Foot and ankle fractures in the industrial setting

Effect of a steel toe cap on forefoot injury pattern in a cadaveric model

BACKGROUND

Crush injuries to the foot are a common workplace injury and a significant source of morbidity, disability and lost wages. Many regulatory bodies including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommend the use of safety shoes in certain occupations to help protect against these occupational hazards. However there remains controversy and paucity of published data regarding the protection afforded by a steel toe cap in regards to clinical injury pattern. This study looks to investigates the protective influence of a steel toe cap on crush injuries of the forefoot.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five non-osteoporotic paired cadaver lower extremities were appropriately fitted to a standard work boot. One foot of each pair was fitted into a steel toe capped boot (designated ``ST'' group) while the other foot was fitted into an identical version of the work boot but without the protective steel toe cap (designated ``NST'' group). Each foot was crushed using a custom designed rig with a load of 150 lb dropped from a calibrated height of 3 feet to the forefoot. X-rays were obtained to assess fracture location & comminution and stress fluoroscopy was used to assess for any ligamentous Lisfranc injury.

RESULTS

The NST group averaged 8.2 fractured bones per foot while the ST group averaged 3.6 fractured bones per foot (p = 0.001). The NST group demonstrated significantly more metatarsal fractures (3.2 fractures/foot) versus the ST group (one fracture/foot) (p = 0.020). The NST group demonstrated significantly more proximal phalanx fractures (4.2 fractures/foot) compared to the ST group (2.6 fractures/foot) (p = 0.035). Middle and distal phalanx fractures were not significantly different between the two groups. A higher percentage of the bones fractured were deemed comminuted in the NST group (53.6%) versus the ST group (38.8%) although this did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the steel toe affords protective advantages in crush injuries to the foot in limiting the number and severity of metatarsal and proximal phalanx fractures. However the steel toe does not fully protect the forefoot from injury.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Crush injuries to the foot are a common workplace injury. Strict adherence to workplace safety standards may limit the severity of crush injuries to the foot and additional safety measures such as metatarsal guards should be considered when appropriate.

Prognostic value of four classifications of calcaneal fractures

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to assist surgeons treating calcaneal fractures in choosing the most predictive fracture classification and clinical outcome tool.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For 152 patients (189 calcaneal fractures; average followup, 9.9 years), all fractures were classified in accordance with the Essex-Lopresti, OTA, Regazzoni, and Sanders classifications and matched with the following scores: AOFAS score, CNHF, FOA, MFS, Rowe, MFA, SF-36, and VAS.

RESULTS

The Essex-Lopresti classification showed no statistically significant relation with any of the clinical scores (p > 0.05). The OTA classification related statistically significant with the MFS (p = 0.006), AOFAS score (p = 0.013), FOA (p = 0.019), Rowe (p = 0.0027), and MFA score (p = 0.03). The Regazzoni classification correlated with the AOFAS score (p = 0.003), MFS (p = 0.002), Rowe (p = 0.002), CNHF (p = 0.0001), FOA (p = 0.003), MFA score (p = 0.002), and VAS (p = 0.005). The Sanders classification corrrelated with the AOFAS score (p = 0.007), MFS (p = 0.001), Rowe (p = 0.001), CNHF (p = 0.024), FOA (p = 0.021), MFA score (p = 0.036), and VAS (p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

Compared to radiological based classifications, the CT based classifications, especially the Regazzoni and Sanders classifications, exhibited higher prognostic value compared to ultimate outcome scores.

Work-related ladder fall fractures: identification and diagnosis validation using narrative text

OBJECTIVE

To identify ladder-related fracture injuries and determine how ladder fall fractures differ from other ladder-related injuries.

METHODS

Ladder-related fracture cases were identified using narrative text and coded data from workers' compensation claims. Potential cases were identified by text searches and verified with claim records. Injury characteristics were compared using proportionate injury ratios.

RESULTS

Of 9826 ladder-related injuries, 7% resulted in fracture cases. Falls caused 89% of fractures and resulted in more medical costs and disability days than other injuries. Frequent mechanisms were ladder instability (22%) and lost footing (22%). Narrative text searches identified 17% more fractures than injury codes alone. Males were more likely to sustain a fall fracture than other injuries; construction workers were most likely, and retail workers were the least likely to sustain fractures.

CONCLUSIONS

Fractures are an important injury from ladder falls, resulting more serious consequences than other ladder-related injuries. Text analysis can improve the quality and utility of workers compensation data by identifying and understanding injury causes. Proportionate injury ratios are also useful for making cross-group comparisons of injury experience when denominator data are not available. Greater attention to risk factors for ladder falls is needed for targeting interventions.

Fractures of the forefoot

Fractures of the forefoot are common injuries of various causes. Although not crippling, forefoot fractures can be debilitating if they go undiagnosed or are mistreated. Whenever patients complain of foot pain with ambulation or difficulty ambulating, radiographs should be taken as part of a standard routine to assess for bony pathology. This article discusses the classification and treatment of metatarsal fractures, digital and sesamoid fractures, and open fractures about the forefoot.