Preliminary Report of a Hybrid Total Ankle Arthroplasty Combining a Stemmed Intramedullary Tibial Component With Chamfer-Cut Talar Dome.

Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is a viable treatment for end-stage ankle arthritis. In our experience, a stemmed intramedullary tibial component combined with a chamfer-cut talar component provides the most stable construct for TAA. We present our technique for placement of this hybrid prosthesis utilizing the INBONE tibial component in combination with the INFINITY talar component. This technique differs from the standard protocol by minimizing use of both patient-specific and standard intraoperative guides. The primary aim of this study is to report our preliminary outcomes with our novel technique. Secondarily, we aim to demonstrate that placement of this hybrid prosthesis is radiographically reproducible and accurate. The first 10 patients undergoing this technique with at least 1 year of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Average visual analog pain scale decreased from 7.4 preoperatively to 0.5 at 1 year postoperatively. The average time to weightbearing was 6.4 weeks. Complications were minimal, and no implant-related complications were encountered. First weightbearing ankle radiographs postoperatively were evaluated by 3 reviewers to determine accuracy of the tibial intramedullary stem in relation to the anatomical axis of the tibia. We found that the deviation of the tibial implant from the anatomic axis was on average 0.9°± 0.5° in the coronal plane, and 2.2°± 2.7° in the sagittal plane. Inter-rater reliability was 83%. We conclude that this hybrid technique utilizing a stemmed intramedullary tibial component in combination with a chamfer-cut talar component for TAA is reproducible, accurate, and safe

Perceptions of the Podiatric Medicine Profession: A Survey of Medical Students in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

BACKGROUND: Medical students (MSs) in allopathic and osteopathic medical programs may not be adequately exposed to the role of podiatric physicians and surgeons in health care. We explored perceptions of the specialty field of podiatric medicine from the perspective of MSs in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area. METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey study, responses regarding podiatric education and scope of practice were collected via a 16-question, self-reported, anonymous online survey distributed to MSs at one osteopathic and three allopathic medical schools in the Philadelphia area. Inferences and conclusions were drawn from the percentages of respondents. Statistical analyses for school of attendance, year of study, and physician relative subgroups were performed. RESULTS: The 129 survey responses obtained revealed misunderstandings regarding podiatric education and training. Only 45.7% correctly answered that podiatric medical students do not take the United States Medical Licensing Examination. The results also showed the perception of podiatry in a positive light, with approximately 80% of respondents agreeing that the term doctor is applicable when referring to a podiatrist. Respondents with a physician relative were more likely to rate podiatry\u27s role in health care higher on a scale from 0 (inessential) to 5 (equivalent to MDs/DOs) than those without a physician relative. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this preliminary survey were generally positive and optimistic while also identifying some misconceptions regarding MS perceptions of podiatric medical training and scope of practice. Further studies are needed to evaluate perceptions of podiatry from the perspective of other members of the health-care team to improve interprofessional relations and understanding

The Role of Arthroscopy After Total Ankle Replacement.

Alongside advances and trends in foot and ankle surgery, arthroscopy provides a minimally invasive option in exploring and addressing pain after total ankle replacement (TAR). It is not uncommon for patients to develop pain months or even years after TAR implantation for both fixed and mobile-bearing designs. Arthroscopic debridement of gutter pain can provide successful outcomes in the hands of the experienced arthroscopist. Surgeon preference and experience will dictate the threshold for intervention, approach, and tool selection. This article provides a brief look into the background, indications, technique, limitations, and outcomes for arthroscopy after TAR

Short-term results of a hybrid total ankle arthroplasty combining a stemmed intramedullary tibial component with chamfer-cut talar dome

Purpose: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) remains a viable alternative to ankle arthrodesis. The latest generation of TAA implant designs emphasize minimal bone resection and anatomic preservation. We have previously described our adapted technique combining an intramedullary tibial component with a minimal resection chamfer-cut talar component. The purpose of the present study is to report our short-term clinical outcomes with this hybrid technique. Procedure: We performed a retrospective case series of consecutive patients undergoing primary TAA using this hybrid implant with a minimum of two-years follow up. Primary outcomes included the Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale. Secondary outcomes included rates of associated complications, reoperations, and revisions. Results: Thirty-three consecutive patients (42% male, average age 59 years) met the inclusion criteria with an average follow up of 36 months. VAS improved from 7.1 preoperatively to 1.1 postoperatively (p<0.0001). Similarly, AOFAS scores improved from 42.2 preoperatively to 90.7 postoperatively (p<0.0001). Fifteen patients had a postoperative complication (45%), with 13 requiring a reoperation (39%), and 1 requiring a revision (3%). Discussion: We found statistically significant improvement in patient-reported outcomes postoperatively with the majority of our complications being low-grade. At an average follow up of 3 years, implant survivorship was 97%. We demonstrate overall positive short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of a novel hybrid TAA technique combining an intramedullary tibial component and a chamfer-cut talar component

The effect of a silver hydrogel sheet dressing on postsurgical incision healing after foot and ankle surgery.

Introduction: Silver hydrogel dressings are antimicrobial dressings with the potential to aid post-surgical healing. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a silver hydrogel dressing on postoperative scarring and complications. Methods: 40 foot and ankle patients (48.43 ± 16.82 years) were included in the study with 20 patients in each group. Postoperatively, the treatment group was treated with a silver hydrogel sheet dressing, and the control group was treated with a standard petroleum-based dressing. Follow-up was performed at two, six, and 12 weeks. Postoperative scarring and complications were evaluated and compared between groups. Scarring was evaluated using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). Scar length and width were measured using digital calipers and used to compute scar area. Results: The treatment group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the POSAS observer score and observer opinion at six and 12 weeks ( Conclusion: These results suggest that the inherent properties of the silver hydrogel dressing may improve postsurgical scarring. Lay Summary: Surgical incisions result in scar, which can present both cosmetic and rehabilitation concerns after foot or ankle surgery. It is standard to use a petroleum-based dressing on incisions after surgery, however, advancements in incisional dressings have been made over the past 20 years. One such advancement is silver-impregnated hydrogel sheet dressings which have been shown to maintain a moist wound environment conducive to healing, while decreasing the chance of infection through its antimicrobial properties. This paper evaluates scar healing after foot or ankle surgery in patients treated with either the standard petroleum-based dressing, or the silver hydrogel sheet dressing. Patients who were treated with the silver hydrogel dressing had less itching and pain, as well as a smaller scar area than patients in the standard dressing group. Therefore, our results suggest that the silver hydrogel dressing may improve scarring after surgery