Foot/Ankle News

TORONTO — Team physicians who treat high-level athletes with fifth metatarsal fractures, ones that are in zone 2 at the proximal extent of the fifth metatarsal and known as Jones fractures, should focus on ways to avoid failed treatment if they decide to surgically fix the fracture, a presenter at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, said here.

SEATTLE — At the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, Mark A. Glazebrook, MD, MSc, PhD, spoke about a study that compared results of hemiarthroplasty performed with the Cartiva Synthetic Implant and revised to fusion vs. primary fusion. He said there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the primary and revision fusion groups.

SEATTLE — At the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, Michael S. Pinzur, MD, spoke about a study that looked at the deformity and clinical outcomes after surgical correction in patients with diabetes and Charcot foot. Pinzur and his colleagues found patients with valgus deformity were more likely to have a favorable outcome compared with patients who had other deformities. He said the definition of an “excellent” result is eradication of infection and a patient’s ability to walk with a commercially available diabetic shoe.

SEATTLE — At the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, Alastair S.E. Younger, MBChB, ChM, FRCSC, discussed a study that looked at the rates of acute Achilles repair vs delayed Achilles repair. He said surgeons who perform randomized controlled trials should focus more on the strength rather than the rupture rates as a primary outcome measure. Younger said maybe the best way to treat an Achilles tendon is not with open Achilles tendon repair and functional rehabilitation, but to redesign the surgery.

SEATTLE — At the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, a presenter said cavovarus reconstruction with a lateralizing calcaneal osteotomy by way of a medial approach posed low risk of neurologic injury and offered “powerful” translational correction for patients with hindfoot varus deformity.

SEATTLE — At the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, Judith F. Baumhauer, MD, MPH, discussed the validation and generalizability of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) scores for the prediction of success in foot and ankle surgery. She noted PROMIS scores can provide a high level of probability for whether patients will benefit from foot and ankle surgery.

SEATTLE — Patient risk factors were not significantly correlated with 90-day readmission after total ankle arthroplasty, according to a presenter at the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting.

Wright Medical Group N.V. announced it will feature three new additions to its foot and ankle portfolio at the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting. These offerings include the Invision total ankle revision system, the Ortholoc 3Di ankle fracture low-profile system and the Mica minimally invasive foot and ankle system.

SEATTLE — At the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, James J. Sferra, MD, discussed alternative treatments to fusion of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint in patients with hallux varus. He noted orthopedic surgeons should not overcorrect hallux varus at the time of surgery. He said hallux varus may be addressed nonsurgically, in some cases in which the deformity remains flexible, through patient education and by making sure the toe boxes of shoes are not too narrow.

SEATTLE — Total ankle replacement is a viable treatment for patients with advanced hemophilic ankle arthropathy and shows favorable outcomes at midterm and long-term follow-up, according to a speaker at the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting. However, based on radiographic results, the speaker noted patients may later require secondary surgery.