Search Results
Diabetic Foot Infections
Time to Change the Prognostic Concept
Patients with diabetic neuropathy are subject to ulcerations that may be complicated by infection and gangrene, with subsequent risk of amputation. It is the job of the foot specialist to identify and manage these problems early to avoid the unfortunate complication of amputation regardless of the presenting condition of the patient’s limb. We shed light on the hypothesis that suggests that infection and gangrene in a diabetic patient aggravate the degree of ischemia (microvascular, macrovascular, or both) already present enough to endanger the viability of the surrounding tissues unless urgent drainage with decompression and debridement of the necrotic sloughs is performed, with consequent reduction of tissue pressure and improvement in circulation to the area. We present cases with severe infections leading to gangrene and ischemia, which were improved following surgical management with consequent improvement in tissue viability. In these cases, we demonstrate that immediate treatment of the wound despite the delayed presentation of the patients resulted in limb salvage with much less soft-tissue loss than expected before treatment. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 99(5): 454–458, 2009)
Exophytic Angioleiomyoma on the Plantar Foot
A Case Study
A case describing an O-to-Z double-advancement flap used to treat a 62-year-old woman with a slowly enlarging exophytic mass in the plantar aspect of the right foot is presented. Clinical details, surgical technique, and histologic photographs are described. This case report highlights the rare exophytic presentation of a pedal angioleiomyoma, which has not been described in the literature before.
Few studies exist investigating surgical hammertoe correction salvage procedures regarding poor outcomes secondary to silastic implant failure. We present a case of a patient who presented to our clinic with a grossly deformed digit after undergoing several silastic implant procedures. The patient wanted to salvage the toe and elected for surgical intervention. Surgical planning consisted of a V-Y skin plasty with interposition of calcaneal autograft. This allowed restoration of anatomic dimensions and function of the patient's digit. We present this operative technique as a viable method of salvaging failed hammertoe correction procedures.
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)
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)
A 19-year-old woman presented with pain at the lateral side of the fifth toe of her left foot, which was separated from the adjacent toe. Initial examination suggested dislocation of the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint due to a past fracture. Radiographs showed a mass arising from the proximal phalanx of the little toe, with no medullary and cortical continuity. Excisional biopsy of the mass was performed, and a histologic diagnosis of bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation of bone (Nora’s lesion) was made. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 96(2): 158–161, 2006)
A prospective analysis was conducted of the amount of correction obtained and number of complications resulting from 31 endoscopic gastrocnemius recessions in 28 patients. The average amount of increase in ankle dorsiflexion was 18°. Few complications were encountered, with mild “soreness” and distal “bruising” being reported by four patients. The only other complaint was “weakness.” The endoscopic gastrocnemius recession is a minimally invasive technique with a low rate of complications that offers a comparable amount of correction to that of traditional open procedures in the treatment of gastrocnemius equinus. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 95(4): 410–413, 2005)
NuGen Fx Bioabsorbable Screws
A Preliminary Report of Their Use in Foot Surgery
A single prospective group study in adults was performed using a new bioabsorbable screw, the NuGen Fx screw (Linvatec Biomaterials Ltd, Tampere, Finland). This multisite study included five sites and 50 patients (10 patients per site). The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of the NuGen Fx screw system in the fixation of osteotomies, arthrodeses, and fractures in the foot and ankle. We discuss our own results from 12 patients treated at the Kentucky Podiatric Residency Program at Norton Audubon Hospital, Louisville. The number of patients in the study, screw sizes, instrumentation, radiologic evaluation findings, and our overview of this implant are presented. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 96(1): 73–77, 2006)
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)
Ingrown toenails are one of the most common pathologic conditions encountered in podiatric medical practice. Many methods of treatment for ingrown toenails have been used and studied, including chemical matrixectomies, surgical approaches, and CO2 laser ablation. This study is a retrospective review of a new technique that consists of resection of the involved nail matrix using a No. 15 blade and controlled cauterization using a CO2 laser. The technique was performed on 381 painful ingrown toenails, and all of the patients were followed up postoperatively for an average of 34 months. The results showed minimal pain, a low recurrence rate, rapid return to activity, and good cosmesis. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 95(2): 175–179, 2005)
