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Background: Melioidosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which can lead to a range of clinical manifestations including acute septicaemia and chronic localized infections. Osteomyelitis is an uncommon but well-recognized complication of melioidosis, with the calcaneus being a relatively rare site of involvement. Case Description: The authors present a case series of three patients with calcaneal osteomyelitis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, infection. All three patients presented with non-specific symptoms like fever and weight loss, followed by localized ankle/foot pain and swelling. Diagnosis was made based on imaging findings (radiographs and MRI) and isolation of Burkholderia pseudomallei, from blood or pus cultures. Treatment involved a combination of initial intravenous antibiotic therapy (meropenem or ceftazidime) for 4-6 weeks, followed by oral trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole for 6 months. One patient required surgical drainage of a plantar abscess. All patients had a favorable clinical outcome with a resolution of osteomyelitis on follow-up imaging. Conclusion: Calcaneal osteomyelitis is a rare but potentially serious complication of melioidosis. Early recognition and prompt initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy are crucial for favorable outcomes. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for osteomyelitis in patients with melioidosis, especially in patients from Endemic areas as well as in patients with risk factors like diabetes. Close follow-up and monitoring for potential relapse or reactivation are essential, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The outcome of a secondary subtalar arthrodesis after prior calcaneal fracture has been widely described. However, the surgical treatment has evolved significantly over the past decade, paralleling the shifts observed in primary repair strategies. Therefore, we describe the outcome following a secondary arthrodesis after an intra-articular calcaneal fracture, comparing the in situ (ISA) and bone block distraction arthrodesis (BBDA) techniques., Methods: In total, 339 patients who underwent a subtalar arthrodesis between January 1998 and November 2022 were screened for eligibility. Inclusion criteria were age ≥16 years, having undergone a subtalar arthrodesis following a calcaneal fracture, and a minimal follow-up of 1 year. Exclusion criteria were subtalar arthrodesis before January 2010 and a subtalar arthrodesis within 6 weeks of injury. A total of 259 patients did not meet the inclusion criteria, resulting in the inclusion of 80 patients with 82 fractured calcanei., Results: No significant differences between ISA and BBDA in surgical outcome were seen. Subtalar fusion was achieved in 78 of the patients (95.1%). Additionally, a deep surgical site infection occurred in 6 patients (7.8%). The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scale (AOFAS) and Foot Function Index (FFI) scores and the EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ5D) index were similar between the 2 groups. However, a significantly higher EQ5D-VAS was reported by the subjects who received a BBDA (median [interquartile range], 70.0 [52.0-82.0] vs 81.0 [70.0-90.3], P  = .021). Multiple regression revealed that a higher Böhler angle before the initial fracture reconstruction significantly improved the AOFAS score, whereas the FFI significantly improved by an initial conservative treatment and implant removal after arthrodesis. Finally, increasing age significantly improved the EQ5D index., Conclusion: Our study presents comparable surgical outcomes between ISA and BBDA for secondary subtalar arthrodesis following calcaneal fractures. Functional outcomes, as measured by the AOFAS and FFI scores, were also similar between the 2 techniques, although patients undergoing BBDA reported higher EQ5D visual analog scale scores., Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study., Competing Interests: The 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., (© The Author(s) 2025.)

Background: The treatment of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis is a challenging and increasing problem because of the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus and operative fixation of heel fractures. In 1931, Gaenslen reported treatment of hematogenous calcaneal osteomyelitis by surgical excision through a midline, sagittal plantar incision. We have refined this approach to allow successful healing and early mobilization in a modern series of complex patients with hematogenous, diabetic, and postsurgical osteomyelitis. Methods: Twenty-eight patients (mean age 54.6 years, range 20-94) with Cierny-Mader stage IIIB chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis were treated with sagittal incision and calcaneal osteotomy, excision of infected bone, and wound closure. All patients received antibiotics for at least 6 weeks, and bone defects were filled with an antibiotic carrier in 20 patients. Patients were followed for a mean of 31 months (SD 25.4). Primary outcome measures were recurrence of calcaneal osteomyelitis and below-knee amputation. Secondary outcome measures included 30-day postoperative mortality and complications, duration of postoperative inpatient stay, footwear adaptions, mobility, and use of walking aids. Results: All 28 patients had failed previous medical and surgical treatment. Eighteen patients (64%) had significant comorbidities. The commonest causes of infection were diabetes ± ulceration (11 patients), fracture-related infection (4 patients), pressure ulceration, hematogenous spread, and penetrating soft tissue trauma. The overall recurrence rate of calcaneal osteomyelitis was 18% (5 patients) over the follow-up period, of which 2 patients (7%) required a below-knee amputation. Eighteen patients (64%) had a foot that comfortably fitted into a normal shoe with a custom insole. A further 6 patients (21%) required a custom-made shoe, and only 3 patients required a custom-made boot. Conclusion: Our results show that a repurposed Gaenslen calcanectomy is simple, safe, and effective in treating this difficult condition in a patient group with significant local and systemic comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has developed rapidly in orthopaedic surgery and effectively achieves precise and personalized surgery. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of 3D printing technology in the management of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures (DICFs) by extended lateral approach (ELA). Methods We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, and VANFUN databases were searched up to October 2020. All clinical studies comparing traditional surgery and 3D printing-assisted surgery in the management of DICFs were obtained, evaluating the quality of the included studies and extracting data. For each study, we assessed odds ratios (ORs), standard mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to assess and synthesize the outcomes. Results Three RCTs and nine retrospective studies involving 732 patients were included met our inclusion criteria with 366 patients in the 3D group and 366 patients in the conventional group. The meta-analysis showed that there were significant differences of the operative time in the 3D group [SMD = − 1.86, 95% CI (− 2.23, − 1.40), P

Background: Calcaneal fractures are not uncommon, accounting for 2% and 60.0% of all adult and tarsal fractures, respectively. Its treatment is still controversial. Aim of the work: To assess results and complications of calcaneal fractures treatment by fixation with calcaneal plate on clinical and radiological basis. Patients and Methods: A convenient sample of 20 patients, with calcaneal fractures and treated by calcaneal plate fixation were included. They were assessed in preoperative period in a systematic manner. Then, treated with a locking plate. Postoperatively, immediate X-rays, examination of the neurovascular status had been done. Anti-edematous, pain therapy, intravenous antibiotics and anticoagulation medication were administered. All patients had been followed up at 8, 16 weeks after operation and assessed for functional and anatomical state. RESULTS: According to the American Orthopedic Foot Ankle Society [AOFAS] Ankle-Hindfoot Score, the outcome was excellent [30.0%], good [40.0%], fair [20.0%] and poor [10.0%]. At the last follow‑up, Bohler’s angle was restored to normal [20°-40°] in 17 feet [85 %] while 3 feet [15 %] was less than normal. Wound infection was seen in [10%], each of varus heel deformity and flexion deformity of big toe was found in one patient [5.0%] and two case had reflex sympathetic dystrophy.Finally, there was no association between fracture type and subtalar arthritis. However, patients with subtalar arthritis had significantly lower AOFAS score when compared to patients with no subtalar arthritis [76.22±6.24 vs 87.0±6.05 respectively, p < 0.001]. Conclusion: Displaced calcaneal fractures treated surgically are associated with a relatively better functional outcome, provided that, Bohler's angle was restored to its normal or near normal values.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has developed rapidly in orthopaedic surgery and effectively achieves precise and personalized surgery. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of 3D printing technology in the management of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures (DICFs) by extended lateral approach (ELA). Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, and VANFUN databases were searched up to October 2020. All clinical studies comparing traditional surgery and 3D printing-assisted surgery in the management of DICFs were obtained, evaluating the quality of the included studies and extracting data. For each study, we assessed odds ratios (ORs), standard mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to assess and synthesize the outcomes. Results: Three RCTs and nine retrospective studies involving 732 patients were included met our inclusion criteria with 366 patients in the 3D group and 366 patients in the conventional group. The meta-analysis showed that there were significant differences of the operative time in the 3D group [SMD = − 1.86, 95% CI (− 2.23, − 1.40), P < 0.001], intraoperative blood loss [SMD = − 1.26, 95% CI (− 1.82, − 0.69), P < 0.001], the number of intraoperative X-ray exposures [SMD = − 0.66, 95% CI (− 1.20, − 0.12), P < 0.001], postoperative complications [OR = 0.49, 95% CI (0.31, 0.79), P < 0.001], excellent and good rate of calcaneal fracture outcome [OR = 4.09, 95% CI (2.03, 8.22), P < 0.001]. Conclusion: The current study indicates that 3D printing-assisted ELA surgery showed a better rate of excellent and good outcome, shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, fewer intraoperative fluoroscopies, fewer complications. Besides, there is still a need for large-sample, high-quality, long-term randomized controlled trials to confirm the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of unicondylar femoral fractures is mainly done by open reduction and internal fixation. Anatomic reduction in the articular surface is paramount in this type of lesion. Medial condyle fractures lack specific osteosynthesis material for fixation. We report a case resolved with the sparsely documented technique using calcaneal plate fixation.

Purpose There are multiple skeletal maturity grading systems, but none of them utilizes the phalanges of the foot. To minimize radiation, it would be ideal if one could assess the skeletal maturity of a foot based on bones seen on routine foot radiographs, if guided growth is being considered as a treatment option. We developed a system that correlates changes of the appearance of the foot phalanges to peak height velocity (PHV) and the recently described calcaneal apophyseal ossification grading system. Methods We selected 94 children from the Bolton-Brush study, each with consecutive radiographs from age ten to 15 years old. Using the anteroposterior view, we analyzed the ossification patterns of the phalanges and developed a sixstage system. We then determined the PHV for each subject and defined its relationship with our system. Our system was then compared with the previously established calcaneal system. Results We calculated an Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) range of 0.957 to 0.985 with a mean of 0.975 and interclass reliability coefficient of 0.993 indicating that this method is reliable and consistent. Our system showed no significant difference between gender with respect to PHV, which makes it a reliable surrogate for determining bone age in paediatric and adolescent patients. Conclusions Our system has a strong association with the calcaneal system. It is a simple six-stage system that is reliable and correlated more strongly with PHV than chronological age. The system requires knowledge of the ossification markers used for each stage but is easily used in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The diagnosis of calcaneal osteomyelitis is a challenge, and diagnostic delays have been reported in the literature. The progression is often indolent, laboratory results commonly fail to reveal an underlying infectious process and radiographs changes are seen after 7 days. We discuss the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of calcaneal osteomyelitis which can result in long-term sequelae in the pediatric patient. Case presentation: A 9-year-old white boy presented to our institution with heel pain and an inability to weight bear. There was a 10-day delay in diagnosis of calcaneal osteomyelitis, with a total of three presentations to our emergency department. The condition was misdiagnosed as Sever's disease on two separate occasions with discharge home. On his third presentation the diagnosis was finally clinched when he developed more definitive signs and symptoms, with pyrexia and signs of lymphangitis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse osteomyelitis of his calcaneum. He underwent surgery and 2 weeks of antibiotics administered intravenously, followed by 4 weeks of oral therapy. We are happy to report a good recovery without any complications at his 12-month follow up. Conclusions: Physicians should include calcaneal osteomyelitis as a differential in any child presenting with heel pain. Delays in the diagnosis can result in disastrous complications in the pediatric patient, such as growth arrest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subtalar hyperpronation and ankle dorsiflexion restriction have been theoretically associated with Achilles tendinopathy (AT). However, evidence to support these associations is lacking. To compare foot alignment and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) between the symptomatic and non-symptomatic limbs of individuals with unilateral AT. And to verify whether differences exist between individuals with symptomatic pronated feet and individuals with symptomatic neutral/supinated feet in terms of tendon pain, structure, and symptom severity. Sixty-three participants with unilateral AT underwent a bilateral evaluation of pain during tendon palpation, symptom severity, tendon thickening, tendon neovascularization, ankle dorsiflexion ROM, and foot posture alignment [foot posture index (FPI), navicular drop, navicular drift, and longitudinal arch angle (LAA)]. Side and group comparisons were made using t-tests and correlations were evaluated using the Pearson test. There were no differences between the symptomatic and non-symptomatic limbs regarding foot posture alignment. Specifically, non-significant negligible differences were observed between limbs regarding FPI [mean difference (MD)=-0.23; 95% confidence interval (CI)=-0.70, 0.25), navicular drop (MD=0.58 mm; 95%CI=-0.25, 1.43), navicular drift (MD=0.16 mm; 95%CI=-0.77, 1.09), and LAA (MD=0.30º; 95%CI=-1.74, 2.34). There was no difference between limbs regarding ankle dorsiflexion ROM. However, lower ankle dorsiflexion was associated with worse symptom severity (r = 0.223). Finally, no difference was observed between individuals with symptomatic pronated feet and individuals with symptomatic neutral/supinated feet in terms of tendon pain or structure. Static foot alignment measures do not seem to be clinically relevant in patients with AT. Smaller ankle dorsiflexion ROM, however, was associated with greater symptom severity in this population. • Individuals with Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and symptomatic pronated feet did not differ from individuals with AT and symptomatic neutral/supinated feet in terms of tendon pain, structure, or symptom severity. • The symptomatic and non-symptomatic limbs of individuals with unilateral AT had no differences in terms of foot alignment, evaluated by static measures. • Pronated foot posture was not more prevalent in individuals with AT when compared to neutral/supinated foot postures. • Smaller ankle dorsiflexion range of motion was associated with greater symptom severity and may be relevant for this population. • Static foot alignment measures do not seem to be clinically relevant in patients with AT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic osteomyelitis associated with soft-tissue defect following surgical management is a severe complication for orthopaedic surgeons. Traditionally, the treatment protocol for the notorious complication involved thorough debridement, bone grafting, long-term antibiotic use and flap surgery. Alternatively, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a high concentration of platelets collected via centrifugation, has been successfully used as an adjuvant treatment for bone and soft-tissue infection in medical practices. PRP has numerous significant advantages, including stypsis, inflammation remission and reducing the amount of infected fluid. It increases bone and soft-tissue healing and allows fewer opportunities for transplant rejection. Through many years of studies showing the advantages of PRP, it has become preferred organic product for the clinical treatment of infections, especially for chronic osteomyelitis associated with soft-tissue defect. To promote the clinical use of this simple and efficacious technique in trauma, we report the case of a patient with chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis associated with soft-tissue defect that healed uneventfully with PRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The optimal management of calcaneal fractures is controversial, as correlation between anatomical restoration and outcome has not been proven, and complications after surgery are frequent. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The calcaneal fat pad is a major load bearing component of the human foot due to daily gait activities such as standing, walking, and running. Heel and arch pain pathologies such as plantar fasciitis, which over one third of the world population suffers from, is a consequent effect of calcaneal fat pad damage. Also, fat pad stiffening and ulceration has been observed due to diabetes mellitus. To date, the biomechanics of fat pad damage is poorly understood due to the unavailability of live human models (because of ethical and biosafety issues) or biofidelic surrogates for testing. This also precludes the study of the effectiveness of preventive custom orthotics for foot pain pathologies caused due to fat pad damage. The current work addresses this key gap in the literature with the development of novel biofidelic surrogates， which simulate the in vivo and in vitro compressive mechanical properties of a healthy calcaneal fat pad. Also, surrogates were developed to simulate the in vivo mechanical behavior of the fat pad due to plantar fasciitis and diabetes. A four-part elastomeric material system was used to fabricate the surrogates, and their mechanical properties were characterized using dynamic and cyclic load testing. Different strain (or displacement) rates were tested to understand surrogate behavior due to high impact loads. These surrogates can be integrated with a prosthetic foot model and mechanically tested to characterize the shock absorption in different simulated gait activities, and due to varying fat pad material property in foot pain pathologies (i.e., plantar fasciitis, diabetes, and injury). Additionally, such a foot surrogate model, fitted with a custom orthotic and footwear, can be used for the experimental testing of shock absorption characteristics of preventive orthoses.

Objectives: The complications associated with iliac crest bone-graft harvest have resulted in the development of alternative harvest sites. Lower extremity alternative sites that have been reported for foot and ankle procedures include greater trochanter, proximal tibia, distal tibia, and calcaneus. These sites have been studied in terms of complications, postoperative pain, and quality of the harvested bone. The long-term effect of the harvest on the bone of the calcaneus has not been reported., Methods: Case report on incidental CT imaging 4 years after bone graft harvest from the calcaneus., Results: This case demonstrates the failure of the calcaneal trabecular bone to regenerate after harvesting cancellous bone graft for foot fusion procedure., Conclusions: The calcaneal graft site should not be used for a repeat bone-graft harvest without advanced imaging to confirm reconstitution of the harvest bed., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) technique and simple dressing change in the treatment of delayed severe infection after calcaneal fracture surgery. Methods: From August 2008 to July 2015 , 73 patients with delayed severe infection were treated after calcaneal fractures 3 months in Department of Foot and Ankle, the Second Hospital of Tangshan City, according to the treatment methods are divided into vacuum sealing drainage group of 38 cases, 35 cases of simple dressing group.Two groups of patients after regular wound debridement debridement and sterilization after vacuum sealing drainage group received double wound VSD dressing group received postoperative dressing, two groups of patients with sensitive antibiotics for treatment.Two groups of patients according to the frequency of dressing change, wound healing time, bacterial clearance time and healing time were compared in stage Ⅱ during the perioperative period. Results: Vacuum sealing drainage group: dressing: 7 times, the wound healing time was 27 days, bacterial culture negative for 8 days, the healing time of 13.5 days of perioperative period; treatment group: 34 times the number of dressing, wound healing time was 44 days, bacterial culture negative for 18 days, the healing time of 17 days of surgery period. Two groups of data were compared with the median, after the rank sum test, the difference was statistically significant ( Z values were -6.670, -5.529, -5.011, -3.227, P <0.05). The vacuum sealing drainage group compared with conventional dressing group significantly reduced the number of dressing, wound healing time, healing time was significantly shortened bacterial clearance time and perioperative period Ⅱ. Conclusion: Double VSD is easy , safe and quick, short cure time, less pain, higher quality of late life advantages, compared with the traditional dressing treatment of calcaneal fractures of postoperative delayed severe infection, is a safe and effective method.