• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2024

Ankle arthrodesis was performed on a 55-year-old male patient with an active lifestyle who developed severe arthritis in the left ankle. Over the follow-up period, high tibial valgization osteotomy was conducted for painful medial knee joint arthritis with genu varum deformity to correct overall lower limb alignment from varus to valgus with respect to the fused ankle. This study was conducted to investigate how hindfoot alignment would change when the overall alignment of the lower limb shifted from varus to valgus with the ipsilateral ankle in a fused state. Conclusively, while no intrinsic changes in the hindfoot alignment were observed following the alteration of lower limb alignment, the hindfoot naturally adjusted to valgus deviation in response to limb valgus realignment. Moreover, symptoms changed in line with this adjustment. Given the absence of similar case studies or reports, a review of relevant literature is included to contribute to knowledge of this subject.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological results of single and double fusions in the transverse tarsal joint. Materials and Methods: Between December 2000 and April 2009, 16 patients (16 feet) who had been treated by fusion of transverse tarsal joint were included in this study. In 8 patients, only talonavicular joint was fused and in the other 8 patients, both talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints were fused simultaneously. We have measured talo-first metatarsal angle, calcaneal pitch angle, talonavicular coverage angle and presence of adjacent joint arthritis for radiological assessment at both preoperative and last visit. Furthermore, we have evaluated Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and patient's satisfaction. Results: In a single fusion group, VAS was improved from $6.4{\pm}1.4$ to $0.8{\pm}1.0$ (p=0.0011) and AOFAS score was improved from $63.8{\pm}6.2$ to $89.4{\pm}9.8$ (p=0.0012). In a double fusion group, VAS was improved from $8.0{\pm}0.75$ to $2.0{\pm}1.8$ (p=0.0011) and AOFAS score was improved from $60.5{\pm}11.2$ to $89.5{\pm}6.0$ (p=0.0012). In the difference of talo-first metatarsal angle between two groups, a single fused group was more improved than a double fused group (p=0.04). Conclusion: Both single and double fusions are useful and attractive treatment for the transverse tarsal joint arthritis. Furthermore, a single fusion has advantages of less invasiveness and preserving some degree of hindfoot motion and could be an effective alternative to a double fusion if patient meets appropriate criteria through careful preoperative evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 1997

A variety of surgical approach for ankle and tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis has been described. We used a transfibular approach between the sural nerve and lateral branch of the superficial peroneal nerve. This permits excellent visualization of the ankle and subtalar joint so that the fusion can readily be achieved under the direct visualization. Eight ankle fusions and four tibiotalocalcaneal fusions were carried out through a transfibular approach and reviewed. The resected fibula was utilized for bone graft. The follow up period was from 12 to 22 months. Ages of the patients ranged from 27 to 58 years. The postoperative regimen was six weeks nonweight bearing in a short leg cast, followed by weight bearing in a short leg cast until union occurred. All cases were fused except one who had preoperative pyogenic arthritis of the ankle and hindfoot. The results were as follows; 1. The chance of incisional neuroma is lessened through incision between the sural nerve and superficial peroneal nerve. 2. The possibility of a skin slough is reduced by using full thickness skin flaps. 3. Excellent visualization of the ankle and subtalar joint is easily achieved. So, we believed that the transfibular approach for ankle and tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis is the excellent surgical approach.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.171-175
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• 2004

Purpose: We evaluated the clinical and radiological results of arthroscopic ankle fusion using 2 medial screws which had advantages of less morbidity, early weight-bearing and high union rate. Material and Methods: From April, 2002 to March, 2004, 8 patients who had ankle osteoarthritis were treated by ankle fusion using 2 medial screws under arthroscopy; five patients with post-traumatic osteoarthritis, two with post-infectious arthritis and one with paralytic foot. There were 5 male and 3 female. Average age was 67 years old ranging from 57 to 71 years. We evaluated them clinically preoperative and postoperative using AOFAS score, VAS pain scale and patient's satisfaction. In regard to radiological fusion, we checked them by simple AP, lateral and mortise view. Follow up period was average 11 months (range, $6{\sim}24$ months). Results: All ankles were successfully fused with 2 medial screws under arthroscopy. The mean time of fusion was 10.5 weeks (range, $8{\sim}14$ weeks). Patient's satisfaction checked at 6 months after operation had favorable results (excellent and good 75%). One case had pain on medial malleolar area because of screw's protrusion. Conclusion: Arthroscopic ankle fusion using 2 medial screws was good modality of ankle fusion with less morbidity and early weight-bearing in some cases of ankle arthritis.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.73-76
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• 2015

The calcaneal insufficiency avulsion fracture usually occurs in an area of fused apophysis in adults without significant history of trauma or overuse activities. It is an uncommon injury which has been described in patients with complicated diabetes, Charcot neuroarthropathy, amyloidosis with neuropathy, severe osteoporosis, and other conditions. Discussion of the issue of fracture location is still not sufficient. We report on a case of a 50-year-old male who experienced a non-traumatic diabetic calcaneal insufficiency fracture. Intraoperatively, a biopsy specimen was obtained from the exposed fracture site for histological study. We assume that the calcaneal fused apophyseal line is the weak point of failure due to various incomplete mixtures of trabecular bone, woven bone, and cartilaginous tissues, and may fail when repeated tensile stress is imposed.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.249-253
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• 2009

Purpose: We evaluated the clinical and radiographic results of arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis using 3 cannulated screws for the treatment of arthritis of ankle. Materials and Methods: From May 2006 to February 2009, 17 cases of arthritis of ankle were treated by ankle arthrodesis using 3 cannulated screws under arthroscopy. There were 8 male and 7 female and the average age was 62.2 years. We evaluated them clinically using AOFAS ankle-hindfoot functional scale, VAS pain score and patient’s satisfaction. For the radiographic evaluation, we checked them by simple AP, lateral and mortise view. The average follow-up period was 24.2 months. Results: The ankle-hindfoot functional scale was improved from an average of 47.4 points preoperatively to an average of 82.5 points at the last follow-up. The visual analogue scale pain score was decreased from an average of 8.6 to 2.4. Patient's satisfaction had favorable results with excellent in 7 cases(41.2%), good in 8 cases(47.0%), fair in 1 case(5.9%) and poor in1 case(5.9%). All ankles were successfully fused and the mean period of fusion was 9.1 weeks. Conclusion: Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis using 3 cannulated screws was good modality of ankle arthrodesis with good clinical results and high union rate in the case of advanced ankle arthritis.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.49-54
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• 2023

Purpose: The present study examined the effectiveness of the preoperative ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in predicting the healing period of amputation wounds in patients with diabetes mellitus following a non-traumatic below-knee amputation (BKA). Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 41 diabetic foot ulcer patients who underwent BKA at the authors' hospital diabetic foot center from April 2016 to April 2022. Among the 41 patients, 29 (70.7%) were male and 12 (29.3%) were female. Their mean age was 64.54±11.38 years (41~81 years). The mean follow-up period was 19.48±5.56 weeks (14~48 weeks) after BKA. The patients were divided into two groups (high IMA group and normal IMA group), which evaluated the healing period, wound dehiscence, and revision operation rate using a Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. Three orthopedic surgeons performed stump wound evaluation, and they were evaluated as healing when all sutures were fused without oozing. Results: Thirty patients (73.2%) (group A) showed a high level of IMA (median: 91.2 U/mL), and 11 (26.8%) patients (group B) showed a normal range of IMA (median: 82.7 U/mL). In group A, the median period for wound healing took 1.4 weeks longer, which was significant (p=0.001). No statistical relationship was observed between wound dehiscence, revision operation rate, and IMA value. There was no correlation between the other risk factors (estimated glomerular filtration rate, HbA1c) and the wound healing period. Conclusion: Although there was a limitation in using IMA as the sole factor to predict the healing period of amputation wounds in patients after BKA, this study revealed a significant positive correlation between IMA and the period of stump healing after BKA. Therefore, the preoperative IMA levels may help predict the period of stump healing after BKA.