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Seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA) is an umbrella term that includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and arthritis related to inflammatory bowel disease. Apart from AS, these other conditions predominantly affect the appendicular skeleton. Both the foot and ankle are frequently involved peripheral joints. According to the latest Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society criteria, imaging is a key way to diagnose peripheral seronegative SpA. Common imaging features are enthesitis, synovitis, tenosynovitis, erosive and bone-proliferative changes in the affected joints, and effusion.Although magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard technique, ultrasound (US) is a cost-effective imaging method that can readily detect the features just described. Additionally, it can semi-quantify inflammatory changes, helping in treatment and dose modifications. Imaging-guided procedures, such as biopsies and steroid injections, are routinely performed using US. Furthermore, US can easily be deployed at outpatient rheumatology clinics, making it an ideal point-of-care investigation., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Lisfranc injuries are uncommon but frequently misdiagnosed and carry a high rate of morbidity., Objective: This review highlights the pearls and pitfalls of Lisfranc injuries, including presentation, diagnosis, and management in the emergency department (ED) based on current evidence., Discussion: Lisfranc injuries are caused by high- or low-energy trauma to the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint complex. The severity of injury exists on a spectrum, ranging from minor subluxations to fractures and dislocations involving the TMT joint complex. They can be complicated by compartment syndrome, neurovascular compromise, and open fractures. Prompt diagnosis is critical in preventing chronic pain and mobility challenges, as even small subluxations can result in significant morbidity. Lisfranc injuries should be considered in all patients with a foot injury. Patients with Lisfranc injuries most commonly present with midfoot pain, swelling, or ecchymosis. Despite the importance of a timely diagnosis, Lisfranc injuries are commonly missed on plain radiographs due to their often subtle findings. When x-rays are negative but there is significant clinical suspicion, emergency clinicians should obtain advanced imaging such as computed tomography to aid in diagnosis. All Lisfranc injuries should be discussed with orthopedic surgery to determine definitive management. Patients who can be discharged should be made non-weightbearing and placed in a short-leg splint., Conclusion: The consideration of Lisfranc injuries can help emergency clinicians make a timely diagnosis to prevent future complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None. No AI program was utilized in the construction of this manuscript., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Nitinol staple use in orthopedic surgery has increased in recent years. Biomechanical studies provide useful data for use in foot/ankle; however, clinical data is limited. This study's purpose is to determine the efficacy of nitinol staples to achieve stable, bony arthrodesis in midfoot and Chopart joints, and examine their clinical outcomes and pain scores. A retrospective chart review was performed on 127 midfoot/Chopart joint arthrodeses (71 patients) using nitinol staples in isolation. The primary outcome variable was radiographic evidence of healing. Radiographs were blinded, randomized, and independently reviewed by 3 board certified foot and ankle surgeons. Complete/partial union was seen in 89% of all joints (113/127), increasing to 93% when including only midfoot joints (98/106). Chopart joints had significantly lower healing rates (15/21; 71%) compared to all midfoot joints (p = .01) and isolated tarsometatarsal joints (86/91; 95%) (p = .006). Neuropathy and smoking did not affect arthrodesis, but diabetes did (p = .004). Joints requiring bone grafting had worse rates of arthrodesis (38/49; 76%) (p = .002). For all joints, postoperative visual analog scale scores were significantly lower than preoperative (p < .001). Preoperative midfoot and Chopart pain scores were similar (p = .30). Midfoot joints had significantly lower pain scores postoperatively than preoperatively (p < .001). No such significance existed in Chopart joints (p = .07). Isolated nitinol staples are a viable option for midfoot arthrodesis, especially tarsometatarsal joints, and offer significant pain improvement. Chopart joints may require more rigid fixation than nitinol staples, given the lower healing rate., (Copyright © 2024 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Early detection of Lisfranc injury is critical for improving clinical outcomes, but diagnosing subtle injury can be difficult. Weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT) allows evaluation of such injuries in 3 dimensions (3D) under physiologic load. This study aimed to assess the utility of 1-, 2-, and 3-dimensional measurements on WBCT to diagnose subtle injury in isolated ligamentous Lisfranc injuries., Methods: Ten cadaveric specimens underwent WBCT evaluation of the Lisfranc joint complex in the intact state and subsequently with sequential sectioning of the dorsal Lisfranc ligament and interosseous Lisfranc ligament (IOL) to create subtle Lisfranc injury, and finally after transectioning of plantar Lisfranc ligament (PLL) to create the injury conditions for complete ligamentous Lisfranc injury. Measurements under static vertical tibial load of 80 kg were performed on WBCT images including (1) Lisfranc joint (medial cuneiform-base of second metatarsal) volume, (2) Lisfranc joint area, (3) C1-C2 intercuneiform area, (4) C1-M2 distance, (5) C1-C2 distance, (6) M1-M2 intermetatarsal distance, (7) first tarsometatarsal (TMT1) alignment, (8) second tarsometatarsal (TMT2) alignment, (9) TMT1 dorsal step-off distance, and (10) TMT2 dorsal step-off distance., Results: In the subtle Lisfranc injury state, Lisfranc joint volume and area, C1-M2 distance, and M1-M2 distance measurements on WBCT significantly increased, when compared with the intact state ( P values .001 to .014). Additionally, Lisfranc joint volume and area, C1-M2 distance, M1-M2 distance, TMT2 alignment, and TMT2 dorsal step-off measurements were increased in the complete Lisfranc injury state. Of all measurements, C1-M2 distance had the largest area under the curve (AUC) of 0.96 (sensitivity = 90%; specificity = 90%), followed by Lisfranc volume (AUC = 0.90; sensitivity = 80%; specificity = 80%) and Lisfranc area (AUC = 0.89; sensitivity = 80%; specificity = 100%)., Conclusion: In a cadaveric model we found that WBCT scan can increase the diagnostic accuracy for subtle Lisfranc injury. Among the measurements, C1-M2 distance exhibited the highest level of accuracy. The 2D joint area and 3D joint volume also proved to be accurate, with 3D volume measurements of the Lisfranc joint displaying the most significant absolute difference between the intact state and increasing severity of Lisfranc injury. These findings suggest that 2D joint area and 3D joint volume may have potential as supplementary measurements to more accurately diagnose subtle Lisfranc injuries., Clinical Relevance: WBCT may help surgeons detect subtle Lisfranc injuries., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Disclosure forms for all authors are available online.

Purpose: We aimed to report the union rate after only utilizing a locally obtained autologous bone graft while correcting the deformity and performing joint arthrodesis in patients with foot and ankle Charcot neuropathy (CN) and to report on the radiographic, functional, complications incidence outcomes at a minimum of two years of follow up., Methods: We included 24 patients having a mean age of 55.4 ± 10.1 years diagnosed with CN of the foot, ankle, or both. Seven (29.2%) cases were classified as Brodsky type 1, 11 (45.8%) as type 3 A, and six (25%) were type 4. Hindfoot and Midfoot bi-columnar arthrodesis was performed in 70.8% and 29.2% of the patients, respectively. Eight (33.3%) cases had preoperative ulcers. Functional outcomes were evaluated using a modified AOFAS score. Arthrodesis site union was assessed clinically and radiographically. All patients were available for a mean follow up of 35.7 ± 9.5 (24-54) months., Results: Arthrodesis site union was achieved in 23 (95.8%) cases after a mean of 4 ± 1.7 (2-7.5) months. The mean modified AOFAS score was 72.4 ± 10.41 (46-83) points; 79.2% achieved excellent and good scores. Ulcers healed in 87.5% of the patients. Twenty-two (91.7%) patients were satisfied with their functional results. Infection incidence was 12.5%, and no patients required revision or amputation., Conclusion: Foot and ankle Charcot neuroarthropathy deformity correction by arthrodesis of the affected joint as a salvage management option resulted in acceptable clinical and radiological outcomes. To enhance the local environment for arthrodesis consolidation, locally obtained autografts led to higher union rates and avoided the drawbacks of using other graft types., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Tarso-metatarsal joints and naviculocuneiform joints comprising midfoot is the second most commonly involved joints following the first metatarsophalangeal joint in the foot. However, related factors of midfoot arthritis (MA) have been rarely reported. The bony structure and alignment can be more precisely assessed using Weight-Bearing Computed Tomography (WBCT) than conventional radiographs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for MA related to medical history and comorbid foot deformities using WBCT. WBCT data from September 2014 to April 2022 were extracted from a single referral hospital. All cases were divided into two groups by the presence of MA. Twenty-five potential related factors including demographics, etiology, and common co-occurring foot deformities were collected for comparison. Six hundred six cases (247 males and 359 females) among consecutive 1316 cases between September 2014 to April 2022 were selected. One hundred thirty-nine male cases (56.3%) and 210 female cases (58.5%) showed MA. In stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis, 5 factors remained statistically significant. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios for age, laterality, body mass index (BMI), Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity (PCFD), and lesser toe deformities (LTD) were 1.08, 1.54, 1.05, 6.62, and 3.03 respectively. Risk factors for MA associated with medical history and foot deformities included age, laterality, BMI, PCFD, and LDT., (Copyright © 2024 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Studies report that Lisfranc injury is more common than thought. Several imaging methods for assessing the stability of Lisfranc injury have been described but many are impossible to standardize and not accurate enough., Purpose: To present a three-dimensional (3D) method for analyzing the changes in the joint space width of the midfoot joint and the joints of the medial part of the Lisfranc complex in healthy individuals., Material and Methods: Non-weightbearing and weightbearing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 11 healthy feet were acquired and analyzed with 3D software. The mean range of joint space width changes of each joint was computed from the changes in individual image pairs., Results: 3D analysis software was used to analyze the medial part of the Lisfranc complex. In this sample of healthy feet, the changes in the joint spaces in the medial part of Lisfranc complex, calculated with 3D analysis software, was less than 0.6 mm. The distance between bones increased or decreased, depending on which part of the joint surface the measurements were taken., Conclusion: In this study, we present a 3D analysis method to evaluate midfoot joint space width changes. Our analysis revealed that in healthy feet there are only minimal changes in the joint space width between weightbearing and non-weightbearing indicating minimal movement of the midtarsal joints. The 3D analysis of weightbearing CBCT data provides a promising tool for analyzing the small midfoot joints in a variety of conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of foot involvement in psoriatic arthritis and to describe its different clinical and radiological features., Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study including 40 patients with psoriatic arthritis over a period of 12 months. Anamnesis, clinical examination of feet, podoscopic examination, X-rays of feet and heels, and ultrasound in B mode and power Doppler mode were done for each patient., Results: Foot involvement was found in 95% of cases. It was symptomatic in 70% and inaugural of the disease in 20% of cases. The hindfoot and the forefoot were the sites most affected (77.5% and 47.5% respectively). The involvement of the midfoot was rarer (25%). Dactylitis was found in 17.5% and deformities of forefoot were found in 22.5% of cases. Antalgic gait was noted in 17.5% and static disorders of foot at podoscopic examination were identified in 35% of cases. Feet dermatological manifestations were found in 45% of cases. Diagnosis of different rheumatological manifestations was based on clinical findings and caracteristic radiological images on X-rays. We demonstrate he sensitivity of ultrasound in the detection and the diagnosis of different foot lesions including enthesitis, synovitis and tenosynovitis, dactylitis, bone erosions and psoriatic nail dystrophy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors whose names are listed certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 European Foot and Ankle Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Injury to the tarsometatarsal joint (TMT) results in instability throughout the midfoot that does not often improve with conservative management. If instability is identified, surgical intervention is frequently recommended, either open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or primary arthrodesis (PA). These 2 treatment options have been compared in the literature multiple times, often reporting similar outcomes. Due to this, as well as the need for subsequent hardware removal after ORIF has led many surgeons towards PA at the index surgery. Concern for nonunion is a leading concern with surgeons who advocate instead for ORIF. The purpose of this study is to review patients who underwent PA and observe nonunion rates. Nonunion at the TMT has been previously studied, but only in the chronic setting. We performed a retrospective study of 34 patients who had PA in the management of an acute Lisfranc injury. The average age in our study was 43.9 years old (range 19-72, SD 17.4) with an average follow-up of 9.4 months (range 4-33, SD 6.2). Radiographs were evaluated for signs of nonunion at regular postoperative intervals. Within the patients included in the study, a total of 71 TMT joints were fused. Overall successful fusion rate was 95.8% at an average of 7.9 weeks (range 6-12, SD 1.4) postoperatively. Individual nonunion rates at the first, second, and third TMT were 0%, 1.4% and 2.8% respectively. Our study demonstrates that primary arthrodesis provides a predictable outcome with low nonunion rates in the management of acute Lisfranc injury., (Copyright © 2024 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study compared radiographic measures of foot structure between people with and without symptomatic radiographic midfoot osteoarthritis (OA)., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of adults aged 50 years and older registered with four UK general practices who reported foot pain in the past year. Bilateral weightbearing dorsoplantar and lateral radiographs were obtained. Symptomatic radiographic midfoot OA was defined as midfoot pain in the last 4 weeks, combined with radiographic OA in one or more midfoot joints (first cuneometatarsal, second cuneometatarsal, navicular-first cuneiform, and talonavicular). Midfoot OA cases were matched 1:1 for sex and age to controls with a 5-year age tolerance. Eleven radiographic measures were extracted and compared between the groups using independent sample t-tests and effect sizes (Cohen's d)., Results: We identified 63 midfoot OA cases (mean ± SD age was 66.8 ± 8.0 years, with 32 male and 31 female participants) and matched these to 63 controls (mean ± SD age was 65.9 ± 7.8 years). There were no differences in metatarsal lengths between the groups. However, those with midfoot OA had a higher calcaneal-first metatarsal angle (d = 0.43, small effect size, P = 0.018) and lower calcaneal inclination angle (d = 0.46, small effect size, P = 0.011) compared with controls., Conclusions: People with midfoot OA have a flatter foot posture compared with controls. Although caution is required when inferring causation from cross-sectional data, these findings are consistent with a pathomechanical pathway linking foot structure to the development of midfoot OA. Prospective studies are required to determine the temporal relationships between foot structure, function, and the development of this common and disabling condition., (© 2023 The Authors. Arthritis Care & Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the incidence and progression of foot osteoarthritis (OA), as well as associated factors, in a community-based cohort., Methods: Baseline (2013-2015) and follow-up (2016-2018) foot radiographs were available for 541 participants (71% women, mean age 69 years; 35% black, 53% with obesity). The LaTrobe Foot Atlas was used to examine osteophytes (OPs, score 0-3) and joint space narrowing (JSN, score 0-3) at 5 joint sites. Incident foot radiographic OA (rOA) was a baseline score &lt;2 OP and JSN in all 5 joints with ≥2 OP or JSN at follow-up in any of the joints. Progression was a worsening OP or JSN score in a joint with baseline foot rOA. At baseline and follow-up, participants reported the presence/absence of foot symptoms and completed the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) for each foot. Joint-based logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 95% confidence interval [CI]) of foot rOA incidence and progression and with covariates., Results: Among 928 feet without baseline rOA, 4% developed incident foot rOA (2% of those developed symptoms). Among 154 feet with baseline foot rOA, 55% had radiographic progression (16% of those had symptoms). Women and those with higher body mass index (BMI) were more likely to have incident foot rOA (aOR [95% CI] = 4.10 [1.22, 13.8] and 1.60 [1.31, 1.97], respectively); history of gout was associated with incidence or progression of foot rOA (2.75 [1.24, 6.07]). BMI was associated with worse scores on all FAOS subscales (aORs range 1.21-1.40)., Conclusion: Progression of foot rOA is common but not necessarily related to worsening symptoms. BMI may be a modifiable risk factor for foot OA., (© 2024 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Tarsometatarsal joint arthrodesis is used to treat a variety of injuries and deformities in the midfoot. However, the surgical technique has not been optimized, in part due to limited knowledge of morphologic features and variation in the related joints. Previous research has relied primarily on dissection-based anatomical analysis, but quantitative imaging may allow for a more sophisticated description of this complex. Here, we used quantitative micro-CT imaging to examine dimensions, distance maps, and curvature of the four articular surfaces in the first and second tarsometatarsal joints. Image segmentation, articular surface identification, and anatomic coordinate systems were all done with semi or fully automatic methods, and distance and size measurements were all taken utilizing these anatomic planes. Surface curvature was studied using Gaussian curvature and a newly defined measure of curvature similarity on the whole joint and on four subregions of each surface. These data show larger articular surfaces on the cuneiforms, rather than metatarsals, and define the generally tall and narrow articular surfaces seen in these joints. Curvature analysis shows minimally curved opposing convex surfaces. Our results are valuable for furthering knowledge of surgical anatomy in this poorly understood region of the foot., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Historically, most Lisfranc injuries have been considered to be unstable and treated with surgical intervention. However, with better access to cross-sectional imaging, stable injury patterns are starting to be recognised. The aims of the current study were to perform a systematic review of outcomes of Lisfranc injuries treated non-operatively., Methods: A literature review was performed of studies reporting nonoperative management of Lisfranc injuries (PROSPERO registered and following PRISMA guidelines). Following exclusions, 8 papers were identified: 1 prospective and 7 retrospective studies. A total of 220 patients were studied with a mean age of 39.8 years and a mean follow-up of 4.3 years. Outcomes included function, displacement, and rates of surgery., Results: High heterogeneity was observed with variable outcomes. Four papers reported good outcomes, with adjusted functional scores ranging from 82.6 to 100 (out of 100). However, one study reported late displacement in 54 % of patients. Rates of secondary osteoarthritis ranged from 5 % to 38 %. Rates of surgical intervention were as high as 56 %. Several studies compared operative to non-operative treatment, reporting superior outcomes with surgery. Those injuries with no displacement on CT, measured at the medial cuneiform-second metatarsal had the best outcomes., Conclusion: Reported outcomes following nonoperative treatment of Lisfranc injuries vary widely, including high rates of conversion to surgery. In contrast, some studies have reported excellent functional outcomes. CT seems to be an important diagnostic tool in defining a stable injury. Due to limited data and lack of a clear definition of a stable injury or treatment protocol, prospective research is needed to determine which Lisfranc injuries can be safely treated nonoperatively., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Recently, temporary bridge plate fixation has gained popularity in the treatment of unstable Lisfranc injuries. The technique aims to reduce the risk of posttraumatic osteoarthritis, and after plate removal, the goal is to regain joint mobility. Here we explore marker-based radiostereometric analysis (RSA) to measure motion in the 1st tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint and asses the radiological outcome in patients treated with this surgical technique., Method: Ten patients with an unstable Lisfranc injury were included. All were treated with a dorsal bridge plate over the 1st TMT joint and primary arthrodesis of the 2nd and 3rd TMT joints. The plate was removed four months postoperatively. Non- and weight-bearing RSA images were obtained one and five years postinjury to assess joint mobility and signs of osteoarthritis., Results: Detectable 1st TMT joint motion was observed in 2/10 patients after one year, and 6/9 patients after five years. At the final follow-up, mean 1st TMT dorsiflexion was 2.0°. Radiologically, the incidence of posttraumatic osteoarthritis was present in 4/10 patients after one year, and 5/9 patients after five years. All patients had observed TMT joint stability throughout the follow-up period., Conclusion: Preservation of joint motion can be achieved with a temporary bridge plate fixation over the 1st TMT joint., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Prospective cohort study/Therapeutically level IV., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest No authors have competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare the sensitivity of alternative case finding approaches for the identification of foot osteoarthritis (OA) based on the La Trobe radiographic atlas., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 533 adults age ≥50 years with foot pain in the past year. Weightbearing dorsoplantar (DP) and lateral radiographs were taken of both feet. The La Trobe radiographic atlas was used to document the presence of osteophytes (OPs) and joint space narrowing (JSN). The prevalence of OA in each joint was documented using both views and features in combination (as recommended in the original atlas), and by using a single view (DP or lateral only) and a single feature (OP or JSN only)., Results: Compared to the recommended case definition based on OPs and JSN using both views, a DP-only view identified between 15% and 77% of OA cases, while a lateral-only view identified between 28% and 97% of OA cases. Compared to the recommended case definition of using both features, using only OPs identified between 46% and 94% of OA cases, while using only JSN identified between 19% and 76% of OA cases., Conclusion: Applying the La Trobe radiographic atlas but using only 1 radiograph view (DP or lateral) or 1 feature (OP or JSN) in isolation misses a substantial number of OA cases, and the sensitivity of these approaches varies considerably between different foot joints. These findings indicate that, where possible, the atlas should be administered according to the original description to avoid under-ascertainment of radiographic foot OA., (© 2021 The Authors. Arthritis Care & Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Injury to Lisfranc's joint complex affects the longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot and can significantly alter its biomechanics. Some of the previous studies have suggested primary arthrodesis to be superior to open reduction and internal fixation for treating primarily ligamentous Lisfranc injuries. Additionally, arthrodesis is often used for treating chronic Lisfranc injuries, including those which previously underwent open reduction and internal fixation and subsequently developed arthrosis. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of arthrodesis at the level of Lisfranc's articulation for both acute and chronic injuries. Patients who underwent midfoot arthrodesis surgical procedures between years 2001 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. About 187 patients with an average age of 55.9 ± 13.2 years old and a minimum follow-up of 1 year were included in the study. Median time to return to preoperative activities was 11 weeks. Overall successful joint fusion rate was 81.4%. However, concomitantly fused joints of the midfoot and hindfoot, in addition to the tarsometatarsal joints (TMTJ), were included in the overall fusion rate. Fusion rate at the first TMTJ was 90.2% (101 out of 112), second TMTJ was 94.4% (67 out of 71), and third TMTJ was 97.8% (45 out of 46). The present study demonstrates that patients who undergo arthrodesis for both acute and chronic Lisfranc injuries typically can return to activity in under approximately 3 months postoperatively (acute patients significantly faster) with a high union rate at the TMTJs. However, the overall union rate is significantly lower when concomitant proximal midfoot and rearfoot arthrodesis procedures are performed., (Copyright © 2021 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The mobility of the first tarsometatarsal (TMT1) is said to be correlated to the severity of hallux valgus determined using both clinical and radiographic criteria. The sagittal mobility of the TMT1 joint can be evaluated objectively using a new ultrasound test, which quantifies it in the form of a unitless value (ratio of two measurements). The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between TMT1 mobility on an ultrasound test and hallux valgus severity. Hypothesis TMT1 joint mobility increases with hallux valgus severity., Patients and Methods: Forty-nine feet were included that were being treated for isolated hallux valgus and had no evidence of TMT1 hypermobility based on the dorsal drawer test. For each foot, the presence and intensity of load transfer (LT), the intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and the hallux valgus angle (HVA) were determined. Lastly, TMT1 mobility was evaluated with the ultrasound test., Results: Clinically, no LT was present in 20 feet; it was present only under M2 in 20 feet and reached at least M3 in the other nine feet. The mean IMA on radiographs was 14.6° and the mean HVA was 34.5°. The value of the ultrasound test was significantly different between the three groups of clinical hallux valgus severity: 1.17 with no LT, 1.31 with isolated M2 LT, and 1.72 when LT was at least at M3. Furthermore, this value was correlated with the IMA but not the HVA., Discussion: This study revealed a relationship between increased TMT1 mobility and hallux valgus severity based on clinical (LT) and radiographic (IMA) criteria. Thus, our working hypothesis is confirmed. However, there was no correlation between TMT1 mobility and HVA suggesting that this angle is less relevant for determining the severity of the condition. This is consistent with the classical pathophysiological concept of metatarsus primus varus where the hallux valgus originates in a metatarsus varus in the tarsometatarsal area., Conclusion: The severity of hallux valgus is correlated with increased mobility of the TMT1 joint, which appears to have a causal role in this condition., (© 2021. SICOT aisbl.)

The fourth and fifth tarsometatarsal joint, consisting of the fourth and fifth metatarsal and the cuboid, imparts a significant amount of motion to the foot during ambulation. Injury to this joint complex, through chronic deformation or acute trauma, often necessitates arthroplasty, arthrodesis, or fusion. Currently, there exists no studies that investigate the anatomy of this articulation. The purpose of this study is to describe the medial and lateral anterior cuboid articulations which allows for surgical planning and the advancement of hardware design. Twenty fresh-frozen below-the-knee cadaver legs were thawed and the cuboids were excised. The width and height of the entire joint complex were measured as the longest span across the total articular surface of the anterior cuboid. The width and height of each articular facet were recorded as the span across the geometric bisection of each individual surface. The mean anterior cuboid articulation width and height was 25.62 mm and 16.74 mm, respectively. The mean medial cuboid articulation width and height was 11.7mm and 13.65 mm, respectively. The mean lateral cuboid width and height was 16.74 mm and 12.78 mm, respectively. The medial articulation maintained a larger mean height and narrower mean width than the lateral facet (p < .05). The unique anatomy of the lateral tarsometatarsal joint complex plays an important functional role and requires attention when deciding between arthrodesis or arthroplasty. Increasing the understanding of the clinical anatomy of this joint will better prepare surgeons and product designers to anticipate hardware needs., (Copyright © 2021 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: According to guidelines, clinical arthritis is mandatory for diagnosing RA. However, in the absence of clinical synovitis, imaging-detected subclinical synovitis is increasingly used instead and is considered as a starting point for DMARD therapy. To search for evidence we studied the natural course of arthralgia patients with subclinical synovitis from three longitudinal cohorts and determined the frequencies of non-progression to clinically apparent inflammatory arthritis (IA) (i.e. 'false positives')., Methods: Subclinical synovitis in the hands or feet of arthralgia patients was visualized with US (two cohorts; definition: greyscale ≥2 and/or power Doppler ≥1) or MRI (one cohort; definition: synovitis score ≥1 by two readers). Patients were followed for 1  year on for IA development; two cohorts also had 3  year data. Analyses were stratified for ACPA., Results: Subclinical synovitis at presentation was present in 36%, 41% and 31% in the three cohorts. Of the ACPA-positive arthralgia patients with subclinical synovitis, 54%, 44% and 68%, respectively, did not develop IA. These percentages were even higher in the ACPA-negative arthralgia patients: 66%, 85% and 89%, respectively. Similar results were seen after 3 years of follow-up., Conclusion: Replacing clinical arthritis with subclinical synovitis to identify RA introduces a high false-positive rate (44-89%). These data suggest an overestimation regarding the value of ACPA positivity in combination with the presence of subclinical synovitis in patients with arthralgia, which harbours the risk of overtreatment if DMARDs are initiated in the absence of clinical arthritis., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology.)

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence, distribution and predictive value for the development of inflammatory arthritis (IA) of conventional radiography (CR) bone erosions (BE) in anti-CCP positive (CCP+) at-risk individuals with musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms but without clinical synovitis., Methods: Baseline CR of the hands and feet of 418 CCP+ at-risk individuals were analysed. The presence of US-BE was explored in the anatomical areas in which CR-BE were reported. Hands and feet CR at the time of progression were analysed in a subset of individuals who developed IA (73/123, 59.3%). Logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate the predictive value of baseline CR-BE for the development of IA in 394 CCP+ individuals with ≥1 follow-up visit., Results: BE were detected in 17/418 (4.1%) CCP+ at-risk individuals (median Simple Erosions Narrowing Score-BE = 2.0, IQR: 1.0-2.0; median Sharp van der Heijde score-BE = 4.0, IQR: 3.0-8.5), most frequently in the foot joints (11/17, 64.7% individuals). A total of 123/394 (31.2%) CCP+ at-risk individuals developed IA; 7/17 (41.2%) with, and 116/377 (30.8%) without BE on CR (P = 0.37). US-BE were found in 4/7 (57.1%) individuals with CR-BE who developed IA, but only in 1/10 (10.0%) who did not. At the time of progression, new BE were detected in 4/73 (5.5%) CCP+ individuals on repeated CR. In the regression analyses, baseline CR-BE were not predictive for the development of IA., Conclusions: In CCP+ at-risk individuals with MSK symptoms, CR-detected BE are uncommon and do not predict the development of IA., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Subtle Lisfranc joint injuries remain challenging to diagnose in clinical practice. Although of questionable accuracy, bilateral weightbearing radiographs are considered the current gold standard to assess these injuries. However, weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT), which provides clearer visualization of bony landmarks, can also be used for evaluation. This study aims to design a protocol that reliably measures the distance between the medial cuneiform (C1) and second metatarsal (M2) to assess the Lisfranc joint using WBCT imaging., Methods: Two unique methods of measuring the C1-M2 distance were designed that localize the center of the interosseous Lisfranc ligament (ILL, reference point). This reference point was located by (I) measuring a specific distance at the M2 base, or (II) approximating from nearby bony landmarks, on both axial (Ax) and coronal (Cor) WBCT images. Four parameters (I-Ax, I-Cor, II-Ax, and II-Cor) were evaluated for each of 96 specimens. Measurements were recorded by three independent observers and repeated for inter- and intra-observer agreement., Results: In total, 96 patient image series were included and assessed in our study with an average age of 46 (19-66, SD 16.1) and average BMI of 25.8 (17.8-30.5, SD 4.3). I-Ax showed excellent agreement for intra-observer evaluation (R = 0.802) and good agreement for inter-observer evaluation (R = 0.727). I-Cor demonstrated excellent inter- (R = 0.814) and intra-observer (R = 0.840) agreement. Good agreement was found for both II-Ax and II-Cor for both intra- (R = 0.730, R = 0.708) and inter-observer (R = 0.705, R = 0.645) evaluation., Conclusion: Measuring the C1-M2 joint space with coronal WBCT imaging through a protocol that localizes the ILL is reproducible, simple, and can potentially be utilized clinically to evaluate the Lisfranc joint.

Arthrodesis of the first tarsometatarsal joint (TMT1) reduces pathologic angles at the anatomic center of rotation of angulation and presents a substantial correction potential in 3 planes in the treatment of hallux abductovalgus. The optimal fixation method remains unclear since prevailing dorsomedial locking plates and/or compression screws depict elevated implant-associated complications. Medical records of 49 patients that underwent 53 TMT1 arthrodeses in hallux abductovalgus interventions were included. Median average visual analog scale scores decreased (p < .001) from 6.8 (range 4-10) to 2.7 (range 0-10), first intermetatarsal angles were reduced (p < .001) from 17.39° (range 12°-28°) to 7.16° (range 3°-12°), standing lateral first metatarsal angles improved (p < .001) from 21.66° (range 12°-29°) to 23.94° (range 14°-31°) and tibial sesamoid positions were plantarized (p < .001) from 6.02° (range 4°-7°) to 2.79° (range 1°-6°). Plantar plating allowed immediate weightbearing with transition to normal shoe gear at 6 weeks. Complications occurred in 6 (11.34%) feet including 1 (1.89%) nonunion, 1 (1.89%) delayed union, 1 (1.89%) hallux varus, 1 (1.89%) incomplete recurrence, 1 (1.89%) minor dehiscence, and 1 (1.89%) hardware irritation. Plantar locking plates combined with a dorsal compression screw presented a favorable tension-side implant location that closed the fusion site under load. This facilitated substantial reductions in complications, pathologic angles, and pain., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of indirect fixation of the 3rd tarsometatarsal joint in the treatment of high-energy Lisfranc injury., Methods: Between February 2015 and February 2019, 15 patients with high-energy Lisfranc injury were treated. There were 12 males and 3 females with an average age of 44.8 years (range, 29-73 years). The average time from injury to admission was 8.8 hours (range, 2-28 hours). According to Myerson classification, there were 6 cases of type A, 4 cases of type B2, 1 case of type C1, and 4 cases of type C2; 8 cases were open injury. The 3rd tarsometatarsal joint was injured in all patients, including intact intermetatarsal ligament in 7 cases, the 2nd-3rd intermetatarsal ligament injury in 6 cases, the 3rd-4th intermetatarsal ligament injury in 1 case, and the 2nd-3rd-4th intermetatarsal ligament injury in 1 case. Among them, the 3rd tarsometatarsal joint was not fixed directly and indirectly fixed by stabilized the 2nd and 4th tarsometatarsal joints in 13 cases. The 3rd tarsometatarsal joint was fixed with Kirschner wire in 2 cases for 1 patient had complete injury of the intermetatarsal ligament and the other 1 had comminuted fracture of the base of the 3rd metatarsal. The reduction of fracture and dislocation was evaluated by X-ray films, focusing on the re-displacement of the 3rd tarsometatarsal joint. The effectiveness was evaluated by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score., Results: Thirteen of the 15 patients were followed up 12-26 months, with an average of 15.6 months. One case had superficial infection of the incision and healed after symptomatic treatment; the other incisions healed by first intention. At last follow-up, the VAS score was 0-3 (mean, 1.1) and the AOFAS score was 70-99 (mean, 87.5). Twelve patients achieved anatomical reduction and 1 patient had increased talar-first metatarsal angle and the mild forefoot abduction. During the follow-up, no loss of reduction of the 3rd tarsometatarsal joint was found, while the spontaneous fusion of the joint was observed in 2 patients., Conclusion: In high-energy Lisfranc injury, as long as the intermetatarsal ligament is not completely destroyed and the bony structure of the tarsometatarsal joint is intact, the 3rd tarsometatarsal joint does not need to be fixed routinely, the stability of the joint can be obtained indirectly by fixing the adjacent tarsometatarsal joint.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder and a chronic inflammatory disease that can damage joints throughout the body. As dramatic improvements in medical treatment have contributed to reduced progression of joint destruction, surgical methods for the treatment of RA-related forefoot deformities have gradually changed from joint-sacrificing to joint-preserving. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcomes, including patient-reported outcomes, of joint-preserving surgery for forefoot deformities associated with RA., Methods: This retrospective study included 105 feet in 89 patients with RA who were treated during the period of January 2012 to May 2015 and had a minimum of 5 years of follow-up (mean, 6.0 ± 0.9 years). The patient-reported outcome measure used was the Self-Administered Foot Evaluation Questionnaire (SAFE-Q), which was completed preoperatively and at the latest follow-up (n = 53 feet). The hallux valgus angle (HVA), the intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and the position of the medial sesamoid were measured preoperatively, at 3 months postoperatively, and at the latest follow-up. Cases of delayed wound-healing, hallux valgus recurrence, nonunion at the osteotomy sites, and reoperation were recorded. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to determine the estimated survivorship, with reoperation as the end point., Results: Scores of all 5 subscales of the SAFE-Q demonstrated significant improvement at the latest follow-up. The average HVA and IMA decreased significantly 3 months postoperatively, and these measurements remained significantly lower than the preoperative values (p < 0.01). The position of the medial sesamoid at the latest follow-up improved significantly (p < 0.01). Delayed wound-healing was found at the site of surgery in 21 (20.0%) of the 105 feet. Recurrence of hallux valgus was observed in 11 (10.5%) of the feet. There was no case of nonunion at any osteotomy site. Eleven (10.5%) of the feet required reoperation. The estimated survivorship of the studied joint-preserving surgery at 7 years, with reoperation as the end point, was 89.5%., Conclusions: Satisfactory long-term patient-reported and radiographic outcomes after joint-preserving surgery for forefoot deformities associated with RA can be achieved., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: Disclosure: This work was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI grants JP19K09583 and JP19K18545. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. On the Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms, which are provided with the online version of the article, one or more of the authors checked “yes” to indicate that the author had a relevant financial relationship in the biomedical arena outside the submitted work (http://links.lww.com/JBJS/G299)., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate new bone erosion and cartilage destruction predictors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs)., Methods: Placebo-treated patient data from two 12-month, randomized, double-blind, phase 2 (DRIVE) and 3 (DESIRABLE) trials that evaluated denosumab efficacy in csDMARD-treated RA patients were used. Change from baseline in erosion score (ES) of ≥1.0 at 12 months was considered new bone erosion; predictors were identified using a multivariate model., Results: Among 306 patients, mean ± standard deviation disease activity score 28-C-reactive protein (CRP) at baseline was 3.58 ± 1.03. New bone erosion was observed in 90 patients (29.4%). Univariate analysis identified female sex, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody positivity, rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity, tender joint count ≥6, CRP ≥0.3 mg/dL, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) ≥28 mm/h, and baseline ES ≥3 as significant predictors for new bone erosion. In multivariate analysis, predictors were anti-CCP antibody positivity, CRP ≥0.3 mg/dL, and baseline ES ≥3; RF and ESR were excluded as they strongly correlated with anti-CCP antibody and CRP, respectively., Conclusion: In RA patients treated with csDMARDs, new bone erosion predictors were seropositivity, elevated inflammatory markers, and baseline ES ≥3., Trial Registration Number: DRIVE, JapicCTI-101263; DESIRABLE, NCT01973569.

Background: Fibrocartilaginous coalition of the third tarsometatarsal joint has been indicated as an extremely rare form of tarsal coalition in the radiological literature, and most articles concerned with tarsal coalition do not mention involvement of this joint. Only two reports written in the English language that approach this subject were found, an orthopedic report and an anthropological report., Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of this finding and discuss and illustrate the radiological characteristics of this coalition., Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 614 computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans of the ankle and/or foot, acquired at a health service within a period of three months, was performed to assess the prevalence of this coalition., Results: Of the examinations characterized as valid for analysis for the purposes of the study, 17 cases compatible with fibrocartilaginous coalition of the third tarsometatarsal joint were found, thus indicating an involvement of approximately 2.97% of the examined feet., Conclusion: Our radiological findings are typical, and the prevalence found in this study was statistically significant, being similar to that described in the anthropological report (3.2%-6.8%).

Background: The foot and ankle are uncommon sites of bone and joint infections (BJIs) in children. The objectives of the present study were to determine the clinical and bacteriologic features of BJIs and to assess any associated complications and orthopedic sequelae., Methods: We performed a retrospective, single-center study of children treated for foot or ankle BJIs between 2008 and 2018 in a French university medical center. A total of 23 children were included. The median age at diagnosis was 9.1 years. Osteomyelitis was noted in 14 cases; it involved the calcaneus in seven cases, the distal fibula in four cases, the first metatarsal in two cases, and the distal tibia in one case. Arthritis affected the ankle in six cases and the cuneiform-cuboidal joint in one case. In two cases, osteoarthritis of the ankle was associated with distal osteomyelitis of the tibia. Clinical, radiological, and bacteriological parameters, surgical procedures, complications, and sequelae were recorded and analyzed., Results: The median (range) time to diagnosis was 3.18 days (0-10), and trauma was reported in four cases. Fever was present on admission in 18 cases, and the serum C-reactive protein level was elevated in 22 cases. Standard X-rays showed osteolysis in one case and bone sequestration in another. Staphylococcusaureus was identified in 10 cases. Surgery was performed in 17 cases. A subperiosteal abscess that required surgical drainage complicated 10 cases of osteomyelitis. No recurrence was observed. At the last follow-up, the median (range) age was 11.9 years (1.5-19). Sequelae (spontaneous tibia-talus fusion, first metatarsal epiphysis fusion, and varus deformity of the hindfoot) were observed in three cases, all of which were initially complicated by an abscess., Conclusion: Physicians should be aware that pediatric BJIs of the lower limb may involve the foot and ankle. S. aureus is frequently involved. In cases of osteomyelitis, complications are closely associated with subperiosteal abscesses justifying an early diagnosis. These BJIs must be treated rapidly, and the risk of sequelae justifies long-term follow-up., (Copyright © 2020 French Society of Pediatrics. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Despite the high incidence of foot and ankle injuries and their biomechanical importance to more proximal joints, the foot and ankle are some of the most daunting and underemphasized musculoskeletal structures in medical training. This study used musculoskeletal ultrasound to identify a knowledge gap in physical medicine and rehabilitation residents in foot and ankle surface anatomy palpation and to determine whether senior residents had higher examination performance compared with more junior residents. Physical medicine and rehabilitation residents at different levels of training were tested cross-sectionally, and palpation accuracy was compared by class year. There was a trend of improvement across class years, with significant class differences in accuracy for the talonavicular joint, calcaneocuboidal joint, and posterior tibialis and peroneal tendons (P < 0.05). Despite this trend, the accuracy was not consistently higher among the senior residents considering the training they received. For all 30 residents assessed, accuracy within 1 cm was highest for the tibiotalar joint (93.3%), peroneal tendons (83.3%), posterior tibialis tendon (63.3%), and talonavicular joint (50%). It was lower for the calcaneocuboidal joint (26.7%) and the second (13.3%) and fourth for the tarsometatarsal joints (20%). Anatomical knowledge and palpation skills of the foot and ankle, particularly at the midfoot and forefoot, may be an area of improvement for physical medicine and rehabilitation resident training.

Objective: To examine associations between calcaneal enthesophytes and osteoarthritis (OA) in the hands and feet, and to provide insights into the role of biomechanical and systemic processes in the development of OA., Methods: Adults ages ≥50 years who were registered with 4 general practices were mailed a Health Survey. Responders reporting foot pain within the last 12 months underwent a detailed assessment, including hand and foot radiographs. Calcaneal enthesophytes (plantar and posterior) and OA features (osteophytes and joint space narrowing) were documented. Associations between enthesophytes and hand and foot OA (including OA phenotypes and OA features at individual joints) were explored using generalized estimating equations, adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index., Results: Data were available from 532 participants (298 women, mean ± SD age 64.9 ± 8.4 years). Calcaneal enthesophytes were not associated with hand OA phenotypes or OA at individual hand joints. In contrast, plantar calcaneal enthesophytes were positively associated with polyarticular foot OA (odds ratio [OR] 1.80 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.02-3.17]). When individual foot joints were examined, posterior enthesophytes were associated with talonavicular joint OA (OR 1.58 [95% CI 1.02-2.44]) and plantar enthesophytes were associated with first metatarsophalangeal joint OA (OR 0.67 [95% CI 0.49-0.98]) and navicular-cuneiform joint OA (OR 2.30 [95% CI 1.40-3.79]). Patterns of association were similar for osteophytes and joint space narrowing., Conclusion: Calcaneal enthesophytes are associated with foot OA but not hand OA. The pattern of association is indicative of a local, biomechanical rather than systemic bone-forming process., (© 2019, American College of Rheumatology.)

Background: Subtle Lisfranc joint injuries remain challenging to diagnose. Although of questionable accuracy, the current gold standard to assess these injuries is through bilateral weight-bearing radiography. However, weight-bearing cone beam-computed tomography (CBCT), providing clearer visualization of bony landmarks, can also be utilized for evaluation. This study aims to establish the hypothesis that a specific weight-bearing CBCT finding (asymmetric lambda sign) can serve as an independent indicator of a subtle Lisfranc injury., Methods: Weight-bearing CBCT images of 24 match-paired cadaveric legs were acquired, initially intact, and then following sequential dissection of each aspect (dorsal, interosseous, and plantar ligaments, respectively) of the Lisfranc ligamentous complex (LLC). All scans were taken in non- (NWB, 0 kg), partial- (PWB, 40 kg), and full-weight-bearing (FWB, 80 kg) manners. The lambda sign was then inspected axially for asymmetry (positive sign) by identifying three symmetrical joint spaces created between the medial cuneiform and the second metatarsal base (C1-M2), the medial and middle cuneiform (C1-C2), and the second metatarsal base and middle cuneiform (M2-C2)., Results: A positive sign was observed in 25.6% (221/864) of all studies. Most notably, the fully dissected specimens demonstrated an asymmetric lambda sign in 33.3%, 72.2%, and 83.3% in NWB, PWB, and FWB conditions, respectively. The inter- and intra-observer reliability kappa value was calculated to be 0.843 and 0.912., Conclusion: An asymmetric lambda sign is a simple and useful indicator for a complete LLC injury in PWB and FWB conditions using a cadaver model.

Objectives : Pain is the most common and troublesome complaint in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical implications of unacceptable pain in an inception cohort of patients with RA. Method : This study followed 477 patients from the BARFOT (Better Anti-Rheumatic FarmacOTherapy) early RA cohort for 15 years. Unacceptable pain was defined as ≥ 40 mm on a visual analogue scale for pain, while tolerable pain denoted no pain or pain below this cut-off, according to the patient acceptable symptom state concept. Results : Unacceptable pain was frequent. At the 15 year follow-up visit, 34% had unacceptable pain. Patients with unacceptable pain had, compared with patients with tolerable pain, significantly more disease activity, worse patient global assessment, and worse function on the Health Assessment Questionnaire and Signals of Functional Impairment, but the degree of joint destruction was similar. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug treatment was similar, but patients with unacceptable pain were more often treated with corticosteroids. At 15 years, patients with unacceptable pain who were in remission (33%) had less inflammation and better function than those not in remission, suggesting the presence of non-inflammatory causes of pain. Conclusions : In this cohort of patients with RA, pain was frequent and severe, with negative effects on experienced health and function. Unacceptable pain was frequent and occurred also in patients in remission, indicating that pain in RA is multifactorial and should always be regarded as an important concern in itself. The cause of pain should be recognized and treated appropriately.

Objective: To investigate whether an ultrasound-guided treat-to-target strategy for early RA would lead to reduced MRI inflammation or less structural damage progression compared with a conventional treat-to-target strategy., Methods: A total of 230 DMARD-naïve early RA patients were randomized to an ultrasound tight control strategy targeting DAS <1.6, no swollen joints and no power Doppler signal in any joint or a conventional strategy targeting DAS <1.6 and no swollen joints. Patients in both arms were treated according to the same DMARD escalation strategy. MRI of the dominant hand was performed at six time points over 2 years and scored according to the OMERACT RA MRI scoring system. A total of 218 patients had baseline and one or more follow-up MRIs and were included in the analysis. The mean MRI score change from baseline to each follow-up and the 2 year risk for erosive progression were compared between arms., Results: MRI bone marrow oedema, synovitis and tenosynovitis improved over the first year and was sustained during the second year of follow-up, with no statistically significant differences between the ultrasound and the conventional arms at any time point. The 2 year risk for progression of MRI erosions was similar in both treatment arms: ultrasound arm 39%, conventional arm 33% [relative risk 1.16 (95% CI 0.81, 1.66), P = 0.40]., Conclusion: Incorporating ultrasound information in treatment decisions did not lead to reduced MRI inflammation or less structural damage compared with a conventional treatment strategy. The findings support that systematic use of ultrasound does not provide a benefit in the follow-up of patients with early RA., Trial Registration Number: Clinicaltrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01205854., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Unstable Lisfranc injuries are best treated with anatomic reduction and stable fixation. There are controversies regarding which type of stabilization is best. In the present study, we compared primary arthrodesis of the first tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint to temporary bridge plating in unstable Lisfranc injuries., Methods: Forty-eight patients with Lisfranc injuries were included and followed for 2 years. Twenty-four patients were randomized to primary arthrodesis (PA) of the medial 3 TMT joints, whereas 24 patients were randomized to temporary bridge plate (BP) over the first TMT joint and primary arthrodesis of the second and third TMT joints. The main outcome parameter was the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot scale and the secondary outcome parameters were the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and visual analog scale for pain (VAS pain). Computed tomography (CT) scans pre- and postoperatively were obtained. Radiographs were obtained at follow-ups. Pedobarographic examination was performed at the 2-year follow-up. Twenty-two of 24 patients in the PA and 23/24 in the BP group completed the 2-year follow-up., Results: The mean AOFAS midfoot score 2 years postoperatively was 89 (SD 9) in the PA group and 85 (SD 15) in the BP group ( P = .32). There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to SF-36 or VAS pain scores. The alignment of the first metatarsal was better in the BP group than in the PA group measured by the anteroposterior Meary angle ( P = .04). The PA group had a reduced peak pressure under the fifth metatarsal ( P = .047). In the BP group, 11/24 patients had radiologic signs of osteoarthritis in the first TMT joint., Conclusion: Both treatment groups had good outcome scores. The first metatarsal was better aligned in the BP group; however, there was a high incidence of radiographic osteoarthritis in this group., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic level I, prospective randomized controlled study.

Background: Intramedullary fusion bolts (FB) were introduced to stabilize the medial column of the instable Charcot foot (ICF), but complications as bolt loosening or breakage are frequent. We compared the use of a standard FB and a high-profile threaded FB with a grit-blasted surface. We hypothesized that implant related complications occurred less often and osseous consolidation of fusion sites was more distinctive using the latter type of FB., Methods: Consecutive patients suffering from an ICF were stabilized with a high-profile threaded and surface-modified FB (HTFB) (n=20) or with a standard FB (n=20) which was placed into the first ray. Additional bolts and dorsal low-profile plates were applied in every patient. In a retrospective assessment osseous consolidation of the fusion sites was analyzed at 3 month and quantified by CT scan. At 3 and 12 month longitudinal foot arch collapse and rate of bolt loosening were assessed., Results: Compared to the control group, the HTFB group reached significant higher consolidation after 3 month. No dislocation and a single bolt breakage was observed in the HTFB group after the fourth month, while the control group included 3 patients with bolt dislocation at 3±1 month and 5 patients with bolt breakage at 6±1.8 month. Compared to preoperative values, the improvement of Meary's angle after one-year was significant higher in the HTFB group (23.4°±14) than in controls (11.7°±13)., Conclusions: Modification of bolt design improves the stability of the medial column: A higher rate of osseous consolidation of the medial column leads to lower rate of bolt dislocation/breakage and finally to permanently erected longitudinal foot arch. Initially disappointing results following medial column stabilization with fusion bolts can be rejected by modifications of bolt design and its technical application., (Copyright © 2019 European Foot and Ankle Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The literature has previously criticized lateral column arthrodesis, stating this procedure should be avoided to preserve biomechanical function. For patients with recurrent pain secondary to posttraumatic degenerative joint disease (PT-DJD) or dysfunction secondary to Charcot tarsometatarsal collapse, however, this procedure could provide a positive alternative to conservative measures. In our study, 37 patients underwent fourth and/or fifth metatarsal to cuboid arthrodesis, either in isolation or in combination with other tarsometatarsal arthrodeses, with an average follow-up of 27.7 ± 28.5 months. Of the 37 patients, 4 (10.8%) had purely isolated lateral column arthrodesis procedures, and 33 (89.2%) had additional fusions. Twenty patients (54.0%) were in the Charcot neuroarthropathy cohort and 17 (45.9%) in PT-DJD. Radiographs were reviewed to confirm osseous union and measure the lateral column position in both sagittal and transverse planes, using radiographic angles to measure angular correction in the transverse and sagittal planes. Postoperative patient satisfaction outcome measures were obtained via written survey, and 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) was scored pre- and postoperatively. There was a statistically significant reduction in pain postoperatively (p < .001) and an 89% patient satisfaction rate. The incidence of revision for osseous nonunion was 10.8%. Our study shows that lateral column arthrodesis, either in isolation or combination, provides significant pain relief, high patient satisfaction, and a low incidence of revision per previous literature. This challenges past evidence-based medicine regarding lateral column fusions. The surgical procedures completed in this study suggest reproducible results with a low revision rates and high patient satisfaction for lateral column arthrodesis., (Copyright © 2020 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Evaluating radiographic progression is a key component of the follow-up of patients with RA. Existing scores are ill-suited to everyday clinical practice. The objective here was to validate a new simplified radiographic score (SRS) for evaluating radiographic progression in patients with early arthritis., Methods: Patients with arthritis of <6 months' duration were included in the large, prospective, nationwide, French ESPOIR cohort. Radiographs of the hands and feet were obtained at inclusion then 1 and 5 years later. The modified Sharp scores and SRS were determined by blinded readers. Interobserver reliability and intraobserver repeatability of each score, as well as agreement between the two scores, were assessed by computing the intraclass correlation coefficients. The rates of progression over the first year and the next 4 years were determined., Results: The 506 patients with complete data for the first 5 years were included. At inclusion, the intraclass correlation coefficient between the two scores was good for erosions (0.715, P < 0.001), joint space narrowing (0.892, P < 0.001) and the total score (0.896, P < 0.001). Agreement between the two scores was also good for radiographic progression after 1 year (0.781, P < 0.001). The SRS had good positive and negative predictive values for slow and for rapid progression. SRS determination was less time consuming., Conclusion: The SRS is effective for monitoring radiographic progression in early arthritis and is easier to use and less time-consuming than the Sharp score. The usefulness of the SRS in clinical practice deserves further evaluation., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Patients with haemophilia (PwH) often prefer shod walking over barefoot walking as footwear offers ankle joint stability and comfort during gait. Yet, the biomechanical mechanisms contributing to the latter remain poorly understood., Aim: To explore the effect of shoes on the biomechanical functioning of the ankle and foot complex in PwH with and without haemophilic ankle arthropathy and to determine the amount of ankle joint loading during shod walking., Methods: We analysed data of PwH without haemophilic ankle arthropathy (n = 5) and PwH with severe haemophilic ankle arthropathy (n = 17) and a control group (n = 17). During 3D gait analysis, a four-segment kinetic foot model was used to calculate kinematic and kinetic parameters of the ankle, Chopart, Lisfranc and first metatarsophalangeal (MTP 1) joints during both barefoot and shod walking., Results: We found a significantly greater ankle joint power generation during shod walking compared to barefoot walking in PwH with severe haemophilic ankle arthropathy (P < .001). Chopart joint biomechanics were significantly lowered in all three groups during shod walking compared to barefoot walking. During shod walking, the ankle joint load was significantly lowered in both PwH groups (P = .039 and P = .002), but not in the control group (P = .952)., Conclusion: Explorations in this study uncover a tendency that shoes alter the biomechanical functioning of the ankle and foot complex in PwH and simultaneously lower the ankle joint load during walking., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: First tarsometatarsal arthrodesis (modified Lapidus procedure) constitutes a sufficient treatment for moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity and first ray instability. The plantar plate arthrodesis was shown to provide superior mechanical stability and less postoperative complications than screw fixation or dorsal plating. Nevertheless, the in-brought hardware may cause irritation of the tibialis anterior or peroneus longus tendon requiring explantation of the material in some cases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of tendon irritation after plantar first tarsometatarsal joint arthrodesis in a cadaver study., Methods: Plantar plate arthrodesis was performed as in real surgery on twelve pairs of fresh frozen cadaveric feet. Two different plate systems were randomly allocated to each pair of feet. After plate fixation careful dissection of the feet followed to analyze potential tendon irritation and to determine a "safe zone" for plantar plate placement., Results: A "safe zone" between the insertion sties of tibialis anterior and peroneus longus tendon was found and proven to be sufficiently exposed using a standard medio-plantar approach. Both plates were fixed in this zone without compromising central tendon parts. Peripheral tendon parts were irritated in 42% using Darco Plantar Lapidus Plating System® (Wright Medical, Memphis, TN) and in 8% using the Plantar Lapidus Plate® (Arthrex, Naples, FL). Bending of the anatomically preshaped plates is often necessary to ensure optimal fit on the bone surface., Conclusions: Modified Lapidus procedure with plantar plating of the first tarsometatarsal joint can be performed safely without compromising central tendon parts via standard medio-plantar approach., Level of Clinical Evidence: 5, Cadaver Study., (Copyright © 2019 European Foot and Ankle Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Increased in-depth joint temperature measured by the rapid, easy-to-perform microwave radiometry (MWR) method may reflect inflammation, even in the absence of clinical signs. We hypothesized that MWR is useful for RA and spondyloarthritis patients' assessment., Methods: Clinical examination, joint ultrasound and/or MRI and MWR were performed in two independent patient-control cohorts (n = 243)., Results: Among single RA joints MWR performed best in the knee using ultrasound as reference, with 75% sensitivity-73% specificity for grey-scale synovitis score ⩾2, and 80% sensitivity-82% specificity for power Doppler positivity. A stronger agreement was evident between increased knee relative temperature (Δt) and power Doppler positivity (82%) than with clinical examination (76%). In a different patient cohort with painful knees, a knee Δt ⩽0.2 predicted power Doppler positivity with 100% positive and negative predictive values. A thermo-score summing 10 Δt values of three large and seven small RA joints (elbow, knee, ankle, wrist, four hand and two foot joints of the clinically dominant arm or hand and leg or foot) correlated with ultrasound scores of synovitis/tenosynovitis (all P < 0.001) and the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) (P = 0.004). The agreement of the thermo-score with ultrasound-defined joint inflammation (82%) was stronger than with DAS28 (64%). The thermo-score improved significantly after 90 days of treatment in patients with active RA at baseline (P = 0.004). Using MRI as reference, Δt of sacroiliac joints could discriminate between spondyloarthritis patients with or without sacroiliitis with 78% sensitivity-74% specificity., Conclusion: In-depth increased MWR-derived joint temperature reflects both subclinical and clinically overt inflammation and may serve as a biomarker in arthritis., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of golimumab in combination with methotrexate (MTX) versus MTX monotherapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) dactylitis., Methods: Multicentre, investigator-initiated, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-design phase 3b trial in 11 Portuguese rheumatology centres. Patients with PsA along with active dactylitis and naive to MTX and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were randomly assigned to golimumab or placebo, both in combination with MTX. The primary endpoint was Dactylitis Severity Score (DSS) change from baseline to week 24. Key secondary endpoints included DSS and Leeds Dactylitis Index (LDI) response, and changes from baseline in the LDI and MRI dactylitis score. Analysis was by intention-to-treat for the primary endpoint., Results: Twenty-one patients received golimumab plus MTX and 23 MTX monotherapy for 24 weeks. One patient from each arm discontinued. Patient inclusion was halted at 50% planned recruitment due to a favourable interim analysis. Median baseline DSS was 6 in both arms. By week 24, patients treated with golimumab plus MTX exhibited significantly greater improvements in DSS relative to MTX monotherapy (median change of 5 vs 2 points, respectively; p=0.026). In the golimumab plus MTX arm, significantly higher proportions of patients achieved at least 50% or 70% improvement in DSS and 20%, 50% or 70% improvement in LDI in comparison to MTX monotherapy., Conclusions: The combination of golimumab and MTX as first-line bDMARD therapy is superior to MTX monotherapy for the treatment of PsA dactylitis., Trial Registration Number: NCT02065713., Competing Interests: Competing interests: EVS, FPS, JLG, LT, PAR and HC received grants from MSD. JEF received grants or personal fees from MSD, Abbvie, Biogen, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB and Sanofi. IBM received grants or personal fees from Celgene, Janssen, Novartis, Boerhinger Ingelheim, BMS, Abbvie, Lilly, GSK, Pfizer and UCB., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence, localization, and severity of bone erosions on radiography (RX) and ultrasonography (US) according to ACPA status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 78 patients with ACPA-positive (ACPA+) RA and 30 patients with ACPA-negative (ACPA-) RA fulfilling the ACR 1987 and/or ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria were consecutively included. On RX, a modified Sharp erosion score (SHSe) was evaluated by two blinded readers and one adjudicator for discordant cases (number of eroded joints ≤ three). On US, erosions were scored on six bilateral joints (MCP2, 3, 5; MTP2, 3, 5) with a four-point scale to calculate the total US score for erosions (USSe). The mean total SHSe and USSe were 3.7 and 4.4 times higher in the ACPA+ group than in the ACPA- group, respectively (P < 0.001). On both RX and US, the most discriminating joint between the two groups was MTP5, especially in cases with bilateral erosion. Based on multivariate analyses, ACPA + status was associated with erosive RA on RX according to the EULAR 2013 definition criteria [OR 4.4 (95% CI 1.2-16.4)], and on US according to the following two definitions: the presence of at least two eroded joint facets [OR 3.7 (95% CI 1.4-9.9)] or at least one grade 2 joint facet erosion [OR 9.0 (95% CI 2.8-28.4)]. Compared to ACPA- RA, ACPA + RA is associated independently with more severe erosive disease on RX and US. Both US and RX bilateral erosions in MTP5 joints are highly discriminant for ACPA + RA patients (97.8% in US and 100% in RX).

Background: This study evaluated the 3D angle between the joint moment and the joint angular velocity vectors at the intrinsic foot joints, and investigated if these joints are predominantly driven or stabilized during gait., Methods: The participants were 20 asymptomatic subjects. A four-segment kinetic foot model was used to calculate and estimate intrinsic foot joint moments, powers and angular velocities during gait. 3D angles between the joint moment and the joint angular velocity vectors were calculated for the intrinsic foot joints defined as follows: ankle joint motion described between the foot and the shank for the one-segment foot model (hereafter referred as Ankle), and between the calcaneus and the shank for the multi-segment foot model (hereafter referred as Shank-Calcaneus); joint motion described between calcaneus and midfoot segments (hereafter referred as Chopart joint); joint motion described between midfoot and metatarsus segments (hereafter referred as Lisfranc joint); joint motion described between first phalanx and first metatarsal (hereafter referred as First Metatarso-Phalangeal joint). When the vectors were approximately aligned, the moment was considered to result in propulsion (3D angle <60 o ) or resistance (3D angle >120 o ) at the joint. When the vectors are approximately orthogonal (3D angle close to 90°), the moment was considered to stabilize the joint., Results: The results showed that the four intrinsic joints of the foot are never fully propelling, resisting or being stabilized, but are instead subject to a combination of stabilization with propulsion or resistance during the majority of the stance phase of gait. However, the results also show that during pre-swing all four the joints are subject to moments that result purely in propulsion. At heel off, the propulsive configuration appears for the Lisfranc joint first at terminal stance, then for the other foot joints at pre-swing in the following order: Ankle, Chopart joint and First Metatarso-Phalangeal joint., Conclusions: Intrinsic foot joints adopt a stabilized-resistive configuration during the majority of the stance phase, with the exception of pre-swing during which all joints were found to adopt a propulsive configuration. The notion of stabilization, resistance and propulsion should be further investigated in subjects with foot and ankle disorders.

Objectives: Ligamentous Lisfranc injuries are frequently overlooked because of subtle clinical presentations and diagnostic difficulties. The dorsal Lisfranc ligament (DLL) is easily visualized with ultrasound (US), which can provide quick, cost-effective diagnoses of disorders but is not considered standard clinical practice. This study sought to compare DLL measurement accuracy between US and cadaveric dissection., Methods: Ultrasound images of 22 embalmed cadaveric feet were obtained with an M-Turbo US machine and a 6-13-MHz linear array (FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc, Bothell, WA). Images were measured in the US unit and again with ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD). Specimens were dissected, and DLL morphologic characteristics were recorded., Results: Twenty-two specimens were scanned, however 4 were excluded, leaving a sample of 11 male and 7 female cadaveric specimens (mean age ± SD, 80.3 ± 14.03 years). The DLL length differences between SonoSite (8.39 ± 1.27 mm) and ImageJ (8.25 ± 1.84 mm) were not significant (P > .05). Both US DLL measurements significantly differed from the gross dissection measurement (10.8 ± 1.85 mm; P < .001). The morphologic characteristics of the DLL at dissection were consistent. Overall, 70% to 80% of the ligament length was represented by US compared to dissection. The dorsal joint space did not differ significantly between SonoSite (2.19 ± 0.49 mm) and ImageJ (2.05 ± 0.52; P > .05). Both US measurements were also significantly larger than dissection measurements (1.04 ± 0.24; P < .001). Intraclass correlation coefficients indicated good reliability for the DLL length (0.835) and moderate reliability for the dorsal joint space (0.714)., Conclusions: The DLL is underrepresented but easily distinguished by US, demonstrating its utility in Lisfranc injury diagnosis. Thus, we propose a 4-component assessment involving US, which may provide more rapid, cost-effective diagnoses of subtle Lisfranc injuries., (© 2019 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.)

Objectives: To determine the clustering patterns of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition and bone erosions among patients with gout requiring urate-lowering therapy (ULT) using dual-energy CT (DECT)., Methods: DECT scans of bilateral hands/wrists, feet/ankles, and knees were obtained on 153 patients with gout on allopurinol ≥300 mg daily for ≥3 months. Two radiologists assessed the images at pre-specified sites (15 in the hands/wrists, 12 in the feet/ankles, 4 in the knees). Clustering patterns of MSU crystal deposition and bone erosions were evaluated., Results: Among 153 patients with gout (mean duration, 15 years) on allopurinol (mean duration, 5 years), MSU crystal deposition (67%) affected multiple sites in the hands/wrists, feet/ankles, and knees more often than would be expected by chance (p<0.001 for all 3 regions). In the feet/ankles, bone erosions were also observed in a clustered manner (p<0.001). Presence of MSU crystal deposition at a particular joint was most strongly associated with symmetric involvement of the same joint of the opposite extremity in the hands/wrists, feet/ankles, and knees (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 26.1, 46.9, and 9.9, respectively). Similarly, presence of erosions in the feet/ankles was highly symmetric (adjusted OR 91.4). Erosions were 8-fold more likely to be present in sites with MSU crystal deposition compared to those without., Conclusion: Among patients with longstanding gout on ULT, MSU crystal deposition and bone erosions affect multiple joints within the hands/wrists, feet/ankles, and knees in a highly symmetric manner. These radiologic data support the notion of MSU crystal deposition in gout as a symmetric polyarthropathy., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Mucosal melanomas are rare and have a high potential for metastasizing. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for single distant metastases. Malignant melanoma usually shows the highest uptake of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG). 18 F- FDG positron emission tomography /computed tomography (PET/CT) is usually used for melanoma staging. An extensive literature review revealed only 4 published case reports and an original paper involving 8 cases (12 cases in total) of patients with skin melanomas in whom pigmented villous nodular synovitis (PVNS) mimicked metastatic melanoma, however, none of the melanomas reported were of rectal mucosal origin., Case Presentation: A 60-year-old woman presented with recent diagnosis of rectal mucosal melanoma, two additional 18 F-FDG-avid lesions in the left ankle and left foot were detected on 18 F-FDG PET/CT. Metastases were initially suspected; however, the final diagnosis was PVNS., Conclusions: This is the first report of PVNS mimicking metastases on 18 F-FDG PET/CT in a patient with rectal mucosal melanoma. Although high 18 F-FDG-avid lesions in patients with rectal mucosal melanoma are highly suspected to be metastasis and warrant an meticulous examination, the present case is a reminder that in such patients, not all lesions with high 18 F-FDG uptake, especially those near a joint, are metastases and that more extensive resection is unnecessary.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a common comorbidity in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients and can result in estimated double risk of pathological fractures. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) is known to decrease with RA because of mechanisms incorporating traditional as well as disease-specific causes. With the advent of newer disease-modifying antirheumatic agents and bone protection medications, it is becoming important to identify those individuals who are at increased risk of developing osteoporosis among RA patients., Aim: In the current study, we aim to evaluate a multitude of factors including focal erosions on radiographs of hands or feet that can predict osteoporosis in RA patients., Methods: After obtaining IRB approval, 26 patients (20 females & 6 males) with a median age of 62 years (95% CI: 57.4 - 66.0) were retrospectively identified from a Rheumatology clinic database with an established diagnosis of RA but not taking osteoporosis medications. A detailed assessment was accomplished including evaluating a number of disease-specific variables, hands/feet radiographs and Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)., Results: The total hip BMD was lower in RA patients with radiographic erosions (0.862 g/cm2 ± 0.17) compared to those patients without erosions (1.011 g/cm2 ± 0.13). On univariate logistic regression, the presence of radiographic erosions predicted osteoporosis of the hip (p = 0.04). ROC curve demonstrated satisfactory performance of erosions in predicting WHO-defined osteoporosis or osteopenia at the hip (AUC = 0.732)., Conclusion: RA patients who show radiographic erosions are more likely to develop hip osteoporosis that may require further intervention., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)