Preoperative Doppler assessment for transmetatarsal amputation

A Comparative Analysis of Functional and Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Lisfranc and Chopart Amputations in High-Risk Limb Salvage Patients

Midfoot amputations provide an opportunity for limb salvage through preservation of a weightbearing limb. However, the longevity of midfoot amputations is threatened by restrictions in surface area and risks of skin breakdown. To better inform decisions surrounding the level of amputation, we sought to compare outcomes of high-risk individuals who underwent Lisfranc or Chopart amputations. A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed from November 2013 to September 2022 of adult patients who underwent Lisfranc or Chopart amputations. Patients were stratified into cohorts based on the amputation type. Outcomes included postoperative rates of re-amputation, functional status, mortality and patient-reported outcome measures in the form of Lower Extremity Functional Scale scores. Sixty-six patients were identified; of which, 45 underwent Lisfranc amputation, and 21 underwent Chopart amputation. Median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 7, signifying a substantial comorbidity burden. By median follow-up of 14 (Interquartile range: 28) months, 31 patients (36%) progressed to higher-level amputation, and most patients were ambulatory (n = 38, 58%). Overall rates of re-amputation, ambulatory status, and mortality were comparable between groups. Re-amputation to another midfoot amputation was more common among the Lisfranc cohort (n = 16, 36% vs n = 1, 5%), whereas re-amputation to BKA was more prevalent among the Chopart cohort (Chopart: n = 7, 33% vs Lisfranc: n = 7, 16%; p = .011). Average Lower Extremity Functional Scale scores were similar between groups and corresponded to a maximal function of 48%. Lisfranc and Chopart amputations have the potential to be efficacious limb salvage options in high-risk patient populations in conjunction with intraoperative biomechanical optimization and optimal preoperative patient selection.

Avoiding the Deep Plantar Arterial Arch in Transmetatarsal Amputations: A Cadaver Study

BACKGROUND

The deep plantar arterial arch (DPAA) is formed by an anastomosis between the deep plantar artery and the lateral plantar artery. The potential risk of injury to the DPAA is concerning when performing transmetatarsal amputations, and care must be taken to preserve the anatomy. We sought to determine the positional anatomy of the DPAA based on anatomical landmarks that could be easily identified and palpated during transmetatarsal amputation.

METHODS

In an effort to improve our understanding of the positional relationship of the DPAA to the distal metatarsal parabola, dissections were performed on 45 cadaveric feet to measure the location of the DPAA with respect to the distal metatarsal epiphyses. Images of the dissected specimens were digitally acquired and saved for measurement using in-house-written software. The mean, SD, SEM, and 95% confidence interval were calculated for all of the measurement parameters and are reported on pooled data and by sex. An independent-samples t test was used to assess for sex differences. Interrater reliability of the measurements was estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

The origin of the DPAA was located a mean ± SD of 35.6 ± 3.9 mm (95% confidence interval, 34.5-36.8 mm) proximal to the perpendicular line connecting the first and fifth metatarsal heads. The average interrater reliability across all of the measurements was 0.921.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the positional relationship of the DPAA with respect to the distal metatarsal parabola. This method is easily reproducible and may assist the foot and ankle surgeon with surgical planning and approach when performing partial pedal amputation.

Level of Agreement Between Systematic Doppler Examination of the Lower Extremity and Diagnostic Angiography in the Setting of Peripheral Arterial Disease

BACKGROUND

The objective of this investigation was to determine the level of agreement between a systematic clinical Doppler examination of the foot and ankle and diagnostic peripheral angiography.

METHODS

The described Doppler examination technique attempted to determine the patency, quality, and direction of the flow through the dorsalis pedis artery, posterior tibial artery, terminal branches of the peroneal artery, and vascular arch of the foot. These results were then compared with angiographic distal run-off images as interpreted by a blinded vascular surgeon.

RESULTS

Levels of agreement with respect to artery patency/quality ranged from 64.0% to 84.0%. Sensitivity ranged from 53.8% to 84.2%, and specificity ranged from 64.7% to 91.7%. Agreement with respect to arterial flow direction ranged from 73.3% to 90.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

We interpret these results to indicate that this comprehensive physical examination technique of the arterial flow to the foot and ankle with a Doppler device might serve as a reasonable initial surrogate to diagnostic angiography in some patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Anterior tibial artery injury is not the contraindication of medial plantar flap: digital subtraction angiography evidence and clinical application

The medial plantar artery (MPA) is often sacrificed as the vascular pedicle of the medial plantar flap (MPF). However, for patients with ankle soft tissue defect caused by traffic accident, the anterior tibial artery (ATA) could be damaged and the blood supply of the distal foot would only come from the MPA and the lateral plantar artery (LPA). In this case, sacrificing the MPA for the MPF means that the LPA will become the mainly source of blood supply of the distal foot. Whether the blood supply of the distal foot is adequately guaranteed remains to be discussed. A total of seven patients with ankle soft tissue defect and ATA injury were enrolled in the study. The digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed to observe the hemodynamics of the ipsilateral foot. The MPF was harvested only when the foot arterial network consisting of the MPA, the LPA, the deep plantar arch, and the deep plantar artery of DPA, and the blood redistribution existed. DSA results showed the blood from the posterior tibial artery was redistributed to the ipsilateral foot and the MPA is not the dominant artery in the foot. Seven MPFs were harvested, and all flaps survived completely. No complications, such as pain, ulcer, and necrosis, occurred in the ipsilateral toes. The DSA could accurately and intuitively evaluate the hemodynamics of foot in patients with ATA injury. The DSA data and clinical practice proved that the ATA injury is not the contraindication of the MPF.

Real-time acoustic sensing and artificial intelligence for error prevention in orthopedic surgery

In this work, we developed and validated a computer method capable of robustly detecting drill breakthrough events and show the potential of deep learning-based acoustic sensing for surgical error prevention. Bone drilling is an essential part of orthopedic surgery and has a high risk of injuring vital structures when over-drilling into adjacent soft tissue. We acquired a dataset consisting of structure-borne audio recordings of drill breakthrough sequences with custom piezo contact microphones in an experimental setup using six human cadaveric hip specimens. In the following step, we developed a deep learning-based method for the automated detection of drill breakthrough events in a fast and accurate fashion. We evaluated the proposed network regarding breakthrough detection sensitivity and latency. The best performing variant yields a sensitivity of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$93.64 \pm 2.42$$\end{document}93.64±2.42% for drill breakthrough detection in a total execution time of 139.29\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\hbox { ms}}$$\end{document}ms. The validation and performance evaluation of our solution demonstrates promising results for surgical error prevention by automated acoustic-based drill breakthrough detection in a realistic experiment while being multiple times faster than a surgeon’s reaction time. Furthermore, our proposed method represents an important step for the translation of acoustic-based breakthrough detection towards surgical use.

Location of the Deep Plantar Artery: A Cadaveric Study

BACKGROUND

The deep plantar (D-PL) artery originates from the dorsalis pedis artery in the proximal first intermetatarsal space, an area where many procedures are performed to address deformity, traumatic injury, and infection. The potential risk of injury to the D-PL artery is concerning. The D-PL artery provides vascular contribution to the base of the first metatarsal and forms the D-PL arterial arch with the lateral plantar artery.

METHODS

In an effort to improve our understanding of the positional relationship of the D-PL artery to the first metatarsal, dissections were performed on 43 embalmed cadaver feet to measure the location of the D-PL artery with respect to the base of the first metatarsal. Digital images of the dissected specimens were acquired and saved for measurement using in-house software. Means, standard deviations, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for all of the measurement parameters.

RESULTS

We found that the origin of the D-PL artery was located at a mean ± SD of 11.5 ± 3.9 mm (95% CI, 4.5-24.7 mm) distal to the first metatarsal base and 18.6% ± 6.5% (95% CI, 8.1%-43.4%) of length in reference to the proximal base. The average interrater reliability across all of the measurements was 0.945.

CONCLUSIONS

This study helps clarify the anatomical location of the D-PL artery by providing parameters to aid the surgeon when performing procedures in the proximal first intermetatarsal space. Care must be taken when performing procedures in the region to avoid unintended vascular injury to the D-PL artery.

Anatomic Limitations of the Transmetatarsal Amputation With Consideration of the Deep Plantar Perforating Branch of the Dorsalis Pedis Artery

The transmetatarsal amputation is considered a durable procedure with respect to limb salvage when managing the consequences of diabetic foot disease. The success of the procedure is, in part, determined by the preoperative appreciation of arterial and functional status. The objectives of the present investigation were to determine the length of the remaining first metatarsal required during transmetatarsal amputation to preserve the anastomotic connection of the deep plantar perforating artery and subsequent "vascular arch" of the foot and the insertion of the tibialis anterior tendon. The primary outcome measure of our investigation was a measurement of the distance between the first metatarsal-medial cuneiform articulation and the distal extent of the deep plantar perforating artery in 85 embalmed lower limbs. As a secondary outcome measure, the insertion of the tibialis anterior tendon was evaluated relative to the deep plantar perforating artery. The most distal extent of the deep plantar perforating artery was observed at a mean ± standard deviation of 15.62 ± 3.74 (range 6.0 to 28.28) mm from the first metatarsal-medial cuneiform articulation. Most (89.41%) of the arteries were found within 20 mm of the first metatarsal-medial cuneiform articulation. The insertion of the tibialis anterior tendon was found to be proximal to the deep plantar perforating artery in all specimens (100.0%). In conclusion, 2.0 cm of remnant first metatarsal might represent an anatomic definition of how "short" a transmetatarsal amputation can safely be performed in most patients when considering the vascular and biomechanical anatomy.

The care of transmetatarsal amputation in diabetic foot gangrene

Diabetic foot ulcerations may determine minor or major amputation, with a high impact on patients' life expectation and quality of life and on economic burden. Among minor amputations, transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) appears to be the most effective in terms of limb salvage rates and in maintaining foot and ankle biomechanics. In spite of this, TMA needs particular pre- and postoperative management in order to avoid the frequent failure rates. A systematic review was undertaken of studies concerning TMA and its care in diabetic foot gangrene. Studies were identified by searching the MEDLINE, Scopus and Science Direct databases until 13 January 2016. All studies were assessed using the Downs and Black quality checklist. Of the 348 records found, 86 matched our inclusion criteria. After reading the full-text articles, we decided to exclude 35 manuscripts because of the following reasons: (1) no innovative or important content, (2) no multivariable analysis, (3) insufficient data, (4) no clear potential biases or strategies to solve them, (5) no clear endpoints and (6) inconsistent or arbitrary conclusions. The final set included 51 articles. In the current literature, there are less data about TMA, indication for the selection of patients, outcomes and complications. Generally, the judgment of an experienced physician is one of the best indicators of subsequent healing. Ankle brachial indices, toe pressures, laser Doppler skin perfusion pressures, angiography and Doppler assessment of foot vasculature may help physicians in this decision. In any case, despite the presumed lower healing rate, it is reasonable to pursue a TMA in a patient with a higher likelihood of continued ambulation. Furthermore, tailored wound closure, adjuvant local treatments and the choice of the most appropriate antibiotic therapy, when infection occurs, are pivotal elements for the success of TMA procedures. TMA is a valuable option for diabetic foot gangrene that can prevent major limb loss and minimise loss of function, thus improving the quality of life for diabetic patients.

Large heel soft tissue defects managed successfully with reverse medial crural fasciocutaneous flap: a 7-year single-center experience with 21 consecutive cases

The medial crural fasciocutaneous flap is a reliable cutaneous flap that can be used for soft tissue reconstruction in the extremities. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the application and clinical significance of this surgical technique in the reconstruction of heel soft tissue defects. Twenty-one cases of heel soft tissue defect between March 2005 and March 2012 were included in this study. Wound sizes varied from 5.0 × 5.5 to 7.5 × 10.0 cm. All cases were managed with a reverse medial crural fasciocutaneous flap. Patient demographics and case information were analyzed and are reported. The sizes of the reverse medial crural fasciocutaneous flap varied from 6.5 × 10.0 to 9.0 × 15.0 cm; the average size was 7.7 × 13.8 cm. Out of the 21 consecutive cases, 20 flaps survived intact and one flap underwent partial necrosis. Follow-up observations were conducted for 6-36 months. The cosmetic results were satisfactory, without apparent bulkiness; the weight-bearing outcomes were satisfactory. The donor site can be closed primarily or by skin graft. Reverse medial crural fasciocutaneous flap transfer is appropriate for the reconstruction of heel soft tissue defects. The method is safe and can cover large heel defects.

Clinical assessment of patients with peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) describes the clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis affecting the circulation in the legs. The severity of PAD is classified according to symptom severity, time course, and anatomical distribution. The signs and symptoms of PAD reflect the degree of circulatory compromise and whether there has been a gradual reduction in the circulation or an abrupt, uncompensated decrease. Accurate clinical assessment underpins decisions on management strategy and should objectively assess the severity of the ischemia and need for revascularization. Clinical history should discriminate symptoms of PAD from other conditions presenting with leg pain, elucidate cardiovascular risk factors and the effect of symptoms on the patient's quality of life. Clinical examination includes signs of general cardiovascular disease and associated conditions before assessing the circulation and viability of the limb. Palpation of peripheral pulses must be augmented by determination of the ankle brachial pressure index using hand held Doppler. A whole patient approach to management is required and must include modification of cardiovascular risk status as well as dealing with the local circulatory manifestation of PAD.

Surgical management of diabetic foot and ankle infections

Delayed treatment of any diabetic foot infection can lead to a limb- or life-threatening scenario. Urgent and/or emergent surgery may be necessary in the early diagnosis of a severe diabetic foot infection that is followed by staged reconstructive procedures. This article provides the reader with a thorough understanding of the surgical management of severe diabetic foot infections and describes and guides treatment based on a rational schematic approach that identifies the anatomic location of the diabetic foot infection.