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Pediatric pes planovalgus deformity may be classified as flexible or rigid. The rigid pes planovalgus is often a result of a tarsal coalition, which is typically characterized as a painful unilateral or bilateral deformity, frequently associated with peroneal spasm. However, many tarsal coalitions are asymptomatic and demonstrate no peroneal spasm or pes planovalgus deformity. Likewise, the severe pes planovalgus foot type can demonstrate some of the same clinical and radiographic features of a tarsal coalition, especially in the obese adolescent patient. Also, peroneal spasm may occur in the noncoalesced foot, making diagnosis and etiology more difficult to elucidate. The authors believe that many patients with a pes planovalgus deformity lie in this 'gray zone': somewhere between the frank osseous coalition and the flexible pes planovalgus. The 'step-forward Hubscher maneuver' is introduced as an effective means of evaluating the flexibility of a pes planovalgus foot by negating the effects of a gastrocnemius or gastrocnemius-soleus equinus. This article focuses on the clinical examination and findings of specific imaging studies to assist in an accurate diagnosis of these complicated patients. This will also help to reveal the various surgical options that are appropriate for the individual patient. Emphasis is placed on computerized tomography (CT) imaging and offers enhanced methods for ordering this test to specifically evaluate middle facet coalitions of the subtalar joint. The authors also introduce 'lateral tarsal wedging,' an image finding associated with severe deformities, the implications of this finding, as well as its impact on surgical planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiographic and clinical outcomes of isolated talonavicular arthrodesis in the treatment of the flexible pes valgus foot type. Retrospectively, 51 consecutive isolated talonavicular arthrodeses in 41 patients were evaluated. The mean patient age was 47 (range 9 to 72) years, and the mean follow-up duration was 43.3 (range 11 to 113) months. The mean 10-cm categorical pain score before the surgery was 7.60 +/- 2.37, and this improved to 1.90 +/- 2.38 postoperatively, and this difference was statistically significant (P < .001). We also measured the preoperative and postoperative percent of talar uncovering, calcaneocuboid angle, Kite's angle, talar dome height, calcaneal inclination angle, and Meary's angle, and observed statistically significant (P < .001) improvements in all of these. Fifty-one (100%) of the cases progressed to radiographic osseous union, although 2 (3.92%) of the cases were considered delayed unions. Moreover, 4 (7.84%) of the cases displayed juxta-articular arthrosis postoperatively, and 2 (3.9%) cases developed transfer pain to the lateral column. The authors concluded that isolated talonavicular arthrodesis is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of painful pes valgus deformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthrodesis for primary osteoarthrosis of the second metatarsocuneiform joint has received little attention in the literature when compared to salvage of posttraumatic osteoarthrosis after Lisfranc fracture dislocation. The use of screw or plate fixation is commonly advocated for such in situ arthrodesis, and the use of trephine/dowel plugs has also been described. The authors present an alternate approach for addressing primary osteoarthrosis of the second metatarsocuneiform joint with the use of Kirschner wires fashioned into staples with cancellous bone graft interposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peroneal tendon subluxation or dislocation denotes intermittent or chronic anterior displacement of the peroneus longus and brevis tendons out of their fibro-osseous tunnel at the distal and posterior aspect of the fibula. Numerous surgical techniques have been described to address peroneal tendon subluxation, including isolated or combined soft tissue and osseous reconstructive procedures. The authors present an efficient and simplified approach for addressing this pathology using multiple, nonabsorbable retention sutures without the need for extensive dissection or osteotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peroneal nerve palsy is common. The hallmark clinical manifestation of peroneal nerve palsy is drop foot. In the drop foot condition, the ankle cannot flex, and the foot does not clear the ground during the swing phase of gait. Spontaneous nerve repair can yield complete or incomplete resolution of drop foot. Some patients with incomplete resolution are left with a drop hallux condition, in which the ankle can dorsiflex, but the hallux remains unable to dorsiflex. This has not been thoroughly discussed in the past, regarding surgical repair. In the present report, we have reviewed the drop hallux condition and an effective surgical repair option (extensor hallucis longus to tibialis anterior tendon anastomosis). Our case report presents a healthy 27-year-old male who had persistent drop hallux after drop foot resolution, 3 years after external fixation of a closed, proximal tibia-fibula fracture., (Copyright © 2016 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

First metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) arthrodesis remains a commonly used and reliable procedure for a variety of pathologies of the first MTPJ. Many costly fixation constructions have been described to achieve union with first MTPJ arthrodesis. We hypothesized that the incidence of union would be the same for both buried Kirchner (K)-wire and solid crossed screw fixation with immediate weightbearing. To test this hypothesis, we retrospectively reviewed first MTPJ fusions performed by the senior author (C.A.C.) during a 6-year period and compared the incidence of union. Only patients who were immediately weightbearing in a surgical shoe and had undergone first MTPJ arthrodesis using K-wires or crossed screws were included. All patients had undergone incorporation of their sesamoids into the fusion. A total of 97 feet in 89 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of the 97 first MTPJ fusions, 48 (49.5%) had buried K-wire fixation and 49 (50.5%) crossed screw fixation. The mean age was 62 (range 41 to 75) years in the K-wire group and 60 (range 22 to 73) years in the crossed screw group. The mean follow-up period was 12.4 months in the K-wire group and 12.9 months in the crossed screw group. The rate of union in the K-wire group was 98% (1 nonunion) and the rate of union in the crossed screw group was 96% (2 nonunions). The 2 groups demonstrated similar high rates of fusion with immediate weightbearing, suggesting that less costly fixation is acceptable and effective for uncomplicated first MTPJ fusion., (Copyright © 2016 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Subtalar joint middle facet coalitions commonly present in children who have a painful, rigid, pes planovalgus foot type. The middle facet coalition allows rearfoot forces to be distributed medially through the coalition, and this can result in arthritis or lateral tarsal wedging. The senior author has used a wedged bone graft distraction subtalar joint arthrodesis to correct calcaneal valgus and restore the talar height in these patients. The tight, press-fit nature of the tricortical iliac crest allograft provides stability and can negate the need for internal fixation. We retrospectively reviewed 9 pediatric subtalar joint distraction arthrodesis procedures performed on 8 patients during a 6-year period. All patients began weightbearing at 6 weeks after surgery. All patients had osseous union, and no complications developed that required a second surgery. The clinical outcomes, assessed at a mean of 25.5 (range, 6.3 to 75.8) months postoperatively, were satisfactory. The mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score was 90.1 (range, 79 to 94), on a 94-point scale. The wedged distraction arthrodesis technique has not been previously described for correction of pediatric patients with lateral tarsal wedging, but it is an effective option and yields successful outcomes., (Copyright © 2015 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this pilot study was to assess if using an interfragmental lag screw and a Darco(®) locking H-plate for the modified Lapidus arthrodesis in the treatment of hallux abducto valgus deformity (1) would allow for earlier weight bearing than previously described and (2) would indicate whether any changes would occur radiographically with the earlier weight bearing. Twenty-one metatarsocuneiform arthrodeses, in 18 patients, were retrospectively evaluated through chart review and postoperative radiographs. Original diagnoses included painful hallux abducto valgus and osteoarthritis of the first metatarsocuneiform joint. The mean age of the patients was 48 (range, 16 to 70) years. The mean follow-up duration was 38.5 (range, 29 to 60) months. The overall radiographic osseous union rate was 90.5% (19/21 feet), although there were 2 asymptomatic nonunions. There were no cases of fixation failure, and the surgical correction was preserved on follow-up radiographs. Overall, the mean time to full weight bearing was 4.7 (range, 3 to 7.5) weeks, and it was a mean of 8 (range, 7 to 10) weeks before the patient was back to wearing comfortable shoes. The authors concluded that metatarsocuneiform arthrodesis fixated with 1 interfragmentary lag screw and a Darco(®) locking H-plate provides sufficient stability to allow earlier weight bearing than has been previously described with other internal fixation constructs., (Copyright © 2011 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Conventional thinking holds that high intermetatarsal and hallux abductus angles (>15° and >25°, respectively) are associated with a hypermobile first ray and require a Lapidus procedure to achieve satisfactory correction for the treatment of hallux valgus. However, normal first ray motion may be misinterpreted as hypermobility, and it is possible to take advantage of this motion to correct some portion of a large hallux abductovalgus deformity with distal procedures, such as the Austin or first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion. We retrospectively examined radiographs of 61 patients with first intermetatarsal and hallux abductus angles greater than 15° and greater than 25°, respectively, who had undergone hallux abductovalgus correction via Lapidus, Austin, or first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion. Preoperative and postoperative radiographic measurements of the intermetatarsal and hallux abductus angles were made. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in the amount of correction achieved by any of the 3 procedures in comparison with the others. We concluded that, given appropriate patient selection, an Austin or first MTPJ fusion could reliably correct large intermetatarsal and hallux abductus angles that, in the hands of many surgeons, are often treated by means of Lapidus arthrodesis., (Copyright © 2011 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Arthrodesis for primary osteoarthrosis of the second metatarsocuneiform joint has received little attention in the literature when compared to salvage of posttraumatic osteoarthrosis after Lisfranc fracture dislocation. The use of screw or plate fixation is commonly advocated for such in situ arthrodesis, and the use of trephine/dowel plugs has also been described. The authors present an alternate approach for addressing primary osteoarthrosis of the second metatarsocuneiform joint with the use of Kirschner wires fashioned into staples with cancellous bone graft interposition.

Peroneal tendon subluxation or dislocation denotes intermittent or chronic anterior displacement of the peroneus longus and brevis tendons out of their fibro-osseous tunnel at the distal and posterior aspect of the fibula. Numerous surgical techniques have been described to address peroneal tendon subluxation, including isolated or combined soft tissue and osseous reconstructive procedures. The authors present an efficient and simplified approach for addressing this pathology using multiple, nonabsorbable retention sutures without the need for extensive dissection or osteotomy.

Numerous clinical features of hallux limitus/rigidus have been previously reported as isolated entities based on individual case review or myopic observations. Few attempts have been made to synthesize a comprehensive natural history which correlates the inter-relationship of these findings. Frequently unrecognized or overlooked subtle clinical findings, such as shoe-wear patterns, hyperkeratoses locations, and gait disturbances, precede significant radiographic changes or painful degenerative arthritis by months to years. Recognition of these subtle clinical features will aid in establishing an early and accurate diagnosis, and provide the physician with an opportunity to institute treatment prior to the need for surgical reconstruction. Several conclusions can be made regarding the natural history of hallux rigidus. 1. Predisposing factors (pes planovalgus, uncompensated varus) lead to spastic contracture of the hallux (hallux equinus). 2. A shift in the axis of movement occurs within the first metatarsophalangeal joint, from centrally within the metatarsal head to plantarly at the level of the sesamoidophalangeal ligament. 3. Dorsal articular impingement of the proximal phalangeal base on the metatarsal head leads to either a chronic erosion of the dorsal metatarsal head (chondritis dissecans), or fracture through the subchondral bone plate (osteochondritis dissecans). 4. Progressive degenerative arthritis within the first metatarsophalangeal joint appears as joint space narrowing, dorsal osteophyte proliferation, subchondral cyst formation and sclerosis, and articular flattening. 5. Synovial effusion produces periarticular pain, resulting in chronic splinting of the hallux. 6. Auto-fusion of the metatarsophalangeal joint represents the end-stage progression of hallux rigidus. In addition to degeneration of the metatarsophalangeal joint, sesamoid degeneration further compounds joint immobility. 1. Sesamoid immobility from chronic spasm leads to traction proliferation of the sesamoid bones (hypertrophy). 2. Disuse osteopenia of the sesamoids is an indication of sesamoid-metatarsal degeneration, and parallels degenerative changes of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. 3. Proximal sesamoid retraction reflects the degree of hallux equinus. Metatarsus primus elevatus is a co-existant feature of hallux limitus and hallux rigidus. 1. Primary metatarsus primus elevatus is encountered in patients with a more proximal level of uncompensated varus, with hallux equinus occurring secondarily in an attempt to provide medial column support. 2. Secondary metatarsus primus elevatus results from the retrograde effects of hallux equinus on the first metatarsal, and occurs in patients with pes planovalgus. 3. Flexor stabilization syndrome of the hallux occurs in patients with pes planovalgus, and is analogous to a flexor stabilization hammertoe of the lesser digits. 4. Differentiation between primary and secondary metatarsus primus elevatus is made by evaluation of weight-bearing radiographs, comparing the standard lateral radiograph to a lateral radiograph using a forefoot block test, in which the digits are suspended off of the weight-bearing surface.

The authors present a review of the literature concerning the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of osteochondral defects of the lower extremity. A case of bilateral osteochondritis dissecans of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in a 43-year-old female is presented, including surgical treatment with 1- and 3-year follow-up examinations. The correlation between articular damage to the first metatarsal head and concomitant hallux limitus and hallux rigidus is discussed. The authors also propose that osteochondritis dissecans lesions almost always occur on the convex surface of a joint because of a convergence of impaction forces.