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BackgroundComplex hindfoot pathology may benefit from vascularized bone flap reconstruction rather than traditional bone grafting techniques. Medial femoral condyle (MFC) flaps provide vascularized periosteum, skin, and corticocancellous bone.MethodsA retrospective, single-institution cohort study of consecutive MFC flaps performed for complicated hindfoot reconstruction between 2013 and 2019 was reviewed. Radiologic follow-up assessed osseous union and clinical outcomes were evaluated with the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score. Thirty MFC flaps were performed in 28 patients for complex hindfoot pathology. Twenty-seven flaps had adequate clinical and radiographic follow-up (mean 15.8 months).ResultsThe majority presented with avascular necrosis (83%) and failed prior operations (67%, mean 3.1). Most hindfoot procedures involved arthrodesis (n = 24, 80%); tibiotalocalcaneal (n = 11) and talonavicular (n = 7) most frequently. Mean osseous flap volume was 10.3 cm3 (range 1.7-18.4 cm3); one flap required takeback for venous congestion but no total flap losses occurred. Primary osseous union was initially achieved in 20 patients (74%, mean 217 days). Six flaps developed interface nonunion; 5 underwent revision arthrodesis and ultimately achieved union in 24/27 flaps (89%, mean 271 days). Risk factors for nonunion were body mass index (BMI) >30 (P = .017) and prior arthrodesis (P = .042). Mean AOFAS hindfoot scores increased significantly from 52.3 preoperatively to 70.7 postoperatively (P < .001). Subscore analysis demonstrated significant improvement in postoperative pain scores from 14.2 to 27.3 out of 40 (P < .001).ConclusionThe MFC free flap provided vascularized bone for complicated foot and ankle reconstruction with relatively low donor site morbidity, promising osseous union results, and improved functional outcomes.Level of evidenceLevel IV, retrospective case series.

BackgroundComplex hindfoot pathology may benefit from vascularized bone flap reconstruction rather than traditional bone grafting techniques. Medial femoral condyle (MFC) flaps provide vascularized periosteum, skin, and corticocancellous bone.MethodsA retrospective, single-institution cohort study of consecutive MFC flaps performed for complicated hindfoot reconstruction between 2013 and 2019 was reviewed. Radiologic follow-up assessed osseous union and clinical outcomes were evaluated with the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score. Thirty MFC flaps were performed in 28 patients for complex hindfoot pathology. Twenty-seven flaps had adequate clinical and radiographic follow-up (mean 15.8 months).ResultsThe majority presented with avascular necrosis (83%) and failed prior operations (67%, mean 3.1). Most hindfoot procedures involved arthrodesis (n = 24, 80%); tibiotalocalcaneal (n = 11) and talonavicular (n = 7) most frequently. Mean osseous flap volume was 10.3 cm3 (range 1.7-18.4 cm3); one flap required takeback for venous congestion but no total flap losses occurred. Primary osseous union was initially achieved in 20 patients (74%, mean 217 days). Six flaps developed interface nonunion; 5 underwent revision arthrodesis and ultimately achieved union in 24/27 flaps (89%, mean 271 days). Risk factors for nonunion were body mass index (BMI) >30 (P = .017) and prior arthrodesis (P = .042). Mean AOFAS hindfoot scores increased significantly from 52.3 preoperatively to 70.7 postoperatively (P < .001). Subscore analysis demonstrated significant improvement in postoperative pain scores from 14.2 to 27.3 out of 40 (P < .001).ConclusionThe MFC free flap provided vascularized bone for complicated foot and ankle reconstruction with relatively low donor site morbidity, promising osseous union results, and improved functional outcomes.Level of evidenceLevel IV, retrospective case series.

Background: Both total ankle replacement (TAR) and ankle arthrodesis do show some problems in long-term studies. To choose either of these surgical options is a delicate task. There are no randomized studies reported in the literature and no previous studies in which patients constitute the own controls. Methods: Patients with a TAR and a contralateral ankle arthrodesis were identified in the Swedish Ankle Register. A self-reported foot and ankle specific questionnaire (SEFAS) was sent to these patients who also were asked to report their grade of satisfaction from 1 to 5. Results: The median SEFAS score was 32 (16-44) for the prostheses and 27 (14-47) for the arthrodeses. The median satisfaction score was 2 (1-4) for the prostheses and 2 (1-5) for the arthrodeses. There were no statistically significant difference between the prosthetic side and the fused side regarding these scores. Conclusion: Patients who had undergone ankle arthrodesis on one side and had the contralateral ankle replaced, were equally satisfied with both procedures.

Bilateral ankle arthrodesis is seldom performed, and results concerning the outcome and satisfaction can only sparsely be found in published studies. We analyzed the data from 35 patients who had undergone bilateral ankle arthrodesis in the Swedish Ankle Registry using patient-reported generic and region-specific outcome measures. Of 36 talocrural arthrodeses and 34 tibio-talar-calcaneal arthrodeses, 6 ankles (9%) had undergone repeat arthrodesis because of nonunion. After a mean follow-up period of 47 ± 5 (range 12 to 194) months, the mean scores were as follows: self-reported foot and ankle score, 33 ± 10 (range 4 to 48); the EuroQol Group's EQ-5D™ score, 0.67 ± 0.28 (range −0.11 to 1), the EuroQol Group's visual analog scale score, 70 ± 19 (range 20 to 95), 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical domain, 39 ± 11 (range 16 to 58); and SF-36 mental domain, 54 ± 14 (range 17 to 71). Patients with rheumatoid arthritis seemed to have similar self-reported foot and ankle scores but possibly lower EQ-5D™ and SF-36 scores. Those with talocrural arthrodeses scored higher than did those with tibio-talar-calcaneal arthrodeses on the EQ5D™ and SF-36 questionnaires (p = .03 and p = .04). In 64 of 70 ankles (91%), the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the outcome. In conclusion, we consider bilateral ankle arthrodesis to be a reasonable treatment for symptomatic hindfoot arthritis, with high postoperative mid-term satisfaction and satisfactory scores on the patient-reported generic and region-specific outcome measures, when no other treatment option is available.