Advances in Intramedullary Nail Fixation in Foot and Ankle Surgery

Authors: Woods JB, and Burns PR

Journal: Clinics in Podiatric Medicine in Surgery

Abstract: Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis for the treatment of complex foot and ankle deformities are extremely challenging cases. Technological advances in intramedullary nail fixation have improved the biomechanical properties of available fixation constructs in recent years. Nails designed specifically to accommodate hindfoot anatomy, advancement in the understanding of optimal screw orientation, fixed angle technology, the availability of spiral blade screws, and features designed to achieve compression across the arthrodesis site have provided the foot and ankle surgeon with a greater armamentarium for performing tibiotalocalneal arthrodesis. Although advances may help to improve clinical results, small sample sizes and the low-level evidence of study designs limit the evaluation of how these advances affect clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Tibiotalocalcaneal, Intramedullary nail, Foot, Ankle, Arthrodesis

Distal Femoral Locking Plates for Tibiotalocalcaneal Fusions in the Charcot Ankle: A retrospective study

Authors: Sarah Shogren, DPM , Sara Zelinskas, DPM , Byron Hutchinson, DPM , Vineet Kamboj, DPM

Journal: The Foot and Ankle Online Journal 4 (8): 3

This paper presents a retrospective case series with chart and radiographic review of four patients with Charcot neuroarthropathy and associated ankle valgus. All four patients underwent tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis using a distal femoral locking plate combined with external ring fixation for rigid axial compression. A 12 month follow-up was obtained. All four TTC arthrodeses were performed by the same surgeon (BH) including preoperative and postoperative evaluation and care. Outcomes were deemed successful with evidence of radiographic consolidation across the fusion sites. Outcomes were considered failures in the presence of non-union or amputation. Three patients had satisfactory outcomes with only minor complications. One patient had failure of the procedure with development of osteomyelitis and ultimately had a below knee amputation. Although this was a small review, on average, osseous consolidation was appreciated in 77 days for those patients that had successful outcomes. Larger retrospective or even prospective studies are needed to confirm the use of tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis using a distal femoral locking plate and external ring fixation in Charcot arthropathy. This small case series shows promise to the efficacy of distal femoral locking plates for tibiotalocalcaneal fusions.

Key words: Tibiotalocalcaneal fusions, Charcot Ankle, distal femoral locking plates, ankle valgus

Medial Column Rodding Facilitated by Transitional Osteochondral Graft

Jeremy Cook, DPM, MPH, Emily Cook DPM, MPH, Philip Basile, DPM

Foot and Ankle Specialist: Foot Ankle Spec April 2011 vol. 4 no. 2, 106-111

This is a case report using a new technique designed to allow passage of a screw through a joint while simultaneously preserving the joint cartilage. A 58-year-old woman with diabetes with midfoot Charcot neuro-arthropathy underwent reconstruction, which included a medial column rodding. A headless 8.0-mm screw was inserted into the first metatarsal head coursing along the entire medial column after temporary removal of a portion of the osteochondral surface. This allowed the screw to be positioned perpendicular to the medial column joints. Serial radiographs were collected to evaluate alignment, stability, and osteochondral graft incorporation. The patient showed preservation of joint motion and function with complete osteochondral graft incorporation without evidence of joint degeneration or pain after 45 months of follow-up. This is the first study to present the use of a local osteochondral graft to allow passage of a large diameter screw in the foot. Although graft incorporation was complete, the situation regarding joint preservation remains unclear, but midterm follow-up shows promise.

Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV, retrospective case study