Foot & Ankle Archive

SUMMARY: The Slovak version of the EFAS foot and ankle score was validated, showing good internal consistency, responsiveness (effect size 1.30), and improvement in 81% of patients after treatment.

SUMMARY: In a small retrospective case-control study of 12 athletes, adding platelet-rich growth factor matrix to Achilles repair sped return of motion, running, and training with no wound complications, though randomized trials are needed.

SUMMARY: Reviews etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus and tibial plafond: nonoperative care first, then arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation or fixation, with open techniques for larger or secondary lesions.

SUMMARY: In a porcine model, acetabular rim microfracture added to labral autograft reconstruction improved early vascularization, fibrocartilaginous remodeling, and integration; preclinical findings that require biomechanical and clinical validation.

SUMMARY: At about 21 years after hemi-hamate resurfacing for PIP fracture-dislocations, all 13 patients had radiographic PIP arthrosis but good-to-excellent outcome scores, stable grafts, and no revisions, supporting long-term durability.

SUMMARY: Historical review from 1911 to today showing primary subtalar arthrodesis for calcaneal fractures shifted from salvage to a selective option; outcomes are similar to reconstruction alone, so patient selection is what matters.

SUMMARY: Evidence review finds conservative, toe-sparing surgeries for forefoot diabetic ulcers and osteomyelitis give good to excellent outcomes and are underused alternatives to amputation; a decision tree guides procedure selection.

SUMMARY: In 51 severe pilon fractures, a two-stage approach (limited articular fixation with temporary external fixation, then medial plating) had no secondary arthrodeses and trended toward better motion and function, so authors favor it with extensive soft tissue damage.

SUMMARY: Update on acute diabetic foot infection management covering debridement, wound closure, local antibiotics, adjunctive therapies, and reconstruction, with a proposed algorithm for multidisciplinary care of non-healing ulcers.

SUMMARY: A literature review of Freiberg's disease found multiple metatarsal osteotomies and osteochondral transplantation gave good to excellent outcomes after failed nonoperative care, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 2833 livebirths.

SUMMARY: Four large language models answering parent questions on pediatric flexible flatfoot were not reliably distinguishable on clinical quality, but all exceeded recommended readability levels and were only moderately reproducible, so clinician oversight remains necessary.

SUMMARY: In a prospective cohort of 449 Navy special warfare trainees, dynamic pes planus, pes cavus, restricted ankle dorsiflexion, and increased hindfoot inversion predicted lower extremity overuse injuries, identifying correctable risk factors.

SUMMARY: Review noting that about 25% of tibial and fibular shaft fractures have associated foot and ankle injuries; early recognition and management of delayed complications optimizes outcomes.

SUMMARY: In this randomized trial of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures, major complications occurred in 25% of ORIF fractures versus 18% of nonoperative ones; outcome scores favored ORIF, but complication risk was higher with surgery.

SUMMARY: Plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of plantar heel pain, resolves with nonsurgical care in about 90% of patients; surgery is reserved for severe symptoms refractory to 6 to 12 months of treatment.

SUMMARY: This review summarizes mechanisms and risk factors for non-contact ACL injury in soccer players, such as cutting, deceleration, dynamic valgus, laxity, and neuromuscular deficits, and argues that identifying at-risk athletes is the first step toward prevention.

SUMMARY: This narrative review explains how 2.0 to 2.7 mm mini-fragment implants are used for provisional, adjunctive, and isolated fixation in lower extremity long bone fractures, with illustrated applications.

SUMMARY: In a matched database cohort of total ankle arthroplasty patients, preoperative psychiatric medication use was associated with higher 2-year rates of mechanical loosening, implant-related pain, and periprosthetic fracture.

SUMMARY: In a cadaveric gait simulator study, low-profile tibial total ankle components showed significantly more early micromotion than stemmed ones, supporting a mechanical explanation for early failure of low-profile designs.

SUMMARY: In a randomized trial of 131 plantar fasciitis patients, functional insoles were no better than soft cushioning insoles, and about 85% improved in pain and mobility with either type.

SUMMARY: Review and video guide on syndesmotic ankle injuries, covering physical examination, diagnosis, and arthroscopic-assisted reduction, and stressing that missed injuries risk long-term ankle dysfunction.

SUMMARY: Topical review: chronic lateral ankle instability warrants surgery after failed rehabilitation, favoring anatomic repair or reconstruction with arthroscopy, while tenodesis is discouraged for poor long-term results and altered biomechanics.

SUMMARY: Overview of foot drop for orthopaedic surgeons covering anatomy, causes from lower extremity to spine, differential diagnosis, and treatment from bracing and therapy to nerve decompression or tendon transfer.

SUMMARY: This review proposes a treatment algorithm for talar osteochondral lesions, matching fragment fixation, marrow stimulation, osteochondral transplantation, cell-based repair, or salvage procedures to lesion size, cartilage and bone quality, and prior surgery.

SUMMARY: Narrative review of high-level trials in clavicle, proximal humerus, olecranon, ankle, calcaneus, and Jones fractures: surgery clearly helped only Jones fractures, with lower nonunion rates often offset by surgical complications and no quality-of-life advantage.

SUMMARY: In a retrospective radiographic study of 134 knees, ankle and hindfoot alignment responses at 6 months after mechanically aligned TKA differed between varus and valgus osteoarthritis, though clinical significance remains uncertain.

SUMMARY: Reviews tarsal coalition in young adults, with surgery reserved for pain refractory to nonoperative care (successful in up to 85%), and choice of resection, interposition, or fusion guided by coalition size, subtalar health, and deformity.

SUMMARY: Illustrated anatomical review of navicular and proximal fifth metatarsal stress fractures, explaining how anatomy, loading, and limited blood supply drive delayed healing and nonunion, to guide diagnosis and treatment.

SUMMARY: This review covers plantar pressure and shear as biomechanical risk markers for diabetic foot ulcers, along with emerging monitoring tools and Charcot arthropathy, aiming to prevent ulceration and improve patient outcomes.

SUMMARY: In a retrospective study of 159 outpatient ankle ORIFs, monitored anesthesia care with high-volume low-concentration local infiltration shortened discharge time by about 55 minutes versus general anesthesia, with no other significant outcome differences.