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Background: Percutaneous Zadek osteotomy (ZO) has emerged as a surgical treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) over the last decade. Existing literature is limited regarding the comparison of this approach with the more established, open ZO technique. This systematic review aims to evaluate and compare the current data on open vs percutaneous ZO approaches to help set evidence-based guidelines. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using the keywords (Zadek osteotomy) OR (Keck and Kelly osteotomy) OR (dorsal closing wedge calcaneal osteotomy) OR (Haglund Deformity) OR (Haglund Syndrome) OR (Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy) and MeSH terms Osteotomy , Calcaneus , Syndrome , Insertional , Achilles tendon , and Tendinopathy . Our search included the following databases: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. The PRISMA protocol and the Cochrane Handbook guidelines were followed. All studies included were published from 2009 to 2024 and included the use of open or percutaneous approaches of ZO for the treatment of IAT with at least a 12-month follow-up. The MINORS score criteria were used to evaluate the strength and quality of studies. Results: A total of 17 studies were reviewed, including 611 subjects and 625 ZO procedures. Of these procedures, 81 (11%) subjects had a percutaneous and 544 (89%) subjects had an open ZO. The mean follow-up time was 16.1 months for patients treated with percutaneous ZO and 36.1 months for patients treated with open ZO. Both open and percutaneous studies included in this review showed postoperative improvements in AOFAS, FFI, VISA-A, and VAS scores in patients with IAT. The reported complication rate was 5.8% among patients treated with percutaneous ZO and 10.2% among patients treated with open ZO. Conclusion: Percutaneous ZO is an emerging approach with substantially fewer documented cases compared with the open ZO. Both percutaneous and open ZO appear to be relatively effective treatments for insertional Achilles tendinopathy with Haglund’s deformity. The lower complication rates reported for percutaneous ZO is encouraging. Further investigation with more subjects undergoing percutaneous ZO is clearly needed.

Introduction/Purpose: Insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) is a common source of posterior heel pain treated by orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons. Traditional surgical treatment consists of an open Achilles tendon debridement with re-attachment as well as excision of the posterosuperior calcaneal prominence with or without a gastrocnemius recession. However, frequent complications include wound healing issue, scar pain, weakness and sural nerve injury. Accordingly, the percutaneous ZO is gaining popularity in the field as an alternative to an open midline splitting approach. Limited literature exists describing outcomes of the percutaneous ZO using a larger sample size. The purpose of this study was to analyze patient reported outcomes and complications after percutaneous ZO with a minimum two-year follow-up period. Methods: One hundred and eight cases treated with percutaneous ZO were retrospectively reviewed across October 2017-July 2021 and outcomes data was available for 104 cases with a minimum two-year follow-up. Patient sex, age, and pertinent comorbidities were recorded. Postoperative complications and patient satisfaction following intervention were evaluated. Foot Function Index score (FFI) was utilized to measure patients’ pain and functional outcomes. Visual Analyzing Scale score (VAS) was also utilized to evaluate pain. These measurements were taken at preoperative and final follow-up. Statistical comparisons were performed using two-tailed, paired t-test with p< 0.05. Results: Mean follow-up time was 41.2±13.1 months (range 24-65 months). The mean FFI score improved from 56.1±5.9 (range 47-88) preoperatively to 11.0±5.1 (range 7-59) postoperatively (p < 0.001). Average VAS score improved in patients receiving percutaneous ZO from 7.6±1.3 (range 5-10) to 0.4±0.9 (range 0-7) postoperatively (p < 0.001). The overall complication rate was 3.8% (N =4). Of 104 cases, 98.1% of patients were satisfied with their procedure (102/104). Conclusion: The percutaneous ZO is a safe and highly effective intervention for treatment of IAT. At a minimum of two-years follow-up, this intervention is associated with minimal complications, improved functional outcomes, reduced pain, and high patient satisfaction. Table 1 Functional and subjective pain preoperative and postoperative scores as evaluated by functional foot index (FFI) and visual analogue scale (VAS), respectively

Category: Hindfoot; Other Introduction/Purpose: Minimally invasive (MIS) percutaneous calcaneal osteotomy has been increasingly investigated as a potentially safe alternative to open calcaneal osteotomy due to reduced postoperative complication and decreased pain compared to an open procedure. This retrospective chart review aims to evaluate the postoperative outcomes and complication rates of patients undergoing MIS vs. open calcaneal osteotomy. Methods: IRB approval was obtained. The study was performed by 2 fellowship-trained orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons. 20 patients underwent MIS percutaneous calcaneal osteotomy, and 33 patients underwent open calcaneal osteotomy. All cases were completed between March 2021 and February 2023. Patient charts were reviewed for outcome data including complication rate, union rate, revision rate, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores. Results: Average follow up for the MIS group was 130.4 days and 258.2 days for the open group. The MIS group was found to have a lower rate of revision, infection, and sural neuritis (0%, 5%, and 10%) compared to the open group (3%, 13.3%, and 16.7%). All participants achieved union. Average preoperative PROMIS scores in the domains of physical function, pain interference, and mobility for the MIS group were 36.8 (28.6-46), 67.1 (54.3-78), and 34.6 (25-40). Average postoperative PROMIS scores for the MIS group were 35.7 (21-76), 62.3 (39-76), and 33.4 (16-75). In the open group, preoperative PROMIS scores in these same domains were 37.0 (22.4-49.8), 65.2 (54.3-77.8), and 35.0 (19-56), whereas they were 39.6 (19-56), 60.0 (39-72), and 37.4 (16-53) postoperatively. Conclusion: MIS percutaneous calcaneal osteotomy appears to be an efficacious and safe treatment with lower rates of revision, infection, and nerve injury compared to an open procedure. Early outcome measures show comparable PROMIS scores in all three domains of physical function, pain interference, and mobility following MIS percutaneous calcaneal osteotomy when compared to standard open calcaneal osteotomy. Surgeons may consider MIS percutaneous calcaneal osteotomy as an alternative to open calcaneal osteotomy when treating hindfoot deformities.

Category: Bunion; Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: Bunions are one of the most common pathologies treated by orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons. The usage of minimally invasive and percutaneous surgical techniques continues to rise due to evidence of less pain, improved functional outcomes and low recurrence rates. Still, concern regarding heat generation during these procedures, osteonecrosis of bone, and nonunion persists. Literature suggests cool irrigation is superior to room temperature irrigation, but the question remains if irrigation is needed at all. This study evaluates the heat generation during percutaneous bunion surgery and analyzes the use of cooled irrigation compared to no irrigation at all. This study tested the hypothesis that cool irrigation would lead to overall lower heat generation compared to no irrigation at all. Methods: 5 matched paired cadavers (10 legs) were used to simulate MIS first metatarsal distal transverse osteotomy for all trials. Prior to osteotomy, 4 temperature probes were inserted as to the border where the Shannon burr would travel along the osteotomy site (Image 1). Probes were secured by suture and temperature was recorded using K-type thermocouples. All trials were completed using a pulse technique of 20 seconds on, 5 seconds off with a Shannon Burr and fluoroscopic guidance. Trials were complete with continuous cold irrigation (N=5) and without any irrigation at all (N=4). Temperatures were evaluated at baseline, during burring, and after burring to assess total heat generation and dissipation. A two-tailed t-test was used to analyze differences in heat generation and dissipation between procedures completed with irrigation and without irrigation (P < 0.05). Results: 5 cadavers with a mean age of 86.2 were evaluated (10 total simulations, 9 analyzed). Cadavers underwent 1 trial with irrigation, and 1 without on opposite feet. 88.9% of patients showed heat generation below the level of bone necrosis (50 oC). One trial with irrigation temperature rose to 79.1oC. Matching specimen without irrigation had probe failure and no temperature was obtained. Average burr time was 51.2±2.4 seconds with irrigation, and 35±0.5 seconds without. Irrigation was associated with a significant increase in burr time (P=0.002). Average temperature change was 13.62±11.9 and 0.7±0.5 during burring, 7.1±1.8 and 5.8±0.3 after burring in procedures with and without irrigation, respectively. No significant difference was detected between heat generation in irrigated vs non-irrigated procedures (P = 0.371, 0.548). Conclusion: This study found that in a cadaveric model the use of cooled irrigation, compared to no irrigation, did not lead to a significant difference in the heat generation during MIS first metatarsal distal transverse osteotomy. However, 1 out of the 9 samples used in this study showed a heat generation above 50 oC. Additionally, to our surprise the use of irrigation led to a significant increase in burring time. This may be useful information for a surgeon when considering the usage of cooled irrigation to reduce the potential risk of osteonecrosis when performing a MIS first metatarsal distal transverse osteotomy.

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot; Other Introduction/Purpose: Hallux valgus, a common deformity treated by orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons, can frequently present with an increased distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), which may require correction in addition to the hallux valgus deformity. Minimally invasive (MIS) percutaneous hallux valgus surgery is becoming more popular and often used in patients with increased DMAA. Additional recent literature has shown low rates of recurrence, minimal pain and high patient functional outcomes with MIS hallux valgus correction. Thus, we investigated the efficacy of MIS percutaneous distal transverse first metatarsal osteotomy procedure, a triplanar correction, in correcting the DMAA in hallux valgus surgery. We hypothesize that give the ability to obtain a triplanar correction with this osteotomy no additional osteotomy will be needed to correct the DMAA. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent the hallux valgus reconstruction with a MIS percutaneous distal transverse first metatarsal osteotomy between September 2021 to December 2022. Exclusion criteria included patients with inadequate follow up and all patients not undergoing MIS percutaneous distal transverse first metatarsal osteotomy for hallux valgus correction. Hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA) and DMAA were measured on pre- operative and 2-week post-operative radiographs to assess immediate correction of these angles. Univariate analysis was used to describe pre- and post- measurements for DMAA, HVA, and IMA. Differences in pre- and post- measurements were evaluated using paired t-test. Results: In total, 43 minimally invasive surgery (MIS) hallux valgus corrections on 39 patients were included. On average, the DMAA decreased from 9.5 degrees pre-operatively to 4.8 degrees two weeks post-operatively (decrease of 4.7 degrees, p-value < 0.001). The average HVA decreased from 29.9 degrees pre-operatively to 4.2 degrees two weeks post-operatively (decrease of 25.7 degrees, p-value of < 0.001). Lastly, the average IMA decreased from 15.1 degrees pre-operatively to 2.9 degrees 2 weeks post-operatively (decrease of 12.2 degrees, p-value < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that utilizing a MIS percutaneous distal transverse first metatarsal osteotomy for hallux valgus correction was able to significant reduce the DMAA without the need for supplementary metatarsal osteotomies. Additionally significant correction of the IMA and HVA was also obtained. MIS hallux valgus correction may be considered by orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons for those patients that need surgical correction for hallux valgus deformity that also requires DMAA correction.

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot; Other Introduction/Purpose: Minimally invasive (MIS) bunion correction is growing in popularity as a treatment option of hallux valgus deformities. This technique has been shown to help with post-operative pain and improve functional outcomes. Despite these benefits there are concerns that the Shannon burr may lead to excess heat generation, thermal necrosis of bone and potentially increase the risk of nonunion. The purpose of our study was to assess the heat generation while using a Shannon burr during MIS first metatarsal osteotomies. Methods: Four below knee cadavers were utilized and osteotomies of the distal and proximal aspects of each of the first metatarsal were performed utilizing a 2mm x 20mm Shannon burr under fluoroscopic guidance. 3 K-type thermocouples were placed in each metatarsal, one distal, one in between and one proximal to the osteotomy sites. Temperatures were evaluated during the entire burring process and after to assess heat dissipation and total heat generated. Three different techniques of burring were utilized, 1. Continuous without irrigation, 2. Continuous with irrigation and 3. Pulse burring technique with irrigation (20 seconds on, 10 seconds off). Results: The pulse burring technique with irrigation showed the overall lowest max temperature and change in temperature compared to the other techniques. Average burr time, maximum heat generation and overall change in heat was 86.2 seconds, 102.4 °F and 78.9 °F for all trials. Conclusion: The pulse burr technique with irrigation generated less heat than both continuous burring with and without irrigation. There was an overall trend toward higher heat generation with longer burr times regardless of irrigation and burring technique. Utilizing a Shannon burr with pulse burring and irrigation can minimize heat generation and potentially decrease the risk of thermal necrosis of bone.

Category: Hindfoot; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Minimally invasive percutaneous (MIS) calcaneal osteotomy has become more popular due to low risk of nerve injury and wound complications. The Shannon burr is often used to perform these osteotomies despite concern for the heat generation. Temperatures above 50oC may lead to osteonecrosis of bone. A recent MIS calcaneal cadaveric model study showed that cool irrigation led to less heat generation than room temperature irrigation. However, questions remain if irrigation is needed at all. This study evaluates heat generation during MIS calcaneal osteotomies and analyzes whether the use of cooled irrigation significantly decreases the temperature of the burring process compared to no irrigation at all. Our hypothesis was that cool irrigation would lead to overall lower heat generation compared to no irrigation. Methods: 5 matched paired cadavers (10 legs) were used to simulate a MIS calcaneal osteotomy for all trials. Prior to the osteotomy, 4 temperature probes were inserted as to the border where the Shannon burr would travel along the osteotomy site (Image 1). Probes were secured by suture and temperature was recorded using K-type thermocouples. All trials were complete using a pulse technique of 20 seconds on, 5 seconds off with a Shannon Burr and fluoroscopic guidance. Trials were complete with continuous cold irrigation (N=5) and without any irrigation at all (N=4). Temperatures were evaluated at baseline, during burring, and after burring to assess total heat generation and dissipation. A two-tailed t-test was used to analyze differences in heat generation and dissipation between procedures completed with irrigation and without irrigation (P < 0.05). Results: 5 cadavers with a mean age of 86.2 were evaluated for a total of 10 simulations, 9 analyzed. All cadavers underwent 1 trial with irrigation, and 1 without on opposite feet. Average drill time was 124±24.5 seconds with irrigation, and 118.8±43.9 seconds without (P=0.915). 77.8% of procedures showed heat generation below the level of bone necrosis (50 oC). 2 procedures without irrigation generated heat above this threshold (54.3 oC, 54.7 oC). Average change in temperature was 15.1±4.6 and 22.9±8.7 during drilling, 8.4±1.7 and 10.7±5.3 after drilling in procedures with and without irrigation, respectively. There was no significant difference detected between heat generation during or after burring in irrigated vs non-irrigated procedures (P = 0.426, 0.661). Conclusion: This cadaveric study found that the use of cooled irrigation compared to no irrigation did not lead to a significant difference in the heat generation during a MIS calcaneal osteotomy. However, 2 out of the 9 samples used in this study showed a heat generation above 50 o C, and both were done without the use of irrigation. This may be useful information for a surgeon when considering the usage of cooled irrigation to reduce the potential risk of osteonecrosis when performing a MIS calcaneal osteotomy.

Objective: The angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) can be activated under conditions of mechanical stretch in some cellular systems. Whether this activity influences signaling within the abdominal aorta to promote to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development remains unknown. We evaluated the hypothesis that mechanical AT1R activation can occur under conditions of hypertension (HTN) and contribute to AAA formation. Methods: BPH/2 mice, which demonstrate spontaneous neurogenic, low-renin HTN, and normotensive BPN/3 mice underwent AAA induction via the calcium chloride model, with or without an osmotic minipump delivering 30 mg/kg/d of the AT1R blocker Losartan. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured at baseline and weekly via a tail cuff. The aortic diameter (AoD) was measured at baseline and terminal surgery at 21 days by digital microscopy. Aortic tissue was harvested for immunoblotting (phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 and -2 [pERK1/2] to ERK1/2 ratio) and expressed as the fold-change from the BPN/3 control mice. Aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) underwent stretch with or without Losartan (1 μM) treatment to assess the mechanical stimulation of ERK1/2 activity. Statistical analysis of the blood pressure, AoD, and VSMC ERK1/2 activity was performed using analysis of variance. However, the data distribution was determined to be log-normal (Shapiro-Wilk test) for ERK1/2 activity. Therefore, it was logarithmically transformed before analysis of variance. Results: At baseline, the SBP was elevated in the BPH/2 mice relative to the BPN/3 mice (P < .05). Losartan treatment significantly reduced the SBP in both mouse strains (P < .05). AAA induction did not affect the SBP. At 21 days after induction, the percentage of increase in the AoD from baseline was significantly greater in the BPH/2 mice than in the BPN/3 mice (101.28% ± 4.19% vs 75.59% ± 1.67% above baseline; P < .05). Losartan treatment significantly attenuated AAA growth in both BPH/2 and BPN/3 mice (33.88% ± 2.97% and 43.96% ± 3.05% above baseline, respectively; P < .05). ERK1/2 activity was increased approximately fivefold in the BPH/2 control mice relative to the BPN/3 control mice (P < .05). In the BPH/2 and BPN/3 mice with AAA, ERK1/2 activity was significantly increased relative to the respective baseline control (P < .05) and effectively reduced by concomitant Losartan therapy (P < .05). Biaxial stretch of the VSMCs in the absence of angiotensin II demonstrated increased ERK1/2 activation (P < .05 vs static control), which was significantly inhibited by Losartan. Conclusions: In BPH/2 mice with spontaneous neurogenic, low-renin HTN, AAA growth was amplified compared with the normotensive control and was effectively attenuated using Losartan. ERK1/2 activity was significantly elevated in the BPH/2 mice and after AAA induction in the normotensive and hypertensive mice but was attenuated by Losartan treatment. These data suggest that AT1R activation contributes to AAA development. Therefore, further investigation into this signaling pathway could establish targets for pharmacotherapeutic engineering to slow AAA growth. (JVS–Vascular Science 2021;2:194-206.) Clinical Relevance: Hypertension (HTN) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) have been epidemiologically linked for decades; however, a biomechanical link has not yet been identified. Using a murine model of spontaneous neurogenic HTN experimentally demonstrated to have low circulating renin, mechanical activation of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) was identified with elevated blood pressure and AAA induction. HTN amplified AAA growth. However, more importantly, blocking the activation of AT1R with the angiotensin receptor blocker Losartan effectively abrogated AAA development. Although inhibiting the production of angiotensin II has previously been unsuccessful in altering AAA growth, the results from the present study suggest that blocking the activation of AT1R through direct ligand binding or mechanical stimulation might alter aortic wall signaling and warrants further investigation.