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Foot & Ankle Pathology: Emerging Approaches

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A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Orthopedics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 20740

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Giovanni A. Matricali

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

KU Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven, Belgium
Interests: foot and ankle; biomechanics; diabetic foot; degenerative pathology; conservative treatment; surgical treatment; regenerative techniques

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Foot and ankle problems have existed since the beginning of mankind, but never received special attention in the past. Only during the past century have medicine and surgery started to focus on this anatomical region. This was highlighted by the establishment of national and international foot and ankle societies and corresponding focused journals, and an increasing number of dedicated publications. Currently, knowledge in this field is still rapidly expanding based on basic, translational, and clinical research. This means that outcomes for pathology in this region are still improving both by optimizing existing treatments and by developing completely new ones. Interestingly, this progress is seen both in conservative and surgical approaches.

This Special Issue will focus on all emerging insights and ideas that currently contribute to the abovementioned progress, to provide the reader with a broad update on what can be expected in the coming decades in this field. Therefore, we would like to invite authors to submit reviews or original research that fit this scope.

Prof. Dr. Giovanni A. Matricali
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Novel ideas and techniques
Kinematics and kinetics
Conservative treatment
Surgical treatment
Reconstruction
Minimal invasive surgery
Endoscopy and arthroscopy

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 3566 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring Recovery and Understanding Long-Term Deficits in Balance, Ankle Mobility and Hip Strength in People after an Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Bimalleolar Fracture and Their Impact on Functionality: A 12-Month Longitudinal Study

by Diana Salas-Gómez, Mario Fernández-Gorgojo, Pascual Sánchez-Juan, María Isabel Pérez-Núñez, Esther Laguna-Bercero, Amaya Prat-Luri and David Barbado

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(9), 2539; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11092539 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3680

Abstract

To analyze how balance and other physical capacities evolved after surgery in patients with a bimalleolar fracture and how these capacities and clinical variables (immobilization or unloading time) contribute to restoring patients’ functionality, 22 patients and 10 healthy people (HC) were assessed for static and dynamic balance (Y-Balance test, YBT), dorsiflexion ankle mobility (ADF_ROM) and hip strength at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Patients’ functional status was assessed through the Olerud Molander Ankle Score (OMAS) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Twenty-one patients with ankle fractures who completed the study showed a worse static and dynamic balance at 6 months. The YBT in the anterior direction (YBT_A) revealed balance deficits in the operated limb at 12 months compared to the non-operated limb (−5.6%) and the HC (−6.7%). They also showed a decreased ADF_ROM compared to the non-operated limb (−7.4°) and the HC (−11°). In addition, medium-term (6 months) deficits in abductor strength hip but no hip strength deficits were found at 12 months after surgery. Relative weight analyses showed that ADF_ROM and hip strength explained 35–63% of the YBT_A variance and AOFAS/OMAS scores. Balance, hip strength and ADF_ROM seem to be reliable indexes for assessing the functional status of these patients. These results could help to understand the relationship between these physical capacities and the patients’ perceived functional status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foot & Ankle Pathology: Emerging Approaches)

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10 pages, 259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Importance of Foot Function Assessment Using the Foot Function Index-Revised Short Form (FFI-RS) Questionnaire in the Comprehensive Treatment of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

by Radosław Rutkowski, Małgorzata Gizińska, Małgorzata Gałczyńska-Rusin, Magdalena Paulina Kasprzak and Elly Budiman-Mak

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(9), 2298; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11092298 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2090

Abstract

Background. Foot problems may have a substantial negative impact on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients’ mobility. They affect walking and the functional capacity to perform daily tasks. Methods. This study included 61 patients with RA and foot pain or swelling. The study group comprised 37 patients (aged 54.3 ± 9.5 years) with foot lesions, as demonstrated in an ultrasound, and the control group comprised 24 patients (aged 57.3 ± 11.5 years) without foot lesions. The patients’ health statuses were evaluated with the Foot Function Index-Revised Short Form (FFI-RS), the Polish version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28). Results. The FFI-RS showed significant differences between the study and control groups in total results, as well as in the pain and stiffness subscales. Subsequent analyses showed numerous significant correlations. The FFI-RS total results correlated with the HAQ’s standing up, walking, and total results. The FFI-RS pain results correlated with the social issues and HAQ’s total results. The FFI-RS difficulty results correlated with the disease’s duration. In the study group, there were significant correlations of the FFI-RS stiffness, difficulty, and social issues results with the HAQ’s standing up, walking, and total results, and also of the FFI-RS activity limitation results with the HAQ’s standing up results. In the control group, there were correlations of the FFI-RS stiffness, difficulty, and activity limitation results with the HAQ’s walking and total results. Finally, in the study group, we also found correlations of the FFI-RS total, pain, stiffness, difficulty, and social issues results with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) results, as well as of the FFI-RS total results with the DAS 28 results. Conclusions. The FFI-RS is an effective tool for assessing RA patients’ functional status and can be used to evaluate treatment effects. The FFI-RS detected RA-related changes in the foot joint function in patients without foot lesions, as assessed by ultrasound. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foot & Ankle Pathology: Emerging Approaches)

11 pages, 1844 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Suture Button Removal in Syndesmosis Fixation

by Jaeyoung Kim, Minsoo Kwon, Jonathan Day, Jesse Seilern und Aspang, Jaehoon Shim and Jaeho Cho

J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10(16), 3726; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10163726 - 21 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4263

Abstract

The suture button (SB) device was introduced to negate the need for routine hardware removal in the treatment of syndesmosis injuries. However, a considerable SB removal rate has been reported, and the impact of removal is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the radiographic and clinical outcomes after removal of SB for syndesmosis fixation. A total of 36 patients who underwent removal surgery after syndesmosis fixation using SB were identified. The mean postoperative time to removal was 12.2 months. On a plain radiograph, tibiofibular clear space (TFCS) was measured and compared at three follow-up time points. In patients with computed tomography (CT) imaging (n = 18), the anterior-to-posterior (A/P) ratio was measured to evaluate changes in quality of reduction. Additionally, clinical outcomes were assessed. There were no significant differences in TFCS between the three follow-up periods. None of the patients exhibited recurrent diastasis after SB removal. Although CT analysis demonstrated malreduction in six patients (33.3%), five of six patients had a subsequent spontaneous reduction of the syndesmosis. Clinically, all patients described the resolution of symptoms related to painful hardware at the final follow-up. Our results demonstrate that SB removal at one year following syndesmosis fixation leads to improved clinical symptoms without negatively impacting the quality of syndesmosis reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foot & Ankle Pathology: Emerging Approaches)

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10 pages, 6943 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Three-Dimensional Anatomically Pre-Contoured Locking Plate for Isolated Weber B Type Fracture

by Jahyung Kim, Dong-Il Chun, Sung-Hun Won, Tae-Hong Min, Young Yi, Suyeon Park, Min-Soo Cho and Jaeho Cho

J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10(13), 2976; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10132976 - 2 Jul 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4946

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the functional and radiographic outcomes of a three-dimensionally (3D) pre-contoured lateral locking plate fixation for isolated Weber B type fractures and to evaluate the necessity of an interfragmentary lag screw in the use of the plate. Patients who underwent surgery for isolated Weber B type fracture were divided into two groups: 41 patients treated with the 3D plate and lag screw (Group A) and 31 patients treated with the 3D plate only (Group B). The included patients were evaluated regarding the functional and radiographic outcomes. According to the McLennan and Ungersma criteria, the majority of patients showed good or fair outcomes in both groups. Comparing the two groups, Group B showed better functional outcomes (p < 0.0046), while no difference between the two groups was found in terms of the radiographic outcomes (p = 0.143). The operation time was significantly shorter in Group B (p < 0.001) and the time to bony union was within 14 months in all patients with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.0821). No postoperative complication was observed in both groups. In conclusion, the use of a 3D pre-contoured lateral locking plate fixation for isolated Weber B type fractures demonstrated satisfactory functional and radiographic outcomes, regardless of lag screw insertion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foot & Ankle Pathology: Emerging Approaches)

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Review

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12 pages, 1906 KiB

Open AccessReview

Prevalence and Predisposing Factors for Recurrence after Hallux Valgus Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Yasmin Ezzatvar, Laura López-Bueno, Laura Fuentes-Aparicio and Lirios Dueñas

J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10(24), 5753; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10245753 - 9 Dec 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4464

Abstract

Recurrence is a frequent and undesirable outcome after hallux valgus (HV) surgery. However, the prevalence of HV recurrence and the pre- and postoperatory factors associated with it have not been adequately studied. This study aimed to quantify the prevalence rate of HV recurrence and to analyze its predisposing factors. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were systematically searched for observational studies including individuals undergoing HV surgical correction. The random-effects restricted maximum likelihood model was used to estimate the pooled effect size (correlation coefficient (r)). Twenty-three studies were included, yielding a total of 2914 individuals. Pooled prevalence of HV recurrence was 24.86% (95% confidence interval (CI), 19.15 to 30.57, I² = 91.92%, p = 0.00). Preoperative HV angle (HVA) (r = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.43) and preoperative intermetatarsal angle (IMA) (r = 0.13; 95% CI, 0.00 to 0.27) showed a moderate positive relationship with recurrence. Postoperative HVA (r = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.94) and sesamoid position (r = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.60) showed strong relationships with recurrence. In conclusion, preoperative HVA, IMA, and postoperative HVA and sesamoid position are significant risk factors for HV recurrence, and the association of these factors with recurrence is affected by age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foot & Ankle Pathology: Emerging Approaches)

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