Foot And Ankle Outcome Score Scores Research Articles

Comparison of the clinical efficacy of all-inside arthroscopic lateral ligament augmentation procedure and Broström procedure for the treatment of chronic lateral rotational ankle instability

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of patients with chronic lateral rotational ankle instability(CLRAI) after all-inside arthroscopic lateral ligament augmentation procedure and Broström procedure. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. The clinical and imaging data of 106 CLRAI patients were collected at the Xuzhou Central Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022. The patients included 55 males and 51 females with an age of (32.6±8.2) years (range: 16 to 50 years). All patients were treated under all-inside arthroscopic, and were divided into Broström-Gould surgery group (n=54) and Broström surgery group (n=52) according to different ligament repair methods. At 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, ankle inversion stress tests and anterior drawer tests were used to examine the stability of the ankle joint and observe gait. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle hindfoot scale (AOFAS-AH) and Karlsson ankle function score (KAFS) were used to assess ankle function; Tegner score was used to assess the patient's level of exercise; the foot and ankle outcome score(FAOS)(including score of symptoms,pain,function, daily living,function, sports and recreational activities (sport); quality of life (QOL)) was used to assess the patient's daily activity ability. Comparisons of data were made using independent sample t test, repeated measures analysis of variance, LSD multiple comparison method, χ2 test or Mann-Whitney U test. Results: All operations were successfully accomplished. All incisions healed by first intention, without evidence of postoperative complications of implant rejection, ligation reaction, and nerve and vessel injury. All patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Ankle varus stress test and anterior drawer test were negative. No evidence supporting lateral ankle instability was obtained. All patients eventually regained normal gait. No patients underwent revision surgery. Repeated measurement analysis of variance showed that AOFAS-AH, Tegner, KAFS and FAOS scores in the Brostrom-Gould group and the Brostrom group were significantly higher than those before surgery (P<0.01). The change trends of Tegner score and FAOS-sport score were significantly different between the two groups (F=18.839, P<0.01; F=8.169, P=0.005). Multiple comparisons revealed that at 3-, 6-and 12-month follow-up, the Tegner scores ((3 months: 3.7±0.5 vs. 3.3±0.5, t=-3.980, P<0.01; 6 months: 4.4±0.6 vs. 3.8±0.7, t=-4.792,P<0.01;12 months: 5.8±0.9 vs. 5.1±1.0, t=-3.889,P<0.01)), sport scores ((3 months: 82.5±3.7 vs. 79.3±3.8, LSD-t=-4.316, P<0.01; 6 months: 88.5±4.9 vs. 85.7±3.8, LSD-t=-3.312,P=0.001;12 months: 90.1±4.3 vs. 88.2±5.1, LSD-t=-2.112,P=0.037)) in the Broström-Gould surgery group were higher than those in the Broström surgery group, with statistical significances. Conclusions: Both Broström-Gould and Broström procedures under all-inside arthroscopic can make ankle stability and improve ankle function in the treatment of CLRAI. However, the former maybe shorten the time to return to exercise and achieve higher motor function.

Retrospective Comparison of Return to Sports and Physical Activity after Forefoot and Midfoot Arthrodesis Procedures in Foot and Ankle Surgery

Introduction/Purpose: Physical activity and returning to sports are vital for athletes after foot and ankle surgery. While joint preservation is preferred, joint arthrodesis becomes necessary in certain injuries or deformities. Common procedures include Lisfranc arthrodesis, modified Lapidus for hallux valgus (HV), and first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthrodesis for hallux rigidus (HR), addressing pain and deformities. Prior studies show promising outcomes individually, yet lack comparisons, impeding understanding of postoperative differences in function. Comparative insights can guide patient expectations and shared decisions pre-surgery. Thus, this retrospective study aims to compare clinical outcomes and return to sports in the three procedure groups. Methods: Between 2006 and 2014, a study assessed 48 modified Lapidus procedures for HV (average age 37.3 years, average follow-up 2.8 years, 95.8% female), 38 Lisfranc injuries (average age 31.8 years, average follow-up 5.2 years, 47.4% female), and 50 MTP fusion for HR cases (average age 54.9 years, average follow-up 5.1 years, 66% female). The assessment focused on physical activity and return to sport, utilizing sports-specific, patient-administered questionnaires. Clinical outcomes were evaluated through the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), encompassing pain, symptoms, stiffness, daily function, sports function, and quality of life. Comparison among the surgical groups included return-to-activity difficulty, participation levels, postoperative FAOS scores, and patient satisfaction. ANOVA analysis gauged significance in FAOS subscale differences among procedures, followed by the Tukey HSD test to pinpoint specific procedure variations if significant differences arose. Results: Regarding FAOS scores, the procedures yielded similar outcomes in the pain subscale. No differences between Lapidus- Lisfranc in the symptom subscale (P=0.6). However, MTP fusion displayed poorer scores than Lapidus (P=0.04) and Lisfranc (P=0.005). No differences between Lapidus-Lisfranc (P=0.64) and Lapidus-MTP Fusion in Activities of Daily Living (P=0.18). Yet, MTP fusion exhibited notably worse outcomes than Lisfranc (P=0.03). For Sports, no differences between Lapidus-Lisfranc (P=0.94), while MTP fusion showed inferior outcomes to Lapidus (P=0.002) and Lisfranc (P=0.001). Although means varied, no differences were observed for Lapidus vs. Lisfranc (P=0.95), Lapidus vs. MTP Fusion (P=0.09), or Lisfranc vs. MTP fusion (P=0.06) in Quality of Life [Table 1]. Collectively, patients engaged in 40 activities. Return to sport post-surgery percentage, compared among procedure groups, yielded similar outcomes [Table 2]. Conclusion: Although all procedure groups had similar overall return to sports and physical activities patient satisfaction rates, there were significant differences in regard to FAOS scores. Lapidus and Lisfranc procedures displayed similar postoperative outcomes in all FAOS domains. MTP Fusion showed similar postoperative outcomes to both Lapidus and Lisfranc procedures in the FAOS pain and quality of life domains, however displayed significantly worse outcomes in symptoms, activities of daily living, and sports domains. Therefore, it appears that an MTP fusion results in more functional limitations when compared to Lapidus and Lisfranc procedures. Table 1: Comparison of FAOS Scores in Patients who Underwent Lapidus, Lisfranc, and MTP Fusion Procedures; Table 2: Postoperative Changes in Activity Difficulty and Participation Levels

Osteochondral Lesions of the Subtalar Joint: Clinical Outcomes in 11 Patients.

The purpose of this retrospective case series was to evaluate clinical outcomes following both conservative treatment and arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for the management of symptomatic subtalar osteochondral lesions (OCLs). All symptomatic subtalar OCLs with a minimum of 12 months follow-up having undergone either a conservative management or arthroscopic procedure were included. Patient-reported outcomes were collected via questionnaires consisting of the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) of pain in rest, during walking, during stair climbing, and during running. In addition, return to sports data, return to work data, reoperations, and complications were collected and assessed. In total, 11 patients across 2 academic institutions were included (3 males, 8 females). The median age was 43 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 32-53). All patients underwent conservative treatment first; in addition, 9 patients underwent subtalar arthroscopic debridement with or without BMS. The median follow-up time was 15 months (IQR: 14-100). In the surgically treated group, the median NRS scores were 2 (IQR: 1-3) during rest, 3 (IQR: 2-4) during walking, 4 (IQR: 4-5) during stair climbing, 5 (IQR: 4-5) during running and the median FAOS score at final follow-up was 74 (IQR: 65-83). In the conservatively treated patients, the median NRS scores were all 0 (IQR: 0-0) and the median FAOS scores were 90 (IQR: 85-94). In the group of surgical treated patients, 4 were able to return to the same level of sports, 2 returned to a lower level of sports. Both conservatively treated patients returned to the sport and the same level of prior participation. All patients except one in the surgical group returned to work. This retrospective case series demonstrated that a high number of patients converted to surgery after initial conservative treatment. In addition, debridement and BMS show good clinical outcomes for the management of symptomatic subtalar OCLs at short-term follow-up. No complications nor secondary surgical procedures were noted in the surgically treated group. The high rate of failure of conservative treatment suggests that surgical intervention for symptomatic subtalar OCLs can be the primary treatment strategy; however, further research is warranted in light of the small number of patients.

Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS): Reference Values From a National Representative Sample.

The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) is widely used in clinical practice and research. However, FAOS reference values are missing to aid interpretation. This study aimed to establish national record-based reference values for the FAOS. A national representative sample of 9996 adult Danish citizens was derived from the Danish Civil Registration System. The FAOS questionnaire was sent to all participants, including 2 supplemental questions regarding previous foot and ankle problems and body mass index (BMI). A threshold of 10 FAOS points was predefined as a clinically relevant difference across all 5 subscales. A total of 2759 participants completed the FAOS. Mean age of participants was 60.5 years, and 51% were women. The mean FAOS subscale scores were as follows: pain, 87.1 (95% CI 86.4-87.8); symptoms, 85.1 (95% CI 84.5-85.8); activity of daily living (ADL), 88.9 (95% CI 88.2-89.6); sport and recreation function 78.5 (95% CI 77.4-79.6); and quality of life (QOL), 79.9 (95% CI 79.0-80.9). The mean difference between men and women was small and not clinically relevant (ranged from 0.9 in ADL to 3.4 in QOL). The largest differences in mean scores between age groups ranged from 4.3 in symptoms to 16.4 in sport/rec. Except for the subscale sport/rec, all age-related differences were below the predefined threshold of 10 for clinical relevance. The difference in mean subscale scores between the lowest BMI group (<24.7) and the obese group (>30) ranged from 19.6 in ADL to 39.1 in sport/rec. We found in our population that BMI severely impacted FAOS scores. We recommend using BMI-specific reference FAOS values. Separate FAOS reference values for men and women appear not needed. Stratifying reference values for age is likely not needed except for the subscale sport and recreation function. Level III, cohort study.

Outcomes of Total Ankle Arthroplasty in Postfracture Ankle Arthritis.

Ankle arthritis that develops after fracture accounts for a significant portion of ankle arthritis necessitating total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). It remains unknown whether TAA in postfracture patients produces equivalent outcomes to those without fracture history. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the medium-term outcomes of TAA in postfracture ankle arthritis compared to those without fracture history. This study reviewed 178 ankles from 171 consecutive patients who underwent TAA in our institution between 2007 and 2017 and completed a minimum 5-year follow-up. Four different TAA systems were utilized by 6 surgeons. Based on fracture history, patients were divided into 2 groups: the postfracture group (n = 63; median age 65.7 years; median follow-up 5.9 years) and the nonfracture group (n = 115; median age 64.4 years; median follow-up 6.2 years). Types and rates of complications including revision and reoperation were compared. Minimum 5-year Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and postoperative improvement were investigated. A subgroup analysis was performed to determine whether outcomes differ between intraarticular fracture patients (n = 43) and extraarticular fracture patients (n = 20). Both groups exhibited comparable postoperative improvement and final FAOS scores. The postfracture group had a significantly higher reoperation rate than the nonfracture group (20 of 63, 31.7%, vs 17 of 115, 14.8%; P = .011), with gutter impingement being the most common cause. There were 3 revisions in each group. In the subgroup analysis, we found no evidence of statistical difference between the intraarticular fracture group and the extraarticular fracture group in terms of FAOS scores, revision, and reoperation rates. In this single-center, retrospective comparative study, we found total ankle arthroplasty in patients with a history of fractures around the ankle joint had no evidence of statistical difference in patient-reported outcomes and implant survivorship but led to a higher rate of nonrevision reoperation following surgery. In the much smaller subset of patients with previous fracture, we did not find that those with a history of intraarticular fracture had inferior outcomes after TAA when compared to those with a history of extraarticular fracture. Level III, case-control study.

The Clinical Outcomes of Syndesmotic Flexible Fixation for Syndesmotic Injury With Ankle Fracture.

We evaluated whether the quality of syndesmotic reduction affects the short-term clinical outcomes of flexible fixation in patients with a rotational ankle fracture. This study included 59 patients (32 men and 27 women) who underwent syndesmotic flexible fixation. The degree of syndesmotic reduction was evaluated on computed tomography (CT) images acquired within 3 days after surgery. We measured the divergence between anterior and posterior incisura at 1 cm above the distal tibial articular joint, then evaluated the degree of fibular rotation relative to the tibia. At 1 year after surgery, an objective clinical evaluation was performed using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, the visual analog scale (VAS), and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). Additionally, repeat arthroscopy was performed during routine implant removal at nearly 1 year postoperatively. Among 59 patients who underwent syndesmotic flexible fixation, 56 patients had syndesmotic stability on repeat arthroscopy. At 1 year postoperation, AOFAS, VAS, and FAOS scores were, respectively, 90, 2.0, and 94 in the accurate reduction group (n = 24) and 90, 1.0, and 94.5 in the malreduction group (n = 35). Reduction quality after syndesmotic injury with flexible fixation, as determined by early postoperative CT imaging, did not affect patient prognosis. In this cohort, syndesmotic reduction and flexible fixation may produce good clinical outcomes in patients with syndesmotic injury and ankle fracture. Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Ankle Arthroplasty—Does Preoperative Fixed Equinus Affect Patient-Reported Outcomes

Postoperative sagittal range of motion, in particular degree of dorsiflexion, is critical for satisfactory outcomes in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). Although there is literature discussing techniques to treat a preoperative fixed equinus we are not aware of any papers presenting patient outcomes. We present patient-reported outcomes for our cohort of patients undergoing TAA with preoperative fixed equinus compared to plantigrade ankles. This is a single surgeon, cohort study of consecutive cases. Cases of primary TAA were identified from a local joint registry which prospectively records Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores (FAOS), Short Form-36 (SF-36), and patient satisfaction. Revision cases or those with inadequate data were excluded. Patients were classified as fixed equinus or neutral based on both preoperative weightbearing lateral radiographs and clinical records. Overall 259 cases were identified, 92 were excluded leaving 167 cases for analysis (mean follow-up 81.7 months), 147 were classified as neutral and 20 fixed equinus. The fixed equinus group were significantly younger (neutral 63.9 vs equinus 52.9, p < .001). Stiffness was the only FAOS domain that was detectibly different at baseline (neutral 36.6 vs equinus 25.6, p=.044). Final FAOS scores, change from baseline and patient satisfaction was the same in all domains for both groups. There was no difference in revision rates. With the numbers available we did not demonstrate a postoperative difference in outcomes for patients with preoperative fixed equinus.

The Outcome of Modified Mini-Open Brostrom Gould Ankle Surgery on Chronic Ankle Instability.

Introduction Modified Brostrom-Gould surgery (MBG) aims to repair the lateral ligaments of the ankle in patients with ligamentous laxity and chronic instability. Brostrom-Gould surgery-the Brostrom technique associated with Gould augmentation-is currently the gold standard surgical option for chronic ankle instability worldwide. Chronic lateral ankle instability caused by lateral ankle sprains is one of the most common sports-related injuries, and Brostrom-Gould surgery is commonly recommended as the operative treatment. While arthroscopic surgery is becoming the more heavily favored approach of choice, open Brostrom-Gould surgery is still pertinent for patients for whom arthroscopic repair is unsuitable. Aim This paper discusses a modified mini-open approach of the open Brostrom-Gould surgery with a smaller incision (1.5 cm) and aims to study the outcomes of this modified approach on patients' post-operative pain, stability, and functional outcome. Methods Forty-two patients were followed up for a mean of 2.6 years after undergoing modified mini-open Brostrom-Gould surgery. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), and Karlsson scores were used to monitor their post-operative recovery. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the SPSS Statistics (v.28.0.1) software were used for data management and analytics. Results The results showed a mean Karlsson score of 83.4, a mean FAOS score of 69.7, and a mean VAS score of 1.33. These results are comparable to studies conducted on conventional open Brostrom-Gould repair. Conclusion The modified mini-open Brostrom Gould provides a favorable functional outcome with a reduction in pain and suggests no decrease in efficacy with the modified approach. This is coupled with the added advantages of a smaller wound, better wound healing outcomes, and availability to patients not suited to arthroscopic repair.

Validation of the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) for Osteochondral Lesions of the Ankle.

The purpose of this study was to validate the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). We hypothesize that the FAOS will meet all 4 psychometric criteria for validity in this patient population. From 2008 to 2014, a total of 208 patients with OLTs were included in the construct validity portion of the study. All patients completed FAOS and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) scores. Twenty additional patients were prospectively recruited and were asked to complete questionnaires to determine the relevance of each of the FAOS questions as it related to their OLT. Forty-four patients completed the FAOS 1 month after the first FAOS to assess reliability via Spearman correlation coefficient. Responsiveness of the FAOS was assessed with 54 patients who had both preoperative and postoperative FAOS scores via Student paired t test with significance determined as P < .05. In total, 229 unique patients were included in this study. Statistically significant associations were found between all FAOS and SF-12 subscales (P < .01). The FAOS symptoms subscale demonstrated the lowest correlation with the SF-12 physical health domains. No floor or ceiling effects were identified. Weak correlations were calculated between the 5 FAOS subscales and the SF-12 mental component summary score. All FAOS domains met the threshold for acceptable content validity (score > 2.0). All FAOS subscales demonstrated acceptable test-retest reliability, with ICC values ranging from 0.81 (ADL) to 0.92 (Pain). This study demonstrates the acceptable yet moderate construct and content validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the FAOS for patients with OLTs of the ankle joint. We endorse the use of the FAOS in evaluating ankle OLTs in both the research and clinical setting and consider it a useful patient-reported, self-administered instrument following surgical intervention. Level IV, retrospective case study.

Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in Surgery: Evaluation after Minimally Invasive Reduction and Percutaneous K-Wires Fixation for Intra-Articular Calcaneal Fractures

The optimal surgical treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures (IACF) is still under debate. In the literature, results are based on clinical or radiographical findings. Few studies have evaluated the effect of patient expectations on patient-reported outcomes after surgery and little is known about outcomes directly reported by the patient who experienced it. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) may represent a viable and useful tool for evaluating the efficacy of the procedure and can be considered as an indicators of health-care quality. The aim of this study is to evaluate PROMs after minimally invasive reduction and percutaneous Kirschner-wires fixation for IACF, and to compare PROMs to pre-operative and last follow-up radiographic findings. 33 consecutive patients with IACF treated with minimally invasive reduction and percutaneous K-wires fixation were included. Data collection included demographics, pre-operative and last available Böhler and Gissane angle X-rays, foot function index (FFI), and foot and ankle outcome score (FAOS). At a mean follow up of 36.7 months, the mean FFI score was 24.3 ± 19.9 and the mean FAOS score was 68 ± 24.8. Patients with better Gissane angle showed better activity limitations FFI subscores. Moreover, worse pre-operative Gissane and Böhler angle were significantly associated with a worse total FAOS score and subscores. Minimally invasive reduction and percutaneous K-wires fixation provided satisfactory PROMs. Despite these results, prospective randomized studies are required to confirm the validity and reliability of PROMs in evaluating different treatments.

Do radiolucencies affect the outcomes of a 4th generation total ankle prosthesis? A 2-year follow-up

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Ankle Introduction/ Purpose: Fourth generation ankle replacements benefit from improved surgical technique, respect for bony preservation, and increased surgeon awareness of operative indications. The rate of radiolucencies around the tibial component observed in studies about 3rd generation total ankle replacements are reported at rates that range from 30% to 43%. To date, studies have not been shown to predict survivorship or patient reported outcomes (PROs) however. We hypothesize that radiolucenices do not affect PROs or survivorship. Methods: Patients presenting for a total ankle replacement at 9 institutions were prospectively enrolled in academic and private settings. Each patient received an INFINTY ankle prosthesis (Stryker, Memphis, TN, USA). Implants were assessed for subsidence and the presence of radiolucencies based on the analysis and comparison of all postoperative weightbearing ankle radiographs available. Subsidence was defined as a change of tibial component alignment greater than 5degrees or a change in the vertical position of the talar component of 5 mm or more. Subsidence and radiolucent lines were deemed nonprogressive when no change in position or size was noted with comparison of the last 2 radiographs. PROMs were recorded pre-operatively and at 6months, 12months, and 24month intervals. The following PROMs were collected: Ankle Osteoarthritis Score (AOS), PROMIS Global Physical Health, and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). The preoperative and latest follow-up scores for patients with two years of follow-up were analyzed. Results: 110 patients were enrolled in the study who had 2-year follow-up with twenty-one patients (19.1%) exhibiting a radiographic lucency. To date, our survivorship is 97.3%, of which 2 patients were revised for aseptic loosening; both reporting radiolucencies. The radiolucencies for one identified at 6months became progressive for both tibia and talus with cysts above 5mm requiring revision at 1.5years post op. The other requiring revision at 2years post-op reported progressive radiolucency. There was no difference in rates of survivorship with or without radiolucencies. One patient had subsidence which required revision. All patients with radiolucencies had significant improvements in all domains of the AOS, PROMIS, and FAOS Scores (p&lt; 0001). Radiolucency did not impact the PROs (AOA p=.741, PROMIS p=.964, FAOS p=.8937) in those with 2-year follow-up. Conclusion: Radiolucencies did not impact PROMs in patients undergoing implantation with a 4th generation total ankle replacement. In carefully selected patients, radiolucency did not correlate with an increased need for revision surgery nor had decreased survivorship.

Do COFAS Scores Effect the Outcomes of a 4th Generation Total Ankle Prosthesis? A 2-Year Follow- Up

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Fourth generation ankle replacements benefit from improved surgical technique, respect for bony preservation, and increased surgeon awareness of operative indications. In order to better compare and stratify pre-operative ankle arthritis patients, the Canadian Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle (COFAS) pre-operative classification for end-stage ankle arthritis score was developed. The purpose of this study is report on how the COFAS scores effects prospectively collected patient reported outcome measures(PROMs) in a multi-institutional study of a fourth-generation total ankle replacement. Methods: Patients presenting for a total ankle replacement at 9 institutions were prospectively enrolled and implanted in both academic and private settings. Each patient received an INFINITY ankle prosthesis (Stryker, Memphis, TN, USA). Patients had their COFAS pre-operative classification for end-stage ankle arthritis scores, and PROMs recorded pre-operatively and at 6 months,12 months, and 24-month intervals. The following PROMs were collected: Ankle Osteoarthritis Score (AOS), PROMIS Global Physical Health, and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). The preoperative and latest follow-up scores for patients with two years of follow-up were analyzed. Results: A total of 147 patients were prospectively enrolled. for study participation. COFAS types; were delineated as Type 1 (42.6%, isolated ankle arthritis), Type 2 (27.0%, ankle arthritis with varus or valgus deformity, tight Achilles, ankle instability), Type 3(4.7%, ankle arthritis with hindfoot deformity, tibial malunion), and Type 4 (25.8%, Types 1-3, plus hindfoot arthritis). Eighty-eight (88) patients had at least 24 months of follow-up. COFAS Types 1, 2, 3, and 4 patients had significant improvements in all domains of the AOS, PROMIS, and FAOS Scores (p&lt;0001). The type and severity of deformity or amount of hindfoot arthritis, hindfoot deformity, or ankle instability significantly effected the PROMs in those patients with at least 2-year follow-up. Implant revision rates were not affected by COFAS type, and there were three revisions (One Type 4 and two Type 2). Conclusion: At two-year follow-up, all study participants had significant improvements in PROMs, regardless of COFAS Type. These results suggest that COFAS type has little impact on patient outcomes using current generation total ankle replacements. Longer term follow-up may serve to further confirm these promising early results.

Does Severe Ankle Deformity Affect the Outcomes of a 4th Generation Total Ankle Prosthesis? A 2- Year Follow-Up

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Fourth generation ankle replacements benefit from improved surgical technique, respect for bony preservation, and increased surgeon awareness of operative indications. In some studies, pre-operative degree of deformity has been reported to influence survivorship, pain, and functional outcomes. The purpose of this multi-institutional study was to evaluate whether pre- operative deformity affects prospectively collected patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) of a fourth-generation total ankle replacement. Methods: Patients presenting for a total ankle replacement at 9 institutions were prospectively enrolled and implanted in a variety of academic and private settings. Each patient received an INFINITY ankle prosthesis. (Styker, Memphis, TN, USA). The degree of deformity was radiographically classified pre-operatively as severe if ankle varus or valgus was greater than 10° in the coronal plane. PROMs were recorded pre-operatively and at 6 months, 12 months, and 24-month intervals. The following PROMs were collected: Ankle Osteoarthritis Score (AOS), PROMIS Global Physical Health, and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). The preoperative and latest follow-up scores for patients with two years of follow-up were analyzed. Results: A total of 147 patients were enrolled in the study. Fifty-two patients exhibited a pre-operative ankle deformity of greater than 10° varus or valgus. Eighty-eight patients had 24 months of follow-up. All patients with severe deformity had significant improvements in all domains of the AOS, PROMIS, and FAOS Scores (p&lt;0001). The degree of deformity, ankle instability, or hindfoot arthritis did not impact the PROMs (AOA p=.2661, PROMIS p=.543, FAOS p=.684) in those with 2-year follow-up.There were three revisions with varying degrees of deformity. Two patients had revisions for aseptic loosening (6o valgus and 10o varus). One patient had a revision for tibial subsidence (11o varus). Conclusion: Severe pre-operative deformity did not impact PROMs in patients undergoing implantation with a 4th generation total ankle replacement. In carefully selected patients, greater deformity did not necessarily correlate with an increased need for revision surgery.

Clinical and Radiological Results of a Human Bone Graft Screw in Tarsometatarsal II/+III Arthrodesis

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: Osteoarthritis of the lesser Lisfranc joints is a debilitating foot condition. Arthrodesis is a well known procedure to eliviate pain and improve quality of life of the affected person. The use of a transplant screw made of allogenic human bone material is considered a new technique for lesser Lisfranc joint arthrodesis. This article investigates the clinical outcome and radiological integration of the allogenic bone screw for arthrodesis of the tarsometatarsal joints II/+III. Methods: This is a prospective study involving 20 feet of 17 patients who received TMT II/+III arthrodesis with an allogenic bone screw. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS pain and function), Foot Function Index (FFI), American Orthopaedic Foot &amp; Ankle Society Outcome Score (AOFAS) and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) were used as measures to compare preoperative with postoperative results. Radiologic integration in the recipient bone was also evaluated. Results: A significant mean pre- to postoperative improvement of all evaluated scores has been observed (P&lt; .05) after a mean follow-up of 16 months (12-33). VAS (pain) decreased from 7.6 points to 1.4 points, VAS (function) from 7.25 points to 1.8 points. The FFI improved from 62.3% to 16.7%, the AOFAS score from 29.7 points to 79.9 points of the. In all surveyed subscales of the FAOS score an increase was observed: symptoms: 55.2 to 85.6; pain: 30.5 to 86.9; function: 33.1 to 88.3; quality of life: 27.8 to 79.7. The radiologic evaluation did not show any pseudarthrosis at last follow-up. Moreover, in 19 of 20 feet (95%) a complete radiological integration of the screw into the receiving bone was seen after a minimum follow-up time of 12 months and was no longer distinguishable from the original bone. Conclusion: With these first results of the use of an allogenic bone screw in TMT II/+III arthrodesis, a significant improvement from preoperative to postoperative clinical status was confirmed and a full radiographic integration demonstrated in all feet.

Long-term outcomes of talus osteochondral autologous transplantation in soccer players: 24 mosaicplasty with more than 10 years of follow-up

ObjectiveAround 17% to 40% of professional soccer players' joint injuries affect the ankle. Although their incidence rate is relatively low, it is necessary to treat the cartilage and osteochondral talus injury in most cases, particularly in athletes. According to the latest International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle implicates that there is not enough evidence to make a proper guideline; therefore, the study aims to investigate the long-term outcomes of talar mosaicplasty. MathodsIn a single-center retrospective study, the long-term outcomes of talus mosaicplasty procedures in soccer players between 1997 and 2011 were investigated. A combination of scores was used: the FAOS (Foot and Ankle Outcome Score) and Bandi score in order to evaluate the ankle and donor site function, the Tegner scores to measure activity, and the MOCART 2.0 (Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue) score to describe cartilage surface. Players' skill level was divided into professional, competitive, and recreational groups. ResultsTwenty-four soccer players were included; 13 had MRI at the last follow-up control. The average follow-up time was 13.84 ± 3.65 (10.22-22.82) years. The mean FAOS score was 86.16 ± 16.05 (24-99), MOCART was 50.76 ± 12.55 (25-70), and 87% of the patients had a good to excellent Bandi score. The overall return to sport was 11.4 ± 4.8 (3.6-24) months. ConclusionMosaicplasty has a good long-term functional outcome score and proved to be a reliable treatment option for the athletic population.

Gender Differences May Exist in the Presentation, Mechanism of Injury and Outcomes Following Bone Marrow Stimulation for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Bone marrow stimulation (BMS) is indicated for patients who have symptomatic osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). Despite differences in ankle biomechanics and cartilage morphology between men and women, there is scant evidence examining whether these differences affect surgical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes in men and women following BMS for OLTs. A retrospective analysis comparing female and male patients treated with BMS for OLT between 2007 and 2015 was performed. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores (FAOS) and Short-Form 12 (SF-12). Magnetic resonance imaging at final follow-up was evaluated with the modified magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue score. Thirty-one females and 38 males were included. In female patients, the mean FAOS pain score improved from 60 ± 16 preoperatively to 84 ± 8.9 at 1- to 2-year follow-up (p < .01), and then decreased to 80±13 at final follow-up at 3-4 years. In male patients, the mean FAOS pain score improved from 65±17 preoperatively to 83±9.2 at 1-2 year follow-up (p < .01), and then decreased to 76±14.6 at final follow-up at 3-4 years. Lateral lesions were more common in male patients. Medial lesions were more common in female patients. The outcomes following BMS in both female and male patients were good with no significant differences at short-term follow-up. FAOS scores in male patients were more likely to decrease after 1 to 2 years postsurgery, implying a possibly faster decline than in female patients.

Clinical and Radiologic Results of a Human Bone Graft Screw in Tarsometatarsal II/+III Arthrodesis.

For arthrodesis of the tarsometatarsal joints, there is the possibility of using a transplant screw made of allogenic human bone material (Shark Screw). This article investigates the clinical outcome and radiologic integration of the allogenic bone screw for arthrodesis of the tarsometatarsal joints II/+III. This is a prospective study involving 20 feet of 17 patients who received TMT II/+III arthrodesis with an allogenic bone screw. A visual analog scale (VAS pain and function), Foot Function Index (FFI), American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score, and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) were used as measures to compare preoperative with postoperative results. Radiologic integration in the recipient bone was also evaluated. A significant mean pre- to postoperative improvement of all evaluated scores has been observed (P < .05) after a mean follow-up of 15.87 months (minimum 12 months, maximum 33 months). VAS score (pain) decreased from 7.6 to 1.4 points as well as a decrease of the VAS (function) from 7.25 to 1.8 points. Further, a reduction of the FFI from 62.3% to 16.7% and an increase from 29.7 to 79.9 points of the AOFAS was detected. Analyzing the FAOS score, in all surveyed subscales, there was an increase in the score (Symptoms: 55.2 to 85.6 points; Pain: 30.5 to 86.9 points; Function: 33.1 to 88.3 points; Quality of life: 27.8 to 79.7 points). Moreover, in all cases, a complete radiologic integration into the receiving bone was appreciated, and after a minimum follow-up time from 12 months, the screw in 19 feet (95%) was no longer distinguishable from the original bone. With these first results of the allogenic bone screw in TMT II/+III arthrodesis, a significant improvement from preoperative to postoperative was confirmed in the collected scores, and a full radiographic integration was demonstrated in all feet.

High return to sports and return to work rates after anatomic lateral ankle ligament reconstruction with tendon autograft for isolated chronic lateral ankle instability

PurposeTo evaluate clinical outcomes as well as return to sports (RTS) and return to work (RTW) rates following anatomic lateral ankle ligament reconstruction with a tendon autograft for chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) in a high-risk population, and to compare these outcome parameters between patients having received a gracilis tendon autograft (GT) and free split peroneus brevis tendon (PBT) autograft.MethodsTwenty-eight consecutive patients, who were diagnosed with CLAI, presenting with ≥ 1 risk factor (ligamentous hyperlaxity, insufficient substance of native ligament and/or high-demand athlete), who underwent ankle ligament reconstruction with a tendon autograft between January 2011 and December 2018, were included in this retrospective study. At 63.7 ± 28.0 months (24–112), 23 patients with a mean age of 29.7 ± 10.9 years were available for follow-up. The Karlsson Score, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), the Tegner Activity Scale and the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were collected at a minimum follow-up of 24 months. RTS and RTW were evaluated by questionnaire. A subgroup analysis with regard to the graft used for ankle ligament reconstruction (GT versus PBT) was performed.ResultsPatients reported a Karlsson score of 82.1 ± 17.5 (37–100), a FAOS score of 87.8 ± 8.4 (73–99), a median Tegner activity scale of 5.0 (IQR 4–6) and a VAS for pain of 0.5 ± 0.9 (0–4) at rest and of 2.0 ± 2.1 (0–7) during activities at final follow-up. Postoperatively, 96% of patients had returned to sports after 8.3 ± 6.2 months. All patients (100%) had returned to work at 3.5 ± 5.7 (0–24) months, with 87% reporting an equal or improved working ability compared to that preoperatively. Postoperatively, exercise hours per week were significantly reduced compared to preoperatively in patients with a split PBT (n = 12; 13.0 ± 12.9 to 5.6 ± 6.4 h, p = 0.038) autograft as opposed to patients with a GT autograft (n = 11; 13.1 ± 8.7 to 12.4 ± 7.1 h, n.s.). No other group differences were observed.ConclusionGood patient-reported outcomes as well as excellent RTS and RTW rates can be achieved in high-risk patients undergoing ankle ligament reconstruction with a tendon autograft for CLAI. These results may be helpful in preoperatively managing patients’ expectations regarding sports- and work-related outcomes and provide tangible data on the expectable time frame of the individual return to sports and work trajectory.Level of evidenceIV.

Improved Clinical Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction of In-Office Needle Arthroscopy for the Treatment of Posterior Ankle Impingement

PurposeTo investigate the short-term clinical outcomes and satisfaction for the first set of patients at our institution receiving in-office needle arthroscopy (IONA) for the treatment of posterior ankle impingement syndrome (PAIS).MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate patients who underwent IONA for PAIS between January 2019 and January 2021. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pain Interference, and Pain Intensity scores. Patient satisfaction was measured at the final follow-up visit with a 5-point Likert scale. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to compare preoperative and postoperative outcome scores.ResultsTen patients (4 male and 6 female) with a mean age of 41.9 ± 15.5 years (range, 24-66 years) were included in the study. The mean follow-up time was 13.3 ± 2.9 months (range, 11-17 months). All mean preoperative FAOS scores demonstrated improvement after IONA, including FAOS symptoms (71.48 ± 10.3 to 80.3 ± 12.6), pain (69.3 ± 11.0 to 78.2 ± 13.9), activities of daily living (61.7 ± 8.8 to 77.93 ± 11.4), sports activities (55.6 ± 12.7 to 76.0 ± 13.6), and quality of life (46.6 ± 9.2 to 71.1 ± 12.1). There were 7 patients who participated in sports activities before the IONA procedure. Within this group, all patients returned to play at a median time of 4.1 weeks (range, 1-14 weeks). The median time to return to work was 3.4 ± 5.3 days. Patients reported an overall positive IONA experience with a mean rating scale of 9.5 ± 1.5 (range, 5-10).ConclusionsThe current study demonstrates that IONA treatment of PAIS results in significant pain reduction, a low complication rate, and excellent patient-reported outcomes. In addition, IONA for PAIS leads to high patient satisfaction with a significant willingness to undergo the same procedure again.Level of EvidenceIV, therapeutic case series.

Validation of Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) in individuals with chronic ankle instability: a cross-sectional observational study

BackgroundAnkle sprain is the most common lower limb injury in physically active individuals. Loss of function, decreased postural control (PC), strength deficit, and reduced range of motion (ROM) are common after acute lateral ankle sprains. Some patients experienced long lasting symptoms, with recurrent sprains, and episodes of giving-way: a condition known as chronic ankle instability (CAI). Evaluating the function in patients with CAI in the clinical environment is important to identify the severity of the condition, in addition to allowing to assess the effectiveness of a given treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the validation of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) in terms of muscle strength, PC and ROM in adults with CAI.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study. Individuals with CAI aged between 18 and 45 years were eligible. Individuals with CAI were identified using the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI). All patients filled in the FAAM and FAOS scores. Muscle strength was assessed by manual dynamometry, ROM by the Lunge test, PC by computerized posturography, modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT) and modified Balance Error Score System (mBESS).Results50 participants were enrolled in the present study. The mean age of the patients was 27.2 ± 6.3 years, and the mean body mass index was 26.4 ± 4.8 kg/m2. 58% (29 of 50) were men and 42% (21 of 50) women. 18 individuals had unilateral (36%) and 32 bilateral (64%) CAI. The results of FAAM were associated with MCT, mSEBT, invertor muscles strength, plantar flexor muscles strength, dorsiflexor muscles strength, and external hip rotator muscles strength (P < 0.05). The results of FAOS were associated with mSEBT, invertor muscles strength, plantar flexor muscles strength, dorsiflexor muscles strength, evertor muscles strength, and external hip rotator muscles strength, and mBEES (P < 0.05).ConclusionBoth the FAAM and FAOS demonstrated validity to evaluate postural control and muscle strength in patients with CAI, while no association was found in relation to ankle dorsiflexion.