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This is the first larger study analyzing the use of magnesium-based screws for fixation of modified Chevron osteotomies in hallux valgus surgery. Forty-four patients (45 feet) were included in this prospective study. A modified Chevron osteotomy was performed on every patient and a magnesium screw used for fixation. The mean clinical follow up was 21.4 weeks. The mean age of the patients was 45.5 years. Forty patients could be provided with the implant, in four patients the surgeon decided to change to a standard metallic implant. The AOFAS, FAAM and pain NRS-scale improved markedly. The hallux valgus angle, intermetatarsal angle and sesamoid position improved significantly. Seven patients showed dorsal subluxation, rotation or medial shifting of the metatarsal heads within the first 3 months. One of these patients was revised, in all others the findings were considered clinically not significant or the patients refused revision. This study shows the feasibility of using magnesium screws in hallux valgus-surgery. Surgeons starting with the use of these implants should be aware of the proper handling of these implants and should know about corrosion effects during healing and its radiographic appearance. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:2207-2214, 2016.

Compared with MRI, SPECT-CT provides additional information and influences the decision making of OCL treatment. For thorough diagnostic evaluation in OCLs, performing both MRI and SPECT-CT is recommended. Further clinical investigation is needed to see if SPECT-CT in addition to MRI results in improved treatment outcomes.

Level IV, retrospective case series.

The anterior double plating system was shown be a reliable method to achieve solid isolated tibiotalar arthrodesis, even in ankles with difficult conditions such as loss of bone stock due to failed total ankle arthroplasty.

The exact knowledge of the anatomy of the crossing of FDL and FHL in the plantar foot is essential to facilitate tendon harvesting, reduce morbidity and explain possible postoperative functional loss.

The effect of leg length differences on early clinical outcome after total hip arthroplasty remains uncertain. We performed a prospective study on 94 patients who were evaluated preoperatively and one year after surgery for clinical leg length differences, which were then compared with radiological measurements. The effect of leg length differences on walking ability, limp, pain and patient satisfaction was studied. The mean clinical leg length difference after operation was 0.05 cm (-1.5 to 1.5, SD 0.5). Clinical and radiological measurements correlated poorly (ω =0.36 pre- and ω =0.186 postoperatively). Patients with a shorter operated leg on clinical assessment were more prone to limping (p<0.05), and patients with a longer leg had more pain compared to patients with equal leg lengths (p<0.05). Walking ability, Harris Hip Score and patient satisfaction were only marginally affected by leg length differences. Virtually equal leg length was achieved for most patients but small differences had a negative influence in relation to limping and pain. Patients should be counselled pre-operatively about possible leg length differences and associated symptoms.

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