Podiatric Literature Research Articles

Survey research in podiatric medicine: An analysis of the reporting of response rates and non-response bias

BackgroundSurvey research is common practice in podiatry literature and many other health-related fields. An important component of the reporting of survey results is the provision of sufficient information to permit readers to understand the validity and representativeness of the results presented. However, the quality of survey reporting measures in the body of podiatry literature has not been systematically reviewed. ObjectiveTo examine the reporting of response rates and nonresponse bias within survey research articles published in the podiatric literature in order to provide a foundation with regard to the development of appropriate research reporting standards within the profession. MethodsThis study reports on a secondary analysis of survey research published in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, the Foot, and the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. 98 surveys published from 2000 to 2018 were reviewed and data abstracted regarding the report of response rates and non-response bias. Results67 surveys (68.4%) report a response rate while only 36 articles (36.7%) mention non-response bias in any capacity. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that there is room for improvement in the quality of reporting response rates and nonresponse in the body of podiatric literature involving survey research. Both nonresponse and response rate should be reported to assess survey quality. This is particularly problematic for studies that contribute to best practices.

Bone Wax

Bone wax has been used for years by surgeons as a hemostatic agent to prevent bleeding from bone surfaces. Though the effectiveness of bone wax as a hemostatic agent while acting as a tamponade is well known, it is not without its complications. It has been documented in the medical literature that bone wax may remain in the body for many years as a foreign body and in some cases cause a giant cell reaction at various surgical sites. However, to the authors' knowledge, there has not been a reported case of a foreign body giant cell reaction secondary to the use of bone wax in the current podiatric literature. Two case studies are described to bring attention to the fact that bone wax can interfere with bone healing while remaining attached to bone as a foreign body and induce a giant cell reaction and local inflammatory effects in the human foot.

Dermatology within the UK podiatric literature: a content analysis (1989-2010).

BackgroundAlthough dermatology, as a medical subject, has been a facet of the training and education of podiatrists for many years, it is, arguably, only in recent years that the speciality of podiatric dermatology has emerged within the profession. Some indication of this gradual development may be identified through a content analysis of the podiatric literature in the UK, spanning a 21 year timeframe.Method6 key professional journals were selected for content analysis in order to provide a picture of the emergence and development of podiatric dermatology over a period extending from 1989 to 2010. Both syntactical and thematic unitization were deployed in the analysis, revealing both manifest and latent content. Categories were devised using a prior coding, a codebook produced to define relevant concepts and category characteristics, and the coding scheme subject to an assessment of reliability.Results1611 units appeared in the 6 journals across a 21 year timeframe. 88% (n = 1417) occurred in one journal (Podiatry Now and its predecessors). Modal categories within all journals included course adverts (n = 673), commercial adverts (n = 562) and articles by podiatrists (n = 133). There was an overall rise from 40 per annum in 1989, to over 100 in 2010. A wider range of dermatological topics were addressed, ranging from fungal nail infections to melanoma.ConclusionsIt is evident from this analysis that there has been an increasing focus on dermatology as a topic within the main podiatric journals in the UK over the last 21 years, primarily reflecting a rise in commercial advertising and an increase in academic dermatology related publications. Whilst earlier publications tended to focus on warts and fungal infections, more recent publications address a broader spectrum of topics. Changes in prescribing rights may be relevant to these findings, as may the enhanced professional and regulatory body requirements on continuing professional development.

Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia in the Setting of Perioperative Bridging for Podiatric Surgery

Heparin is an anticoagulant commonly used to treat and prevent deep venous thrombosis. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and possible thrombosis are serious complications associated with its use. This can occasionally complicate treatment of patients undergoing podiatric surgery. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is often not immediately recognized and is underreported in podiatric medicine literature. The goal of this case report is to highlight the multiple risk factors associated with the development of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and to aid with early recognition, understanding of pathogenesis, and treatment options.

Efficacy of Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Frostbite Patients and Presentation of a Treatment Protocol for Frostbite Patients

Frostbite can be a devastating and even debilitating injury. Early identification and proper treatment of frostbite is critical in saving digits and limbs. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has been shown to be effective in reducing the number of digits amputated after severe frostbite injury. Nothing has been presented in the podiatric literature regarding the use of tPA in treating frostbite patients for preserving toes and feet. Intravenous tPA and IV heparin were used to treat severe frostbite injuries that did not show improvement after rapid rewarming, had absent Doppler pulses in the distal limb or digits, showed limited or no perfusion by Tc-99 3-phase bone scan, and had no contraindications to use of tPA. All 11 patients included in this study were treated at Hennepin County Medical Center between 2008 and 2010. A total of 73 digits (upper and lower extremity) were considered at risk for amputation after evaluation with Tc-99 bone scan. Of those digits that were affected, 43 were amputated. Intravenous tPA is a safe and effective treatment to reduce the number of digital amputations after severe frostbite injury. The authors' protocol for treating severe frostbite includes the use of tPA. Therapeutic, Level IV.

Evaluation and treatment of symptomatic pes planus

To provide the pediatrician with a comprehensive synopsis of pediatric pes planus, also known as flatfoot. The term pes planus is a physical finding that generates some confusion in the medical community because it describes a spectrum of conditions that are diagnosed and managed differently. Some of the recent data incorporated in this review come from pediatric, orthopaedic, and podiatric literature. These sources describe the clinical features and the latest treatment options for pes planus. This article will provide some guidance to evaluate and treat the many causes of pediatric pes planus. Nonsurgical and operative management will be discussed.

Trigger point therapy and plantar heel pain: A case report

The cause of plantar heel pain and fasciitis has continued to be a diagnostic challenge even though it is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders of the foot and ankle. The subject has evoked strong emotions and sparked intense debate regarding the likely causes and effective treatment options. Myofascial trigger point as a treatment option for plantar heel pain and fasciitis has been inconspicuous. The full extent of its significance and potential is largely unexplored in podiatric literature and medicine. Myofascial trigger point may offer an alternative explanation of the etiology of plantar heel pain and fasciitis.

Bilateral Second Metatarsal Stress Fractures After Hallux Valgus Correction With the Use of a Tension Wire and Button Fixation System

The pathomechanics and treatments of hallux valgus vary widely by deformity and surgeon, and are extensively described in the orthopedic and podiatric literature. With each newly described treatment, new complications can be encountered. In this report, we describe the case of a 22-year-old woman who underwent bilateral hallux valgus repair with a tension wire and button fixation system, and developed bilateral second metatarsal stress fracture at the point of fixation application during the postoperative period. Although this fixation system has been useful in our practice, like other surgical implants, it conveys a certain amount of risk that should be considered by surgeons using the device.

Inter‐rater reliability of the Foot Posture Index (FPI‐6) in the assessment of the paediatric foot

BackgroundReliability is an integral component of clinical assessment and necessary for establishing baseline data, monitoring treatment outcomes and providing robust research findings. In the podiatric literature traditional measures of foot assessment have been shown to be largely unreliable. The Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) is a clinical tool used in the assessment of foot and to date, there is limited research published which evaluates the reliability of this tool in children and adolescents.MethodThirty participants aged 5 - 16 years were recruited for the research. Two raters independently recorded the FPI-6 score for each participant.ResultsAlmost perfect agreement between the two raters was identified following weighted kappa analysis (Kw = 0.86).ConclusionThe FPI-6 is a quick, simple and reliable clinical tool which has demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability when used in the assessment of the paediatric foot.

Posterior tibial nerve lesions in ankle arthroscopy

Ankle arthroscopy provides a minimally invasive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of certain ankle disorders. Neurological complications resulting from ankle arthroscopy have been well documented in orthopaedic and podiatric literature. Owing to the superficial location of the ankle joint and the abundance of overlying periarticular neurovascular structures, complications reported in ankle arthroscopy are greater than those reported for other joints. In particular, all reported neurovascular injuries following ankle arthroscopy have been the direct result of distractor pin or portal placement. The standard posteromedial portal has recognized risks because of the proximity of the posterior neurovascular structures. There can be considerable variability in the course of these portals and their proximity to the neurovascular structures. We found one report of intra-articular damage to the posterior tibial nerve as a result of ankle arthroscopy in the English-language literature and we report this paper as a second case described in the literature.

Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma of the foot: The clinicopathologic features of two cases

Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma is a rare variant of sweat gland carcinoma of the digits and volar surfaces which has the potential for highly aggressive biologic behavior. The authors report two cases of aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma of the foot. In each instance, the tumor arose on the volar surfaces of the digits. Additionally, in both instances, the tumor's unusual clinical presentations delayed biopsy and definitive diagnosis for several months. Following initial conservative surgery, both patients suffered local recurrences. In one case, local recurrence was followed by widespread distant metastases. Although aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma is virtually limited to the hands and feet, to the authors' knowledge it has not been previously reported in the podiatric literature. In this report, the clinicopathologic features of this rare variant of sweat gland carcinoma are summarized and a brief review of the literature is presented.

Papillary eccrine adenoma of the heel: A case report

Papillary eccrine adenoma is a rare, slow-growing cutaneous tumor of sweat gland origin. It is a benign lesion that occurs most often in the distal extremities. Only 33 cases have been reported in the literature with few located in the distal lower extremity. There have been no cases reported in the podiatric literature. The clinical and surgical history of a case report of a papillary eccrine adenoma in a 35-year-old white male is presented.

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome: A review of the literature and a report of three cases

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome is a disease that commonly produces symmetrical synovitis and swelling of both the upper and lower extremities. It generally involves the wrists, hands, feet, and ankles of the affected individual. This syndrome most often resembles that of polymyalgia rheumatica and rheumatoid arthritis and usually affects elderly Caucasian males. Serological testing is typically negative except for a mild to moderate elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The HLA-B7 phenotype is present in approximately 50% of patients with this syndrome. Treatment of RS3PE syndrome is heralded by the predictable response to low-dose corticosteroid or hydroxychloroquine therapy. There has been no previous mention of this condition in the podiatric literature. Presented below is a review of this syndrome and three case studies.

Traumatically induced inclusion cyst secondary to shoe impingement: Report of three cases

Three cases of traumatically induced inclusion cyst affecting the dorsal aspect of the first metatarsophalangeal joint are presented. Though each case was unique, the clinical presentation was similar with patients relating discrete callus formation with a central sinus overlying an enlarging mass. In all cases, the lesion site involved the dorsal first metatarsophalangeal joint and specifically corresponded to the throatline of "pump" shoes that these patients commonly wore. Predisposing factors in these cases appeared to be forefoot equinus deformity with extensus contractor of the extensor hallucis longus tendon and use of pump shoes with a constricting throatline. The authors describe a surgical approach for treatment of this condition, which addresses underlying etiologies of inclusion cyst formation. Pathology was consistent with traumatically induced inclusion cyst. Though inclusion cysts are common in the foot, rarely is the dorsum of the foot involved, and this article, to the authors' knowledge, is the first to be reported in the podiatric literature.

Lower extremity manifestations of vibrio vulnificus infection

Vibrio vulnificus is a potentially lethal marine bacterium that has not been previously described in podiatric literature. A review of the microorganism's characteristics, susceptible patient population, and lower extremity manifestations of infection is presented. V. vulnificus is found as part of the normal flora of the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, and Pacific coastal waters and is often isolated from the filter feeding shellfish of these regions. Its pathogenicity is generally reserved for the immunocompromised host, and is specifically related to disease states which exhibit high serum iron levels. V. vulnificus infections present in two distinct clinical syndromes: primary sepsis secondary to raw oyster ingestion, or localized infection from wound exposure to V. vulnificus-inhabited salt water. Both syndromes demonstrate characteristic skin lesions of the trunk and extremities that present as hemorrhagic bullae and progress to necrotic ulcerations. Although V. vulnificus infection is rare, its extreme virulence in patients suffering from a chronic disease process and its manifestation of characteristic lower-extremity lesions require the podiatric physician to be able to recognize and treat such a condition.

Podiatric literature

Podiatric literature

Research process. An overview

It has been suggested that podiatric education, training, and practice too often are not well understood outside of the profession. If this is the case, a potential remedy is for more podiatric health professionals to publish work that has significance. Beginning with this article and continuing through a total of six articles, the research process is used as a paradigm for enhancing podiatric literature in the future.

Epidermoid cyst of the sole

A case is presented of an epidermoid cyst on the sole of the foot. Although few dermatologists have ever encountered this entity, a number of cases have been reported in the podiatric literature. Careful clinical examination should lead to the recognition of more of these lesions, which are easily confused with warts and calluses.

Podiatric literature

Podiatric literature

A review of American podiatric literature

A review of American podiatric literature