Foot In Arthritis Research Articles

P145 Association between musculoskeletal ultrasound and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index in managing the rheumatoid foot

Abstract Background/Aims In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), foot synovitis is frequently evident in patients in DAS-28 remission, placing them at risk of radiographic joint damage. This has been attributed to the omission of foot and ankle joint counts from the DAS-28. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index (RADAI-F5) is a valid, reliable, and feasible tool and can be used as an adjunct to the DAS-28 to quantify foot disease activity. Recent qualitative research suggests that rheumatologists perceive validation of the RADAI-F5 against musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) as essential prior to clinical implementation. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the construct validity of the RADAI-F5 relative to MSUS and clinical examinations of foot disease activity. Methods People with RA were recruited from 3 NHS Rheumatology Outpatient services in Scotland. Participants attended a single research visit and completed the RADAI-F5. An MSUS-trained podiatrist performed multi-planar grayscale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) MSUS assessments on 17 regions of each foot, including joints and soft tissues and evaluated foot disease activity using summated scores based on semi-quantitative grading systems for synovial hypertrophy, PD synovitis, tenosynovitis (0-39) and presence/absence of erosions (0-7). An independent examiner clinically assessed the same 17 regions for swelling and tenderness and scored using a summated score for presence/absence (0-17). The construct validity of the RADAI-F5 was assessed using Spearman’s correlation coefficients with 95% confident intervals (95% CI) to test a priori-specified hypotheses for strength of associations. Results Of 60 participants, 48 were female, with a mean [standard deviation, ± SD] age of 62.6 ± 9.96 and median RA disease duration of 10 (interquartile range 6-20.5) years. For DAS28-ESR disease categories, 10% were in remission, 35% had low disease activity, 18.3% had moderate disease activity, and 36.7% had high disease activity. Forty-three participants were receiving DMARD therapy, and 17 were receiving biologics. Theoretically consistent associations confirming construct validity [95% CI] were observed between the RADAI-F5 and MSUS GS-detected synovial hypertrophy (0.72 [0.57-0.82]; strong) and MSUS PD-detected synovitis (0.50 [0.28-0.67]; moderate), MSUS-detected erosions (0.42 [0.19-0.61]; moderate) and clinical tenderness (0.52 [0.31-0.68]; moderate), and swelling (0.35 [0.11-0.55]; weak). Conclusion Moderate-strong associations between RADAI-F5 and MSUS provide additional evidence of the excellent measurement properties of this tool. The RADAI-F5 scores, as anticipated, were more strongly associated with MSUS-detected synovial hypertrophy compared to clinical examinations of swelling and tenderness. With increased confidence in the RADAI-F5's validity, clinical implementation of the RADAI-F5 could help with the early identification of people with RA who are at risk of poor functional and radiographic outcomes. The RADAI-F5 has the potential for use in a broad range of clinical applications within podiatry and rheumatology, including triage, enhanced multidisciplinary team and patient-clinician communication, and remote consultations. Disclosure A. Hoque: None. M. Steultjens: None. D. Dickson: None. G.J. Hendry: None.

P041 Living with foot and ankle disorders in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: a thematic synthesis of qualitative studies to inform the work of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Foot and Ankle Working Group

Abstract Background/Aims Foot and ankle involvement is common in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), but high-quality evidence is lacking to determine the effectiveness of foot and ankle treatments. Heterogeneity in the outcomes used across clinical trials in this area hinders the ability to compare study findings, and some outcomes are not always meaningful to patients. This study aimed to determine what outcomes are important to patients by exploring and synthesising qualitative data relating to the symptoms and impact of living with foot and ankle disorders in RMDs. Methods Six databases (CINAHL; Ovid Embase; Ovid MEDLINE; Psycinfo; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; CENTRAL) were searched from inception to March 2022. Qualitative interview or focus group studies published in English and involving participants living with foot or ankle disorders in RMDs (inflammatory arthritis, osteoarthritis, crystal arthropathies, connective tissue diseases, and musculoskeletal conditions in the absence of systemic disease) were included. Quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative tool. All data from the results section of included studies were extracted, coded and synthesised to develop themes. Patient and public involvement contributors were involved throughout the review, from design of the study to interpretation of the results and discussions about the findings. Results Of 1,440 database records screened, 34 studies were included, with a total of 581 participants. Studies focused on living with foot or ankle disorders in rheumatoid arthritis (n = 18), osteoarthritis (n = 5), gout (n = 3), psoriatic arthritis (n = 1), lupus (n = 1), posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (n = 1), plantar heel pain (n = 1), Achilles tendonitis (n = 1), and mixed population (n = 3) patients. Six themes were generated from the thematic synthesis: pain, change in appearance, activity limitations, social isolation, limited work ability and emotional impact. Foot or ankle pain was the predominant symptom experienced by patients in all included studies and was closely linked to other themes. Both pain and change in appearance of the feet or ankles (deformity), and subsequent limitations in footwear and clothing choices, led to restrictions in physical activities, social participation and work. Emotional distress, including anxiety, anger and embarrassment, was common among patients with foot and ankle disorders across all of the RMDs explored in this review. Conclusion This is the first study to synthesise findings of qualitative research exploring the lived experience of patients with foot and ankle disorders in RMDs. Findings indicate that these disorders impact on multiple areas of patients’ lives, both physically and psychologically. Patients’ experiences of foot and ankle disorders are similar across different RMDs, although there are a limited number of qualitative studies focusing on conditions other than rheumatoid arthritis. These findings will inform a future consensus study prioritising the outcomes that should be measured in future research studies and clinical practice. Disclosure L.S. Chapman: None. C. Flurey: None. A.C. Redmond: None. P. Richards: None. C. Hofstetter: None. B. Tapster: None. J. Emmel: None. P.S. Helliwell: None. H.B. Menz: None. M.T. Hannan: None. B. Shea: None. H.J. Siddle: None.

Passive Dynamic Ankle Foot Orthoses Use in Civilian Patients with Arthritic Conditions of the Foot and Ankle.

Nonsurgical interventions such as bracing with ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) aim to assist, restore, and redirect weightbearing forces to address difficulty with mobilization. We identified a custom carbon fiber passive dynamic ankle foot orthosis (PDAFO) that was designed to meet the needs of military combat veterans. We sought to evaluate the off-loading properties of one model of PDAFO (ExoSym) in a civilian population. Civilian patients 18 years or older were prescribed a PDAFO by a single surgeon. Pedobarographic data were obtained using the Tekscan F-Scan system. With the insole, participants were instructed to walk at a self-selected pace along a 20 m walkway under 3 conditions: (1) insole placed in between the brace and foot (over); (2) insole placed between the brace and insole of the shoe (under); (3) without the brace, the insole was placed in between the foot and insole of the shoe in both limbs (without).For assessment, forefoot and heel areas were evaluated with respect to maximal force, force*time integral (FTI), maximal contact area, maximal contact pressure, pressure*time integral (PTI), center of force (COF) excursion. Six patients with arthritic foot and ankle conditions completed pedobarographic assessment for analysis. The brace reduced forefoot maximal force and contact pressures by 66% and 49%, respectively (538 ± 236 to 185 ± 130 N [P < .001], and 99 ± 38 to 50 ± 24 P < .002). Additionally, participants were observed to load the forefoot portion of the brace with double the maximum contact pressures compared to the unbraced foot (204 ± 57 to 99 ± 38 kPa, P < .001). The results of this study showed that the PDAFO unloaded substantial force and pressure experienced by the forefoot. Participants loaded the brace to a greater extent than when going unbraced. ADAFO can provide measurable pressure relief for patients with arthritic conditions. Level IV, case series.

20 Does hip involvement affect foot and ankle in juvenile idiopathic arthritis?

BackgroundAlthough ankle and foot involvements are common in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), they are often neglected. Hip involvement, also common in JIA, may affect these joints by creating a chronic imbalance of the musculoskeletal system. However, no studies have been published on this subject.ObjectiveWe aimed to describe ankle and foot impairment in a cohort of patients with JIA and to study the correlation between these impairments and the presence of hip arthritis.MethodsA monocentric cross-sectional study was conducted including JIA patients fulfilling the 2001 ILAR criteria. Patients with congenital malformation of the ankle or foot or with any other foot impairment due to a disease other than JIA were not included. Foot examination was performed on bare feet both in supine and standing position. We completed with an analysis of footprint with a podoscope and shoes examination. Patients were divided in two groups depending on the presence or the absence of hip arthritis on pelvis X-ray, hip ultrasound or hip magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsWe included 35 patients (M/F = 15/20). Hip arthritis was noted in 45.7%. Oligoarticular (43.8%) and enthesitis-related arthritis (25%) were the most frequent form of JIA. Functional complaints related to foot and ankle were reported in 34.3% of cases. The pain was the most frequent symptom (91%), mainly in the hindfoot and ankle (50%). Foot pain was more frequently encountered in the absence of hip arthritis (52%, vs 31.2% in presence of hip arthritis). Physical examination revealed limitation of the talocrural joint in 20% of cases and feet tenosynovitis in 14.3% of cases. Achille tendon enthesitis was found in 8.6% of patients. These abnormalities were more prevalent in the absence of hip arthritis. Half of the patients had hindfoot deviation dominated by hindfoot varus (22.9%). In the group with hip arthritis, a hallux valgus was found in 14.3%, a supraductus of the 2nd toe, and claw toe in one case each. An anomaly of the footprint was noted in 28 patients, including 11 in the group with hip involvement: 7 cases of cavus foot and 4 cases of flat foot. There were no correlations between foot or ankle anomalies with hip impairment apart from an association of flat foot with the absence of coxitis, and a leg length discrepancy more important in the group with hip arthritis.ConclusionsOur study confirms the frequency of foot and ankle involvement as well as hip arthritis during JIA, hence the importance of their systematic screening even in asymptomatic children. Larger-scale studies would be necessary to evaluate with more precision the relation that there could be between hip and foot impairment.

Summary Report of the Arthritis Foundation and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society's Symposium on Targets for Osteoarthritis Research: Part 1: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Current Imaging Approaches.

This first of a 2-part series of articles recounts the key points presented in a collaborative symposium sponsored jointly by the Arthritis Foundation and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society with the intent to survey the state of scientific knowledge related to incidence, diagnosis, pathologic mechanisms, and injection treatment options for osteoarthritis (OA) of the foot and ankle. A meeting was held virtually on December 3, 2021. A group of experts were invited to present brief synopses of the current state of knowledge and research in this area. Part 1 overviews areas of epidemiology and pathophysiology, current approaches in imaging, diagnostic and therapeutic injections, and genetics. Opportunities for future research are discussed. The OA scientific community, including funding agencies, academia, industry, and regulatory agencies, must recognize the needs of patients that suffer from arthritis of foot and ankle. The foot and ankle contain a myriad of interrelated joints and tissues that together provide a critical functionality. When this functionality is compromised by OA, significant disability results, yet the foot and ankle are generally understudied by the research community.Level of Evidence: Level V - Review Article/Expert Opinion.

Foot and Ankle Conventional Radiography in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Does It Still Matter?

Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate the residual value of Conventional Radiography in children with arthralgia clinically suspected of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).Materials and Methods:Three hundred seventy-two patients aged 1–18 years suspected of JIA were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had foot and ankle plain films performed in standard two projections: ankle in antero-posterior and lateral, and foot in antero-posterior and oblique. The cohort was divided into two groups: patients with confirmed JIA and non-JIA control group of children with foot and ankle arthralgia without diagnosis of inflammatory connective tissue disease. Radiographic findings in both groups were compared.Results:In 40% of JIA and 70% of non-JIA patients radiographs were normal. All radiographic findings were significantly more common in JIA than in non-JIA group (p = 0.000). Soft tissue swelling was the most frequent abnormality found in JIA patients (31, 51%) and only in 2.41% of non-JIA patients (p = 0.000). Osteoporosis and joint space narrowing were also significantly more common in JIA group (p = 0.000). The majority of imaging findings in non-JIA group were non-inflammatory abnormalities.Conclusion:Conventional radiography is an important tool in differential diagnosis of arthralgia of unknown etiology, as soft tissue swelling, osteoporosis and joint space narrowing are significantly more common in JIA patients as compared with patients without the diagnosis of inflammatory connective tissue disease. However, in case of high clinical suspicion of JIA and normal radiography, we recommend subsequent ultrasound (US) and/or MRI to allow early treatment.

Gait rehabilitation for foot and ankle impairments in early rheumatoid arthritis: a feasibility study of a new gait rehabilitation programme (GREAT Strides)

BackgroundFoot impairments in early rheumatoid arthritis are common and lead to progressive deterioration of lower limb function. A gait rehabilitation programme underpinned by psychological techniques to improve adherence, may preserve gait and lower limb function. This study evaluated the feasibility of a novel gait rehabilitation intervention (GREAT Strides) and a future trial.MethodsThis was a mixed methods feasibility study with embedded qualitative components. People with early (< 2 years) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and foot pain were eligible. Intervention acceptability was evaluated using a questionnaire. Adherence was evaluated using the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS). Safety was monitored using case report forms. Participants and therapists were interviewed to explore intervention acceptability. Deductive thematic analysis was applied using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. For fidelity, audio recordings of interventions sessions were assessed using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) scale. Measurement properties of four candidate primary outcomes, rates of recruitment, attrition, and data completeness were evaluated.ResultsThirty-five participants (68.6% female) with median age (inter-quartile range [IQR]) 60.1 [49.4–68.4] years and disease duration 9.1 [4.0–16.2] months), were recruited and 23 (65.7%) completed 12-week follow-up. Intervention acceptability was excellent; 21/23 were confident that it could help and would recommend it; 22/23 indicated it made sense to them. Adherence was good, with a median [IQR] EARS score of 17/24 [12.5–22.5]. One serious adverse event that was unrelated to the study was reported. Twelve participants’ and 9 therapists’ interviews confirmed intervention acceptability, identified perceptions of benefit, but also highlighted some barriers to completion. Mean MITI scores for relational (4.38) and technical (4.19) aspects of motivational interviewing demonstrated good fidelity. The Foot Function Index disability subscale performed best in terms of theoretical consistency and was deemed most practical.ConclusionGREAT Strides was viewed as acceptable by patients and therapists, and we observed high intervention fidelity, good patient adherence, and no safety concerns. A future trial to test the additional benefit of GREAT Strides to usual care will benefit from amended eligibility criteria, refinement of the intervention and strategies to ensure higher follow-up rates. The Foot Function Index disability subscale was identified as the primary outcome for the future trial.Trial registrationISRCTN14277030

Patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives on the clinical utility of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index

Although patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are recommended in clinical practice, their application in routine care is limited. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index (RADAI-F5) is a validated PROM for assessing foot disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To explore patient and clinician opinions and perceptions of the clinical utility of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index (RADAI-F5), eight RA patients and eight clinicians routinely involved in the management of RA patients participated in one semi-structured remote video-based interview. They provided their perspectives on the barriers and facilitators to clinical implementation of the RADAI-F5. Three global themes were identified; 'Feet are a priority' as the impact of RA on the feet negatively impacted upon patient quality of life. The second theme was 'Need for a clinically feasible foot PROM' as participants recognised the current lack of a clinically feasible tool to determine RA foot disease. The third global theme of ‘Implementation’ was drawn together to form two subordinate themes: ‘Facilitators to RADAI-F5 implementation’ as the tool can promote communication, guide management, help screen foot symptoms, monitor foot disease status and treatments, and promote patient education and; ‘Barriers to RADAI-F5 implementation’ as there were associated practical difficulties, including lack of appointment time, administrative burdens, IT barriers and preference for further RADAI-F5 validation using imaging. The RADAI-F5 has significant potential as a clinical tool to aid foot disease management. However, implementation challenges must be overcome before broad adoption in rheumatology clinics.

P185 Patients' and clinicians' perspectives on the clinical utility of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index

Abstract Background/Aims Although patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are recommended in clinical practice, their application in primary care is limited. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index (RADAI-F5) is a validated PROM for assessing foot disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This qualitative study aims to understand the clinical utility of the RADAI-F5 as a management tool for foot disease in RA. Methods Adult RA patients and rheumatologists, physiotherapists and podiatrists routinely involved in treating RA patients were recruited through convenience sampling. Recruitment continued until data saturation had been achieved. A 60-minute, semi-structured, one-on-one Microsoft Teams interview with participants was conducted. Interviews involved open-ended questions to explore barriers and facilitators to the clinical application of the RADAI-F5. These interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, with each participant verifying the transcript to establish rigour and credibility. The transcripts were coded using Nvivo12, and inductive thematic data analysis was conducted to identify emerging themes. Results Eight RA participants: 7 females; mean [standard deviation, SD] age 52.4 [9.5], mean [SD] disease duration 16.1 [16.4] and eight clinicians; mean [SD] age 46.75 [5.3], mean [SD] years of clinical experience of 19.5 [2.21] participated. The RADAI-F5 has four key themes that support its clinical utility. These were as follows: ‘need for the RADAI-F5' because patients felt that feet were ignored during routine consultations and clinicians felt the need for a foot PROM that is accurate, short and quick to complete in clinical practice; ‘promoting patient-clinician communication' because it can identify areas of concern that may be under-recognized by clinicians; ‘guiding management' as implementing the RADAI-F5 could assist in the screening, monitoring foot disease status, and guiding future interventions; and ‘patient involvement,' since the tool may trigger patients to be more involved in their foot health self-management. Three themes were identified as potential barriers to implementation; ‘practical difficulties, including lack of time during appointments; ‘lack of validity', as clinicians were hesitant to use the RADAI-F5 until its validity is established further with the use of ultrasound imaging and clinical examination; and, ‘lack of an electronic database', since there is currently no electronic system for reporting RADAI-F5 results. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the RADAI-F5 has significant potential as a clinical tool to aid foot disease management in RA. However, some barriers to implementation may need to be overcome to enable widespread uptake in rheumatology clinics. Disclosure A. Hoque: None.

Reframing "Nothing About Us Without Us": Comics and Intellectual Disability

Reframing "Nothing About Us Without Us"Comics and Intellectual Disability Susan M. Squier (bio) The slogan "Nothing About Us Without Us" expresses the urgent need felt by people with disabilities for access to voice and control in their struggle against oppression. Dating back at least to 1993 when it was used by Michael Masutha and William Rowland of Disabled People South Africa, who borrowed it from a disability rights gathering in Eastern Europe, this slogan has spread around the world as people with disabilities pressed for their rights (Charlton).1 Most recently, in About Us, an edited collection that compiles personal essays by people with disabilities that were first published in the New York Times "Disability" column, editors Rosemarie Garland-Thomson and Peter Catapano explain that their title echoes the "unifying call of our civil rights movement—'Nothing About Us Without Us'" because these "stories are claims to self-representation and recognition that this slogan demands" (xxiii). Comics, too, work well as a vehicle for authenticating discourse, as I will establish in a moment.2 Yet comics addressing intellectual disability (ID) seem to stand in uneasy relation to the demands for voice and control that this slogan expresses. Analyzing three comics about intellectual disability, I will argue that their strategies of collaboration and appeal to multiple literacies recalibrate the claim for authority in representation, so that "nothing about us without us" emerges as a practice that enables—and transforms—both people with intellectual disabilities and the artists and writers who live and work alongside them. But first, let's consider the authenticating power of the comics medium in general. Through the process of what Thierry Groensteen calls iconic redundancy, comics repeatedly represent the protagonist through multiple manifestations of the body on the comics page, as well as through its continuing physical presence in the cartoonist's drawn line (124). The comic thus offers visual testimony that moves beyond abstraction, normalization, and marginalization. As Frederik Byrn Køhlert explores in a fascinating study of comics and marginal identities, comics provide authentication for speakers by drawing on a multiplicity of modes of representation, or "multiliteracies," including "Linguistic Meaning, Visual Meaning, Audio Meaning, Gestural Meaning, Spatial Meaning, and the Multimodal patterns of meaning that relate the first five modes of meaning to each other" (15–16).3 Autobiographical comics in particular rely on a range of strategies for authenticating identity. As enumerated by Elisabeth El Refaie, they include "explicit authentication," "authentication through detail and quoted dialogue," "authentication through documentation," [End Page 117] "authentication by 'making strange,'" and even the strategy of "subverting authenticity" (144, 148, 158, 165, 172). In short, by juxtaposing words and images to both show and tell, to create tension or to confirm, and by playing with temporal reversal and the exploitation of multiple perspectives, the medium of comics links the material with the cultural, enabling an expression that testifies to the embodied experience of impairment, as well as the cultural context within which it occurs. In comics, visual images of the authors' bodies carry narrative meanings. Take, for example, Kaisa Leka's I Am Not These Feet, Peter Dunlap-Shohl's My Degeneration, and Al Davison's Spiral Cage. After Kaisa Leka has chosen to have her painful, congenitally arthritic feet amputated, we watch her—in the guise of her mouse avatar—learn to walk with prosthetic feet. The contrast between Kaisa's fantasy self-image and the technically accurate diagram of her prosthetic leg conveys the emotional tension she must manage after her surgery, accommodating her playful spirit to the iron demands of physical rehabilitation. Such complexity is also key to a page from My Degeneration in which cartoonist Peter Dunlap-Shohl shares some of the walking techniques he has devised to counteract the festination and palsy of Parkinson's disease. The allusion to a Monty Python sketch ("Walk this Way"), the graphic integration of stop motion imaging to capture each increment of his walk, and the visual inclusion of avatars of multiple ages and genders all convey what Dunlap-Shohl calls "the malicious whimsy of this strange affliction" (35). And in Al Davison's Spiral Cage, the "particular and attention-grabbing visuality of the disabled body" (K...

Repeatability and Reliability of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index in Spanish Patients: A Transcultural Adaptation.

Simple SummaryThe Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index (RADAI-F5) is the first questionnaire designed to check the level of involvement in the feet of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It is a validated and reliable five-question questionnaire in English. It is also considered suitable for clinical use. We aim was to translate and validate the Spanish version. The findings of this research suggest that is a valid, strong and trustworthy clinimetric tool that appropriately applies to the Spanish community and can be managed as a whole or in terms of its respective dimensions, such as arthritis activity in the foot, joint tenderness and swelling, and foot arthritis pain sub-scales.Background: The Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index (RADAI-F5) questionnaire, based on five questions, is used to assess the severity of rheumatoid arthritis disease in the foot. Nowadays, RADAI-F5 has been validated in different languages; however a Spanish version was lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to translate and validate the Spanish version (RADAI-F5-es). Methods: A cross-cultural translation of the RADAI-F5 questionnaire was performed from English to Spanish. To validate its use, 50 subjects with rheumatoid arthritis who responded to the translated questionnaire two times in an interval of less than 3 months were selected in order to verify the psychometric properties. Results: Excellent agreement between the two versions according to the Cronbach’s α was shown. Five domains with regards to arthritis activity in foot joint tenderness and swelling, foot arthritis pain, general foot health and joint stiffness were added together to obtain the total score. Excellent retest reliability was shown for the total score. Test/retest reliability was excellent for joint stiffness on awakening and foot arthritis pain domains. There were no significant differences among any domains (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences (p = 0.000) for the mean ± standard deviations (SD) between pre- and post-tests (98.09 ± 15.42) [93.75–102.43] and 97.96 ± 13.88 [94.5–101.86] points, respectively). Bland–Altman plots or clinically pertinent variations were not statistically significantly different. Conclusions: The RADAI-F5-es is considered a valid and strong tool with adequate repeatability in the Spanish community.

Microplastic consumption induces inflammatory signatures in the colon and prolongs a viral arthritis

Global microplastic (MP) contamination and the effects on the environment are well described. However, the potential for MP consumption to affect human health remains controversial. Mice consuming ≈80 μg/kg/day of 1 μm polystyrene MPs via their drinking water showed no weight loss, nor were MPs detected in internal organs. The microbiome was also not significantly changed. MP consumption did lead to small transcriptional changes in the colon suggesting plasma membrane perturbations and mild inflammation. Mice were challenged with the arthritogenic chikungunya virus, with MP consumption leading to a significantly prolonged arthritic foot swelling that was associated with elevated Th1, NK cell and neutrophil signatures. Immunohistochemistry also showed a significant increase in the ratio of neutrophils to monocyte/macrophages. The picture that emerges is reminiscent of enteropathic arthritis, whereby perturbations in the colon are thought to activate innate lymphoid cells that can inter alia migrate to joint tissues to promote inflammation.

Nail disease in psoriatic arthritis. Data from the Russian Psoriatic Arthritis Registry

Nail disease in psoriatic arthritis. Data from the Russian Psoriatic Arthritis Registry

Measuring Inflammatory Foot Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Development and Validation of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index-5.

Omission of foot joints from composite global disease activity indices may lead to underestimation of foot and overall disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and under-treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement properties of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index-5 (RADAI-F5), a newly developed patient-reported outcome measure for capturing foot disease activity in people with RA. Participants with RA self-completed the RADAI-F5, modified Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index (mRADAI-5), Foot Function Index (FFI), and Foot Impact Scale (FIS) impairment/footwear and activity/participation subscales. The 28-joint Disease Activity Score using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) was also recorded. Subgroups completed the RADAI-F5 at 1 week and 6 months. Psychometric properties, including construct, content and longitudinal validity, internal consistency, 1-week reproducibility, and responsiveness over 6 months were evaluated. Of 142 respondents, 103 were female, with a mean ± SD age of 55 ± 12.5 years and median RA disease duration of 10 (interquartile range 3.6-20.8) months. Theoretically consistent associations confirming construct validity were observed with mRADAI-5 (0.789 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.73, 0.85]), FFI (0.713 [95% CI 0.62, 0.79]), FIS impairment/footwear (0.695 [95% CI 0.66, 0.82], P < 0.001), FIS activity/participation (0.478 [95% CI 0.37, 0.63], P < 0.001), and the DAS28-ESR (0.379 [95% CI 0.26, 0.57], P < 0.001). The RADAI-F5 demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90) and good reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.868 [95% CI 0.80, 0.91], P < 0.001, smallest detectable change = 2.69). Content validity was confirmed, with 82% rating the instrument relevant and easy to understand. The RADAI-F5 is a valid, reliable, responsive, clinically feasible patient-reported outcome measure for measuring foot disease activity in RA.

Evaluation of open reduction and internal fixation of displaced intra-articular fracture of calcaneum- A short term study

Introduction: Management of displaced intraarticular fracture of calcaneum is controversial. Non-operative management often have unsatisfactory result due to subtalar arthritis and abnormal foot morphology.&#x0D; Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate clinical and radiological outcome of patients with displaced intra-articular fracture of calcaneum treated by open reduction and internal fixation(ORIF) with plates and screws through extensile lateral approach.&#x0D; Methodology: This was prospective clinical study conducted in Nobel Medical College between November 2016 to December 2019. The patients were treated by ORIF with calcaneal plates and screws through extensile lateral approach. Patients were followed up for minimal one year. Patients were evaluated clinically by using AOFAS hind foot score and radiologically by measuring Bohler’s and Gissane angle and calcaneal height and width.&#x0D; Results: Out of total 26 cases, fifteen were sander’s type II, eight were type III and three were type IV. The mean age of patients was 33.92 years. The mean delay of surgery due to swelling was 8.65±1.95 days. The averagefollow-up period was 17 months. The mean AOFAS hind foot score was85.08±7.67. Tenpatients (38.46%) had excellent, twelve patients(48.61%) had good and four patients(15.38%) had fair outcome.There were significant association between improvement in Bohler’s and Gissane angle and functional outcome measured by AOFAS hind foot score.&#x0D; Conclusion : Open reduction and internal fixation of displaced intraarticular fracture of calcaneum with calcaneal plates and screws through extensile lateral approach produce good clinical and radiological result.

Insufficiency fractures of the knee, ankle, and foot in rheumatoid arthritis: A case series and case-control study.

To evaluate cases of insufficiency fractures verified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee, ankle, and foot in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cared for in our clinic over an 8-year period, to identify possible risk factors, and to test these in a case-control study. All patients in the rheumatology clinic with RA were registered prospectively in the database, DANBIO. All MRIs ordered from the clinic were registered and coded according to the anatomical region. We were thus able to retrieve all patients with RA and performed an MRI of the knee or ankle/foot. The patients with fractures constituted the case series, and the patients without fractures constituted the control group. The RA clinic population comprised 1,624 patients who underwent a total of 70 MRIs. 39 insufficiency fractures were identified in 32 patients; 93% were women, and the median age was 68 years (range 33-89 years). Half of the patients had a T score >-2.5. The case control group without fractures comprised 38 patients; 74% were women, and the median age was 62 years (range 32-84 years). In the case series, 20 patients experienced later additional episodes of insufficiency fractures in the knee, ankle, or foot. Insufficiency fractures of the knee, ankle, and foot are a significant cause of pain and long-lasting disability in RA. Recurrent fractures are common. Diagnosis is often delayed and confused with arthritic activity. Conventional radiography and DEXA scan are often normal. Older age, female gender, radiological erosions in hand/wrist, and treatment with methotrexate were all significantly associated with fractures.

O08 Development and validation of a new tool to assess inflammatory foot disease activity in RA: the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index

Abstract Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) commonly affects the feet, resulting in pain, walking difficulties, and disability. Omission of foot joints from the disease activity score-28 (DAS-28) may lead to underestimation of foot disease and suboptimal medical and non-medical management. Therefore, the overall objective of this study is to evaluate the measurement properties of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Disease Activity Index-5 (RADAI-F5), a newly developed 5-item (0-10 numerical rating scale) patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) with a summary score (0-10) for measuring foot disease activity in people with RA. Methods Participants with RA recruited from NHS rheumatology outpatient clinics completed the RADAI-F5, a self-modified Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index (mRADAI-5) which is a self-reported measure of global disease activity, the Foot function index (FFI), Foot Impact Scale impairment/footwear (FIS-IF) and activity/participation (FIS-AP) subscales. DAS-28 was also recorded for each participant whenever possible. Participants completed RADAI-F5 again at 1 week to allow evaluation of 1-week reproducibility. Construct validity was evaluated using Spearman’s rho to test a priori hypotheses for expected strength of associations between the RADAI-F5 and the alternative disease activity and foot-related disability scales at baseline. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. One-week reproducibility was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 90% smallest detectable change (SDC90), and 95% limits of agreement (LOA). Content validity was evaluated using 5-point Likert scales for readability and relevance. Results Of 142 respondents, 103 were female and 36 were males with a mean (SD) age of 55 years (12.5) and mean (SD) RA disease duration of 39 months (70.4). Mean (SD, range) RADAI-F5 scores for the sample were 5.02 (2.47, 9.2). Associations were largely consistent with a priori hypotheses for construct validity. Strong associations were observed between the RADAI-F5 and MRADAI-5 (0.789, CI 0.73-0.85), the FFI (0.713, CI 0.62-0.79) and FIS-IS (0.695, CI 0.66-0.82) (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Moderate associations were observed with the FFI-AP (0.478, p &amp;lt; 0.001, CI 0.37-0.63). A weak association was observed between the RADAI-F5 and the DAS-28 (0.379, p &amp;lt; 0.001, CI 0.26-0.57). The RADAI-F5 demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha=0.82), and floor and ceiling effects were both absent. The RADAI-F5 demonstrated good reproducibility (ICC=0.868, p &amp;lt; 0.001, CI 0.80-0.91) and the value for SDC90 was 2.26. The upper and lower bounds for 95% LOA were -2.57 to 2.80, with 97% of scores observed within these bounds. Content validity was confirmed with 82% and 84% of participants rating the instrument as relevant and easy to understand respectively. The median time for completion was 5 minutes. Conclusion The RADAI-F5 is a highly valid and reliable PROM for measuring foot disease activity in RA patients. Furthermore, the RADAI-F5 appears to be feasible for use in clinical practice and can be used as an adjunct to the DAS28 to measure foot disease activity. Disclosures A. Hoque: Grants/research support; Stipend from Versus Arthritis to complete the Versus Arthritis MSK internship 2019 at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Linking the effect of psoriatic arthritis-related foot involvement to the Leeds Foot Impact Scale using the International Classification for Functioning, Disability and Health: a study to assess content validity

BackgroundPrevious research to describe the impact of foot involvement in psoriatic arthritis has used the Leeds Foot Impact Scale in Rheumatoid Arthritis (LFIS-RA) in the current absence of any psoriatic arthritis foot-specific tools. However, the LFIS-RA is a rheumatoid arthritis disease-specific outcome measure and its content validity for evaluating the experiences of people with psoriatic arthritis-related foot involvement is unknown. The study objective was to determine the content validity of the LFIS-RA for assessing people with psoriatic arthritis, using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as the frame of reference.MethodConcepts within each item of the LFIS-RA were linked to the best-matched ICF categories using established linking rules, which enable a systematic and standardised linking process. All concepts were independently linked to the ICF by 2 investigators with different professional backgrounds, which included occupational therapy and podiatry. The list of ICF categories derived from previous research that pertained to the foot in psoriatic arthritis was then compared with the ICF categories linked to the LFIS-RA. The comparison was undertaken in order to determine the extent to which concepts important and relevant to people with psoriatic arthritis-related foot involvement were addressed.ResultsThirty-five distinct ICF categories were linked to the LFIS-RA, which related to body functions (44%), activities and participation (35%), environmental factors (16%) and body structure (5%). In comparison with the ICF categories derived from concepts of the foot in psoriatic arthritis previously defined, the LFIS-RA provided coverage of key constructs including pain, functioning, daily activities, footwear restrictions and psychological impact. Other concepts of importance in psoriatic arthritis such as skin and toenail involvement, self-management and paid employment were not addressed in the LFIS-RA.ConclusionContent validity of the LFIS-RA to determine the impact of foot functional impairments and disability in people with psoriatic arthritis was not supported by the results of this study. Future work should consider the development of a psoriatic arthritis foot-specific patient reported outcome measure, using the LFIS-RA as an important foundation.

Total Ankle Arthroplasty for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) combined with additive techniques (1. augmentation of bone strength, 2. control of soft tissue balance, 3. adjustment of the loading axis) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases were evaluated after mid to long-term follow-up. The influences of biologic treatment on the outcomes after TAA were also evaluated. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study involving 50 ankles (44 patients) that underwent TAA for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The mean duration of follow-up was 7.1 years. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with use of the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) scale score and a postoperative self-administered foot-evaluation questionnaire (SAFE-Q). Radiographic findings were evaluated as well. These parameters also were compared between patients managed with and without biologic treatment. Results: This procedure significantly improved the clinical scores of the JSSF rheumatoid arthritis foot and ankle scale (p &lt; 0.0001). Forty-eight of the 50 ankles had no revision TAA surgery. Subsidence of the talar component was seen in 8 ankles (6 in the biologic treatment group and 2 in the non-biologic treatment group); 2 of these ankles (both in the biologic treatment group) underwent revision TAA. The social functioning score of the SAFE-Q scale at the time of the latest follow-up was significantly higher in the biologic treatment group (p = 0.0079). The dosage of prednisolone (p = 0.0003), rate of usage of prednisolone (p = 0.0001), and disease-activity score (p &lt; 0.01) at the latest follow-up were all significantly lower in the biologic treatment group. Conclusion: TAA is recommended for RA cases, if disease control, augmentation of bone strength, control of soft tissue balance, and adjustment of loading axis are taken into account. The prevention of talar component subsidence remains a challenge in patients with the combination of subtalar fusion, rheumatoid arthritis, and higher social activity levels.

Use of autologous bone grafting from the calcaneus and interconnected porous hydroxyapatite ceramic for bone transplantation in rheumatoid foot surgery

Cancellous bone grafts from the calcaneus have been used for the foot and ankle as well as iliac bone graft; however, there is a sparse report for calcaneal bone transplantation in the field of rheumatoid foot surgery. In this study, safety and usefulness of calcaneal bone grafts, and combination with interconnected porous hydroxyapatite ceramic, was evaluated in rheumatoid arthritis foot surgeries. Of six rheumatoid arthritis cases, three (talo-navicular joint fusion) used a calcaneal bone graft alone, and the remaining three cases (subtalar joint and talo-navicular joint fusion) used a combination of calcaneal bone graft and interconnected porous hydroxyapatite ceramic augmented with dense calcium hydroxyapatite for subtalar bony defect (1.5–2.0 cm) after the correction. Pre- and postoperative Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot rheumatoid arthritis foot ankle scale scores were obtained for the clinical assessment. As radiographic assessment, tibio-calcaneal angle, calcaneal pitch, talo-1st metatarsal angle, and pronated foot index were also evaluated. After starting weight-bearing or walking, there was no pain and skin trouble at the fusion and harvesting sites. All cases achieved bony fusion within 6–10 weeks. Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot rheumatoid arthritis foot ankle score was improved in all six cases. Furthermore, tibio-calcaneal angle, talo-1st metatarsal angle, and pronated foot index were also improved at latest follow-up in all cases. In conclusion, autologous bone grafting from the calcaneus was safe and convenient even in rheumatoid foot surgeries. For larger bony defects (1.5–2.0 cm), combination use with interconnected porous hydroxyapatite ceramic augmented with dense calcium hydroxyapatite was also useful.