Percutaneous surgery practice in Brazil

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate current percutaneous foot surgery practice among Brazilian specialists. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted, surveying members of the Brazilian Foot and Ankle Society (ABTPé) by emailing electronic questionnaires in 2017 and 2019. The information requested included demographic data and the profile of their practice with relation to percutaneous foot surgery. A total of 74 participants completed the survey questionnaire in 2017 and 82 in 2019 (response rates of 15 and 14% respectively). Results: A total of 49 participants in 2017 (65.33%) and 57 in 2019 (69.51%) were performing percutaneous foot surgery. Among respondents who were not performing percutaneous foot surgery, 15 in 2017 (57.69%) and 10 in 2019 (40%) stated that they believed in the method, but had not been trained to perform it. Exclusively spinal anesthesia was used by 19 surgeons in 2017 (38.77%) and 23 in 2019 (40.35%). When correcting Hallux Valgus, 13 surgeons in 2017 (26.53%) and 3 in 2019 (5%) did not use any type of fixation. The most frequently reported complication was poor reduction in both periods, reported by 36 (73.46%) participants in 2017 and 39 (68.42%) in 2019. Conclusion: In Brazil, a lack of specific training is one factor that limits the practice of percutaneous foot surgery. The technique is used by a greater number of younger surgeons. The most frequent complication is poor reduction and there is a growing trend to employee fixation hardware. Level of Evidence V; Expert Opinion.