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We sought to determine whether a clinical association exists between osteoarthritis (OA)-associated knee pain and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in synovial fluid (SF). A total of 28 patients with 28 primary OA knees were included. They routinely received intra-articular injection of high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (HA) once weekly for 5 weeks (treated group). Eight patients without knee pain who had undergone an operation for anterior or posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction 2 years ago were also examined (control group). SF and blood ATP concentrations, total amount of ATP, total SF volume, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores in all patients were measured and we compared pre-treatment values with those 1 week after the final treatment. We evaluated the correlation of change in total ATP (ΔATP) and change in VAS score (ΔVAS), ΔVAS and change in SF volume (ΔSF), and ATP concentration in SF and blood. In the treated group, SF ATP concentration, total amount of ATP, SF volume, and VAS score were all significantly lower post-treatment than pre-treatment (p = 0.0005, 0.0003, 0.0022, and < 0.0001, respectively). In treated group, ΔVAS was significantly associated with ΔATP (r = 0.56, p = 0.0032), ΔSF was significantly associated with ΔVAS (r = 0.78, p < 0.0001), and total amount of SF ATP and SF volume at pre-treatment were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001) We demonstrated an association between SF ATP level changes and OA knee pain, which should facilitate a further understanding of OA pain mechanisms.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the efficacy of stress radiography (stress X-P), ultrasonography (US), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the detection of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injury. Thirty-four patients with ankle sprain were involved. In all patients, Stress X-P, US, MR imaging, and arthroscopy were performed. The arthroscopic results were considered to be the gold standard. The imaging results were compared with the arthroscopic results, and the accuracy calculated. Arthroscopic findings showed ATFL injury in 30 out of 34 cases. The diagnosis of ATFL injury with stress X-P, US, MR imaging were made with an accuracy of 67, 91 and 97%. US and MR imaging demonstrated the same location of the injury as arthroscopy in 63 and 93%. We have clarified the diagnostic value of stress X-P, US, and MR imaging in diagnosis of ATFL injury. We obtained satisfactory results with US and MR imaging.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the operative results of excision of anterior impingement exostoses of the ankle. Preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) was used to make the diagnoses. The authors evaluated 16 ankles of 16 patients who underwent arthroscopic resection of the osteophytes of their anterior distal tibia or dorsal talus. They were followed up for 24–51 months. All 16 patients had 3DCT preoperatively, which allowed the authors to determine the exact location, shape, size, and number of the osteophytes. All of the osteophytes were resected using arthroscopic techniques. At the time of the most recent follow-up, the mean AOFAS score was 80.5 ± 4.9 points at preoperation, and 97.0 ± 3.7 points at the most recent follow-up. There were significant differences between the pre- and postoperative AOFAS scores and those of the most recent follow-up period for each group ( p < .0001). It is necessary to clarify the location, size, shape, and number of all of the osteophytes preoperatively using 3DCT, and to then resect them all.

In 52 patients we compared the accuracy of standard anteroposterior (AP) radiography, mortise radiography and MRI with arthroscopy of the ankle for the diagnosis of a tear of the tibiofibular syndesmosis. In comparison with arthroscopy, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 44.1%, 100% and 63.5% for standard AP radiography and 58.3%, 100% and 71.2% for mortise radiography. For MRI they were 100%, 93.1% and 96.2% for a tear of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and 100%, 100% and 100% for a tear of the posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament. Standard AP and mortise radiography did not always provide a correct diagnosis. MRI was useful although there were two-false positive cases. We suggest that arthroscopy of the ankle is indispensable for the accurate diagnosis of a tear of the tibiofibular syndesmosis.

Purpose: We have been able to diagnose tibiofibular syndesmosis injury by ankle arthroscopy, and in the present study we compare these results with the results from plain radiographs. Type of Study: Case series. Methods: Thirty-eight type-B (Weber system) distal fibular fractures in 38 patients were diagnosed to determine whether tibiofibular syndesmosis disruption was present. According to the Lauge-Hansen system, 16 patients had supination–external rotation fractures and 22 had pronation-abduction fractures. Standard non–weight-bearing anteroposterior radiographs and mortise radiographs were evaluated. Furthermore, ankle arthroscopy was performed on all patients. Results: Tibiofibular syndesmosis disruptions were diagnosed in 16 of the 38 patients (42%) by anteroposterior radiography, 21 of 38 patients (55%) by mortise radiography, and 33 of 38 patients (87%) by ankle arthroscopy. All of the patients who were diagnosed with tibiofibular syndesmosis disruption by anteroposterior radiography and mortise radiography were also confirmed by ankle arthroscopy to have injured their tibiofibular syndesmosis. In 12 patients, ankle arthroscopy was the only method used to diagnose the tibiofibular syndesmosis disruption. Conclusions: Ankle arthroscopy excels in term of the diagnosis ratio for tibiofibular syndesmosis disruption compared with both anteroposterior and mortise radiography. Therefore, we conclude that ankle arthroscopy is necessary for the correct diagnosis of tibiofibular syndesmosis disruption. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 17, No 8 (October), 2001: pp 836–843

A 61-year-old woman with an ulnar claw-finger deformity but no sensory loss had a cystic lesion excised from Guyon's canal. The ganglion was in zone 1 of the canal, which is associated with both motor and sensory deficit, but on this occasion it caused motor dysfunction alone.

Flat foot and/or metatarsal primus varus are the major causes of hallux valgus, and it is important to correct these deformities in order to prevent the recurrence of this condition. We demonstrate the clinical and radiological assessment of the correction of hallux valgus, metatarsal primus varus, and flat foot after proximal oblique-domed osteotomy of the metatarsus with distal soft tissue reconstruction.Twenty-seven feet of 22 patients with moderate or severe hallux valgus who had undergone proximal oblique-domed osteotomy were studied. After the adductor hallucis tendon was cut at the attachment of the proximal phalanx and at the sesamoid bone, the osteotomy was performed 3 cm dorsal-distal to the metatarsocuneiform joint to transfer distal fragment approximately 5 mm in the plantar direction, and rotated laterally decreasing the first-second intermetatarsal angle to 5 degrees.The mean AOFAS score was 54.1 +/- 2.8 points at pre-operation and 92.8 +/- 4.8 points at the most recent follow-up (P0.0001). Significant improvement was seen between the hallux valgus angle (P0.0001), first-second intermetatarsal angle (P0.0001), first-fifth intermetatarsal angle (P0.0001), talar pitch (P = 0.0032), and calcaneal plantar angle (P = 0.0327) before surgery and at one year after surgery. The average improvement of the talar pitch and calcaneal plantar angle was 2.6 +/- 1.4 and 2.4 +/- 1.5 degrees, respectively.This study suggest that proximal oblique-domed osteotomy of the metatarsal as a surgical procedure for the treatment of moderate or severe hallux valgus with flat foot can be recommended to correct the longitudinal arch of the foot and the first-second intermetatarsal angle.

BackgroundFew anatomical and minor invasive procedures have been reported for surgical reconstruction of the lateral ligaments to treat lateral instability of the ankle. Furthermore, there are no standards according to which ligaments should be reconstructed.HypothesisA new technique for anatomically reconstructing the lateral ligaments of the ankle using an interference fit anchoring system and determining which ligaments need to be reconstructed according to the results of standard stress radiography of the talocrural and subtalar joints will be effective for treating lateral instability of the ankle.Study DesignCase series; level of evidence, 4.MethodsTwenty-one patients with lateral instability of the ankle underwent surgery using the proposed interference fit anchoring system. Standard stress radiographs of the subtalar joint were performed, and if the talocalcaneal angle was less than 10°, only the anterior talofibular ligament was reconstructed; if there was a 10° or greater opening of the talocalcaneal angle, both the anterior talofibular ligament and the calcaneofibular ligament were reconstructed.ResultsIn the 17 patients who received only the anterior talofibular ligament reconstruction, the mean talar tilt angle on standard stress radiography of the talocrural joint was 14.5°± 1.7° before surgery and 2.6°± 0.8° 2 years after surgery (P ConclusionThe proposed system has several advantages, including anatomical reconstruction with normal stability and range of motion restored, the need for only a small incision during the reconstruction, and sufficient strength at the tendon graft-bone tunnel junction, in comparison with the tension strength of the lateral ligaments of the ankle.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the differences in the causes of osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the ankle based on the presence of distal fibular fractures and lateral instability of the ankle. Type of Study: Case series. Methods: We evaluated 92 cases of distal fibular fractures and 86 cases of lateral instability of the ankle, including 36 feet with subacute lateral instability of the ankle and 50 feet with chronic lateral instability of the ankle. In diagnosing OCL, we used a combination of magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate the subchondral conditions and ankle arthroscopy to evaluate the chondral conditions. Results: Of a total of 92 distal fibular fractures, 65 cases (70.7%) had OCL at the time of osteosynthesis and 27 did not (29.3%). Among the latter group, 2 developed OCL about 1 year after surgery. Of a total of 86 cases of lateral instability of the ankle, 35 (40.7%) had OCL. Among the subacute cases, 7 of 36 (19.4%) had OCL, versus 28 of 50 cases (56.0%) with chronic lateral instability of the ankle. Conclusions: Our study suggests that recurrent ankle sprains with remaining lateral instability and distal fibular fractures could be one of the causes of OCL of the ankle.

Neglected Achilles tendon rupture is a rare disorder. In this article, we discuss the results of 10 patients with neglected Achilles tendon ruptures who were treated surgically. Between 1980 and 1997, we treated 10 patients (6 men and 4 women) using gastrocnemius fascial flaps according to the method described by Lindholm. The mean age of the patients at the time of the operation was 51 years (range 38–57 years). They were followed-up for 26–192 months. There were significant differences between the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale score before the operation (72.6±5.3) and the score at the most recent follow-up (98.1±2.5) (p

We investigated the most advantageous internal rotation angle of the leg for mortise radiographs. One hundred and twenty-eight feet of 64 healthy volunteers with no histories of ankle or foot pathology (72 feet of 36 males, 56 feet of 28 females) were examined. The subjects had an average age of 29 years (range, 19 to 51 years), average height of 167 cm (range, 157 to 181 cm), and average foot length of 25 cm (range, 23 to 27 cm). We obtained a plain axial view at the level of the central patella and 5 mm proximal to the tibial plafond using computed tomography, and investigated the inclination angle of the distal tibiofibular joint to a horizontal plane, regarding it as a mortise angle. The mean mortise angle was 19.1 +/- 5.0 degrees. However, two peaks were observed at around 15 degrees and 20 degrees. This indicated that the mean mortise angle of the males was 21.2 +/- 4.6 degrees, and the mean mortise angle of the females was 16.4 +/- 4.1degrees, with a significant difference between the males and the females' mortise angle (P < 0.0001). There was no correlation between the mortise angle and the height (P = 0.899 in the males, and P = 0.871 in the females), nor between the mortise angle and the foot length (P = 0.359 in the males, and P = 0.512 in the females). Therefore, we concluded that the internal rotation angle of the leg for mortise radiography should be generally set up at about 20 degrees on males and 15 degrees on females.