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Background The indications and technique for the transfibular approach to the tibiotalar joint have evolved since its initial popularization in 1942. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the indications, techniques, and postoperative outcomes among procedures performed with the transfibular approach. Methods A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases from 1942 to 2018 was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. After an initial broad search of transfibular approach indications, articles were stratified into 4 major surgical categories for assessment: (1) tibiotalar arthrodesis (2) tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis (3) total ankle replacement and (4) distal tibial tumor excision. Data was analyzed according to these 4 categories. Results A total of 32 studies (874 ankles) were included. Fibular non-union rates were 0.7 % (5 of 672) across all studies, 0.6% (2 of 329) for tibiotalar arthrodesis, 0.0% (0 of 12) for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis, 1.0 % (3 of 296) for total ankle arthroplasty and 0.0% (0 of 15) for other procedures. Rates of deep infection were 2.5% (23 of 903) across all studies, 3.2% (15 of 466) for tibiotalar arthrodesis, 3.7% (4 of 106) for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis, 1.3% (4 of 296) for total ankle arthroplasty, and 0.0% (0 of 15) for other procedures. Conclusions The transfibular approach is useful for cases requiring extensile exposure of the tibiotalar joint. This study provides evidence that the transfibular approach yields satisfactory results, with low complication and infection rates. Level of evidence IV

Objectives To determine if overlap of definitive plate fixation with external fixator pin sites is a risk factor for infection in pilon fractures. Design Retrospective Cohort SETTING:: Level 1 trauma center PATIENTS:: One-hundred and forty-six patients with pilon fractures treated between 2012 and 2018. Intervention Staged treatment with ankle-spanning external fixation followed by delayed open reduction and internal fixation. Main outcome measures Demographic, radiographic, and operative data were reviewed and the distance between the temporary external fixator pin sites and the definitive plate was measured. The primary outcome measure was the development of a deep post-operative infection. Results Overall, 22 (15%) of patients developed deep wound infections. Overlap of definitive plate and external fixation pin-site occurred in 58 (40%) of ankles. Of these, 7 (12%) developed deep wound infection compared to 15 (17%) of patients without overlap (p=0.484). There was no significant difference in amount of overlap (p=0.636) or distance from plate to pin site (p=0.607) in patients with and without deep infection. Of the patients with deep infection, 11 (50%) occurred in patients with open fractures. Conclusion Overlap of definitive plate fixation with primary spanning external fixator pin sites is not a risk factor for development of deep infection in a staged treatment of high energy pilon fractures. Level of evidence Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Introduction We performed a survivorship analysis of patients treated with patellofemoral osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) using either a shell or plug technique and identified variables associated with graft failure. Methods Consecutive patients at two institutions who underwent OCA of the patellofemoral compartment between March 1, 2001 to March 1, 2015, were retrospectively identified at minimum 2 years' follow-up. Demographic information, intraoperative findings, and postoperative data were collected. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of surgical technique (plug group and shell group). Failure was defined as revision OCA, conversion to arthroplasty, or gross appearance of graft degeneration on second-look arthroscopy. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify patient- and surgery-specific variables associated with survivorship. Results Fifty patients were identified (36 women and 14 men; mean age 37.43 ± 8.87 years). Sixteen patients received plug allografts, whereas 34 received shell allografts. Forty percent of patients underwent a concomitant meniscal, ligamentous, malalignment, or chondral procedure. Five patients in the Plug Group (31.3%) underwent reoperation at a mean 1.37 ± 1.34 years, and 28 patients (82.4%) who received Shell OCA underwent reoperation at a mean 1.94 ± 1.92 years. Two patients in the plug group had graft failure at a mean 9.17 ± 0.93 years, whereas 13 patients in the shell group had graft failure at a mean 3.81 ± 2.78 years. Patients with plug allografts demonstrated 100% and 66% survival at 5 and 9.8 years, respectively. For the shell group, survivorship was 65.8% and 37% at 5 and 10.6 years, respectively. Increasing body mass index was associated with failure for the case series overall (odds ratio 1.33, P = .020). Traumatic cause was found to be protective of failure (odds ratio = 0.02, P = .035). Conclusions Plug OCA of the patellofemoral compartment can be an efficacious procedure with quality mid-term outcomes. Shell OCA led to high failure rates at midterm outcomes. Increasing body mass index may predispose patients to failure, whereas traumatic cause of their lesion was associated with improved outcomes. Level of Evidence Level IV, Therapeutic case series.

Background Tibialis anterior (TA) tendinosis is rarely reported on in the literature. It is seen in patients older than 45 and causes weakness in dorsiflexion. This paper aims to describe surgical treatment and clinical outcomes. Methods Between 2015 and 2018, nine patients (six females, three males) with severe TA tendinosis with no tear (2), partial (1), or complete (6) underwent operative treatment. Patients underwent debridement and direct repair without augmentation, direct repair with fiber tape augmentation, tibialis posterior tendon (PTT) transfer, or tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) augmentation with a tendon autograft (n = 4). Autografts consisted of extensor digitalis longus (EDL) tendon, plantaris tendon, or both. Results Mean postoperative follow-up was 21.3 (range 8–31) months. All patients had a concomitant gastrocnemius recession, and three had hindfoot arthrodesis. Preoperative dorsiflexion strength was 0/5 for all and improved to 5/5 postoperatively in seven. The only current smoker developed wound dehiscence 2 weeks postoperatively and healed by 4. One developed marginal skin necrosis 3 weeks postoperatively and was treated successfully with casting. Conclusion Surgery reestablished function in individuals with TA tendinosis and allowed high level of satisfaction. Direct repair is possible. If the tendon gap is too large an autograft of EDL and plantaris tendon can be utilized. Level of evidence: Level III Retrospective Comparative Study

Introduction. The open, lateral sinus tarsi approach is the most commonly used technique for subtalar arthrodesis. In this cadaver study, we measured the maximum joint surface area that could be denuded of cartilage and subchondral bone through this approach. Methods. Nine fresh frozen above-knee specimens were used. The subtalar joint was accessed through a lateral incision from the fibular malleolus distally over the sinus tarsi area to the level of the calcaneocuboid joint. Cartilage was removed from the anterior, middle, and posterior facets of the calcaneus and talus using an osteotome and/or curette. ImageJ was used to calculate the surface areas of undenuded cartilage. Results. No specimens were 100% denuded of cartilage on all 6 measured surfaces. The greatest percentages of unprepared surface area remained on the middle facet of the talus (18.66%) and the middle facet of the calcaneus (14.51%). The anterior facet of the talus was 100% denuded in 6 specimens, while the middle and posterior facets were 100% denuded in 3 specimens. The anterior facet of the calcaneus was also 100% denuded in 6 specimens, while the middle and posterior facets were 100% denuded in 3 and 4 specimens, respectively. The average total unprepared surface area per specimen was 8.67%. Conclusion. The lateral sinus tarsi approach provides adequate denudation of cartilage of the subtalar joint in most cases. Total percentage of unprepared joint surface may range from approximately 2% to 18%. Future clinical studies are warranted to assess whether this technique results in optimal union rates. Levels of Evidence:V, Cadaveric Study

Background: The lateral extensile approach (LEA) is an operative approach for calcaneal fractures. High rates of wound complications have led to alternative approaches such as the sinus tarsi approach to grow in popularity. The LEA affords substantial visualization of the calcaneus. This visualization has never been compared in a quantitative manner with the sinus tarsi approach (STA). We aim to quantify the calcaneal visualization afforded by STA and LEA. Methods: Seven pair-matched, fresh-frozen, below-knee cadaver extremities were included. For each pair, one side received an LEA and the other side received an STA. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the articular surfaces accessible between the 2 approaches. The total calcaneal surface area accessible was 3107.08 mm2 for LEA and 1444.19 mm2 for STA ( P = .02). The LEA allowed better exposure to the lateral wall ( P = .01) and the dorsal tuberosity of the calcaneus ( P = .04). Conclusion: The STA allows for equivalent articular surface exposure when compared with the LEA. Although LEA allows for greater exposure of the lateral wall and dorsal tuberosity, direct visualization of these structures may not warrant the higher risk of wound complications. Surgeons should consider these differences when choosing an operative approach in the treatment of calcaneal fractures. : Level III

Category: Ankle; Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Flexor Hallucis Longus (FHL) tendon transfer to the calcaneus is a common adjuvant procedure in the treatment of Achilles pathology. The FHL tendon can be harvested using a posterior incision where the tendon is dissected along its course into the fibroosseous tunnel. Alternatively, the FHL may be harvested through a separate plantar medial incision as it crosses the flexor digitorium longus at the Knot of Henry. This study aims to quantify FHL tendon lengths achieved through the two common approaches utilizing pair matched cadavers. Methods: Seven pair matched fresh-frozen cadaver legs without signs of musculoskeletal abnormalities were used for this assessment. One leg in each pairing underwent a single incision harvest while the contralateral leg underwent an accessory medial plantar harvest. After dissecting the tendon, a calcaneus tunnel was prepared from dorsal to plantar in both calcanei in standard fashion. Two measurements were obtained. The first measurement was taken from the distal aspect of the muscle belly to the distal end of the tendon. The tendon was then pulled through the calcaneus, and the foot was held in tension at 20 degrees of plantar flexion. The second measurement was taken from site where tendon entered the calcaneous to the distal end of the tendon graft. The measurements were analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test and Fischer Exact Test. Results: Using a posterior incision, the mean tendon measurement from calcaneous tunnel to the distal end of the tendon was 4.0 cm. Using an accessory plantar medial incision, the mean tendon measurement from the calcaneous tunnel to the distal end of the tendon was 7.2 cm. The average tunnel length obtained using an accessory medial incision was significantly greater than the length obtained using the single incision approach (p= 0.0003, p=0.0022, and p=0.0016). The accessory plantar medial incision obtained an FHL tendon tunnel length that was an average of 2.9 cm greater than the posterior incision. Conclusion: The single incision approach provided sufficient length to safely anchor the FHL into the calcaneus which suggests that the accessory plantar medial approach is not necessary for routine FHL transfers to the calcaneus with interference screw fixation. However, if additional length is needed for other applications such as posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction or peritoneal tendon tears, the accessory incision does provide an average of 2.9 cm of additional length.

Purpose This study compares the amount of joint preparation and first ray shortening following first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint fusion utilizing open conical reaming versus arthroscopic technique. Methods Ten below-knee cadaver specimens were randomly assigned to undergo either open or arthroscopic first MTP fusion. Following fixation, first ray length measurements were obtained from pre-operative and post-operative radiographs and were used to determine first ray shortening. Additionally, the ratio of first ray length to second ray length was calculated both pre-operatively and post-operatively and compared between the two approaches. All ankles were then completely dissected, and prepared surface areas were demarcated. ImageJ photo analysis software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) was used to calculate the percentage of prepared and unprepared cartilage of each articular surface of each specimen. Results Overall, the open approach resulted in 99.3% ± 1.6% joint surface preparation, whereas the arthroscopic approach yielded 92.9% ± 7.2% (p = 0.089). On average, the head of the first metatarsal was significantly more prepared with the use of the open approach (99.5% ± 1.1%) than with the arthroscopic approach (96.6% ± 1.5%) (p = 0.008). However, with respect to the base of the phalanx, the average difference in preparation between the arthroscopic approach and the open approach was not statistically significant (90.0% ± 12.8% vs. 99.0% ± 2.2%; p = 0.160). The average amount of first ray shortening in the arthroscopic approach was 2.2 ± 1.8 mm compared to 2.1 ± 3.2 mm in the open approach (p = 0.934). The average change in the first to second ray length ratio was 0.02 for both approaches (p = 0.891). Conclusion Arthroscopic first MTP fusion can be used to achieve joint preparation comparable to open technique while maintaining first ray length.

Category: Ankle, Arthroscopy, Basic Sciences/Biologics Introduction/Purpose: Subtalar fusion is the treatment of choice for subtalar arthritis when conservative management fails. Subtalar fusion can be done through open approach or arthroscopic technique. Arthroscopic technique is associated with rapid recovery; however, it requires adequate training and skill. Arthroscopic technique can be done through lateral or posterior portals. Sometimes it may be necessary to use accessory portal to open or distract the joint for adequate joint preparation. Use of accessory portal may result in injury to the neurovascular structure. Whatever the technique, one of the most important aspects of fusion is adequate preparation of the joint. Aim of our study is to compare the preparation of subtalar joint using sinus tarsi open approach and posterior subtalar scopy using 2 portal technique in cadaveric specimens. Methods: We used 20 below knee fresh-frozen cadaver legs for this cadaveric study. Subtalar joints of ten specimens were prepared through the lateral approach, while the remaining ten joints were prepared using sinus tarsi incisions. After the completion of preparation, all ankles were dissected open, photographic images of calcaneal and talar articular were taken. (Image)Surface areas of each articular facet and prepared area of the talus, distal tibia, and distal fibula were measured and analyzed. Results: Open technique results in better preparation of joint surface in calcaneus and overall. While open technique results in preparation of 92% joint surface (combined talus and calcaneus), arthroscopic technique results in in 80% of joint surface. Open technique results in better preparation of calcaneus (79vs 94%). The anterolateral corner of calcaneus was difficult to be reached using the scope and unprepared in most cases. There was no significant difference in the preparation of talar articular surface. (Table 1) Conclusion: Open sinus tarsi results in more joint preparation compared to 2 portal posterior arthroscopic technique. The less amount of joint preparation in arthroscopic technique is mostly due to less preparation of AL corner. Of calcaneus. When using posterior arthroscopic technique, it is advisable to use accessory portal to distract the joint to aid in adequate preparation.

Category: Arthroscopy, Basic Sciences/Biologics, Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: First metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint fusion has been proven to be an effective treatment for a variety of conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, hallux rigidus/valgus, and failed first MTP arthroplasties. Multiple surgical techniques have been described in the literature with regards to bone preparation and different fixation with varying degrees of success. Studies have demonstrated that one of the complications of MTP fusion is first ray shortening, which can lead to symptomatic forefoot disorders such as transfer metatarsalgia of the lesser toes. Patients can develop altered gait mechanics that manifest as decreased ankle plantarflexion at toe-off and decreased step gait. The purpose of this study was to compare the amount of first ray shortening that occurs during MTP fusions with open versus arthroscopic technique. Methods: Ten specimens were divided into two groups. Group one was arthroscopic and group two was open technique. For arthroscopy, the long extensor (EHL) tendon and first MTP joint were identified. Dorsomedial and dorsolateral ports were created at the level of the MTP joint. A small curette was used to prepare the joint. For open technique, an incision was made on the dorsum of the first MTP joint and carried down to the subcutaneous tissue. The EHL tendon was dissected and a capsulotomy was performed. The head of the first metatarsal and the base of the proximal phalanx were exposed. Dome-shaped reamers were used to prepare the joint. A lag screw was used for fixation. AP and lateral radiographs were obtained. The length of the first ray was measured from the base of the first metatarsal to the distal end of the proximal phalanx. Pre and post fixation lengths were compared. Results: A comparison of pre and post fixation first ray length demonstrated that there was an average decrease of 2.2 mm in the arthroscopic group and 2.1 mm in the open technique group. Even though both techniques shortened the average length of the first ray, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.934). Comparison of the average percentage of surface area prepared of the head of the first metatarsal showed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.035) between both techniques. In contrast, comparison of the average percentage of surface area prepared of the base of the proximal phalanx and total surface area prepared did not show a statistically significant difference (p = 0.159 and p = 0.051) between the groups. Conclusion: First metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint fusion has been proven to be an effective treatment for a variety of conditions that affect the first ray. First ray shortening can lead to symptomatic forefoot disorders and altered gait patterns. The results of our study indicate that there is no statistically significant difference in first ray length after MTP fusion performed by either arthroscopic or open technique. Our study also showed that even though the average percentage of surface area prepared of the head of the first metatarsal was statistically different between both groups the average percentage of total surface area prepared was not.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the anatomic variations in the saphenous nerve and risk of direct injury to the saphenous nerve and greater saphenous vein during syndesmotic suture button fixation. Methods: Under fluoroscopic guidance, syndesmotic suture buttons were placed from lateral to medial at 1, 2, and 3 cm above the tibial plafond on 10 below-knee cadaver leg specimens. The distance and position of each button from the greater saphenous vein and saphenous nerve were evaluated. Results: The mean distance of the saphenous nerve to the suture buttons at 1, 2, and 3 cm were 7.1 ± 5.6, 6.5 ± 4.6, and 6.1 ± 4.2, respectively. Respective rate of nerve compression was as follows, 20% at 1 cm, 20% at 2 cm, and 10% at 3 cm. Mean distance of the greater saphenous vein from the suture buttons at 1, 2, and 3 cm was 8.6 ± 7.1, 9.1 ± 5.3, and 7.9 ± 4.9 mm, respectively. Respective rate of vein compression was 20%, 10%, and 10%. A single nerve branch was identified in 7 specimens, and 2 branches were identified in 3 specimens. Conclusion: There was at least one case of injury to the saphenous vein and nerve at every level of button insertion at a rate of 10% to 20%. Neurovascular injury may occur despite vigilant use of fluoroscopy and adequate surgical technique. Further investigation into the use of direct medial visualization of these high-risk structures should be done to minimize the risk. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level II: Prospective, comparative study

Category: Hindfoot; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: The lateral extensile approach (LEA) to the calcaneus has long been a popular surgical approach to treat calcaneal fractures. However, high rates of wound complications have led surgeons to investigate alternative approaches. As a result, the sinus tarsi approach has grown in popularity. The lateral extensile approach affords substantial visualization of the calcaneus. However, this visualization has never been compared in a quantitative manner to the sinus tarsi approach (STA). The objective of this cadaveric study is to compare calcaneal visualization afforded by a sinus tarsi approach and a lateral extensile approach. Methods: Seven pair-matched, fresh-frozen, below-knee cadaver specimens were obtained. For each pair, one side received an LEA and the other side received a STA. To identify areas of the calcaneus accessible by instrument, a curette was used to mark the visualized calcaneal surfaces. The calcaneus was then disarticulated and cleared of all soft tissue. The curette markings were then identified and marked with blue surgical marker. Photos were taken of each calcaneus, and visualized surface areas were calculated using Image J software. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the articular surfaces accessible between the two approaches (831.99 mm2 for LEA vs. 903.41 mm2 for STA, p=0.53) including the anterior, middle, and posterior facets. The total calcaneal surface area accessible was 3107.08 mm2 for LEA and 1444.19 mm2 for STA (p=0.02). The LEA allowed better exposure to the lateral wall (pConclusion: In comparison to the LEA, the STA allows for equivalent exposure to articular surfaces. While the LEA allows for greater exposure of the lateral wall and posterior tuberosity, direct visualization of these structures may not warrant the higher risk of wound complications. Surgeons should be mindful of these differences when choosing a surgical approach in the treatment of calcaneal fractures.

CASE A 19-year-old woman sustained a plantar flexion-inversion injury to her right ankle after a low-speed motor vehicle collision. Clinical examination demonstrated supinated, adducted deformity of the foot, and prominent calcaneus laterally. Radiographs revealed dislocation of the calcaneocuboid joint, a rare injury, which was successfully stabilized by a novel technique using a hamstring allograft. The presentations and clinical and surgical management of this rare condition are discussed. CONCLUSION We present a technique that has shown good long-term results in a young patient with recurrent calcaneocuboid joint dislocations. Our novel ligament reconstruction technique using a semitendinosus allograft seems to be a promising treatment option in young patients with unstable calcaneocuboid joints.

Non-infectious soft tissue lesions of the foot and ankle are relatively rare clinically. These include benign and malignant neoplasms, as well as non-neoplastic or pseudotumoral lesions such as ganglionic, synovial and epidermoid cysts, intermetatarsal and adventitious bursitis, inflammatory lesions like gouty tophi and rheumatoid nodules, Morton's neuroma, and granuloma annulare. A 48-year-old male with a history of medically treated tophaceous gout presented with left foot neuropathic pain and paresthesia, in the setting of a well-circumscribed soft tissue lesion of the second intermetatarsal space, suspected to be a Morton's neuroma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 4.1 x 2.7 x 2.6 cm heterogeneous soft tissue mass containing multiple cystic areas. Excisional biopsy was performed and histologic examination revealed well-circumscribed nodules of amorphous material containing needle-shaped clefts, rimmed by histiocytes, and multinucleated giant cells consistent with a gouty tophus. This is the first case reported in the literature of an intermetatarsal gouty tophus causing neuropathic pain and paresthesia. While Morton's neuroma is the most common cause of this presentation, this case illustrates that other pseudotumoral lesions, such as a gouty tophus, may present similarly, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis. While most cases of tophaceous gout can be adequately treated with urate-lowering therapy, surgery may be indicated for tophi that do not resolve with medical treatment based upon symptom severity, compression of nearby structures, and functional impairment.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a rare but potentially lethal complication after orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery. The true incidence of VTE after orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery stratified by specific procedure has yet to be examined. The purpose of this study is to report the incidence of and identify risk factors for VTE in a large sample of patients receiving orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2006 to 2015 data files. The incidence of VTE was calculated for 30 specific orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeries and for 4 broad types of foot and ankle surgery. Demographic, comorbidity, and complication variables were analyzed to determine associations with development of VTE. Results: The overall incidence of VTE in our sample was 0.6%. The types of procedures with the highest frequency of VTE were ankle fractures (105/15 302 cases, 0.7%), foot pathologies (28/5466, 0.6%), and arthroscopy (2/398, 0.5%). Female gender, increasing age, obesity, inpatient status, and nonelective surgery were all significantly associated with VTE. Conclusion: Although VTE after orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery is a rare occurrence, several high-risk groups and procedures may be especially indicated for chemical thromboprophylaxis.Levels of Evidence: Level III: Retrospective, comparative study

Cartilage lesions frequently involve the patellofemoral joint. Damage from blunt trauma, patellar dislocation and/or degenerative pathology frequently results in gradual articular cartilage deterioration leading to debilitating joint pain, functional impairment, and osteoarthritis. Currently, the standard surgical procedure for end-stage degenerative joint disease is joint arthroplasty. Due to the limitations imposed by the arthroplasty, a biological restoration approach earlier in the disease process is desirable for young and active patients. The pathoanatomy, biomechanics and cartilage thickness are unique to the patellofemoral compartment and must be addressed in a comprehensive manner concomitantly with cartilage restoration. Recognition and correction of these unique features of the PF compartment are critical to the optimization of clinical outcomes.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compression peripheral neuropathies. It affects mainly middle-aged women. The classic symptoms of CTS include nocturnal pain associated with tingling and numbness in the distribution of median nerve in the hand. There are several physical examination tests that will help in the diagnosis of CTS, but none of these tests are diagnostic on their own. The gold standard test is nerve conduction studies. The diagnosis of CTS should be based on history, physical examination, and results of electrophysiological studies. The patient with mild symptoms of CTS can be managed with conservative treatment, particularly local injection of steroids and night splinting. However, in moderate to severe cases, surgery is the only treatment that provides cure. The basic principle of surgery is to increase the volume of the carpal tunnel by dividing transverse carpal ligament to release the pressure on the median nerve.

Category: Ankle, Ankle Arthritis, Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: A variety of operative approaches and fixation techniques have been described for tibiotalar (TT) and tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis. In the past two decades, authors have begun to more robustly examine outcomes of the transfibular approach for TT arthrodesis and expanded its indication to include TTC fusion. The transfibular technique is broadly divided into two categories: 1) Complete excision of fibula 2) Soft tissue preservation techniques with retention of fibula. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the surgery outcomes in transfibular approach and compare the fibula excision versus fibula retention techniques and examine the factors that play into the risk. Methods: Following institutional review board approval, a retrospective review was performed on all patients who underwent TT and TTC arthrodesis through a lateral transfibular approach with minimum 1 year clinical and radiologic follow up. All other operative approach and fixation combinations for arthrodesis were excluded. Primary outcomes examined were union rate, revisions, and complications related to fibula excision versus retention group. Sixteen patients underwent TT and TTC arthrodesis with fibular retention and twelve with fibular excision techniques. Results: The overall union rate was 89%, 87% (14 of 16 ankles) for the fibula retention group, and 91% (11 of 12) for fibula excision group (P = .72). Symptomatic nonunion requiring revision arthrodesis occurred in 6% (1 of 16) of the retention group versus 8% (1 of 12) in the excision group (P = .83). There were no significant differences in individual tibiotalar or subtalar union, reoperation, superficial wound problems, infection and symptomatic hardware rates. Elective hardware removal was performed in 12%(2of 16) in fibular retention group versus 25%(3 of 12) in fibula excision group (P = .39), none of the hardware removal was related to the fibula fixation. Each group had three episodes of reoperation due to non-union, osteomyelitis and painful hardware. Conclusion: Union, reoperation rates were similar in fibula resection versus retention groups. The frequency of infection and wound complication was not significantly different in both groups, despite the wide variety of patient population and preoperative indications.

Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a rare but potentially lethal complication following orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery. Surgeons continue to debate the types of patients and procedures in which it is appropriate to use chemical thromboprophylaxis. A recent meta-analysis concluded that patients at high risk for VTE after foot and ankle surgery should receive prophylaxis, but there remains a paucity of data to elucidate which demographic or comorbidity variables are most strongly associated with development of VTE. The incidence of VTE after orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery stratified by specific procedure has yet to be examined. The purpose of this study is to report the incidence of and identify risk factors for VTE in a large sample of patients receiving orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed prospectively-collected data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) 2006 to 2015 data files. The incidence of VTE was calculated for 30 specific orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeries and for four broad types of foot and ankle surgery. A total of 23,212 patients were identified and grouped by current procedures terminology (CPT) codes. Demographic, comorbidity, and complication variables were analyzed to determine associations with development of VTE. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to compare categorical variables and Student t test was used to compare continuous variables. P-values of pResults: The mean age at the time of surgery was 52.7±17.8 years. VTE events were documented 142 times in our sample, yielding an overall sample VTE incidence of 0.6%. The types of procedures with the highest frequency of VTE were ankle fractures (105/15,302 cases, 0.7%), foot pathologies (28/5,466, 0.6%), and arthroscopy (2/398, 0.5%). Female sex, increasing age, obesity level, inpatient status, and non-elective surgery were all significantly associated with VTE events. Postoperative pneumonia was significantly associated with VTE development. Patients who developed a VTE stayed at the hospital after surgery significantly longer than patients without VTE (6.2 vs. 3.1 days). Patients who developed VTE also had significantly higher estimated probability of morbidity (8.0% vs. 6.0%) and mortality (2.0% vs. 1.0%) when compared to patients without VTE. Conclusion: The present study confirms that VTE events after foot and ankle procedures are rare. The data presented suggest that female sex, increasing age, higher BMI, inpatient status, and non-elective procedures are associated with increased risk for VTE after orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery. Prospective, randomized, controlled trials are necessary to definitively determine the efficacy of chemoprophylaxis and to develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to minimize VTE after foot and ankle procedures.