Search Results
Charcot Foot is often misdiagnosed because of its varied presentation that mimics other common disorders including tubercular rheumatism, complex regional pain syndrome or gout. We present a case of ankle swelling and discuss the differential diagnosis, radiological findings, and management. We also discuss the approach to diagnosis and provide differences in clinical presentations, magnetic resonance imaging,and bone scan findings for various differentials considered for Charcot foot.
The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap, which can be applied as a free or pedicled flap, is supplied by musculocutaneous or septocutaneous perforators belonging to the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. Because local or regional flap options that can be used for the reconstruction of large tissue losses in the distal third of the tibia and foot are limited, ALT and other free flaps are frequently used when needed. The aim of this report is to present our experience with and clinical results of free ALT flaps in a tertiary health-care institution. Between June of 2017 and April of 2020, lower extremity reconstruction with free ALT flaps was performed in seven patients. In the preoperative period, dominant perforators were determined in each patient by Doppler ultrasonography, and surgery was planned considering the size and localization of the defect. All the patients were men, with an average age of 41.7 years. Three patients were operated on for implant exposition on the distal-medial third of the tibia after fracture repair, one patient for posttraumatic calcaneal deformity with osteomyelitis, and two patients because of localized posttraumatic tissue loss in the anterior aspect of the tibia and one patient in the dorsum of the foot. Secondary recovery was achieved in two patients and localized linear necrosis was observed at the flap suture line. No infection was observed in the donor or recipient site. In all patients, the donor site was closed primarily and no wound healing problem was encountered. This is one of the primary reconstruction options for the free ALT flap, especially in cases of large tissue losses in which local and/or regional flap alternatives are insufficient.
Background: We investigate kinematic adaptation and muscle activities in the trunk and lower extremities of healthy subjects during treadmill walking in negative-heeled sports shoes versus normal sports shoes.
Methods: Thirteen healthy female university students participated in the study. We analyzed sagittal-movement kinematics and electromyographic findings from the erector spinae, rectus abdominus, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles of the dominant side in two shod conditions.
Results: Negative-heeled gait is characterized by faster cadence, shorter stride length, increased maximal extension angles in the trunk and hip, increased flexion angle in the knee, larger dorsiflexion in the stance phase, and a larger range of motion of the ankle joint. Negative-heeled gait resulted in a significantly larger integrated electromyographic value, a longer duration of electromyographic activity, and a higher mean amplitude of electromyographic activity in the tibialis anterior, lateral gastrocnemius, and biceps femoris muscles.
Conclusions: Negative-heeled gait compared with normal gait places a higher physiologic demand on the tibialis anterior, lateral gastrocnemius, and biceps femoris muscles when walking on a level surface. Thus, negative-heeled shoes could be of value if used in an exercise rehabilitation or training program where inclined walking is not available owing to a flat terrain. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 97(6): 447–456, 2007)
One hundred thirty-two female basketball players were observed for lower-extremity overuse injury between 1993 and 2004. Athletes studied between 1993 and 1996 did not receive foot orthotic devices and composed the control group. The treatment group comprised athletes studied between 1996 and 2004. Athletes in the treatment group were given a foot orthotic device before participation in basketball. Data analysis included lower-extremity overuse injury rates and the effect of foot orthotic devices on lower-extremity overuse injury rates by means of an incidence density ratio. The control group had a lower-extremity overuse injury rate of 5.37 per 1,000 exposures, and the treatment group had a rate of 6.44 per 1,000 exposures. The incidence density ratio was not significant (P = .44). This study rejects the concept that foot orthotic devices may assist in prevention of lower-extremity overuse injury in female basketball players. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 96(5): 408–412, 2006)
The effects of hallux limitus on plantar foot pressure and foot kinematics have received limited attention in the literature. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the effects of limited first metatarsophalangeal joint mobility on plantar foot pressure. It was equally important to identify detection criteria based on plantar pressures and metatarsophalangeal joint kinematics, enabling differentiation between subjects affected by hallux limitus and people with normal hallux function. To further our understanding of the relation between midtarsal collapse and hallux limitus, kinematic variables relating to midtarsal pronation were also included in the study. Two populations of 19 subjects each, one with hallux limitus and the other free of functional abnormalities, were asked to walk at their preferred speed while plantar foot pressures were recorded along with three-dimensional foot kinematics. The presence of hallux limitus, structural or functional, caused peak plantar pressure under the hallux to build up significantly more and at a faster rate than under the first metatarsal head. Additional discriminators for hallux limitus were peak dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, time to this peak value, peak pressure ratios of the first metatarsal head and the more lateral metatarsal heads, and time to maximal pressure under the fourth and fifth metatarsal heads. Finally, in approximately 20% of the subjects, with and without hallux limitus, midtarsal pronation occurred after heel lift, validating the claim that retrograde midtarsal pronation does occur. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 96(5): 428–436, 2006)
Background:
Increasing amounts of diabetes-focused content is being posted to YouTube with little regulation as to the quality of the content. Diabetic education has been shown to reduce the risk of ulceration and amputation. YouTube is a frequently visited site for instructional and demonstrational videos posted by individuals, advertisers, companies, and health-care organizations. We sought to evaluate the usefulness of diabetic foot care video information on YouTube.
Methods:
YouTube was queried using the keyword phrase diabetic foot care. Original videos in English, with audio, less than 10 min long within the first 100 video results were evaluated. Two reviewers classified each video as useful or nonuseful/misleading. A 14-point usefulness criteria checklist was used to further categorize videos as most useful, somewhat useful, or nonuseful/misleading. Video sources were categorized by user type, and additional video metrics were collected.
Results:
Of 87 included videos, 56 (64.4%), were classified as useful and 31 (35.6%) as nonuseful/misleading. A significant difference in the mean length of useful videos vs nonuseful/misleading videos was observed (3.33 versus 1.73 min; P < .0001). There was no significant difference in terms of popularity metrics (likes, views, subscriptions, etc) between useful and nonuseful/misleading videos.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that although most diabetic foot care videos on YouTube are useful, many are still nonuseful/misleading. More concerning is the lack of difference in popularity between useful and nonuseful videos. Podiatric physicians should alert patients to possibly misleading information and offer a curated list of videos.
The topic of pain management remains a minor component of the formal education and training of residents and physicians in the United States. Misguided attitudes concerning acute and chronic pain management, in addition to reservations about the legal aspects of pain management, often translate into a “fear of the unknown” when it comes to narcotic prescription. The intentionally limited scope of this review is to promote an understanding of the laws regulating pain management practices in the United States and to provide recommendations for appropriate pain management assessment and documentation based on the Model Policy for the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Pain established by the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 100(6): 511–517, 2010)
Background:
Excessive body weight seems to be a risk factor for foot loading. We sought to investigate the effect of different body mass index (BMI) levels on plantar pressure distribution during walking.
Methods:
In total, 163 women aged 45 to 65 years (mean ± SD: age, 57.4 ± 5.3 years; BMI, 27.0 ± 5.3) participated in the study. The women were divided, on the basis of BMI, into a normal-weight, overweight, or obese group. The study used the four following plantar pressure parameters (PPPs): contact percentage, absolute pressure impulse, relative pressure impulse, and absolute peak pressure, which were recorded in ten foot regions using a pressure measurement system.
Results:
The normal-weight group, compared with the overweight and obese groups, had significantly lower absolute PPP values. In the hallux, second through fifth metatarsals, midfoot, and heel regions, we observed significant between-group differences in the two absolute PPPs (peak pressure and pressure impulse) (P < .001). Between-group differences in the relative PPPs were found in the fourth metatarsal, midfoot, and medial heel (relative impulse) and in the second metatarsal (contact percentage) (P < .001).
Conclusions:
Higher BMI values correspond to a higher load on the foot during walking in women. The relative foot load in obese women is characterized by a pressure increase in the lateral forefoot and midfoot and by a pressure decrease in the medial heel.
The authors present a case report documenting the evaluation of monostotic fibrous dysplasia by magnetic resonance imaging. This type of evaluation demonstrates specificity for this disease process when combined with other imaging studies, laboratory findings, and clinical presentation. This technique is extremely useful in the identification of a no-touch lesion, allowing avoidance of an unnecessary bone biopsy. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 91(6): 306-310, 2001)
Background:
As the facilitator of the standardized patient rotation at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (now Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine [KSUCPM]) for the past 4 years, I have felt that there is underused time in the program. Therefore, I sought the views of podiatric medical students at KSUCPM who have completed the standardized patient rotation to see how they felt their time in the course was used and whether they felt that the course was useful to them in terms of advancing their podiatric medical education.
Methods:
A survey was administered to 105 third-year podiatric medical students. These students had already completed the standardized patient rotation, which at KSUCPM is in the second year.
Results:
Seventy-seven students completed the survey. Most of these students felt that there was improperly used time in the course, and many recommended ways of improving the course organization.
Conclusions:
The students answered positively that the standardized patient rotation was important in terms of improving interviewing skills and worthwhile for future professional development. The students agreed that there likely was underused time in the course and even suggested ways in which they would make the course run more efficiently. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 102(6): 477–484, 2012)
