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There are a variety of materials available for surgical reconstruction of the foot and ankle. The material that provides the best physical properties to match the mechanical stress should be chosen. Ideal implant material should be biocompatible, nontoxic, noncarcinogenic, nonpyrogenic, and nonallergenic. Key properties include strength, durability, and resistance to fatigue. The material should have ductility to provide continued strength once it has been adapted to the bone surface. The material should be readily available, affordable, and reproducible. Materials that are available for use are stainless steel, cobalt chrome alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, pyrolytic carbon, thermoplastics, and bioceramics.

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INTRODUCTION: Although Eichenholtz and the Schon systems are commonly used to evaluate foot Charcot arthropathy on radiographs, a novel system with expanded characterization may have added benefit. METHODS: Patients with Charcot arthropathy and foot radiographs were grouped in nonsurgical group 1 (imaging sets at minimum 2-year interval) and surgical group 2 (imaging preceding fusion and/or amputation). Radiographs were scored with Eichenholtz and Schon systems, and a novel scoring system (summation of 0-3 rank for bone density, distention/swelling, debris, disorganization, and dislocation/subluxation). Summative scores of the 2 groups were compared. Differences in scores of each system from serial images of group 1 were compared and average scores from each of the systems for preoperative imaging sets of group 2 were compared. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients were included (group 1, 19 patients; group 2, 92 patients). The novel system provided a broad numerical characterization of the radiographs (range 1-15). Summative scores of the novel system for groups 1 and 2 were statistically different with lower median score in the nonsurgical group (nonsurgical median score 6 vs surgical median score 9). Individual characteristic scores from 4 (distention, debris, disorganization, and dislocation) of 5 categories for the novel system were statistically different, with lower scores for the nonoperative group. The narrower numerical scores from the Eichenholtz and Schon systems did not yield statistically significant results. CONCLUSION: The novel scoring system provides a broad numerical description of radiographic findings in Charcot arthropathy of the foot and has potential advantage for surgical predictive value. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level IV: Retrospective.

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The current guidelines for the management of diabetes in adults have recommended strict glycemic control, with a target hemoglobin A1c of 7.0%. Increasing evidence has shown that strict glycemic control decreases the risk of developing the organ system complications associated with diabetes. Elevated hemoglobin A1c levels have been theorized as a risk factor for complications after elective foot and ankle surgery. To test this hypothesis, we reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs national administrative and clinical databases for a 6-year period (January 2008 to December 2013). During this period, 21,854 diabetic patients had a recorded hemoglobin A1c measurement within 1 year before undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery. We then identified those patients who had experienced postoperative complications within 30 days of elective foot or ankle surgery using the International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, codes. The complications were classified into 4 groups: infection, wound healing, mechanical failure, and cardiovascular/pulmonary. The overall 30-day postoperative complication rate was 3.2%. The most common complication was infection (42.3%), followed by mechanical failure (33.4%), cardiovascular/pulmonary (18.4%), and wound healing (5.8%). The average hemoglobin A1c of a patient who had experienced a complication was 6.29% compared with 6.11% for a patient who had not experienced 1 of the 4 complications (p < .001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that for each 1% increase in hemoglobin A1c, the odds of developing a complication increased by 5%. More significant was the 1.78 times increased risk of developing a complication for patients with neuropathy (95% confidence interval 1.45 to 2.20; p = .0001). Even more notable was the associated risk of complications after elective foot and ankle surgery for those patients with comorbid conditions. Patients demonstrated 3.08 times the risk of developing a complication when the patient had 2 to 3 identified comorbid conditions associated with diabetes mellitus (95% confidence interval 2.42 to 3.92; p = .0001). The present retrospective observational investigation has demonstrated glycemic control influences the postoperative complication rates in elective foot and ankle surgery. However, the data collected from the present study have also demonstrated that the complication rates are multifactorial. Comorbid conditions and the presence of peripheral neuropathy also play a significant role in determining a patient's risk of complications after elective foot and ankle surgery.

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Human fibroblast-derived dermis skin substitute is a well-studied treatment for diabetic foot ulcers; however, no case series currently exist for its use in healing postoperative wounds of the lower extremity. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 32 lower extremity postoperative wounds treated weekly with human fibroblast-derived dermis skin substitute. Postoperative wounds were defined as a wound resulting from an open partial foot amputation, surgical wound dehiscence, or nonhealing surgical wound of the lower extremity. Wound surface area was calculated at 4 and 12 weeks or until wound closure if prior to 12 weeks. Postoperative wounds treated with weekly applications showed mean improvement in surface area reduction of 63.6% at 4 weeks and 96.1% at 12 weeks. More than 56% of all wounds healed prior to the 12-week endpoint. Additionally, only one adverse event was noted in this group. This retrospective review supports the use of human fibroblast-derived dermis skin substitute in the treatment of postoperative lower extremity wounds. This advanced wound care therapy aids in decreased total healing time and increased rate of healing for not only diabetic foot wounds but also postoperative wounds of the lower extremity, as demonstrated by this retrospective review.

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Shewanella putrefaciens is a Gram-negative bacillus with a distinguishable characteristic of hydrogen sulfide production and routinely found in a marine environment. This organism has been cultured as a pathogen in a small number of soft tissue infections, but has rarely been the causative agent in osteomyelitis. This case report details calcaneal osteomyelitis due to S putrefaciens in a 77-year-old male with bilateral heel ulcerations and peripheral vascular disease.

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Tears of the plantar plate can be a source of significant forefoot pain, leading to alterations of foot function and gait. The objective of the present retrospective study was to further determine the value of ultrasound imaging in diagnosing plantar plate tears after clinical evaluation through a comparison of the ultrasound and intraoperative examination findings. Eight patients were identified who had undergone surgical intervention for a painful lesser metatarsophalangeal joint after ultrasound examination to diagnose a plantar plate pathologic entity. The intraoperative examination findings were used to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of ultrasound in the diagnosis of plantar plate tears. The sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasound examination was 1 and 0.6, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value was 0.6 and 1, respectively. An ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of lesser metatarsophalangeal joint plantar plate tears displayed comparable sensitivity in identifying the pathologic features when compared with magnetic resonance imaging, with considerably less financial cost for the examination.

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The aim of the present study was to evaluate patients' perception of their functional outcome at 6 and 12 months after surgical correction for hallux valgus using the Foot Function Index Revised short form. A total of 59 patients underwent 68 osseous and soft tissue procedures for the correction of hallux valgus deformity from January 2009 through December 2010. The outcome analysis was based on the validated patient questionnaire, the Foot Function Index Revised. The preoperative data were collected on the day of the patient's surgery using the Foot Function Index Revised short-form questionnaire. The postoperative data were collected at 6 and 12 months after the patient's initial surgical date using the same validated questionnaire. The cumulative Foot Function Index Revised score and the scores in each subscale demonstrated statistically significant data at both 6 and 12 months of follow-up. On average, the Foot Function Index Revised scores had improved by 39% at 6 months and 50% at 12 months. The improvement in all scores indicated an improvement in health-related foot function after hallux valgus surgery, evidencing effective surgical intervention. Expectations are the best predictors of patient satisfaction, and the present study has provided statistically significant data to allow physicians to establish realistic outcomes after surgical correction for hallux valgus deformity.

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Syme's amputations can provide a reliable alternative to more proximal amputations, but they are not without their occasional complication. Varus heel pad migration has been well documented as a complication following Syme's amputations. We describe a technique of resection of soft tissue and bone combined with anchoring of the lateral band of the plantar fascia in order to treat patients with the complication of varus heel pad migration.

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Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor of the squamous epithelium and can occur in many different organs. We present a case of a 61-year-old veteran with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder with distal metastasis to the middle phalanx of the fourth toe, which is a rare occurrence in the literature.

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