Onychogryphosis
Reconstruction of Total Matricectomy Defect with Subcutaneous Flap
Background
Onychogryphosis is a nail disorder that can damage nail plates, usually caused by repeated minor trauma to the foot. Onychogryphosis of the toe is commonly seen in clinical practice; however, optimal treatment of the condition is still the subject of debate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of patients with toe onychogryphosis treated by subcutaneous flap coverage after total matricectomy.
Methods
In this article, we describe 12 patients who had onychogryphosis on the great toe treated by subcutaneous flap coverage after total matricectomy. There were eight men and four women, with a mean age of 63.8 years (range, 56–74 years).
Results
The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 108 months, with an average of 25.2 months. All of the flap reconstructions ultimately survived.
Conclusions
The advantage of the described technique is the avoidance of tight closure of the skin and preservation of toe length. The possible limitation of the technique is poor blood circulation to the feet.
Background
Ultrasonography has demonstrated a shortening of the distance between the origin of the nail plate and the base of the distal phalanx in retronychia. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and ultrasonographic features of retronychia.
Methods
We evaluated the clinical findings in 18 patients with retronychia, along with the ratio of ultrasonographic distance a, extending between the nail plate origin and the base of the distal phalanx, to distance b, perpendicular to distance a, extending between the nail plate origin and the upper margin of the distal phalanx.
Results
Retronychia was present in 26 nails. The mean ± SD distance a was 7.66 ± 1.64 mm and distance b was 3.56 ± 1.95 mm. The mean ± SD a/b ratio was 2.59 ± 1.11. There was a significant inverse correlation between a/b ratio and clinical severity (Pearson correlation = –0.668; P < .001). The cutoff value of this ratio was 3.319, with specificity of 90% and sensitivity of 69%.
Conclusions
The ratio of distance a/distance b and the cutoff value of this ratio may help in making the diagnosis, in objectively determining the disease severity, and in selecting a patient-specific treatment approach.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the surgical method of arc resection of soft-tissue nail fold combined with a shaped dressing for ingrown toenails. The surgical method involved the excision of nail fold granulation tissue and partial or total nail avulsion with preservation of its matrix. This surgical approach was applied to 20 consecutive patients (age range, 11–30 years) admitted to the hospital from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2015. For assessment of the method, the operative technique, dressing change, and postoperative wound healing were recorded by photography. Finally, we evaluated the therapeutic effects by calculating the recurrence rate and nail groove expansion rate. Twenty patients with 38 surgical sites in 26 toes were analyzed; there was no recurrence at 3, 6, and 12 months. There was a statistically significant difference in the groove expansion rate at different time points. We measured the wound distance on postoperative day 1 compared with the day of healing and found that the method of shaped dressing could expand the nail groove by more than 50% (P ≤ .05). The mean ± SD recovery time was 15.1 ± 2.4 days. Arc resection of the nail folds for ingrown toenails coupled with preservation of its matrix minimizes trauma and is easy to manipulate. Applying a shaped dressing after the operation further reduces the risk of recurrence and ensures enough growth space for the toenails.
Background
Although Kirschner wire implantation is popular for treating toe deformities, complications frequently occur. To prevent pin-tract infection and difficult Kirschner wire extraction, several implants have been developed to improve treatment outcomes.
Methods
Patients who had undergone an interphalangeal fusion by two-component implant for the treatment of toe deformities were included. Thirty-one toes of 21 patients were evaluated retrospectively. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) forefoot scores were used in clinical evaluation.
Results
The mean operation duration per toe was 16.4 min (range, 13–26 min). The average AOFAS forefoot score was 42.76 (range, 23–57) preoperatively and 88.76 (range, 70–95) at 34.4 months (range, 26–46 months) after surgery. Mean follow-up was 14.8 months (range, 12–19 months). Compared with before surgery, the AOFAS score was increased significantly after surgery (P = .03 by t test). Three minor complications were encountered. In one patient an infection was observed. After the implants were removed (first month) she was treated successfully by debridement and antibiotic agents and, finally, Kirschner wire placement. The second patient had a fissure fracture at the proximal phalanx, but routine follow-up did not change. In the third patient, the locking mechanism had become loose (detected on day 1 radiography); it was remounted under fluoroscopy without opening the wound. No patients had a cutout, loss of alignment, recurrence, or persistent swelling.
Conclusions
Outcomes of arthrodesis using the two-component implant were found to be safe and reliable, especially for hammer toe and fifth toe deformities.
Background:
Monitoring footprints during walking can lead to better identification of foot structure and abnormalities. Current techniques for footprint measurements are either static or dynamic, with low resolution. This work presents an approach to monitor the plantar contact area when walking using high-speed videography.
Methods:
Footprint images were collected by asking the participants to walk across a custom-built acrylic walkway with a high-resolution digital camera placed directly underneath the walkway. This study proposes an automated footprint identification algorithm (Automatic Identification Algorithm) to measure the footprint throughout the stance phase of walking. This algorithm used coloration of the plantar tissue that was in contact with the acrylic walkway to distinguish the plantar contact area from other regions of the foot that were not in contact.
Results:
The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) demonstrated strong agreement between the proposed automated approach and the gold standard manual method (ICC = 0.939). Strong agreement between the two methods also was found for each phase of stance (ICC > 0.78).
Conclusions:
The proposed automated footprint detection technique identified the plantar contact area during walking with strong agreement with a manual gold standard method. This is the first study to demonstrate the concurrent validity of an automated identification algorithm to measure the plantar contact area during walking.
Background:
On a national level, heroin-related hospital admissions have reached an all-time high. With the foot being the fourth most common injection site, heroin-related lower-extremity infections have become more prevalent owing to many factors, including drug preparation, injection practices, and unknown additives.
Methods:
We present a 16-month case series in which eight patients with lower-extremity infections secondary to heroin abuse presented to The Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Results:
Three cases of osteomyelitis were seen. All of the infections were cultured and yielded a wide array of microbes, including Staphyloccoccus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, Serratia, Prevotella, and Eikenella. All of the patients were treated with intravenous antibiotic agents, with nearly all receiving combination therapy. Seven of the eight patients underwent surgery during their hospital stay, with two undergoing amputation. Only half of the patients followed up after discharge.
Conclusions:
This case series brings to light many considerations in the diagnosis and management of the heroin user, including multivariable attenuation of immunity, existing predisposition to infection backed by unsterile drug preparation and injection practices, innocuous presentation of deep infections, microbial spectrum, and recommendations on antimicrobial intervention, noncompliance, and poor follow-up. By having greater knowledge in unique considerations of diagnosis and treatment, more efficient care can be provided to this unique patient population.
Background:
Although total-contact cast (TCC) systems are considered the gold standard for off-loading plantar ulcers, less than 6% of patients with diabetic foot ulcers receive them due to negative perceptions of special technique requirements and time investment in their application and removal. We compared the ease of use and casting time of four TCC systems.
Methods:
Four novice casters applied each of the four TCC systems three times using the manufacturer's written instructions for cast application and removal of each cast type. For each TCC system, casters also provided ratings of quality and effectiveness, their level of confidence in applying each system, and overall ease of use.
Results:
The time to complete the first application of each cast type was not different among TCC systems. However, by the third application, TCC-EZ had a significantly faster application time than the other three TCC systems. In addition, TCC-EZ was considered better overall in packaging and instructions, quality of cast components, and casting method than the other TCC systems. Half of the casters rated TCC-EZ and MedE-Kast as the easiest to apply after the third and final trial, and TCC-EZ and MedE-Kast were rated as being the cast chosen to use in the casters' clinical practices.
Conclusions:
One of the obstacles to use of TCC systems, despite being recognized as the gold standard of off-loading, is the perception of a prolonged learning curve on application. This study demonstrated that TCC-EZ can be applied by novice casters in less than 14 minutes after their third application experience.
Background:
The aim of this study was to observe the pressure changes in the felt padding used to off-load pressure from the first metatarsal head, the effects obtained by different designs, and the loss of effectiveness over time.
Method:
With a study population of 17 persons, two types of 5-mm semicompressed felt padding were tested: one was C-shaped, with an aperture cutout at the first metatarsophalangeal joint, and the other was U-shaped. Pressures on the sole of the foot were evaluated with a platform pressure measurement system at three time points: before fitting the felt padding, immediately afterward, and 3 days later.
Results:
In terms of decreased mean pressure on the first metatarsal, significant differences were obtained in all of the participants (P < .001). For plantar pressures on the central metatarsals, the differences between all states and time points were significant for the C-shaped padding in both feet (P < .001), but with the U-shaped padding the only significant differences were between no padding and padding and at day 3 (P = .01 and P = .02).
Conclusions:
In healthy individuals, the U-shaped design, with a padding thickness of 5 mm, achieved a more effective and longer-lasting reduction in plantar pressure than the C-shaped design.
Background:
Confirmation of anatomical reduction of ankle syndesmosis is mandatory because improper reduction leads to poor functional results. Coronal plane evaluation of syndesmosis is well described in the literature, but there is little information about sagittal plane evaluation. We sought to evaluate the relationship of fibula and tibia in the sagittal plane and create a new reference that can be applied easily and reliably.
Methods:
Lateral ankle radiographs of 337 individuals with no history of ankle fracture were evaluated. A line was drawn between the anterior and posterior cortices of the distal lateral tibia, and the length of this line was measured (line 1). The distance between the anterior and posterior cortices of the fibula on this line was measured, and the center of this second distance was identified and marked. The posterior half of the fibular width was divided by line 1 and was named the lateral posterior ankle ratio (LPAR). Statistical analysis was performed by side and sex.
Results:
Mean patient age was 38.6 years; mean LPAR was 0.48. There was a significant difference between men and women by age (P < .001) and LPAR (P = .01). There was no significant difference between right and left ankles by age (P = .63) and LPAR (P = .64). The LPAR was less than 0.40 in 6.8% of the radiographs, 0.40 to 0.50 in 57.9%, and greater than 0.50 to 0.60 in 32.9%.
Conclusions:
The LPAR should approximate 50% in normal lateral ankle images and, by extrapolation, after syndesmotic reduction.
Background:
Diabetic foot care management is directed at patients with a history of complications, especially those with rising levels of hemoglobin A1c, and those who have had diabetes for several years. The aim of this study was to cross-culturally adapt a French-language version of the Diabetic Foot Self-care Questionnaire of the University of Malaga (DFSQ-UMA) for use in France.
Methods:
Cross-cultural adaptation was performed according to relevant international guidelines (International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research), and the factor structure was determined. Internal consistency was measured using the Cronbach α. Item-total and inter-item correlations were assessed.
Results:
The French data set comprised 146 patients. The mean ± SD patient age was 62.60 ± 15.47 years. There were 47 women and 99 men. The structure matrix (with three factors) was tested by confirmatory factor analysis. The 16-item questionnaire had a Cronbach α of 0.92. The mean value for inter-item correlations was 0.48 (range, 0.17–0.86). The rotated solution revealed a three-factor structure that accounted for 48.10% of the variance observed. A significant inverse correlation was observed between questionnaire scores and hemoglobin A1c levels (r = –0.17; P < .01).
Conclusions:
This study validates the French-language version of the DFSQ-UMA, which can be used as a self-reported outcome measure for French-speaking patients in France.
