First metatarsophalangeal hemiarthroplasty for hallux rigidus

There is a paucity of objective information in the literature about first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) hemiarthroplasty. The authors postulate that it is a reasonable treatment option for severe hallux rigidus in selected patients. Twenty-two elective first MTP hemiarthroplasties were performed on 20 patients that met the inclusion criteria. Pre- and postoperative evaluations were done using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) forefoot score, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, range of motion (ROM) measurements, and radiographs. Average ROM and dorsiflexion improved by 15° and 8°, respectively. VAS pain scores improved from 5 to 2.5 after six weeks. Painless ambulation occurred after six weeks, with maximum improvement by six months. After 24 months, two patients had pain at the surgical site interfering with function, leading to an unsatisfactory result that required conversion to arthrodesis. First MTP hemiarthroplasty for severe hallux rigidus can be considered an alternative to fusion in properly selected patients who wish to maintain a functional range of motion

Pioneers of World Wide Web Fascism: The British Extreme Right and Web 1.0

This chapter explores the ways that, around the turn of the millennium, British fascist organisations, such as the British National Party, and leading ideologues, such as David Irving, developed websites as part of their activism. It uses the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine to engage in a ‘web history’ of this early online activism by British fascists. It argues that websites could sometimes be used to help present British fascist politics as more respectable, as in the case of the BNP, or alternatively as a way to allow activists access to the fringe cultic milieu of British fascism, steeped in conspiracy theories, overt neo-Nazism and other ideas deeply oppositional to mainstream perspectives. It concludes that, although often amateurish and poorly resourced, British fascist groups were often eager early adopters of Web 1.0, and argues that a deeper understating of this early ‘web history’ offers important context for those studying contemporary forms of extreme right online activism

Modern American populism: Analyzing the economics behind the Silent Majority, the Tea Party and Trumpism

This article researches populism, more specifically, Modern American Populism (MAP), constructed of white, rural, and economically oppressed reactionarianism, which was borne out of the political upheaval of the 1960’s Civil Rights movement. The research looks to explain the causes of populism and what leads voters to support populist movements and politicians. The research focuses on economic anxiety as the main cause but also examines an alternative theory of racial resentment. In an effort to answer the question, what causes populist movements and motivations, I apply a research approach that utilizes qualitative and quantitative methods. There is an examination of literature that defines populism, its causes and a detailed discussion of the case studies, including the 1972 election of Richard Nixon; the Tea Party election of 2010; and the 2016 election of Donald Trump. In addition, statistical data analysis was run using American National Election Studies (ANES) surveys associated with each specific case study. These case studies were chosen because they most represent forms of populist movements in modern American history. While ample qualitative evidence suggested support for the hypothesis that economic anxiety is a necessary condition for populist voting patterns that elected Nixon, the Tea Party and Trump, the statistical data only supported the hypothesis in two cases, 2010 and 2016, with 1972 coming back inconclusive. The data also suggested that both economic anxiety and racial resentment played a role in 2010 and 2016, while having no significant effect in 1972 in either case. This suggests that further research needs to be conducted into additional populist case studies, as well as an examination into the role economic anxiety and economic crises play on racial resentment and racially motivated voting behavior

Neoliberalism and the Far-Right: A Contradictory Embrace

This article examines the contradictory relationship between neoliberalism and the politics of the far-right. It seeks to identify and explain the divergence of the ‘economic’ and the social/cultural spheres under neoliberalism (notably in articulations of race and class and the ‘politics of whiteness’) and how such developments play out in the politics of the contemporary far-right. We also seek to examine the degree to which the politics of the far-right pose problems for the consolidation and long-term stabilization of neoliberalism, through acting as a populist source of pressure on the conservative-right and tapping into sources of alienation amongst déclassé social layers. Finally, we locate the politics of the far-right within the broader atrophying of political representation and accountability of the neoliberal era with respect to the institutional and legal organization of neoliberalism at the international level, as most obviously highlighted in the ongoing crisis of the EU and Eurozone

Understanding conspiracy theories

Scholarly efforts to understand conspiracy theories have grown significantly in recent years, and there is now a broad and interdisciplinary literature that we review in this article. We ask three specific questions. First, what are the factors that are associated with conspiracy theorizing? Our review of the literature shows that conspiracy beliefs result from a range of psychological, political and social factors. Next, how are conspiracy theories communicated? Here, we explain how conspiracy theories are shared among individuals and spread through traditional and social media platforms. Next, what are the risks and rewards associated with conspiracy theories? By focusing on politics and science, we argue that conspiracy theories do more harm than good. Finally, because this is a growing literature and many open questions remain, we conclude by suggesting several promising avenues for future research

Talonavicular joint fixation: a biomechanical comparison of locking compression plates and lag screws.

BACKGROUND: Fusion of the talonavicular (TN) joint is an effective treatment for hindfoot pain and deformity. Nonunion in hindfoot fusion procedures is most common in the TN joint. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the mechanical stability of 2 different forms of fixation for isolated fusion of the TN joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 13 fresh-frozen cadaver foot and ankles were procured and mounted vertically in a robotic biomechanical testing platform and tested before and after operative fixation; 7 specimens received 2 retrograde lag screws (2S), and 6 specimens received a locked compression plate with 1 retrograde lag screw (PS). A constant Achilles tendon load was initially applied followed by internal or external rotation (ER) of the foot and axial compression through the tibia. The relative motion of the talus and navicular bones was tracked using 3-dimensional optoelectric targets. Motion data were recorded in the traditional anatomical reference frame and then transformed into the TN joint frame. RESULTS: In the TN joint frame, relative to the intact (preoperative) state, the plate fixation group PS showed a significant reduction in separation along the long axis of the talus in 3 out of the 4 loading scenarios (P values = .007, .02, and .05). The PS construct also significantly restricted the flexion-extension motion at the joint compared with the 2S construct, during the ER tests (P values = .002 and .001). CONCLUSIONS: In our simulated weight-bearing model, a dorsal locked compression plate with 1 retrograde screw was more effective at limiting the 3D motion across the TN joint compared with the traditional construct of 2 retrograde screws