Foot/Ankle News

Treatment of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis with focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy without local anesthesia had a success rate between 50% and 65%, according to study findings.

BioMedical Enterprises has announced the launch of the Speed Triad Nitinol Bone Fixation Implant, the company’s new bunion fixation solution.

Researchers found a low overall incidence of clinically important venous thromboembolism after the surgical repair of isolated tibia, fibula and ankle fractures, with no differences reported between patients who received dalteparin or placebo.

When caring for orthopedic patients, physicians must consider the role of hormones, differential anatomy, joint stability and bone quality, as well as differences in recovery after injury and surgery among men and women, according to researchers.

Bacterin International Holdings recently announced the release of ArthroFuse, an allograft offering to treat hammertoe deformities.

Orthopedics Today features eight stories of importance to emerge from the EFORT Congress.

Intra-articular calcaneus fractures are high-energy injuries that can result in significant functional loss and morbidity. The management of displaced intra-articular calcaneus fractures is controversial as studies have shown advantages and disadvantages of both nonoperative care and surgical intervention. When surgery is performed, a traditional approach using an extensile L-shaped lateral incision with lateral plating has been associated with high rates (up to 40%) of wound-healing problems and superficial and deep infection. Wound complications can result in reoperation, plastic surgical intervention and amputation in severe cases. The vascular supply of the lateral hindfoot relies upon the lateral calcaneal branch of the peroneal artery, which is susceptible to injury during an extensile L-shaped approach.

Patients who underwent deltoid ligament repair for bimalleolar equivalent ankle fracture experienced subjective, functional and radiologic outcomes comparable to supination-external rotation-4 equivalent ankle injuries treated with syndesmotic fixation, according to study results.

Recently published data indicted utilizing a dynamic device for fixation of an acute syndesmosis rupture appeared to result in better clinical and radiographical outcomes compared with conventional screw fixation, offering syndesmotic stabilization without failure or loss of reduction and lower reoperation rates.

Orthopedics Today has put together a compilation of the five news stories and videos most viewed from May 2015 to keep you abreast of the current hot topics in orthopedics.