Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association

BACKGROUND: Abnormal foot anthropometry and posture of patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) can be considered as possible risk factors for performance and ambulation. It was aimed to examine the effects of foot posture and anthropometric characteristics, which deteriorated from the early period, on ambulation and performance of patients with DMD. METHODS: The foot arch height (FAH), the metatarsal width (MW), subtalar pronation angle, and ankle limitation degree (ALD) were evaluated to determine the foot anthropometric characteristics of the patients...

BACKGROUND: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the pathological progression of lower limb biomechanics is established. Although specific aspects of RA gait patterns have been studied and described, we are aware of no studies of gait pattern compensations over the entire disease course. This study aimed to describe a model that could predict the evolution of lower limb pathomechanics in patients with RA. METHODS: A literature review was conducted of electronic databases (MEDLINE, PEDro, Trip Database, DOAJ, BioMed Central, PLOS clinical trial, ScienceDirect, and CRD York University, AHRQ, NICE, Cochrane Library) to October 3, 2023...

Hallux rigidus is a common condition affecting the foot. There is a paucity of evidence describing the management of patients with hallux rigidus with manual physical therapy consisting of hands-on manual therapy techniques and movement reinforcing exercise. This case highlights the management of a patient with hallux rigidus by a physical therapist. The patient was a 60-year-old male baseball player with pain, loss of metatarsophalangeal joint motion, and radiographically visible degenerative changes suggesting a diagnosis of hallux rigidus...

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of foot dominance and body mass on foot plantar pressures in older women of regular, overweight, and obese weights. METHODS: 96 female adults were divided into regular-weight group (68.30 ± 4.19 yr), overweight group (69.88 ± 3.76 yr), and obesity group (68.47 ± 3.67 yr) based on their body mass index scores. Footscan® plantar pressure test system was used to assess the dynamic plantar pressures, and parameters were collected from risk analysis, foot axis analysis, single foot timing analysis, and pressure analysis...

Osteoid osteoma is a benign tumor of the bone which tends to occur in diaphysis or metaphysis of the long bones. The lesion is generally intraosseous with vague clinical symptoms, hence given the name "great mimicker". When located subperiosteally and juxtaarticulary, atypical clinical presentation and radiological may lead to a delayed or missed diagnosis. Performing surgery with a misdiagnosis carries the risk of incomplete resection of the lesion and recurrence. We report the case of a 15-year-old male with a subperiosteal osteoid osteoma of the talus, who was misdiagnosed with pigmented villonodular synovitis and operated through anterior ankle arthrotomy...

Os subtibiale is a rare accessory ossicle of the ankle, considered not of clinical significance. But its presence in trauma patients may cause misdiagnosis as malleolar fracture and over-treatment. Because the ossicle is attached to the deltoid ligament, ankle trauma that cause medial compartment injury may detach os subtibiale from medial malleolus. In these situations, MR imaging may help to diagnose the deltoid injury, demonstrate the features of the ossicle, and guide treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Computed tomography (CT) is superior to plain radiography for evaluating ankle syndesmosis, but anatomic variations can affect the measurements. This study aimed to assess the radiological parameters of incisura fibularis and the factors that could affect these parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lower extremity CT angiography images were used to evaluate the morphology of the incisura fibularis, anterior/posterior tibiofibular distance, longitudinal/transverse length of the distal fibula, length/depth of the incisura fibularis notch, tibiofibular clear space, tibiofibular overlap, and fibular rotation...

Background Ankle fractures constitute 10% of all traumatic fractures in clinical practice. Concurrent tibiotalar dislocations form 21-36% of all ankle fractures. Although mechanism of injury is similar to non-dislocated ankle fractures, fracture-dislocations cause more extensive bone and soft tissue damage. Treatment is a challenge for orthopedic surgeons due to concomitant pathologies. It is associated with malreduction, chronic pain and most importantly, posttraumatic osteoarthritis. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ankle osteoarthritis radiographic stage and clinical outcomes...

Muscle disorders may cause a change in plantar pressures by the misalignment on the foot during gait phases. Therefore, corns or calluses develop at the plantar regions, and diabetic foot ulcers follow for severe cases although it can be prevented and even treated by podiatric approaches with patient specific therapeutic insole and footwear. Although the importance of a threshold value of 200 kPa in peek plantar pressure reduction has been highlighted as a gold standard to prevent re-ulceration in diabetic foot, it may not be possible to ensure this pressure reduction for each patient...

BACKGROUND: This article aims to analyze levels of knowledge and behavior about diabetic foot care and prevention in persons with diabetes according to International Working Group (IWGDF) risk stratification system. METHODS: A descriptive study in 83 persons with diabetes at different level of risk for foot ulceration (IWGDF risk 0-3). A previously validated questionnaire, the PIN Questionnaire, was used to analyze their levels of understanding of foot complications...

Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MAbc) is a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium that represents an increasingly prevalent cause of skin infections. This report describes an atypical presentation of MAbc to heighten physician awareness of the pathogen. A 69-year-old woman with immunocompromised status presented with a 4-month history of a solitary, nonhealing ulcer on her right lower extremity after an insect bite. After no improvement following oral amoxicillin/clavulanate and topical mupirocin for the initial diagnosis of cellulitis, biopsy and culture of the lesion revealed MAbc...

BACKGROUND: We evaluated adverse short-term outcomes after open lower-extremity bypass surgery in patients with diabetes mellitus with a comparison performed based on patient height. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was analyzed to select patients with Current Procedural Terminology codes 35533, 35540, 35556, 35558, 35565, 35566, 35570, and 35571 and with the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. This resulted in 83 patients 60 inches or less in height, 1,084 between 60 and 72 inches, and 211 patients 72 inches and taller...

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare disorder defined as the development of periarticular calcified masses, typically surrounding large joints, although they may occur in the foot. We present a case of a patient with systemic tumoral calcinosis with lesions in both shoulders and wrists and a relatively large lesion in the right foot presenting with foot pain.

Charcot's neuroarthropathy complicated by calcaneal osteomyelitis can be difficult to treat. Various surgical techniques describe how to manage these conditions. Eggshell-type debridement with application of antibiotic-impregnated bone substitute is a viable option that eliminates infected bone and allows staged reconstructive surgery. A 50-year-old woman with right midfoot Charcot's neuroarthropathy presented with osteomyelitis of the cuboid and fourth and fifth metatarsal bases after resection and failed antibiotic therapy...

BACKGROUND: Foot ulcers and infections are a major and costly problem in patients with diabetes and a major cause of amputations. Plantar peak pressure plays an essential role in plantar ulceration. Off-loading is a common tool to reduce plantar peak pressure and risk of ulceration. The goal of this study was to determine whether reduction of plantar peak pressure can be achieved using a walking bike (a bike without pedals) compared with walking. METHODS: The study starts with a PubMed literature review...

Calcified tissue exposed in a leg ulcer can become infected and develop into a nidus of infection leading to sepsis. This case details a patient with a leg wound secondary to skin biopsy. This leg ulceration did not heal due to an underlying calcified mass and led to five hospital admissions for sepsis. She was diagnosed as having calcinosis cutis, which was suspected to be the source of her infections. The calcified mass was resected, and she healed uneventfully without further infections. Calcified soft-tissue masses should be considered in nonhealing leg ulcers and ulcers with multiple recurrent infections...

Serous atrophy of bone marrow (SABM) is characterized by focal replacement of bone marrow elements with extracellular gelatinous substances. It has been associated with a wide range of chronic conditions, including anorexia nervosa, malignancy, chronic kidney disease, and certain chronic infections. Previous literature has reported the disorder as primarily diagnosed via bone marrow biopsy and occurring outside of the distal extremities. Herein we describe a case of SABM occurring in the feet diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a phenomenon that is rarely reported...

Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, manifestations of the COVID-19 virus have been reported throughout the body, visible both clinically and radiographically. In the foot and ankle, one such phenomenon presents as cutaneous changes associated with neuralgia to the digits. Although rare, emerging reports described similar manifestations of COVID-19 in the foot, though limited to superficial structures. In this case report, we present a 52-year-old male experiencing burning pain and hyperpigmented lesions to the digits of his left foot 2 weeks prior to a formal diagnosis with COVID-19...

BACKGROUND: Proprioceptive disorders may occur when thick fibers are affected in diabetic neuropathy. This can lead to impaired joint stabilization and increased risk of falls and fractures. We evaluated joint position sense (JPS) in diabetic patients to detect those at risk for neuropathy earlier. METHODS: Sixty diabetic patients and 30 healthy individuals aged 30 to 60 years were included in the study and divided into three groups: 30 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy, 30 diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathy, and 30 nondiabetic control patients...

Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor that is most commonly found on the head and neck. The current global incidence of squamous cell carcinoma at any site is estimated to be more than 1 million cases per year, with a reported 3-year mortality rate of 30%. Recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma at any site is estimated to be 15% to 50% and has been associated with greater rates of infiltration, perineural invasion, and mortality. Recent studies have shown lower-extremity squamous cell carcinoma to be distinct from squamous cell carcinoma at any site with histologic and clinical differences...