratio was lower on the involved side (p = 0.001). No significant differences in the strength ratio of inversion/eversion were found (p = 0.4). No difference was observed in lengths of tibialis anterior and posterior tendon (p = 0,1), but Achilles tendon was longer on the involved side (p = 0.001; p < 0.01). A significant negative correlation was discovered between involved/uninvolved Achilles tendon length ratios and involved/uninvolved plantar flexion strength ratios (r = ā0.524; p = 0.02) Conclusions: Achilles tendon elongation may be a contributor to the muscle imbalance in clubfeet with the relapsed forefoot adduction treated by the Ponseti technique.
BACKGROUND:METHODS:RESULTS:CONCLUSIONS:
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare, with its far-reaching effects seeping into chronic disease evaluation and treatment. Our tertiary wound care center was specially designed to deliver the highest quality care to wounded patients. Pre-pandemic, we were able to ensure rapid treatment via validated protocols delivered by a co-localized multidisciplinary team within the hospital setting. The pandemic has disrupted our model's framework, and we have worked to adapt our workflow without sacrificing quality of care. Using the modified Donabedian model of quality assessment, we present an analysis of pre- and intra-pandemic characteristics of our center. In this way, we hope other providers can use this framework for identifying evolving problems within their practice so that quality care can continue to be delivered to all patients.
BACKGROUND: Morton's neuromas are abnormalities of the common digital nerve branch located between the lesser metatarsal heads. Historically, interdigital (Morton's) neuromas have been characterized as being most common in the third interspace and predominantly identified in females. The principal investigator observed Morton's neuromas commonly in both the 2nd and 3rd interspaces in both genders. To the best of our knowledge, no literature exists to evaluate Morton's neuroma location with a focus on each gender independently. The present study evaluates Morton's neuroma interspace location and if there is a variation between males and females.METHODS: In this retrospective study, 582 de-identified ProScan magnetic resonance imaging reports, with a diagnosis code for Morton's neuroma (ICD Code 355.6), were obtained from their centralized database. These reports were evaluated for patients scanned from January 2015-April 2016. Incomplete records and those where the radiologist findings were not consistent with Morton's neuroma were eliminated. For the remaining 379 patients, data was collected on several factors such as gender, laterality, history of trauma, plantar plate tear, age and interspace location. Special focus was given to second and third interspace Morton's neuromas. Data was then evaluated statistically utilizing the Pearson Chi-Square and Independent Samples Mann-Whitney U Test with statistical significance deemed p<0.05. RESULTS: No statistically significant distribution between gender and second and third interspace Morton's neuromas were noted. Additionally, right vs left foot, age and history of trauma did not vary between genders in a significant way. Lastly, there was a statistically significant difference between the presence of plantar plate tears between genders. Male patients with Morton's neuromas were found to have a higher rate of plantar plate tears (34/92, p=0.01).CONCLUSION: Our study found that there was not a statistically significant difference between female and male and Morton's neuromas location, laterality or age.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), formerly ubiquitous and disposable in the hospital and healthcare environment, has become scarce during the COVID-19 pandemic. This shortage has precipitated creative solutions to re-use and/or extend the lifetime of PPE, most notably the N95 mask. This article attempts to summarize options regarding re-use of N95 respirators and is for informational purposes only.
The COVID-19 pandemic is driving significant change in the healthcare system and disrupting the best practices for diabetic limb preservation, leaving large numbers of patients without care. Patients with diabetes and foot ulcers are at increased risk for infections, hospitalization, amputations, and death. Podiatric care is associated with fewer diabetes-related amputations, ER visits, hospitalizations, length-of-stay, and costs. But podiatrists must mobilize and adopt the new paradigm of shifts away from hospital care to community-based care. Implementing the proposed Pandemic Diabetic Foot Triage System, in-home visits, higher acuity office visits, telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring can help podiatrists manage patients while reducing the COVID-19 risk. The goal of podiatrists during the pandemic is to reduce the burden on the healthcare system by keeping diabetic foot and wound patients safe, functional, and at home.
