Background: Altered kinematics and persisting ankle instability have been associated with degenerative changes and osteochondral lesions. Purpose: To study the effect of ligament reconstruction surgery with suture tape augmentation (isolated anterior talofibular ligament [ATFL] vs combined ATFL and calcaneofibular ligament [CFL]) after lateral ligament ruptures (combined ATFL and CFL) on foot-ankle kinematics during simulated gait. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Five fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens were tested in a custom-built gait simulator in 5 different conditions: intact, ATFL rupture, ATFL-CFL rupture, ATFL-CFL reconstruction, and ATFL reconstruction. For each condition, range of motion (ROM) and the average angle (AA) in the hindfoot and midfoot joints were calculated during the stance phase of normal and inverted gait. Results: Ligament ruptures mainly changed ROM in the hindfoot and the AA in the hindfoot and midfoot and influenced the kinematics in all 3 movement directions. Combined ligament reconstruction was able to restore ROM in inversion-eversion in 4 of the 5 joints and ROM in internal-external rotation and dorsiflexion-plantarflexion in 3 of the 5 joints. It was also able to restore the AA in inversion-eversion in 2 of the 5 joints, the AA in internal-external rotation in all joints, and the AA in dorsiflexion-plantarflexion in 1 of the joints. Isolated ATFL reconstruction was able to restore ROM in inversion-eversion and internal-external rotation in 3 of the 5 joints and ROM in dorsiflexion-plantarflexion in 2 of the 5 joints. Isolated reconstruction was also able to restore the AA in inversion-eversion and dorsiflexion-plantarflexion in 2 of the joints and the AA in internal-external rotation in 3 of the joints. Both isolated reconstruction and combined reconstruction were most successful in restoring motion in the tibiocalcaneal and talonavicular joints and least successful in restoring motion in the talocalcaneal joint. However, combined reconstruction was still better at restoring motion in the talocalcaneal joint than isolated reconstruction (1/3 for ROM and 1/3 for the AA with isolated reconstruction compared to 1/3 for ROM and 2/3 for the AA with combined reconstruction). Conclusion: Combined ATFL-CFL reconstruction showed better restored motion immediately after surgery than isolated ATFL reconstruction after a combined ATFL-CFL rupture. Clinical Relevance: This study shows that ligament reconstruction with suture tape augmentation is able to partially restore kinematics in the hindfoot and midfoot at the time of surgery. In clinical applications, where the classic Broström-Gould technique is followed by augmentation with suture tape, this procedure may protect the repaired ligament during healing by limiting excessive ROM after a ligament rupture.
Purpose By means of a case series we wanted to describe and correlate the clinical and imaging features of bone marrow oedema syndrome (BMOS) of the foot and ankle in children. Methods A retrospective data study was performed on patients born on or after 01 January 2001 who underwent multiple MRI scans of the foot and ankle for pain symptoms. Six patients who presented with increased signal intensity on T2-weighted MR imaging without any underlying causes or concomitant pathology were included. Results All patients, three boys and three girls with a mean age of 11 years (8 to 14), displayed patchy areas of increased signal intensity on T2-weighted and turbo inversion recovery magnitude (TIRM) images. On average, six tarsal bones were involved (4 to 8). In all patients, treatment consisted of rest and/or protected weight-bearing. The mean time for symptoms to improve during treatment was 6 months (1 to 16). The mean duration of treatment was nine months (3 to 16). In all patients clinical and imaging symptoms were strongly correlated and regressed in time. Conclusion BMOS as a pathological entity should be considered in paediatric patients with foot and ankle pain without a clear underlying cause, and characteristic T2-weighted and TIRM signal intensity increase on MRI images. As BMOS is transient and self-limiting, conservative treatment is advised while the oedema regresses. An early diagnosis of this pathology could prevent unnecessary diagnostic investigations and invasive treatments. Level of Evidence IV
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