Short-segment transpedicular instrumentation of thoracolumbar burst fractures is associated with a high rate of failure that cannot be decreased by additional transpedicular intracorporeal grafting.

We treated 24 patients (18 women, six men; average age, 46.4 years; (range, 28 to 66 years) with fusion of the hallux metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint using bone graft for the restoration of the length of the first ray. This procedure was performed after bone loss subsequent to previous surgeries for the correction of hallux valgus and hallux rigidus with: silastic arthroplasty (11), bunionectomy and distal metatarsal osteotomy (six), Keller resection arthroplasty (five), and total joint replacement (two). The indication for performing the arthrodesis with bone graft was a short first metatarsal, and associated metatarsalgia of the lesser metatarsals in addition to a painful MTP joint with or without deformity. This bone loss was associated with avascular necrosis of the first metatarsal (nine patients) and with osteomyelitis (seven patients). Of the 24 patients, 14 underwent additional concurrent surgery for correction of hammer toes (10), excision of a Morton's neuroma (two), and lesser metatarsal osteotomy (two). All patients were examined clinically and radiographically at a mean interval of 62.7 months after surgery (range, 26 to 108 months). The patients were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hallux and MTP 100-point outcome scale. Arthrodesis occurred in 19/24 patients (79.1%) at a mean of 13.3 weeks (range, 11 to 16 weeks), and the first ray was lengthened by a mean of 13 mm (range, 0 to 29 mm). Of the five nonunions, two were asymptomatic, and three were subsequently revised successfully, with arthrodesis occurring at a mean of 10.7 weeks. Complications included one deep infection requiring intravenous antibiotics for treatment of osteomyelitis and two minor superficial wound infections. The mean AOFAS score improved from 39 points (range, 22 to 60 points) to 79 points (range, 64 to 90 points). All patients were satisfied with the final outcome of treatment and stated that they would undergo the surgical procedure again. We concluded that arthrodesis of the hallux MTP joint with bone graft to restore bone loss and length of the first ray may be a worthwhile procedure despite the technical difficulty and the high rate of nonunion.

Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus that can cause major morbidity including limb amputation. Since it was first described in 1883, and attributed to diabetes mellitus in 1936, the diagnosis of CN has been very challenging even for the experienced practitioners. Imaging plays a central role in the early and accurate diagnosis of CN, and in distinction of CN from osteomyelitis. Conventional radiography, computed tomography, nuclear medicine scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography are the imaging techniques currently in use for the evaluation of CN but modalities other than magnetic resonance imaging appeared to be complementary. This study focuses on imaging findings of acute and chronic neuropathic osteoarthropathy in diabetes and discrimination of infected vs. non-infected neuropathic osteoarthropathy.

Although a variety of diagnostic imaging modalities are available for the evaluation of diabetes-related foot complications, the distinction between neuroarthropathy and osteomyelitis is still challenging. The early and accurate diagnosis of diabetic foot complications can help reduce the incidence of infection-related morbidities, the need for and duration of hospitalization, and the incidence of major limb amputation. Conventional radiography, computed tomography, nuclear medicine scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, and positron emission tomography are the main procedures currently in use for the evaluation of diabetes-related foot complications. However, each of these modalities does not provide enough information alone and a multimodal approach should be used for an accurate diagnosis. The present study is a review of the current concepts in imaging of diabetes-related foot complications and an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each method.