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Objective Shockwave application is a potential treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Oxidative stress and a counterbalancing antioxidant system might be the key to understanding this mechanism. We hypothesized that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2),which is an important regulator of cellular redox homeostasis, are plausible elements. Design Porcine chondrocytes were cultured in a 3-dimensional pellet model and subjected to shockwaves. The effects of shockwaves with various energy-flux densities on optimal extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis were assessed. ROS, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and the redox activity of Nrf2 were measured. To investigate the signaling mechanism involved in the shockwave treatment in chondrocytes, specific inhibitors of ROS, MAPK signaling, and Nrf2 activity were targeted. Results Shockwaves increased ECM synthesis without affecting cell viability or proliferation. Furthermore, they induced transient ROS production mainly through xanthine oxidase. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 and the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 were activated by shockwaves. By contrast, suppression of ROS signaling mitigated shockwave-induced MAPK phosphorylation, Nrf2 nuclear translocation, and ECM synthesis. Pretreatment of chondrocytes with the specific inhibitors of MEK1/2 and p38, respectively, mitigated the shockwave-induced nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and ECM synthesis. Nrf2 inhibition by both small hairpin RNA knockdown and brusatol reduced the shockwave-enhanced ECM synthesis. Conclusions Shockwaves activated Nrf2 activity through the induction of transient ROS signaling and subsequently enhanced ECM synthesis in chondrocytes. This study provided fundamental evidence confirming the potential of shockwaves for OA management.

Shift work (SW) is the main working schedule worldwide, and it may cause sleep disorders, breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem in the workplace; however, the association between LBP and SW remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to determine the association between SW and LBP. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases using a set of associated keywords were queried. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) adult employees hired by a company or organization; (2) SW exposure; and (3) the outcome of LBP according to examination or assessment. A total of 40 studies were included that met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. SW was significantly associated with LBP (odds ratio [OR]: 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18–1.47, p < 0.00001). Furthermore, it was observed that LBP was significantly associated with night shift (NS) (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.24–1.82, p < 0.0001) but not with rotating shift (RS) (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.76–1.22, p = 0.49). Moreover, LBP was significantly associated with SW in health care workers (HCWs) (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.20–1.63, p < 0.0001) but not in non-HCWs (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.94–1.50, p = 0.14). SW was significantly associated with LBP. Furthermore, the subgroup analysis showed that NS, but not RS, was associated with LBP. Compared with SW in non-HCWs, SW in HCWs was significantly associated with LBP.

Ankle arthrodesis (AA) and total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) are the 2 primary surgical treatments for patients with end-stage ankle arthritis. The comparative outcomes between AA and TAA using modern techniques remain unclear. A systematic search to identify all relevant articles comparing AA with TAA was conducted through 3 online databases. The clinical outcomes were extracted for meta-analysis, including AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society) score, VAS (visual analog scale), AOS (Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale), gait analysis, ROM (range of motion), satisfaction, complication, and reoperation. Our meta-analysis shows no heterogeneity in any subgroup analyses. There were no significant differences in AOFAS total, pain, and alignment scores between the AA and TAA groups. The TAA group had significant improvement in AOFAS function score compared with the AA group. There was no significant difference in VAS and AOS total scores between the 2 groups. No significant differences in gait analysis were observed between the 2 groups. The TAA group had significant improvement in both ROM and change in ROM compared with the AA group. There was no significant difference in satisfaction rate between the 2 groups. The TAA group had significantly higher complication and reoperation rates compared with the AA group. Our meta-analysis provides updated evidence on clinical outcomes comparing AA with TAA using third-generation implants. The TAA group had better improvement in AOFAS function and ROM than the AA group. No significant differences in pain relief, gait analysis, or patient satisfaction were observed between the 2 groups.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of various strategies in the treatment of trigger finger. Data sources: A systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials to compare treatments for trigger finger was conducted through three online databases, Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library, from their inception dates to 22 May 2020. Methods: Relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate the effect sizes in success rate for included articles. Results: Sixteen articles ( n = 1185) were included in our meta-analysis. The results showed that the efficacy of steroid injection was significantly better than the placebo group at short-term follow-ups (RR = 19.00, 95% CI = 1.17–309.77 for one-week; RR = 3.70, 95% CI = 3.70, 95% CI = 1.61–8.53 for one-month), and then became non-significant at four months (RR = 3.21, 95% CI = 0.88–11.79). There was no significant difference in success rate between steroid injection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug injection, and between open surgery and percutaneous release at all the follow-ups. Only surgical treatment had significantly better efficacy in success rate than steroid injection at all follow-ups (RR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.34–0.66 for one-month; RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.80–0.96 for three-month; RR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.48–0.68 for six-month; RR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.20–0.72 for 12-month). Conclusion: There were no differences in efficacy between steroid injection and shockwave or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug injection. The surgical treatments had the best efficacy among these treatments.

Helminthostachys zeylanica (HZ), which is also called "Dao-Di-U-Gon" in Taiwan, has anti-inflammatory and antiedema effects and is commonly used to treat edema in patients with fractures. The ugonin K component of HZ can induce osteogenesis and promote bone mineralization, its therapeutic effect, however, its therapeutic effect remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of HZ on functional recovery in patients with ankle fractures requiring surgical treatment.A double-blinded, randomized, controlled study was conducted. A total of 45 patients with ankle fractures requiring surgical treatment were assigned to either the control group (n = 23 patients), which received the oral administration of HZ placebo 1.0 g t.i.d. for 42 days continuously, or to the treatment group (22 patients), which received HZ for 42 days.The serum amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (PINP) levels were similar in the first assessment (V1) between the control (45.90 ± 16.31 ng/mL) and treatment groups (52.61 ± 21.02 ng/mL; p = 0.240); the differences in PINP level between the third assessment (V3) and V1 were greater in the treatment group (35.84 ± 24.56 ng/mL) than in the control group (16.34 ± 11.97 ng/mL; p = 0.002). Radiographic healing time (RHT) was 9.09 ± 1.15 weeks in the treatment group, which was shorter than the 9.91 ± 0.79 weeks (p = 0.012) in the control group.Oral administration of HZ for 42 days can increase serum PINP level and reduce the RHT. Therefore, HZ can be used to treat patients with ankle fractures requiring surgical treatment. However, a larger sample size is needed in future studies.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was first introduced for treating knee osteoarthritis (OA) in 2010 and has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment option. Three RFA techniques have been adopted for treating knee OA, including conventional, pulsed, and cooled RFA. However, the efficacy among different RFA techniques in the treatment of knee OA is still unclear. Three electronic databases were systematically searched for relevant articles, including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. A meta-analysis of articles that investigated the use of RFA techniques in the treatment of knee OA was conducted to pool the effect size in pain before and after treatment. A total of 20 eligible articles (including 605 patients) were included for our meta-analysis. After treatment, the patients had significant improvements in pain for all three RFA techniques when compared with the baseline level for the 1, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups (p &lt, 0.00001). However, there were no significant differences in the efficacy among the three RFA techniques for all follow-up visits (p &gt, 0.05). The three RFA techniques demonstrated a significant improvement in pain for up to 6 months after treatment. Comparing the efficacy of the three RFA techniques in the treatment of knee OA, our results showed that no significant differences in pain relief among the three RFA techniques were observed at the 1-, 3-, 6, and 12-month follow-up visits.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as ideal entry points to the deregulated pathways in osteoporosis due to their relatively simple upstream and downstream relationships with other molecules in the signaling cascades. Our study aimed to give a comprehensive review of the already identified miRNAs in osteoporosis from human blood samples and provide useful information for their clinical application. A systematic literature search for relevant studies was conducted in the Pubmed database from inception to December 2020. We set two essential inclusion criteria: human blood sampling and design of controlled studies. We sorted the results of analysis on human blood samples according to the study settings and compiled the most promising miRNAs with analyzed diagnostic values. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo evidence for the mechanisms of the identified miRNAs was also illustrated. Based on both diagnostic value and evidence of mechanism from in vitro and in vivo experiments, miR-23b-3p, miR-140-3p, miR-300, miR-155-5p, miR-208a-3p, and miR-637 were preferred candidates in diagnostic panels and as therapeutic agents. Further studies are needed to build sound foundations for the clinical usage of miRNAs in osteoporosis.

Adequate postoperative analgesia after hallux valgus (HV) correction surgery improves early mobilization and decreases hospital stay. Peripheral nerve block and peri-incisional local anesthetic (LA) infiltration are both widely used for pain management in orthopedic surgeries. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic effects between the ankle block and peri-incisional infiltration technique in patients undergoing HV correction surgery. Ninety patients scheduled for hallux valgus correction surgery were randomly allocated into three groups. In group N, patients were pretreated with tibial and peroneal nerve blocks with 8-10 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine before surgery. In group P, patients received the same LA for peri-incisional infiltration preoperatively. In group C, patients underwent surgery without regional analgesic pretreatment. All patients had intravenous fentanyl patient control analgesia as part of multimodal postoperative pain management. Fentanyl consumption, rest and moving pain scale, and adverse effects were evaluated at postoperative 6 h (Poh6), Poh12, Poh 24, and Poh36, respectively. Patients receiving bilateral feet surgeries were excluded in this study. Seventy-five patients were enrolled into final analysis. The patients in group N expressed lower resting and moving pain scores at Poh6, but the pain scores turned similarly among the three groups following Poh12 and then. The total fentanyl consumption was significantly less in group N than in group P. The postoperative activities and mood disturbance were not significantly different between groups after Poh12 and then. We conclude that ankle block is better than peri-incisional LA infiltration in HV correction surgery in pain relief and fentanyl consumption.

Several studies have reported that Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels increase with age for people without diabetes. However, HbA1c levels associated with age and gender have not been well investigated for Taiwanese adults. The objective of this study was to investigate the sex-specific association between HbA1c levels and age for Taiwanese adults without diabetes. The data were collected from the Taiwan Biobank database with inclusive criteria being participants without diabetes. The association between HbA1c values and age was conducted by linear regression analysis, HbA1c values between sexes were compared by two-sample t-test, and HbA1c levels among age groups were compared using one-way ANOVA. The results showed that HbA1c levels were positively correlated with age, and the levels for males were significantly higher than for females among all participants. However, there was no significantly positive correlation between HbA1c levels and age in males for age group of 50–70 years. The levels of males were significantly higher than females for age groups of 30–39 and 40–49 years. There were significant differences in HbA1c levels among age groups for all participants, males, and females except for the two age groups of 50–59 and 60–70 years in males. Age and gender were important factors affecting HbA1c levels. Our results suggested that the HbA1c cut-point levels for the diagnosis of diabetes should vary by age and gender.

Aim: Taiwan’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) differed in that it successfully prevented the spread without having to shutdown or overburden medical services. Patients’ fear regarding the pandemic would be the only reason to reduce surgeries, so Taiwan could be the most suitable place for research on the influence of psychological factors. This study aimed to assess the impact of patients’ fear on orthopedic surgeries in Taiwan amid the peak period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and Methods: The investigation period included the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 to April 2020) and the corresponding period in the previous year. The following data on patients with orthopedic diseases were collected: outpatient visits, hospital admission, and surgical modalities. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 22%–29% and 20%–26% reduction in outpatients, 22%–27% and 25%–37% reduction in admissions, and 26%–35% and 18%–34% reduction in surgeries, respectively, at both hospitals. The weekly mean number of patients was significantly smaller during the COVID-19 pandemic for all types of surgery and elective surgeries at the university hospital, and for all types of surgery, elective surgeries, and total knee arthroplasties at the community hospital. Further, patients visiting the community hospital during the pandemic were significantly younger, for all types of surgery, elective surgeries, and total knee arthroplasties. Conclusions: The reduction in orthopedic surgeries in Taiwan’s hospitals during COVID-19 could be attributed to patients’ fear. Even without restriction, the pandemic inevitably led to a reduction of about 20%–30% of the operation volume.

Background: Shockwaves are acoustic pulses that have been widely used in the management of musculoskeletal disease. In current study, we investigated the biological effect of shockwaves on articular chondrocytes and clarified the mechanism by which chondrocytes sense and respond to the mechanical stimulation of shockwave treatment. Methods: Porcine articular chondrocytes and human osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes were cultured in a three-dimensional pellet culture model and subjected to shockwaves. Then alamarBlue assay, Hoechest DNA assay, fluorescence-activated cell sorter, real-time polymerase chain reaction immunofluorescence staining, and western blotting were used to determine biological function and signaling transduction of chondrocytes after shockwaves.Results: Shockwaves increased the sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG), Col2a1, and Acan production of chondrocytes without affecting cell viability and proliferation. Furthermore, shockwaves increased transient reactive oxygen species (ROS) production primarily through the action of xanthine oxidase and subsequently through phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and p38. Shockwaves also activated the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and the Nrf2-related downstream gene expression of Ho-1 and Nqo-1. We suppressed the xanthine oxidase activity by allopurinol or specific siRNA, which significantly abrogated shockwave-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, Nrf2 nuclear translocation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. U0126 and SB203580, the specific inhibitors of MAPKs MEK1/2 and p38, respectively, significantly abolished shockwave-induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation and ECM synthesis. Inhibition of Nrf2 by both shRNA knockdown and brusatol reduced the shockwave-increased GAG, Col2a1, and Acan production. Conclusions: Maintaining the homeostasis of the ECM of the articular cartilage is crucial for preventing the development OA. Our data indicate that shockwaves enhanced the ECM synthesis of chondrocytes through the activation of the ROS/MAPK/Nrf2 signaling axis. This study demonstrates that shockwaves holds promising therapeutic potential for OA and provides fundamental evidence for developing an optimal therapeutic strategy.

Background: Low back pain may inhibit patients’ spinal range of motion during radiography. Little is known about the dynamic changes of measurement variables and diagnosis of unstable segments in flexion/extension radiographs before and after analgesic injections. We hypothesise that pain control with intramuscular (IM) ketorolac could reveal more radiographic instability segments currently masked by low back pain. Methods: One hundred patients with symptomatic spondylolisthesis from outpatient clinics were recruited. Standing flexion-extension radiographs before and after analgesic injections (IM ketorolac 30 mg) were examined. The visual analog scale (VAS) score and the parameters of segmental instability, including dynamic lumbar lordosis (º; DL), dynamic segmental angulation (º; DA), dynamic segmental translation (mm; DT), and slip percentage (dynamic translation divided with vertebral body width; SP) (%), before and after ketorolac injection were measured. In addition, newly diagnosed unstable segments by different instability criteria were recorded. Pre-post changes between the two groups were analysed using paired t-tests.Results: The VAS score decreased significantly after analgesic injections (66.9 ± 0.97 vs. 32.2 ± 13.1 mm, P < 0.001). DL, DA, DT, and SP were significantly increased (P < 0.001) after providing analgesia compared to pre-analgesia. More unstable segments were found from radiography after ketorolac injection.Conclusion: Ketorolac 30 mg injections provided effective analgesia. The radiographic change and diagnosis of instability segments, which might be masked by back pain, significantly changed after IM Ketorolac in patients with symptomatic spondylolisthesis.

Post-traumatic isolated big toe extensor contracture after tibiofibular fracture is uncommon and only a few cases have been reported. Major causes of it include anterior compartment syndrome, direct injury, entrapment or adhesion of the muscle or tendon.We present an uncommon case of isolated extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon contracture following a distal tibiofibular shaft fracture without compartment syndrome of the affected leg or foot. The clinical outcome is good after Z-lengthening of the EHL tendon and abductor hallux tendon in 1-year follow-up. Level of clinical evidence: 5. Keywords: Abductor hallux tendon, Contracture, Extensor hallucis longus, Tibiofibular fracture, Z-lengthening

Objective To compare the efficacy of different radiofrequency techniques (thermal, pulsed, and cooled radiofrequency) for treating lumbar facet joint (LFJ) or sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain. Patients and methods The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age > 18 years; (2) patients suffering from LFJ or SIJ pain; and (3) patients receiving radiofrequency treatments. Four electronic databases, including Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Knowledge were systematically searched from inception until December 2019 for relevant articles. The search was conducted on 2 January 2020. When the outcomes among articles showed heterogeneity, then a random-effects model was adopted to calculate the effect size; otherwise, a fixed-effects model was adopted. Results All the three techniques showed significant improvements in LFJ or SIJ pain for up to 12 months compared with the baseline level. However, no significant differences among the three techniques were observed at any follow-up visits except for possibly a trend for variance in efficacy. For treating LFJ pain, cooled radiofrequency was the most effective, followed by thermal radiofrequency and then pulsed radiofrequency as the least respectively for the follow-up visit at 6 months. No serious complications were reported after receiving treatment using the three techniques. Conclusion Sequentially, cooled radiofrequency followed by thermal radiofrequency and then pulsed radiofrequency for treating LFJ pain were identified as most to least effective at the 6-month follow-up.

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) using a systemic review and meta-analysis. Methods An extensive search of relevant articles from electronic databases Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to March 2019 was conducted. The treatment outcomes (visual analog scale [VAS] and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index [WOMAC]) of the included articles were pooled to calculate effect sizes. The assessment of heterogeneity among articles was evaluated using I2. Statistical analyses were conducted using RevMan software. Results The results showed that the ESWT group had significant improvement in pain relief compared with the control group through 12 months based on WOMAC and VAS scores. Compared with the baseline level, the patients had significant improvement in pain relief at most follow-up points (one week to 12 months) based on WOMAC and VAS scores. The patients showed significant improvement in physical function at six- and 12-month follow-up when compared with the control group and for all follow-up (one to 12 months) when compared with the baseline level. Additionally, only minor complications were observed after ESWT treatment. Conclusions The use of ESWT for treatment of knee OA had a beneficial effect on pain relief and physical function improvement for up to 12 months, and only minor complications occurred after ESWT treatment. However, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the frequency and dosage levels of ESWT required to achieve the maximum improvement.

Osteoporosis is the second most common epidemiologic disease in the aging population worldwide. Previous studies have found that frequent tea drinkers have higher bone mineral density and less hip fracture. We previously found that (&minus, )-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) (20&ndash, 100 &micro, mol/L) significantly suppressed receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and pit formation via inhibiting NF-&kappa, B transcriptional activity and nuclear transport of NF-&kappa, B in RAW 264.7 cells and murine primary bone marrow macrophage cells. The most important regulation in osteoclastogenesis is the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB/RANKL/osteoprotegrin (RANK/RANKL/OPG) pathway. In this study, we used the coculture of RAW 264.7 cells and the feeder cells, ST2, to evaluate how EGCG regulated the RANK/RANKL/OPG pathway in RAW 264.7 cells and ST2 cells. We found EGCG decreased the RANKL/OPG ratio in both mRNA expression and secretory protein levels and eventually decreased osteoclastogenesis by TRAP (+) stain osteoclasts and TRAP activity at low concentrations&mdash, 1 and 10 &micro, mol/L&mdash, via the RANK/RANKL/OPG pathway. The effective concentration can be easily achieved in daily tea consumption. Taken together, our results implicate that EGCG could be an important nutrient in modulating bone resorption.

Pediatric humeral medial condyle fracture (HMCF) is a rare condition and is difficult to detect, especially in young children. The management of late presentation of HMCF is challenging and lacks consensus. Herein, we reported four cases of HMCF nonunion received open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or supracondyle osteotomy from our institution. In addition, 12 cases of ORIF and 4 cases of osteotomy reported in the previous studies were also reviewed. The HMCF nonunion can heal after ORIF, but the indication and the optimal techniques need to be clarified. Supracondylar osteotomy alone is an effective and safe treatment option to improve the functional and cosmetic outcomes of HMCF nonunion.

After acute hip surgery, the 1-year mortality rate is high. Therefore, this study evaluated the risk factors for 1-year mortality. The purposes of this study was first to examine the effect of integrated care on 1-year mortality in surgical patients and secondly to explore magnitude of comorbidity and complication on mortality.This retrospective cohort study included 313 patients received surgery for hip fragility fracture. Patients with multiple fractures or combined trauma were excluded. The patients were grouping into integrated (n = 106) and non-integrated care group (n = 207) models. Univariate and multiple Cox regression were used to examine effect of care model, comorbidity, and complication event.One-year mortality in integrated and non-integrated patients was 4.7% and 14.0% respectively. After adjustments, patients in non-integrated care, have 2.89 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-7.81) likely to die 1-year after discharged.Patients had elevated comorbidity or postoperative complications contributed to the mortality. Our study found the effect of patients treated by integrated care models, compared with usual model, significantly reduced 1-year mortality rate. Appropriated treatment of comorbidities during hospitalization and after discharge is critical to post-surgical survival. The findings imply that the co-care for hip fracture of hip surgical patients with orthogeriatricians is strongly recommended, particularly for those with >3 comorbidities.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of preoperative intravenous (IV) and intraoperative topical administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A total of 120 patients were and randomly allocated to either topical group, combined group, or control group. The mean total blood loss was lower in the combined and topical groups (705 mL and 579 mL, respectively) in comparison with control group (949 mL, P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in transfusion rate among groups (P = 0.009). The postoperative hemoglobin drop and total drain amount were significantly less in the combined group compared to other groups. In conclusion, combining preoperative IV injection and topical administration of TXA can effectively reduce blood loss and transfusion rate.

Transfer metatarsalgia (TM) is a common forefoot disorder secondary to hallux valgus (HV). Some authors suggest that a combined lesser metatarsal osteotomy while undergoing HV surgery improves metatarsalgia, whereas others concluded that isolated HV corrective osteotomy can improve symptomatic metatarsalgia. The main purpose of this retrospective study was to compare clinical outcomes in patients with and without combined lesser metatarsal osteotomy while receiving HV correction surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the patients who underwent osteotomy for HV correction between January 2000 and December 2010. All patients underwent HV correction with modified Mitchell osteotomy. Clinical evaluations including the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score and residual metatarsalgia were assessed, and radiographic measurements were carried out. Sixty-five patients (83 feet) meeting the selection criteria were enrolled. Thirty feet receiving a combined lesser metatarsal osteotomy were classified as the combined surgery (CS) group, and the others were classified as the control (CN) group (53 feet). The overall rate of persistent symptomatic metatarsalgia was 19.28% after operative treatment. There were six feet with residual metatarsalgia in the CS group, and 10 feet in the CN group. There was no significant difference in the rate of persistent symptoms between the two groups (p = 0.9). According to this result, modified Mitchell osteotomy alone did not have a higher rate of residual metatarsalgia than CS. We also found that the average recovery rate of TM was about 80.7% and those patients whose preoperative HV angle was > 30° had the higher risk of residual metatarsalgia after surgery.

This study aims to describe the clinical results of isolated talonavicular arthrodesis in rare Muller-Weiss disease, spontaneous osteonecrosis of the navicular in adults. From June 2001 to April 2010, we performed isolated talonavicular arthrodesis on 13 feet of 13 patients (mean age: 55.6 years) with Muller-Weiss disease. The feet were staged by the preoperative radiographs according to the Maceira classification. The average modified American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score improved from 48.5 points preoperatively to 87.2 points at final follow-up (mean 51 months, range 10–114 months). Union was achieved in 10 cases (76.9%). If the subtalar and calcaneocuboid joints are relatively healthy, isolated talonavicular arthrodesis may be an effective and reliable surgical option for treatment of Muller-Weiss disease that is resistant to conservative treatment.

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of different energy levels used in extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of plantar fasciitis using a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library, from inception to March 2019 for randomized controlled trials that compared ESWT with placebo in patients with plantar fasciitis. The risk of bias for selected articles was assessed based on the Cochrane Handbook Systematic Review of Interventions. The pooled data were estimated by the mean difference or odds ratio. The meta-analysis showed that the high-energy ESWT group had a better success rate than the control group only at a three-month follow-up, but no significant difference between groups was observed for the other follow-up visits (1 and 12 months). In addition, no significant differences in visual analog scale (VAS) scores between groups were observed for all the follow-up visits (one-month and three-month). On the contrary, the medium-energy ESWT group had significantly better success rates than the control group for all the follow-up visits (3, 6, and 12 months). In addition, the medium-energy ESWT group had significant improvement in VAS scores compared with the control group for all the follow-up visits (1, 3, 6, and 12 months) after removing the extreme values. The low-energy ESWT group had significant improvement in VAS scores compared with the control group for all the follow-up visits (3 and 12 months). Otherwise, focused ESWT seems to be more effective than radial ESWT when compared with the control group. Use of local anesthesia can reduce the efficacy of low- and high-energy ESWTs. Our meta-analysis suggested that medium-energy ESWT in the treatment of plantar fasciitis was more effective than the control group. A limited number of trials related to low- and high-energy ESWTs were included in our meta-analysis. More research is required to confirm the efficacy of low- and high-energy ESWTs in future studies.

The choice of surgical timing in open reduction for calcaneal fractures has been proposed to be associated with soft-tissue complications and infection. This study analysed the correlation between surgical timing and postoperative infection rates. We performed a retrospective single-surgeon single-facility study (Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, KMUH) between January 2006 and January 2010. Fifty patients with 53 close intra-articular calcaneal fractures were included. They received open reduction and internal fixation via the extensile lateral L-shaped approach. We assessed the duration between heel trauma and operation from the medical records and sorted our patients into early (within 3 days), intermediate (from 3 to 10 days) and delayed (over 10 days) surgical groups. The mean follow-up period was 13 months. Only one of the 50 patients, a 74-year-old female with diabetes mellitus, developed deep infection requiring hardware removal and serial debridement. Overall, we did not find a statistical difference in postoperative infection rates in the different timing groups. Our conclusion is that in experienced hands, surgical timing may not affect postoperative infection rates in calcaneal fracture among strictly selected patients who do not have potential risk factors for wound complication. Therefore, early operation may be helpful to these patients.

Background The authors have performed more than 1500 cases of a Mitchell osteotomy and traditionally used two crossed pins for fixation. The previous series showed some complications related to pin tract infection, pin migration, and transfer metatarsalgia. Since 2009, the authors have used a compression screw for fixation and made some technical modifications and the results are reported in this article. Methods A total of 95 patients underwent a Mitchell ostotomy to correct hallux valgus deformity with fixation with multi-use compression (MUC) screws. Hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal scale were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Results ~There were statistically differences between the preoperatively and postoperatively HVA, first IMA, and AOFAS hallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal scores. Five patients (8/137 feet, 5.8%) underwent removal of the screw because of screw tip irritation. Eight patients (9/137 feet, 6.5%) had transfer metatarsalgia of the second metatarsal, with two of them caused by dorsal tilt of the metatarsal head. One patient (1/137 feet, 0.7%) had undercorrection. There was no superficial infection, deep infection, nonunion, or osteonecrosis of the first metatarsal head. Conclusion On the basis of the results observed in this study, it appears that the use of a multi-use compression screw provides satisfactory stabilization of the modified Mitchell osteotomy and was not associated with any serious complications. The modified technique also helped reduce transfer metatarsalgia.

Background: The use of minimally invasive surgical technique for hallux valgus is controversial. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the radiographic results of a minimally invasive distal metatarsal osteotomy for correction of hallux valgus. Materials and Methods: From September 2005 to March 2008, a minimally invasive distal metatarsal osteotomy was performed in 82 patients (125 feet) for hallux valgus. The average age was 40.8 (range, 13 to 71) years. The mean followup period was 18.3 (range, 9 to 38) months. These patients were categorized into groups based on their gender, age, preoperative hallux valgus angle, and preoperative 1–2 intermetatarsal angle. The radiographs were reviewed for preoperative and final followup hallux valgus angle, 1–2 intermetatarsal angle, and malunion or nonunion. A final followup hallux valgus angle greater than 20 degrees was defined as “recurrence of deformity” and represented a poor radiographic result. Results: There were no nonunions but one case of plantarflexion malunion. One case had skin irritation due to prominent bone. A poor radiographic result occurred in 29 feet (23.2%). Of those 36 feet whose preoperative hallux valgus angle was equal or greater than 30 degrees, 23 feet had a poor radiographic result (63.9%). Of those 89 feet whose preoperative hallux valgus angle was less than 30 degrees, only six feet had a poor radiographic result (6.7%) ( p= 0.0001). The preoperative 1–2 intermetatarsal angle was found to have no statistically significant influence on poor radiographic results ( p = 0.0539). Both the age and sex of the patients had no statistically significant influence ( p = 0.8048 and 0.8604, respectively). Conclusion: Based on our results, we do not recommend use of this technique to treat moderate to severe hallux valgus (hallux valgus angle, 30) degrees. We believe a traditional open osteotomy with formal capsulorrhaphy would be a better choice of treatment. Level of Evidence: IV, Retrospective Case Series

Removing a bent femoral intramedullary nail is challenging and usually requires special equipment to weaken or transect the nail. We have developed a novel technique with simple devices including one dynamic compression plate and two bone-holding forceps to straighten a bent nail. The results showed that one can use this method for bent nail removal effectively and easily.