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After resection of bone or amputation, postoperative stump breakdown occurs frequently. Furthermore, the altered mechanics with ambulation are difficult to control with bracing and orthoses alone. During the past 10 years, the peroneus brevis tendon has been transferred to various locations in the foot after resection of the fifth metatarsal base in an effort to provide continued balance between the supinatory and pronatory forces needed for a steady gait. In patients who have had a peroneus brevis tendon transfer, the rate of postoperative ulceration and the need for further bony resection is minimal. Analysis of the biomechanical influences and effects of different anatomical placements of the transferred tendon reveals the importance of transfer of the peroneus brevis tendon. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 94(6): 594–603, 2004)
Osteomyelitis of the calcaneus combined with a pathologic fracture is a rare and difficult presentation for any practicing foot and ankle surgeon. Treatment for achieving an aseptic nonunion involves a variety of steps, including surgical debridement, antibiotic administration, and fracture stabilization. In this case series, we report a novel technique for the treatment of a tongue-type calcaneal fracture in the setting of chronic osteomyelitis using the Biomet JuggerLoc bone-to-bone system for fixation.
Posterior Bone Block for Footdrop
A Report of Two Cases
A posterior bone-block operation is one of the few treatment options in cases of paralytic footdrop. A case with a flail ankle and no bony deformity is ideal for this approach. Two cases of acquired flail ankle with equinus deformity were treated using a new modification of the bone-block technique that does not interfere with subtalar joint motion. A bone block harvested from the iliac crest was fixed at the posterior talus after partial resection of the posterior tubercle. The graft was in contact with the posterior malleolus of the tibia. Satisfactory correction was achieved, and both patients could walk without the use of external splints. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 97(2): 160–164, 2007)
True Pathologic Abnormality versus Artifact
Foot Position and Magic Angle Artifact in the Peroneal Tendons with 3T Imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging is a commonly ordered examination by many foot and ankle surgeons for ankle pain and suspected peroneal tendon pathologic abnormalities. Magic angle artifact is one of the complexities associated with this imaging modality. Magic angle refers to the increased signal on magnetic resonance images associated with the highly organized collagen fibers in tendons and ligaments when they are orientated at a 55° angle to the main magnetic field. We present several examples from a clinical practice setting using 3T imaging illustrating a substantial reduction in magic angle artifact of the peroneal tendon in the prone plantarflexed position compared with the standard neutral (right angle) position.
Subtalar Arthroereisis for Pediatric Flexible Pes Planovalgus
Fifteen Years Experience with the Cone-shaped Implant
Flexible pes planovalgus is a common condition with flattening of the medial longitudinal arch accompanied by hindfoot valgus. Severe cases of pes planovalgus may need surgery, and a technique that has gained popularity over the past decades is subtalar arthroereisis. An endoorthotic implant of various shapes is inserted in the sinus tarsus, which limits the excessive eversion of the subtalar joint present in flexible pes planovalgus. None of these implants, however, allow for easy control of the extent of talocalcaneal and talonavicular correction. The primary aim of this study was to describe our technique with the custom-built cone-shaped implant. Our secondary aim was to evaluate patient satisfaction, clinical and radiologic results, and complications with a minimal follow-up of 5 years. Between January 1992 and June 2002, 40 patients (80 feet) underwent subtalar arthroereisis for flexible pes planovalgus. After temporary sinus tarsi tenderness (12 feet), implant dislocation (two feet) was the most common complication. Questionnaires from 27 patients (54 feet) were analyzed and 44 feet were also clinically and radiographically evaluated. Thirteen patients were lost to follow-up. Mean (± SD) follow-up was 12.6 years (range, 5.9–16.1). Eighty-one percent of the patients were satisfied with the result. Clinically, normal alignment was present in 14 feet, and mild deformities remained in 26 feet. Radiographically, the average foot angle measurements were normal. We conclude that subtalar arthroereisis is a simple, minimally invasive operative option with satisfactory subjective and clinical results after mid- to long-term follow-up. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 99(5): 447–453, 2009)
Multiple wound closure techniques have been described for a lateral extensile calcaneal incision in the literature. In this article, a technique is presented that involves a subcutilar closure over a closed drain system, which has proven to be effective in minimizing sural nerve injury and wound dehiscence in open reduction internal fixation of 20 calcaneal fractures. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 98(5): 422–425, 2008)
Functional Hallux Limitus or Rigidus Caused by a Tenodesis Effect at the Retrotalar Pulley
Description of the Functional Stretch Test and the Simple Hoover Cord Maneuver That Releases This Tenodesis
Functional hallux limitus is a loss of metatarsophalangeal joint extension during the second half of the single-support phase, when the weightbearing foot is in maximal dorsiflexion. Functionally, it constitutes a sagittal plane blockade during gait. As a result, the mechanical support and stability mechanisms of the foot are disrupted, with important consequences during gait. Functional hallux limitus is a frequent, though relatively unknown condition that clinicians may overlook when examining patients with complaints that are not limited to their feet, for they can also present other symptoms such as hip, knee and lower-back pain. The purpose of this article is to present a critical review of the literature on functional hallux limitus and to explain a previously described and simple diagnostic test (flexor hallucis longus stretch test) and a physiotherapeutic manipulation (the Hoover cord maneuver) that recovers the dorsiflexion of the hallux releasing the tenodesis effect at the retrotalar pulley, which according to our clinical experience is the main cause of functional hallux limitus. The latter, to the best of our knowledge, has never been described before. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 100(3): 220–229, 2010)
