Background Although the precise pathoetiology of Morton’s neuroma remains unclear, chronic nerve entrapment from the overlying intermetatarsal ligament (IML) may play a role. Traditional operative management entails neuroma excision but risks unpredictable formation of stump neuroma. Materials and methods Medical records were examined for adult patients who failed at least 3 months of conservative treatment for symptomatic and recalcitrant Morton’s neuroma and who then underwent isolated IML decompression without neuroma resection. Results A total of 12 patients underwent isolated IML decompression for Morton’s neuroma with an average follow-up of 13.5 months. Visual Analog Pain Scale averaged 6.4 ± 1.8 (4-9) preoperatively and decreased to an average of 2 ± 2.1 (0-7) at final follow-up (P = .002). All patients reported significant improvement. Conclusion Isolated IML release of chronically symptomatic Morton’s neuroma shows promising short-term results regarding pain relief, with no demonstrated risk of recurrent neuroma formation, permanent numbness, or postoperative symptom exacerbation. Level of Evidence: Level IV: Case series
Aims Passively correctible, adult-acquired flatfoot deformities (AAFD) are treated with joint-sparing procedures. Questions remain as to the efficacy of such procedures when clinical deformities are severe. In severe deformities, a primary fusion may lead to predictable outcomes, but risks nonunion. We evaluated pre- and postsurgical flexible AAFD patients undergoing joint-sparing or fusion procedures, comparing reoperation and complication rates. Methods We identified patients with flexible AAFD between January 1, 2001 and 2016. Exclusion criteria were incomplete medical record, rigid AAFD, and prior flatfoot surgery. Patient demographics, pre- and postsurgical radiographic measurements, surgery performed, and postoperative complications were evaluated by bivariate analysis, comparing joint-sparing versus fusion procedures. Results Of 239 patients (255 feet) (mean follow-up 62 ± 50 months), 209 (87%) underwent joint-sparing reconstructions, 30 (12.6%) underwent fusions. Fifty-four (24.1%) feet underwent joint-sparing reconstruction with reoperation versus 11 (35.5%) in fusion patients ( P = .17). Radiographic improvement in talonavicular angle, talar first-metatarsal (anteroposterior view), and Meary’s angle was higher in fusion patients ( P < .001, P < .001, and P = .003, respectively). Discussion More nonunion reoperations among fusion patients were offset by reoperations in joint-sparing patients. Fusion uniquely corrected Meary’s angle. Nonunion is of less concern for joint-sparing versus fusion for patients with severe flexible AAFD. Degree of deformity versus advantage of joint motion should improve decision making. Levels of Evidence: Level IV: Retrospective case series
Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: When passively correctible, adult acquired flatfoot deformities (AAFD) are often treated with joint-sparing procedures. Questions remain, however, as to the efficacy of such flexible procedures when clinical deformities become more severe. In patients with increasingly severe deformities, a primary fusion may lead to more predictable outcomes, but also risks nonunion. The primary aim of this study was to compare the reoperation rates and complication rates following flexible reconstructions versus fusion procedures in the treatment of flexible AAFD. Methods: All patients, who were diagnosed and treated surgically for a flexible AAFD between January 1, 2001 and January 1, 2016, were identified. Exclusion criteria included incomplete medical records, rigid flatfoot deformities, and prior flatfoot surgery. Procedures defined as flexible reconstructions included medial calcaneal osteotomy (MCO), lateral calcaneal lengthening (LCL), double osteotomy, posterior tibial tendon (PTT) debridement, or PTT augmentation; procedures defined as fusions included subtalar (ST) arthrodesis, talonavicular (TN) arthrodesis, calcaneocuboid (CCJ) arthrodesis (alone or in combination with a LCL), double arthrodesis, or triple arthrodesis. Patient demographics, type of surgical procedure, postoperative complications, and reoperation rates were collected. Bivariate analysis was performed to compare patients who had a flexible reconstruction procedure versus a fusion procedure. Results: Two-hundred-thirty-nine patients (255 feet, mean follow up 62±50 months, range 15-104) were included. Two-hundred-eight (87%) patients underwent a flexible reconstruction, average age 55 (±12.0), while 31 (13%) patients underwent a fusion, average age 58 (±14.4) (p = 0.161). Age, BMI, diabetes and neuropathy rates were similar for both groups. Fifty-four patients (24%) underwent a flexible reconstruction and returned to the OR versus 11 (34%) in the fusion group (p = 0.217). Nonunion occurred more in the fusion group, with 5 (16%) versus 10 (4%) nonunions in the flexible reconstruction (p = 0.027). Symptomatic nonunion rates were similar. Rates of surgical revision for nonunion among patients returning to the OR were similar between flexible (7/54, 3%) and fusion (3/11, 9%) groups (p = 0.117). Conclusion: No significant difference in reoperation rates was found between flexible AAFD patients who were treated with flexible reconstructions versus fusions. As expected, the nonunion rate was significantly higher in the fusion group. Notably, rates of revision surgery for nonunion were similar between groups. Our findings suggest that nonunion should be less of a concern when considering a flexible versus fusion procedure for patients with a severe AAFD, and that other factors such as the degree of deformity should guide decision making.
Category: Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: While the precise pathoetiology of Morton’s neuroma remains unclear, nerve inflammation as a result of chronic entrapment from the overlying intermetatarsal ligament (IML) may play a role. Traditional surgical management involved common digital nerve transection with neuroma excision, but this procedure risks unpredictable formation of a stump neuroma and potential worsening of symptoms. Accordingly, the senior author has over the past six years espoused isolated IML release and common digital nerve decompression in lieu of nerve transection or neuroma excision as an alternative treatment strategy. We hypothesized that IML release offers effective pain relief and high patient satisfaction level as a surgical treatment for recalcitrant Morton’s neuroma without the risk of stump neuroma formation or symptom exacerbation. Methods: Medical records for all consecutive patients treated surgically with isolated single interspace IML release for symptomatic and recalcitrant Morton’s neuroma over a four year period at a large academic medical center were examined. Any adult patient with clinically diagnosed Morton’s neuroma who had failed at least three months of conservative treatment and who then underwent single-webspace IML decompression were included. Any patient who had less than three months postoperative follow up, had undergone revisional neuroma surgery, or had undergone additional procedures at the time of the IML release were excluded. Overall patient satisfaction as well as pre- and post-operative Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) assessments were recorded for all patients. Results: Eleven patients underwent isolated, single interspace IML decompression for Morton’s neuroma over this time frame. One of these patients had a neuroma localized to the second web space and 10 were localized to the third web space. Average follow-up was 10.8± 9 (3-32) months (Table 1). VAS pain scores averaged 6.4 ± 1.9 (4-9) preoperatively and decreased to an average of 1.5 ± 1.6 (0-5) at final follow up (P = 0.003). All patients reported significant pain improvement and an overall satisfaction with the procedure (would undergo it again). No patients returned to the operating room, there were no postoperative infection nor worsening of pain, and no other complications were reported. Conclusion: Isolated single interspace IML release of chronically symptomatic Morton’s neuroma shows promising short-term results regarding pain relief and overall patient satisfaction, with few complications and no demonstrated risk of recurrent neuroma formation, permanent numbness, or postoperative symptom exacerbation. The authors’ collective experience with this approach has been positive enough over the past six years to result in the entire abandonment of the practice of neuroma excision in this patient population.
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