The Lino Site: A Stratified Late Archaic Campsite in a Terrace of the San Idelfonzo Creek, Webb County, Southern Texas

Archeologists from TRC Mariah Associates Inc. of Austin conducted mitigation excavations at the Lino site (41WB437) during a six-week period in April and May 1998 under contract with the Texas Department of Transportation, Environmental Affairs Division. The prehistoric archeological site was within the right-of-way of the planned expansion of Highway 83, south of Laredo. A single 196 m2 block measuring 7m north-south by 28 m east-west was investigated following requirements of a contract that stipulated a three-pronged approach to data recovery. First, a Gradall™ was employed to carefully strip 2 to 4 cm thick layers in eight 3m wide areas within the block. Balks measuring 80 cm wide by 120 cm tall were left standing between each 3 m wide Gradall™ -stripped area. The material discovered in situ during the Gradall™ stripping was plotted using a total data station. When clusters of cultural materials were encountered during the Gradall™ stripping, these were designated as features, and a series of manual excavations in 1 by 1 m units were dug around each feature. The matrix surrounding these features was screened and in situ data recorded with the total data station. Feature matrix was collected and floated in the laboratory. A total of 124 m2 were hand excavated around 24 recognized features discovered during Gradall™ stripping. Upon reaching the target depth of 120 cm below the surface, the Gradall™ stripping ceased, having mechanically removed 187 m3 of deposits

Cache Diversity on the Southern Plains

<p>Chris Lintz and John Dockall, co-authors.  Details the variability and technology of lithic biface caches in the southern plains of Texas.  Paper was presented as part of Texas Archaeology Awareness Month.</p

Correlation Between Three-Dimensional Biometric Weightbearing CT Assessment of Hindfoot Alignment and Conventional Measurements of Adult Acquired Flatfoot

CATEGORY: Hindfoot; Ankle; Other INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Semi-automatic three-dimensional (3D) biometric weightbearing CT (WBCT) tools have been shown to accurately demonstrate the relationship between the center of the ankle joint and the tripod of the foot. The measurement of the Foot and Ankle Offset (FAO) represents an optimized biomechanical assessment of foot alignment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between FAO and traditional adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD) markers, measured in different planes. We hypothesized that the FAO would significantly correlate with other radiographic markers of pronounced AAFD. METHODS: In this retrospective comparative study, we included 113 patients with stage II AAFD, 43 men and 70 women, mean age of 53.5 (range, 20 to 86) years. Three-dimensional coordinates (X, Y and Z planes) of the foot tripod (most plantar voxel of the first and fifth metatarsal heads, and calcaneal tuberosity) and the center of the ankle joint (most proximal and central voxel of the talar dome) were harvested by two blinded and independent fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons. The FAO was automatically calculated using the 3D coordinates by dedicated software. Multiple WBCT parameters related to the severity of the deformity in the coronal, sagittal, and transverse plane were manually measured. RESULTS: We found overall good to excellent intra (range, 0.84-0.99) and interobserver reliability (range, 0.71-0.96) for manual AAFD measurements. FAO semi-automatic measurements demonstrated excellent intra (0.99) and interobserver reliabilities (0.98). Hindfoot moment arm (p<0.00001), subtalar horizontal angle (p<0.00001), talonavicular uncoverage angle (p=0.00004) and forefoot arch angle (p=0.0001) were the only variables found to significantly influence and correlate with FAO measurements, with an R-squared value of 0.79. A value of hindfoot moment arm of 19.8mm was found to be a strong threshold predictor of increased values of FAO, with mean values of FAO of 6.5 when the HMA was lower than 19.8mm and 14.6 when the HMA was equal or higher than 19.8mm. CONCLUSION: We found that 3D WBCT semi-automatic measurements of Foot and Ankle Offset (FAO) significantly correlated with traditional markers of pronounced AAFD. HMA, subtalar horizontal angle, talonavicular uncoverage angle and forefoot arch angle were found to explain 79% of the variations in FAO measurements. FAO Measurements were also found to be more reliable than the manual measurements. The FAO offers a more complete biomechanical and multiplanar assessment of the AAFD, that that accounts for relative positioning of the foot tripod and the center of the ankle joint, representing in a single measurement the three-dimensional components of the deformity

The Efficacy of Surgical Treatment in the Correction of Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity: A Three- dimensional Biometric Weightbearing Computed Tomography Evaluation

CATEGORY: Hindfoot; Ankle; Midfoot/Forefoot INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Multiple surgical techniques are used in the correction of Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity (AAFD). Assessment of the efficacy of a surgical treatment in the correction of the deformity is usually performed by clinical evaluation and conventional radiographic imaging. Weightbearing CT (WBCT) allows a more reliable and multiplanar evaluation of AAFD. The Foot and Ankle Offset (FAO) is a WBCT biometric semi-automatic measurement that gauges the relative positioning between the foot tripod and the center of the ankle joint. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of surgical treatment in correcting AAFD, comparing preoperative and postoperative FAO measurements. We hypothesized that surgical treatment would provide significant correction of the deformity, centering the tripod of the foot underneath the ankle joint. METHODS: In this prospective comparative study, 21 adult patients (22 feet) with flexible AAFD were included, mean age 55 (range, 23-81) years, 13 females and eight males. Patients underwent preoperative and postoperative standing WBCT examination. Three-dimensional coordinates (X, Y and Z planes) of the foot tripod (weightbearing point of the first and fifth metatarsals and calcaneal tuberosity) and center of the ankle (apex of the talar dome) were harvested by two independent and blinded observers. The FAO was automatically calculated from the harvested 3D coordinates by dedicated software. Data regarding the surgical technique used was recorded. Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) were collected preoperatively and postoperatively at a mean follow-up of 22 (range, 8-36) months. Pre and postoperative FAO measurements were compared by paired T-tests. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the influence of surgical procedures in the amount of FAO correction. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: We found excellent intra (0.98) and interobserver reliability (0.96) for FAO measurements. The mean preoperative FAO was 10.4 (95% CI, 8.5 to 12.1). There was a significant correction of the deformity postoperatively (p<0.0001), with a mean postoperative FAO of 1.4 (CI, -0.1 to 2.9), and mean improvement of 8.9 (95% CI, 6.6 to 11.2). Average increase in PROs was (p<0.05): physical function (8; CI, 4 to 12), pain interference (10.3; CI, 4.8 to 15.9), pain intensity (5.3; CI, -10:20.6), mental health (4.2; CI, 0.2:8.2), physical health (4.3; CI, 0.9 to 9.8), and depression (10.4; CI, -0.6 to 21.4). The mean number of surgical procedures performed was 8 (range, 2-12). Spring ligament reconstruction was the only technique that influenced the amount of FAO correction (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to assess the amount of surgical correction of AAFD using standing WBCT images and semiautomatic 3D measurements. We found that surgical treatment provided a significant and pronounced amount of correction in the FAO, with the foot tripod more centered underneath the ankle joint. We also found a significant improvement in the PROMIS after an average postoperative follow-up of 22 months. Among multiple different surgical procedures performed, reconstruction of the spring ligament was the only technique that significantly influenced the amount of FAO correction. Longer-term follow-up studies are needed