Combined Popliteal Catheter with Single Injection Versus Continuous Infusion Saphenous Nerve Block

Category: Ankle, Bunion, Hindfoot, Lesser Toes, Midfoot/Forefoot, Sports, Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Surgical and analgesic advancements have increasingly allowed more foot and ankle procedures to be performed on an outpatient basis. Dual nerve blockade of saphenous and popliteal nerves minimizes post-operative pain, and continuous infusion via catheter can provide extended pain relief. In our experience, the combination of popliteal nerve catheters and single-shot saphenous nerve block effectively eliminates post-operative pain after most foot and ankle surgery. However, the early return of pain in the saphenous nerve distribution can cause early discomfort and even readmission for pain control. We hypothesized that patients receiving continuous popliteal nerve infusion with single-injection saphenous nerve block (single) will have greater post-operative pain than those patients receiving continuous popliteal and saphenous nerve infusion (dual). Methods: A cohort of 62 patients undergoing outpatient foot and ankle surgery by a single fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon were prospectively, sequentially enrolled. The surgeon rated each procedure for degree of saphenous involvement as limited, moderate, or extensive. Demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system (ASA), anesthesia time and post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) time were documented. Total analgesia requirement and reported numeric pain score (NPS) at rest and with activity were recorded. Student’s t-test and chi-square test were utilized for single and dual block comparisons, and one-way ANOVA tested for differences in saphenous involvement. Results: The dual catheter group took significantly less opioid medication on post-operative day (POD) 1 compared to the single catheter group (Table 1; p=0.02). The dual catheter group reported significantly greater satisfaction with pain at POD 1 and POD 3 (p=0.03) and a significantly lower NPS at POD 1 and POD 2 (p=0.005). This trend is observed in all 3 subgroups of medial involvement. Patients in the single catheter group report about twice as much pain as patients in the dual catheter group when medial involvement was limited (7.4 v 3.8; p=0.033) or moderate (5.9 v 3.4; p=0.025). For patients with extensive medial involvement, pain was reduced when dual blocks were employed (5.4 v 6.7), but this difference was not significant (p=0.288). Conclusion: Patients in the single catheter group reported more pain and less satisfaction with pain control on POD 1, suggesting dual catheter use is superior to managing early post-operative pain in outpatient foot and ankle surgery. Interestingly, degree of medial involvement did not seem to correlate with better pain control within the dual group; in contrast, patients with less medial involvement reported better pain relief with dual than with a single catheter. From a pain management perspective, discharging patients on the day of routine outpatient foot and ankle surgery is appropriate with the judicious use of perioperative continuous infusion nerve catheters

Value of Supine Positioning in Repair of Achilles Tendon Ruptures

Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: The optimal method of Achilles tendon repair remains undefined. Few previous studies have quantified the financial expenses of Achilles tendon repairs in relation to functional outcomes in order to assess the overall value of the accepted repair techniques. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the value of supine positioning during open repair (OS) of acute Achilles tendon ruptures through the quantification of operative times, costs, and outcomes in comparison to the commonly performed percutaneous prone (PP) repair technique. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 67 patients undergoing OS and 67 patients undergoing PP primary Achilles tendon repair with two surgeons at four surgical locations. Total operating room usage times and operating times were collected from surgical site records. Total operating room times were used to estimate the costs of room usage and anesthesia, while costs of repair equipment were collected from the respective manufacturers. Patients undergoing OS repair completed the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) questionnaire, with activities of daily living (ADL) and sports subscales, Short Form-12 (SF-12), with mental (MCS) and physical (PCS) health subcategories, and the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain preoperatively and at final follow-up. Results: Even with a significantly longer mean surgical time (P=.035), OS repairs had a shorter duration of total operating room time when compared to that of PP repairs (58.4 versus 69.7 minutes, P<.001). Estimated time-dependent costs were lower in OS repairs ($739 versus$861 per procedure, P<.001), while the estimated average total per procedure cost was also lower for OS repairs ($801 versus$1,910 per procedure, P<.001). For patients undergoing OS repair, FAAM-ADL (P<.001), FAAM-Sports (P<.001), SF-12-PCS (P<.001) all increased and VAS grades (P<0.001) decreased from time of initial encounter to final follow-up and were comparable to reported outcomes in the current literature. The complication rate in OS repairs (6.0%) was lower than PP repairs (11.9%), with revisions only occurring in the latter technique. Conclusion: Performing open Achilles tendon repair in the supine position offers substantial value, or “health outcomes achieved per dollar spent”, to providers due to decreased total operating room times and costs with satisfactory functional outcomes

Incidence and Risk Factors for Complications of Exposed Kirschner Wires Following Elective Forefoot Surgery

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: Kirschner wires (K-wires) are commonly utilized for temporary metatarsal and phalangeal fixation following forefoot corrective osteotomies. K-wires can remain in place for up to 6 weeks postoperatively and are at risk for wound complications. Their exposure to the outside environment and direct osseous communication makes infection an important concern for the clinician. Early removal, prophylactic antibiotics, and re-operation are potential sequelae of infected K-wires and can affect outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence of complications of exposed K-wires after forefoot surgery and identify patient or perioperative risk factors for these complications. Methods: A single surgeon retrospective chart review of forefoot surgeries over the past 10 years was undertaken. Inclusion criteria were any adult undergoing elective forefoot surgery with the use of exposed K-wires. Incidence of wound complication defined as cellulitis, pin site drainage, or migration/loosening of the pin requiring prophylactic antibiotics or early removal was noted. Patient demographic data such as age, BMI, comorbidities, and smoking status were recorded. Perioperative data such as tourniquet time, type of anesthesia, and perioperative antibiotics was also recorded. Univariate analysis was performed via Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables and Chi square test for categorical variables. Multivariate analysis was performed for statistically significant risk factors. Results: 1,217 Patients (2,018 K-wires) were analyzed. There was a 10% complication rate requiring prophylactic antibiotics or early removal (N=123). 40 patients required early pin removal, 54 patients were given oral antibiotics, and 29 patients required both. Female gender (p<0.001), BMI over 28 (p<0.001), general anesthesia (p=0.025), increased tourniquet time (p=0.003) and history of rheumatoid arthritis (p=0.047) were significantly associated with complications. Both male gender [OR 2.62] and tourniquet time [OR 1.01] remained significant on multivariate regression analysis. There was no increased risk of complications with a history of smoking or diabetes. Conclusion: The K-wire is an important modality for providing temporary immobilization of the smaller bones of the forefoot following deformity correction. Male gender, elevated BMI, history of rheumatoid arthritis, general anesthesia, and longer tourniquet time are associated with increased risk of pin infection requiring early removal and/or antibiotics. Further study is needed to determine whether optimizing inflammatory disease, using efficient perioperative technique, and utilizing local anesthesia may limit the risk of wound complications with K-wires in forefoot surgery

Driving After Total Ankle Arthroplasty

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: With the increase in number of total ankle arthroplasty surgery, physician guidelines on when to begin to consider patients’ return to driving is valuable. The ability to accurately and efficiently determine when a patient can return to driving is important both from a patient safety and a medicolegal perspective. The purpose of the study was to determine when patients’ brake reaction time (BRT) returns to a safe value after right total ankle arthroplasty. We also aimed to identify predictive factors that may identify those patients who may not be safe to drive. Methods: After institutional review board approval, fifty-five patients undergoing right total ankle arthroplasty were recruited prospectively. Patient demographics include an age range of 43 to 83 years (median 63 years), of which 31 were male (56%) and 24 were female (44%). BRT was tested at six weeks and repeated weekly until patients achieved a passing BRT. A control group of twenty healthy patients was used to establish a passing BRT of 0.850 seconds. Patients were given a validated, novel driver readiness survey to complete of which a 10/15 point or higher score was considered passing. Results: At 6 weeks, 50 patients (91%) achieved a passing BRT and were considered safe to drive, and the passing group average BRT was 0.662 seconds. At 9 weeks, 52 patients (100%) of those who completed the study achieved a passing BRT. Patients that failed at 6 weeks had statistically greater visual analog scale (VAS) for pain (p=0.037) and significantly diminished ankle plantarflexion (p=0.029). There is a significant (p<0.001) and large (r=-0.455) correlation between BRT and the validated driver readiness survey scores. 5/5 (100%) patients that failed the BRT also failed the driver readiness survey (p=0.049). Interestingly, males were more likely to think they were ready to drive based on their driver readiness survey but were no more likely to pass the BRT than females (p=0.002). Conclusion: Over 90% of patients may be eligible to return to driving as early as 6 weeks post-operatively. Indications that a patient is not safe to return to driving at 6 weeks are higher VAS, limited plantarflexion, and a failed driver readiness survey. Although many factors determine whether a patient may safely return to driving, patients may be informed that BRT normalizes 9 weeks after right total ankle arthroplasty

A Prospective Randomized Study Evaluating the Effect of Perioperative NSAIDs on Opioid Consumption and Pain Management After Ankle Fracture Surgery

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Currently there is an epidemic in the United States regarding opioid abuse. This has resulted in strict government prescribing regulations throughout the country and increasing efforts by orthopaedic surgeons to better manage postoperative narcotic analgesia. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can serve as a powerful adjunct in managing postoperative pain and in turn minimize the need for opioid medications. It has recently been shown that ketorolac can be used after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of ankle fractures without interfering with bone healing. Therefore, we set out to evaluate whether including ketorolac in the postoperative drug regimen reduces opioid consumption and pain after ORIF of ankle fractures. Methods: 128 patients undergoing ORIF of an ankle fracture were prospectively randomized to treatment with or without ketorolac. Patients also had the option to simultaneously undergo regional anesthesia. Patients assigned to the treatment group were given 30 mg of IV ketorolac intraoperatively; prescribed 20 tablets of ketorolac 10 mg PO Q6 H and 30 tablets of Oxycodone/Acetaminophen 5/325 Q4-6 H PRN. Patients assigned to the control group were given 30 tablets of oxycodone/acetaminophen 5/325 Q4-6 H PRN only. A survey was distributed via Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) on postoperative days 1-7. Patients were asked to report their daily opioid consumption, pain level using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), satisfaction with pain management, and side effects. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Normality of data was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Differences between the control and treatment groups were tested using Mann-Whitney U or Student’s t-tests. Results: 105/128 (82%) patients with mean BMI of 29.3 completed all study requirements. 54 received ketorolac with opioid medication and 51 received opioids alone. 43 men (41%) and 62 women (59%) participated with mean age of 48 years. Patients receiving ketorolac required less oxycodone/acetaminophen (p0.139). Conclusion: The addition of ketorolac to the postoperative drug regimen significantly reduced pain, while decreasing the use of opioid medication following ORIF of ankle fractures early in the postoperative period. Better pain management during postoperative days 1 and 2 is particularly important because patients on average consume the most opioids during this time. With the assurance that ketorolac does not interfere with bone healing, this NSAID is a valuable tool for helping patients manage postoperative pain with less narcotic analgesia