Purpose: This study aimed to report the current trends in the management of diabetic foot over the last few decades through a survey of the Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) members. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire containing 40 questions was sent to all KFAS members in September 2021. The questions were mainly related to the demographics of patients with diabetic foot, diagnostic tools, and multidisciplinary treatment. Answers with a prevalence of ≥50% of respondents were considered a tendency. Results: Seventy-eight of the 550 members (14.2%) responded to the survey. The most common demographic factors of diabetic foot patients were male dominance with a high percentage in the 60- to 70-year-old. Although the need for multidisciplinary treatment is highly recognized in the treatment of diabetic foot patients, the actual implementation rate is about 39%. The contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (88.5%) was reported to be the most used tool for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the diabetic foot. It was reported that the use of antibiotics was started empirically and then changed based on bacterial culture tests in 82.1% of patients. Simple wound dressing and antibiotic treatment were most frequently reported for mild ulcers. Conclusion This study provides updated information on the current trends in the management of a diabetic foot in Korea. Both consensus and variations in the approach to patients with diabetic foot were identified by this survey study. Further efforts are required for better access to a multidisciplinary approach, such as appropriate insurance payment policies and patient education.

Purpose: This study aimed to report the current trends in the management of diabetic foot over the last few decades through a survey of the Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) members. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire containing 40 questions was sent to all KFAS members in September 2021. The questions were mainly related to the demographics of patients with diabetic foot, diagnostic tools, and multidisciplinary treatment. Answers with a prevalence of ≥50% of respondents were considered a tendency. Results: Seventy-eight of the 550 members (14.2%) responded to the survey. The most common demographic factors of diabetic foot patients were male dominance with a high percentage in the 60- to 70-year-old. Although the need for multidisciplinary treatment is highly recognized in the treatment of diabetic foot patients, the actual implementation rate is about 39%. The contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (88.5%) was reported to be the most used tool for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the diabetic foot. It was reported that the use of antibiotics was started empirically and then changed based on bacterial culture tests in 82.1% of patients. Simple wound dressing and antibiotic treatment were most frequently reported for mild ulcers. Conclusion This study provides updated information on the current trends in the management of a diabetic foot in Korea. Both consensus and variations in the approach to patients with diabetic foot were identified by this survey study. Further efforts are required for better access to a multidisciplinary approach, such as appropriate insurance payment policies and patient education.

Purpose: This study was based on the Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) member survey and aimed to report the current trends in the management of syndesmotic injuries over the last few decades. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire containing 36 questions was sent to all KFAS members in September 2021. The questions were mainly related to the preferred techniques and clinical experiences in the treatment of patients with syndesmotic injuries. Answers with a prevalence ≥50% of respondents were considered a tendency. Results: Seventy-six (13.8%) of the 550 members responded to the survey. The results showed that the most preferred method to diagnose a syndesmotic injury was magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Intraoperatively, the external rotation stress test and the Cotton test were most frequently used to confirm syndesmotic diastasis. The reduction was usually done by a reduction clamp. One 3.5-mm screw was used most frequently over three cortices at 2~4 cm above the ankle joint. The preferred ankle position during fixation was 0° dorsiflexion. Removal of the syndesmotic screw was routinely done by most surgeons, mainly because of the limitation of movement and risk of screw breakage. Factors that affect suture button selection included non-rigid fixation which enables adequate fixation, early weight-bearing, and an infrequent need to remove the hardware. Inadequate reduction was considered the main factor that affects poor prognosis. Conclusion This study proposes updated information about the current trends in the management of syndesmotic injuries in Korea. Consensuses in both the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to patients with syndesmotic injury were identified in this survey study. This study may raise the awareness of the various possible approaches toward the injury and should be used to further establish a standard protocol for the management of syndesmotic injuries.

Purpose: This study was based on the Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) member survey and aimed to report the current trends in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of acute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) over the past few decades. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire containing 34 questions was sent to all KFAS members in October 2021. The questions were mainly related to the clinical experience and preferred management of patients with AATR. Answers with a prevalence ≥50% of the respondents were considered a tendency. Results: Seventy-one (12.9%) of the 550 members responded to the survey. The male sex ratio in AATR was answered mean 78%, and the most common age groups were 30~40 years (n=49; 69.0%), and 40~50 years (n=37; 52.1%), in that order. The most common seasons for the occurrence of AATR were spring (37 cases; 52.1%) and autumn (27 cases; 38.0%). Also, sports-related rupture had an average occurrence of 76.2%. The most important clinical factor to determine the type of treatment was the history of previous injuries, and 75.9% of respondents started conservative treatment in the 2010s. The most preferred protocol of conservative treatment was an orthosis capable of ankle range of motion after casting (68.5%), and 53.7% ‘satisfied’ and 1.9% ‘very satisfied’ with conservative treatment. The most preferred surgical method was open repair (80.3%), and the Krackow method (60.6%), and 49.3% of treated patients responded ‘satisfied’ and 45.1% ‘very satisfied’ with this treatment. Conclusion This study gives updated information concerning the current trend of epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AATR in Korea. Both consensus and variation in the approach to AATR were identified using this survey study. This study may raise the awareness of various possible approaches toward AATR and should be used to further establish a standard protocol for the management of this injury.

Purpose: Despite continuous updates of standard treatment guidelines for acute ankle sprain and chronic ankle instability (CAI), in practice preferred treatment protocols vary widely. Based on a Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) member survey, this study reports current trends in the management of ankle ligament injuries. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire containing 34 questions was sent to all KFAS members in September 2021. Questions mainly addressed clinical experience and preferences for the diagnosis and treatment of ankle ligament injuries. Answers with a prevalence of ≥50% among respondents were considered to reflect tendencies. Results: Eighty-four of the 550 members (15.3%) responded. Answers that showed a tendency were as follows: commonest additional image study (ultrasound), conservative treatment modality (immobilization, oral medication), frequency of surgical treatment (<5 cases per annum), most important factor when deciding on surgical treatment (activity level, e.g., occupation or sport), and commonest surgical procedure (open ligament repair). Answers that showed a tendency for CAI were as follows: most important symptom (repeated sprain, giving way), radiological factors (talar tilt, osteochondral lesion, anterior talar translation), and patient factors (occupation, sports activities, recurrent instability after surgery, etc.). For decision making regarding surgical treatment and method, the most preferred surgical procedure was the modified Broström procedure, and the most common repair technique was suture anchor technique. The following were considered poor prognostic factors; generalized laxity, failed previous surgery, cavovarus, severe mechanical instability, heavy work, obesity, and dissatisfaction after surgery because of residual pain. Conclusion This study updates information regarding current trends in the management of ankle ligament injuries in Korea, and reveals consensus opinions and variations in approaches to patients with an acute or chronic injury. The divergence of approaches identified indicates the need for further studies to determine standard guidelines and long-term results.

Purpose: This study aimed to report the current trends in the management of the hallux valgus (HV) deformity over the last few decades through a survey of the Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) members. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire containing 34 questions was sent to all KFAS members in September 2021. The questions were mainly related to the preferred techniques and clinical experience in correction in patients with an HV deformity. Answers with a prevalence of ≥50% of respondents were considered a tendency. Results: One hundred and nine (19.8%) of the 550 members responded to the survey. The most common symptom for determining surgical treatment was bunion pain (68.8%), and different surgical techniques were selected according to the following radiological parameters: HV angle 30 to 40 degrees and intermetatarsal angle 15 to 20 degrees. The two procedures most preferred by the respondents were distal chevron osteotomy (55.0%), and proximal chevron osteotomy (21.1%). In an average of 71.6% of respondents, Arkin osteotomy was performed simultaneously during HV surgery. HV accompanied by an overriding deformity of the second toe was most often addressed with a combination of second metatarsal osteotomy and soft tissue rebalancing procedure (35.8%). After HV surgery, the recurrence rate of HV deformity was found to be 12.2% on average and the surgeons who had performed minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for HV comprised 34.9% of the total respondents. Conclusion This study provides updated information on the current trends in the management of the HV deformity in Korea. Both consensus and variation in the approach to patients with HV were identified by this survey study. Although MIS for HV has increased, it appears the consensus for selecting this method has not yet been established.

Purpose: Given the lack of definite evidence-based guidelines in clinical practice, there may be a wide variation in treatment protocols for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). Based on the Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) member survey, this study aimed to report the current trends in the management of OLT. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire containing 30 questions was sent to all KFAS members in September 2021. The questions were mainly related to clinical experience and preferences in diagnosis, conservative, and surgical treatments for patients with OLT. Answers with a prevalence of ≥50% of respondents were considered a tendency. Results: Sixty-two (11.3%) of the 550 surgeons queried responded to the survey. The responses to 9 (30.0%) of the total of 30 questions established a tendency. Answers exhibiting a tendency were as follows; additional diagnostic tools except for plain radiograph (magnetic resonance imaging), most common conservative treatment method (oral medication, rest), most important radiological factor in decision making for surgical treatment and method (size of the lesion, ankle instability, loose bodies), most important patient factors in decision making for surgical treatment and method (age, activity or occupation), infrequently requiring posterior arthroscopy (less than 3%), most common revision surgery for failed bone marrow stimulation procedure (osteochondral autograft transplantation [OAT]), not requiring additional procedure for donor site in OAT, the main reason for unsatisfactory result after OAT (persistent pain without radiological abnormality), no generalization of autologous chondrocyte implantation or chondrogenesis using stem cells. Conclusion This study presents updated information on current trends in the management of OLT in Korea. Both consensus and variations in the approach to patients with OLT were revealed through this survey. Since recent biologic efforts to regenerate cartilage have been unsuccessful, further studies to identify clinical evidence would be needed.