Ankle

CHICAGO — At the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, Steven M. Raikin, MD, discussed a study that looked at the use of continuous popliteal nerve blocks for rebound pain for foot and ankle surgery. Raikin and colleagues found that although patients took fewer narcotic medications, they had higher pain scores and less patient satisfaction.

CHICAGO — Early results of lateral total ankle replacement compared with anterior total ankle replacement showed patients who underwent the lateral approach had a greater risk of deep infection requiring reoperation and inferior SF-36 scores 1 year after surgery. However, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding ankle osteoarthritis and ankle arthritis scores.

CHICAGO — At the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, Noortje Hagemeijer, MD, discussed a study that looked at the use of diagnostic ultrasound to evaluate syndesmosis reduction. She said diagnostic ultrasound was reliable to assess the sagittal translation of the fibula.

CHICAGO — At the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, Gregory C. Berlet, MD, FRCS(C) FAOA, spoke about cheilectomy and use of the Cartiva (Cartiva Inc.) synthetic cartilage implant. He said this implant helps patients with pain, while preserving motion. Berlet noted pain scores with the Cartiva were similar to those achieved after fusion.

CHICAGO — Patient-reported outcomes improved and there was a high rate of return to sport in patients who underwent lower extremity fasciotomies for chronic exertional compartment syndrome, according to a presenter at the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting.

Published results showed ankle fractures surgically treated by orthopedic surgeons had lower rates of malunion and nonunion than when treated by podiatrists.

BOSTON — There was no significant difference in tendon length 12 weeks after Achilles tendon repair in patients who underwent accelerated rehabilitation compared with traditional rehabilitation, according to a presenter at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. However, patients who underwent accelerated rehabilitation had an increased amount of lengthening at 6 weeks postoperatively.