Hawkins Sign Research Articles

Avascular Necrosis of the Talus: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Modern Reconstructive Options.

Talar avascular necrosis (AVN) is a devastating condition that frequently follows type III and IV talar neck fractures. As 60% of the talus is covered by hyaline cartilage, its vascular supply is limited and prone to trauma, which may eventually lead to AVN development. Early detection of AVN (Hawkins sign, MRI) is crucial, as it may prevent the development of the irreversible stages III and IV of AVN. Alertness is advised regarding non-obvious conditions that may cause this complication (sub chondroplasty, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus). Although, in stages I-II, AVN may be treated with non-surgical procedures (ESWT therapy, non-weight bearing) or joint-sparing techniques (core drilling, bone marrow aspirate injections), stages III-IV require more advanced procedures, such as joint-sacrificing procedures (hindfoot arthrodesis/ankle arthrodesis), or replacement surgery, including total talar replacement (TTR) or combined total ankle replacement (TAR). The advancement of 3D-printing technology and increased access to implant manufacturing are contributing to a rise in the production rates of third-generation total talar prostheses. As a result, there is a growing frequency of alloplasty procedures and combined total ankle replacement (TAR) surgeries. By performing TTR as opposed to deses, the operator avoids (i) delayed union, (ii) a shortening of the limb, (iii) a lack of mobility, and (iv) the stiffening of adjacent joints, which are the main disadvantages of joint-sacrificing procedures. Simultaneously, TTR and combined TAR offer (i) a brief period of weight-bearing restriction, (ii) quick pain relief, and (iii) preservation of the length of the limb. Here, we summarize the most up-to-date knowledge regarding AVN diagnosis and treatment, with a special focus on the role of TTR.

Vascularized medial femoral condyle bone graft for the management of an acute talar neck fracture: A case report

Background Management of talar neck fractures can be challenging due to the high rate of non- or malunion, avascular necrosis and post-traumatic arthritis, which has been attributed to the disruption of the bone’s tenuous blood supply during fracture displacement. Osseous medial femoral condyle (MFC) flaps are increasingly being used in the reconstruction of small bony defects due to recalcitrant non-union and avascular necrosis in the upper and lower limbs. We report a rare case of an MFC flap used in the reconstruction of an acute talar neck fracture. Case Presentation A 38-year-old male presented with multiple injuries following a motor vehicle accident, including an open comminuted talar neck and lateral process fracture, with dislocation of the subtalar and talocrural joints (Hawkins III). Initial exploration and debridement demonstrated a significant defect in the dorsal portion of the talar neck. Temporary stabilisation was achieved with Kirschner wires and the defect was packed with bone cement. Two weeks later, a MFC flap was harvested from the ipsilateral knee and tailored to fit the talar defect. Fixation was achieved with cannulated compression screws. At six weeks post-operative, all wounds had healed, a radiograph demonstrated a positive Hawkins sign and computed tomography showed incorporation of the flap. The patient had no donor site morbidity, and commenced weight bearing at 3 months postoperatively. Conclusion This is the first report demonstrating the viability of MFC flap reconstruction for the management of bony defects in acute talar neck fractures.

An Unusual Localization of Spinoglenoid Cysts in the Shoulder; Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Analysis

Objective: A spinoglenoid cyst represents a distinctive clinical entity within the realm of shoulder pathology, characterized by the development of a cystic structure in the spinoglenoid notch. Situated in the intricate anatomy of the shoulder, this cyst often involves compression of the suprascapular nerve, introducing a spectrum of symptoms that range from localized discomfort to functional impairment. As an area of increasing interest in orthopedic and neurological literature, the spinoglenoid cyst poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Case: Patient 1: A 31-year-old male presented with right shoulder pain and a positive Hawkins sign. He had a history of bicipital tendinitis. T2-weighted MRI (T2WI) showed a hyperintense 14x16mm spinoglenoid cyst. Patient 2: Another 31-year-old male presented with shoulder pain, positive Hawkins and Neer signs, and pain induced upon shoulder range of motion. T2-weighted MRI (T2WI) revealed a 16x11mm hyperintense ganglion cyst with hypointense septae. Patient 3: A 42-year-old male presented with shoulder pain that started a month ago. He had a history of rotator cuff syndrome, shoulder impingement syndrome, and adhesive capsulitis in the shoulder, along with positive Hawkins and Neer signs. T2-weighted MRI (T2WI) identified a 25x15x28mm hyperintense ganglion cyst. Conclusion: The cases presented highlight the diagnostic challenges posed by spinoglenoid cysts and the importance of advanced imaging techniques, particularly MRI, in confirming their presence and understanding their characteristics. The diverse clinical manifestations, ranging from chronic shoulder pain to neurological deficits, emphasize the need for a nuanced and individualized approach to diagnosis and management.

Hawkins Sign of the Talus: The Impact of Patient Factors on Prediction Accuracy

Introduction/Purpose: Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a complication of talar neck fractures associated with chronic pain and poor functional outcomes. Hawkins sign, the radiographic presence of subchondral lucency seen in the talar dome 6 to 8 weeks after trauma, is considered to be a strong predictor of preserved talus vascularity. The study sought to assess the accuracy of the Hawkins sign in a large, contemporary cohort and assess factors associated with inaccuracy. Methods: A retrospective review of all talar neck fractures from a single level I trauma center from 2008 to 2016 was performed. The presence of Hawkins sign and AVN were determined based on ankle radiographs 8 weeks after injury and at final follow-up, respectively. Patients with less than 6 months follow-up were excluded. Hawkins sign accuracy was assessed using proportions with 95% confidence intervals (C.I.) and associations were examined with Fisher’s exact testing. Results: In total, 137 talar neck fractures were identified with 105 having adequate follow-up. Hawkins sign was observed in 21 tali, 3 (14%) of which later developed AVN (95% C.I., 3 – 36%). In the remaining 84 tali without Hawkins sign, 32 (38%) developed AVN (95% C.I., 28 – 49%). Of the 3 tali that developed AVN following observation of Hawkins sign, all patients were smokers. There were no cases of AVN in non-smokers with Hawkins sign (P=0.21), and smoking was not associated with AVN in patients without Hawkins sign (41% vs 36%, P=0.82). Conclusion: Hawkins sign may not be a reliable predictor of preserved talus vascularity in all patients. We identified three patients with positive Hawkins signs who developed AVN, all of whom were smokers. Factors impairing microvascular blood supply to the talus may lead to AVN even in the presence of preserved macrovascular blood flow and an observed Hawkins sign. Close monitoring of select patients with Hawkins sign should be considered and further research is needed to understand the factors limiting Hawkins sign accuracy. Prognostic accuracy of the Hawkins sign in predicting talar AVN

Evaluation of the functional and radiologic outcomes in talus fractures following surgery.

The long-term outcome of talus fractures is not yet sufficiently favorable despite improved resources and growing experience. With increasing fracture severity, the complication rate increases. This study aimed to evaluate the mid-to-long-term clinical and radiologic outcomes using the scoring system and imaging archive in patients with talus fractures who were surgically treated in our hospital. The mid- to long-term outcomes of patients with talus fractures admitted to Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between January 2010 and December 2020 and treated surgically were analyzed using satisfaction and functional scoring systems. Demographic data of the patients enrolled in our study indicated that talus fractures primarily developed in young males (p<0.05). The scores obtained from American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scoring were consistent with patients' long-term consequences, such as avascular necrosis and post-traumatic arthritis (p<0.05). The rates of avascular necrosis and post-traumatic arthritis were lower, whereas AOFAS scores were higher in patients in whom the reduction quality was within the exact anatomical limits (p<0.05). The Hawkins sign had a positive predictive significance in patients free of avascular necrosis (p<0.05). Higher AOFAS scores were observed in patients treated with a single surgical incision (p<0.05). The timing of the surgery did not influence the results (p>0.05). The outcomes of patients treated surgically for talus fracture depended on the quality of reduction. In the mid-to-long term, the satisfaction scores of our patients with talus fractures who had undergone surgical treatment were rated as moderate.

The Hawkins Sign of the Talus: The Impact of Patient Factors on Prediction Accuracy.

Osteonecrosis is a complication of talar neck fractures associated with chronic pain and poor functional outcomes. The Hawkins sign, the radiographic presence of subchondral lucency seen in the talar dome 6 to 8 weeks after trauma, is a strong predictor of preserved talar vascularity. This study sought to assess the accuracy of the Hawkins sign in a contemporary cohort and assess factors associated with inaccuracy. A retrospective review of talar neck fractures at a level-I trauma center from 2008 to 2016 was conducted. Both the Hawkins sign and osteonecrosis were evaluated on radiographs. The Hawkins sign was determined on the basis of radiographs taken approximately 6 to 8 weeks after injury, whereas osteonecrosis was determined based on radiographs taken throughout follow-up. The Hawkins sign accuracy was assessed using proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and associations were examined with Fisher exact testing. In total, 105 talar neck fractures were identified. The Hawkins sign was observed in 21 tali, 3 (14% [95% CI, 3% to 36%]) of which later developed osteonecrosis. In the remaining 84 tali without a Hawkins sign, 32 (38% [95% CI, 28% to 49%]) developed osteonecrosis. Of the 3 tali that developed osteonecrosis following observation of the Hawkins sign, all were in patients who smoked. A positive Hawkins sign may not be a reliable predictor of preserved talar vascularity in all patients. We identified 3 patients with a positive Hawkins sign who developed osteonecrosis, all of whom were smokers. Factors impairing the restoration of microvascular blood supply to the talus may lead to osteonecrosis despite the presence of preserved macrovascular blood flow and an observed Hawkins sign. Further research is needed to understand the factors limiting Hawkins sign accuracy. Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Effectiveness analysis of percutaneous parallel screw fixation via posterolateral "safe zone" for Hawkins type Ⅰ- Ⅲ talar neck fractures

To explore the effectiveness of the percutaneous parallel screw fixation via the posterolateral "safe zone" for Hawkins type Ⅰ-Ⅲ talar neck fractures. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data from 35 patients who met the selection criteria of talar neck fractures between January 2019 and June 2021. According to the surgical method, they were divided into a study group (14 cases, using percutaneous posterolateral "safe zone" parallel screw fixation) and a control group (21 cases, using traditional open reduction and anterior cross screw internal fixation). There was no significant difference in gender, age, affected side, Hawkins classification, and time from injury to operation between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, bone healing time, complications, and Hawkins sign were recorded, and the improvement of pain and ankle-foot function were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score at last follow-up. The overall quality of life was assessed by the short form of 12-item health survey (SF-12), which was divided into physical and psychological scores; and the satisfaction of patients was evaluated by the 5-point Likert scale. The operation time in the study group was significantly shorter than that in the control group ( P<0.05). All patients werefollowed up 13-35 months, with an average of 20.6 months; there was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the two groups ( P>0.05). The time of bone healing in the study group was shorter than that in the control group, and the positive rate of Hawkins sign (83.33%) was higher than that in the control group (33.33%), and the differences were significant ( P<0.05). In the control group, there were 2 cases of incision delayed healing, 7 cases of avascular necrosis of bone, 3 cases of joint degeneration, 1 case of bone nonunion, and 3 cases of internal fixation irritation; while in the study group, there were only 2 cases of joint degeneration, and there was a significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups ( P>0.05), but the SF-12 physical and psychological scores, AOFAS ankle and hindfoot scores, and patients' satisfaction in the study group were significantly better than those in the control group ( P<0.05). The treatment of Hawkins type Ⅰ-Ⅲ talar neck fractures with percutaneous parallel screw fixation via the posterolateral "safe zone" can achieve better effectiveness than traditional open surgery, with the advantages of less trauma, fewer complications, faster recovery, and higher patient satisfaction.

AAOS Appropriate Use Criteria: Management of Rotator Cuff Pathology.

AAOS Appropriate Use Criteria: Management of Rotator Cuff Pathology.

Application Value of Magnetic Resonance Arthrography of the Shoulder in Nursing and Diagnosis of Patients with Shoulder Joint Injury.

Supraspinatus tendon injury is a common clinical shoulder joint disease and is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain and dysfunction. Supraspinatus tendon injury will lead to articular cartilage injury and degeneration, then cause joint disease, seriously affect the quality of life of patients, and bring a huge burden to the family and society. This paper mainly studies and evaluates the application value of special signs of shoulder joint and indirect MR imaging in the diagnosis of supraspinatus tendon injury. Through a series of special examinations for the diagnosis of supraspinatus tendon injury in 90 patients, including zero degree abduction resistance test, arm drop test, Jobe test, Neer sign, and Hawkins sign, all patients in the study underwent indirect magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder joint. Finally, arthroscopic examination results were used as the “gold standard” to evaluate and analyze the diagnosis. The results showed that among the special signs, the specificity of the falling-arm test was the highest (72.2%) in the diagnosis of full-thickness supraspinatus tendon injury. Hawkins sign had the highest sensitivity (84.0%). In the diagnosis of partial supraspinatus tendon injury, the specificity of the Jobe test was the highest, which was 66.6%. The Neer sign had the highest sensitivity of 50.0%. In the diagnosis of full-thickness supraspinatus tendon injury, there was no significant difference in sensitivity between indirect MRI and Hawkins sign, but the diagnostic specificity of indirect MRI was higher than that of special sign examination. In the diagnosis of partial supraspinatus tendon injury, the sensitivity and specificity of indirect MR imaging are higher than those of special sign examination.

Subacromial Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder: A Musculoskeletal Disorder or a Medical Myth?

Subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) is a commonly diagnosed disorder of the shoulder. Though this disorder has been known for a long time, it remains a poorly understood entity. Over the years several hypotheses have been put forward to describe the pathogenesis of SAIS but no clear explanation has been found. Two mechanisms, the extrinsic and intrinsic mechanism, have been described for the impingement syndrome. The intrinsic mechanism theories which deny the existence of impingement are gaining popularity in recent years.The various shoulder tests used to diagnose SAIS have low specificity with an average of about 50%. Meta-analysis shows that neither the Neer sign nor the Hawkins sign has diagnostic utility for impingement syndrome.Several randomised controlled trials have shown that the outcome of treatment of SAIS by surgery is no better than conservative treatment. Physiotherapy alone can provide good outcome which is comparable to that achieved with surgery without the costs and complications associated with surgery.Since decompression with surgery does not provide any additional benefits as compared to conservative treatment for patients with SAIS, the impingement theory has become antiquated and surgical treatment should have no role in the treatment of such patients. There are calls by some practitioners to abandon the term impingement syndrome and rename it as anterolateral shoulder pain syndrome. It appears that SAIS is a medical myth. There are others who called SAIS as a clinical illusion.

Long-term radiographic and clinical-functional outcomes of isolated, displaced, closed talar neck and body fractures treated by ORIF: the timing of surgical management

BackgroundThe main purpose of this retrospective case series study was to evaluate long-term radiographic and clinical outcomes of a consecutive series of patients diagnosed with isolated, displaced, closed talar neck or body fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Secondly, the aim was to verify the influence of the location of talar fractures on the outcomes, the prognostic value of the Hawkins sign, whether operative delays promote avascular necrosis (AVN) and if the fractures require emergent surgical management.MethodsFrom January 2007 to December 2012, at our institution, 31 patients underwent ORIF through the use of screws. On the basis of Inokuchi criteria, the injuries were divided between neck and body fractures, which were classified according to Hawkins and Sneppen, respectively. The patients included were divided into two groups in relation to fracture location and complexity. Radiographic assessment focused on reduction quality, bone healing, the Hawkins sign and post-traumatic arthritis (PTA) development. For the clinical evaluation, clinical-functional scores (AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Score; MFS; FFI-17; SF-36) and VAS were determined, and statistical analysis was performed.Results27 patients, 19 males and 8 females, mean age 38.3 years, were included with an average follow-up period of 83.2 months (range 49–119). There were 9 neck and 19 body fractures; their reduction was anatomical or nearly anatomical in 22 cases, and all reached radiographic consolidation after a mean period of 3.4 months (range 1.7–7). The Hawkins sign was observed in 9 cases, in which necrosis did not develop. With a 0–11 day surgical timing interval, more than 60% of the patients obtained good or fair results with different scores, while 18 (66.7%) were completely satisfied (VAS: 9–10). The early complications included malunions (21.4%) and wound problems (25%); the late complications involved AVN (25%) and PTA (78.6%).ConclusionsDespite a high rate of long-term complications, satisfactory clinical results were achieved. Talar fracture location did not influence the outcomes, the Hawkins sign was confirmed as a positive prognostic factor, and operation timing did not influence AVN development. Hence, these injuries do not require emergent surgical management by ORIF.

Comparison of two surgical methods in the treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy

Objective To compare the effect of whether rotator cuff pathological tissue cleaning and tendon insertion reconstruction or not under shoulder arthroscopy on the surgical treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy. Methods From September 2015 to January 2017, the clinical data of forty-one patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy treated by surgical medicine ward in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.According to different surgical methods, 41 patients were divided into A group and B group.In group A, 21 patients were treated with shoulder arthroscopic bursa debridement combined with selective acromioplasty.In group B, 20 patients were treated with cleanup of pathological changes tissue and reconstruction of tendon insertion on the basis of A. All patients were followed up for one year.Constant-Murley shoulder function score, visual analog scale (VAS), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and Hawkins sign, arc of pain sign and infraspinatus muscle test were used as the evaluation indexes.The shoulder joint function was evaluated so as to compare the efficacy of two surgical methods for rotator cuff disease. Results Compared with the preoperative, the postoperative VAS score, UCLA score and Constant-Murley score in both groups were significantly improved.In group A, the preoperative in group A (5.0±1.3)points, (15.5±1.4) points, (65.1±5.7) points) were increased to (0.7±0.4) points, (33.0±1.7) points, (90.9±3.1) points.The preoperative scores of group B were (5.2±1.0)points, (15.6±2.0) points, (65.4±5.9) points, and increased to (0.4±0.5) points, (34.3±0.9) points, (93.3±2.3) points respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (group A: t=14.77, P<0.001; t=- 74.44, P<0.001; t=- 29.19, P<0.001; group B: t=23.13, P<0.001; t=- 61.52, P<0.001; t=- 26.38, P<0.001). The UCLA score and Constant-Murley score of shoulder joint in group B were higher than those in group A (t=-3.27, P=0.003; t=-2.90, P=0.007). Postoperative positive rates of Hawkins sign, pain arc sign and infraspinatus muscle test in group A decreased from 90% (18/20), 90% (18/20), 95% (19/20) to 15% (3/20), 10% (2/20) and 15% (3/20) respectively.There was a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative (χ2=13.067, P<0.001). χ2=14.063, P<0.001; χ2=14.063, P<0.001), group B decreased from 90.5% (19/21), 85.6% (18/21), 90.5% (19/21) to 9.5% (2/21), 4.8%(1/21), 9.5% (2/21). There were significant differences between preoperative and postoperative (χ2=15.059, P<0.001; χ2=12.500, P<0.001; χ2=15.059, P<0.001). Conclusion Both group A and group B are effective in the treatment of rotator cuff tendon disease, and group B is more effective than group A in the treatment of rotator cuff tendon disease. Key words: Shoulder joint; Rotator cuff tendinopathy; Arthroscope; Clinical efficacy

Management Options in Avascular Necrosis of Talus.

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the talus can be a cause of significant disability and is a difficult problem to treat. The most common cause is a fracture of the talus. We have done a systematic review of the literature with the following aims: (1) identify and summarize the available evidence in literature for the treatment of talar AVN, (2) define the usefulness of radiological Hawkins sign and magnetic resonance imaging in early diagnosis, and (3) provide patient management guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and PUBMED using keywords and MESH terminology. The articles' abstracts were read by two of the authors. Forty-one studies met the inclusion criteria of the 335 abstracts screened. The interventions of interest included hindfoot fusion, conservative measures, bone grafting, vascularized bone graft, core decompression, and talar replacement. All studies were of Level IV evidence. We looked to identify the study quality, imprecise and sparse data, reporting bias, and the quality of evidence. Based on the analysis of available literature, we make certain recommendations for managing patients of AVN talus depending on identified disease factors such as early or late presentation, extent of bone involvement, bone collapse, and presence or absence of arthritis. Early talar AVN seems best treated with protected weight bearing and possibly in combination with extracorporeal shock wave therapy. If that fails, core decompression can be considered. Arthrodesis should be saved as a salvage procedure in late cases with arthritis and collapse, and a tibiotalocalcaneal fusion with bone grafting may be needed in cases of significant bone loss. Role of vascularized bone grafting is still not defined clearly and needs further investigation. Future prospective, randomized studies are necessary to guide the conservative and surgical management of talar AVN.

Posterior to Anteriorly Directed Screws for Management of Talar Neck Fractures.

Screws placed from posterior to anterior have been shown to be biomechanically and anatomically superior in the fixation of talar neck and neck-body fractures, yet most surgeons continue to place screws from an anterior start point. The safety and efficacy of percutaneously applied posterior screws has not been clinically defined, and functional outcomes after their use is lacking. After institutional review board approval, we performed a retrospective review of 24 consecutive talar neck fractures treated by a single surgeon that utilized posterior-to-anterior screw fixation. Clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes were assessed at a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Functional outcomes including the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score, Olerud-Molander Scores, and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) measurement were collected and reviewed. Average patient follow-up was 44 months. According to the classification system of Canale and Kelly, there were 4 type I fractures, 15 type II fractures, 4 type III fractures, and 1 type IV fracture. Four patients had open fractures. One superficial wound infection occurred, 1 patient reported FHL stiffness, and 6 complained of numbness or paresthesias in the distribution of the sural nerve (5 transient, 1 permanent). One reoperation was required to exchange a screw impinging on the talonavicular joint. Radiographically, 44% developed a positive Hawkins sign, and the specificity of this finding was 100% for talar dome viability. Avascular necrosis developed in 43% of patients, with 33% revascularizing and none going on to collapse. Subtalar arthrosis developed in 62% of patients. Screws placed from posterior to anterior are a useful technique in the treatment of talar neck fractures. Functional outcomes following their use appear favorable compared with recent reports with minimal risk to local structures. Level IV, retrospective case series.

Anxiety and depression predict poor outcomes in arthroscopic subacromial decompression

Subacromial impingement is common and frequently treated with arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD); however, its efficacy has recently been questioned. Poor surgical outcomes have been associated with anxiety and depression within other orthopedic subspecialties but not within this group of patients. We hypothesized that anxiety and depression are associated with worse outcomes after ASD. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was carried out of patients undergoing ASD. Inclusion criteria were short-term relief with injection therapy and presence of Hawkins sign. Rotator cuff tears were excluded. Patients completed the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and visual analog scale for pain before and after surgery in outpatient clinic follow-up at 6 weeks and by postal questionnaire at 6 months. The 86 patients who participated in the study were analyzed in 2 groups defined by HADS scores, group A being depressed and group B nondepressed. Both groups had less pain and improved OSS at 6 months; however, group B improved faster with improved scores at 6 weeks, which were maintained to 6 months. Group B had less pain and higher OSS at 6 months than group A. There was strong negative correlation (P < .01) between preoperative HADS score and 6-week and 6-month OSS and HADS scores. There was strong positive correlation (P < .01) between HADS score and 6-week and 6-month pain scores. High preoperative HADS score was negatively correlated to 6-month satisfaction (P < .05). Patients with HADS score >11 before ASD have worse outcomes. This should be taken into account when counseling patients for surgery.

Foot &amp; Ankle

The February 2015 Foot &amp; Ankle Roundup360 looks at: Syndesmosis screw removal in randomised controlled trial; Diagnostic value of Hawkins sign; Chevron rules supreme?; Diabetes and ankle replacement; Fixed-bearing ankle replacement; Fusion for osteomyelitis of the ankle; ‘Reformed’ fallers.

Classifications in Brief: The Hawkins Classification for Talus Fractures.

As reported by Coltart [5], Fabricius von Hilden first described talus injuries in 1608, and in 1919, Anderson et al. [1] reported a series of talus fracture dislocations in which they emphasized dorsiflexion as the mechanism of injury and coined the term ‘‘aviator’s astragalus’’ (astragalus being another term for talus) because of the impressive frequency with which the mechanism—aircraft accidents— was associated with the injury in question. In 1952, Coltart [5] reported on 228 talus injuries treated by surgeons in the British Royal Air Force in an attempt to describe the variety of injuries that occur to the talus and surrounding joints. He described various talus fracture patterns, fracture-dislocation combinations, and isolated peritalar dislocations [5]. Others have presented case series of talus injuries and associated rarely used classification schemes [15, 19], but all have noted high complication rates with injuries to the talus [5, 11, 15, 19]. In 1970, proposed treatment strategies for vertical fractures of the talar neck ranged from nonoperative management to urgent open reduction internal fixation, bone graft augmentation, fusion of the dorsal talus to the distal tibia, and even complete talectomy [11]. Although the importance of early, anatomic reduction of these injuries was noted at that time, the incidence of avascular necrosis (AVN) was not. In 1970 Hawkins [11] described injury patterns and AVN rates in a series of 57 vertical talar neck fractures in 55 patients from three different institutions. All 55 patients sustained forced dorsiflexion injuries, similar to the mechanism described by Anderson et al. [1] in pilots.

Is the Hawkins sign able to predict necrosis in fractures of the neck of the astragalus?

ObjectiveTo assess if the Hawkins sign can predict whether or not astragalus fractures of the neck will develop avascular necrosis. It is also assessed whether the occurrence of this complication is related to the displacement of the fracture, soft tissue injury, or delay in the reduction or surgery. The results were compared with those found in the literature. Material and methodsA retrospective study was conducted on 23 talar neck fractures recorded over a period of thirteen years. The following variables were analyzed: displacement of the fracture, soft tissue injury, delay and type of treatment, complications, observation of the Hawkins sign, and functional outcome. ResultsThere were 7 type I Hawkins fractures, 11 type II, and 4 type III and 1 type IV. Four cases developed avascular necrosis (2 Hawkins type II and 2 type III). Hawkins sign was observed in 12 cases, of which none developed necrosis. Four cases with negative Hawkins sign developed necrosis. No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the development of avascular necrosis with the displacement of the fracture, soft tissue injury, or delay in treatment. Differences were found when comparing the development of avascular necrosis with the Hawkins sign (P=.03). ConclusionA positive Hawkins sign rules out that the fractured talus has developed avascular necrosis, but its absence does not confirm it.

Closed reduction and percutaneous screw fixation for talar neck fractures

Objective To observe the clinical outcome of closed reduction and percutaneous screw fixation for talar neck fractures,and explore the minimally invasive treatment for talar neck fractures.Methods From June 2009 to December 2012,12 cases with talar neck fracture were treated by closed reduction and percutaneous screw fixation,including 10 males and 2 females with an average age of 34 years (range,21-52).All cases are unilateral side,including five cases of left foot and seven cases of right foot.All cases are evaluated the displacement,shape and number of fracture fragments by CT before fixing the fracture.According to Hawkins classification:type Ⅰ 7 cases,type Ⅱ 5 cases.Seven patients with type Ⅰ were used direct percutaneous screw fixation,five patients with type Ⅱ were treated with closed reduction and subsequent percutaneous screw fixation.The Computed Tomography was used to evaluate the quality of close reduction.The AOFAS (ankle-hindfoot scale) scores was used to evaluation clinical outcome in follow-up,and Computed Tomography was used to evaluate the result of reduction and fixation after operation.Recording Hawkins sign according to X-ray film,recording infection,talar body necrosis,traumatic arthritis and other complications.Results Twelve patients were followed up for an average of 34 months (range,22-40).At the end of followup,the AOFAS scores was average 90 points (range,84-95).Nine patients showed Hawkins sign 6 to 10 weeks after operation,2 patients did not find Hawkins sign,but in the follow-up period didn't appear talar body necrosis.One case did not appear Hawkins sign,and who's talar body necrosis was diagnosed by MRI,but no collapse,no pain and did not need further treatment.There patients with postoperative subtalar traumatic arthritis,patients are asymptomatic,at end no further treatment.All patients with no wound complications and no neurovascular injury.Conclusion Closed reduction and percutaneous screw fixation for talar neck fractures can obtain excellent clinical results,but should be selecting the appropriate patients,and Computed Tomography must be used to ensure satisfactory reduction. Key words: Talus; Fractures, Bone; Fracture fixation, internal; Surgical procedures, minimally invasive

¿Es el signo de Hawkins capaz de predecir la necrosis en las fracturas del cuello astragalino?

ObjectiveTo assess if the Hawkins sign can predict whether or not astragalus fractures of the neck will develop avascular necrosis. It is also assessed whether the occurrence of this complication is related to the displacement of the fracture, soft tissue injury, or delay in the reduction or surgery. The results were compared with those found in the literature. Material and methodsA retrospective study was conducted on 23 talar neck fractures recorded over a a period of thirteen years. The following variables were analysed: displacement of the fracture, soft tissue injury, delay and type of treatment, complications, observation of the Hawkins sign, and functional outcome. ResultsThere were 7 type I Hawkins fractures, 11 type II, and 4 type III and 1 type IV. Four cases developed avascular necrosis (2 Hawkins type II and 2 type III). Hawkins sign was observed in 12 cases, of which none developed necrosis. Four cases with negative Hawkins sign developed necrosis. No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the development of avascular necrosis with the displacement of the fracture, soft tissue injury, or delay in treatment. Differences were found when comparing the development of avascular necrosis with the Hawkins sign (P=.03). ConclusionA positive Hawkins sign rules out that the fractured talus has developed avascular necrosis, but its absence does not confirm it.