Purpose: The modified Broström repair (BR) technique has yielded good outcomes in patients with chronic ankle instability. This study compared clinical and radiological outcomes between two groups of patients who underwent modified BR or lateral ligament augmentation using suture tapes (ST). Materials and Methods: Seventy-seven patients (ST group [n=47], BR group [n=30]; body mass index <26.61 kg/m2 ; mean age, 30.7±11.0 years [range, 17~39 years]; mean follow-up, 34.0±12.0 months [range, 24~59 months]) were retrospectively reviewed between January 2014 and July 2017. The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Sefton grading system were used for clinical assessment. The talar tilt angle and anterior talar translation were measured using the Telos stress device (Telos GmbH, Marburg, Germany) at 150 N for radiological evaluation. Results: FAOS, AOFAS, FAAM, and VAS scores improved in both groups at final follow-up (ST, 91.1±5.2, 93±2, 88.1±4.5, 1.5±0.7 vs. BR, 91.3±5.4, 93±3, 83.3±4.8, 1.2±0.7, respectively; p=0.854, 0.971, <0.001, 0.04, respectively). According to the FAOS, mean sports activity scores for the ST and BR groups at the final follow-up were 90.3±3.2 and 76.6±4.2, respectively, reflecting superior outcomes in the ST group (p<0.001). Sefton grading revealed satisfactory functional outcomes (ST, 91.5% vs. BR, 90.0%) . There was significant improvement in the talar tilt angle and anterior talar translation in both the ST and BR groups (7.6°±1.2°, 10.5±1.8 mm vs. 4.9°±1.1°, 7.9±1.5 mm, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusion The ST group demonstrated comparable clinical but better improvement in mechanical stability and FAOS sports scores than the BR group.

Premature peripheral arterial disease is characterized by onset of peripheral arterial occlusion before age of 50 years. Its prevalence is rare. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is rare research of premature peripheral arterial disease in Korea. The authors encountered a case of necrotic toe caused by premature peripheral arterial disease after soccer workout. This paper reports this case with a review of the relevant literature.

Lateral compartment syndrome of the lower leg is rarely observed. Hence, there may be difficulty in diagnosis as its clinical patterns are different and more complicated than usual. We report two rare cases of a 20-year-old and a 28-year-old diagnosed with isolated lateral compartment syndrome who had either a surgical or conservative treatment. The comparison was done by analyzing the progression of neurological manifestation, electromyography, and nerve conduction study for two years. In the final follow-up, the patient who underwent the surgical treatment showed a shorter recovery time. However, both patients showed a full recovery from neurologic deficits.

Purpose: Variations in the preferred conservative and operative treatment methods for ankle arthritis may be observed in the practice of orthopedic surgeons. This study is based on the Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) member survey and aims to report the current trend and changes in the management of ankle arthritis over the last few decades. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire containing 24 questions was sent to all KFAS members in July 2021. The questions were mainly related to the preferred techniques and clinical experience in osteotomy, arthrodesis, and total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for patients with ankle arthritis. Results: Sixty-three out of 550 surgeons (11.5%) responded to the survey. The responses to 6 out of the total of 24 questions (25.0%) achieved the levels needed to reflect a tendency. Answers that showed a tendency were related to the following: a surgical approach for arthrodesis (anterior approach), use of auto-bone graft for arthrodesis (iliac bone), a nonunion rate of more than 10% following arthrodesis, main reason related to unsatisfactory results after arthrodesis (nonunion or delayed union), the main reason to change total ankle prosthesis (unstable supply of prosthesis), the unusualness of revision TAA and conversion of fusion to TAA. Diversity was found in several aspects of treatment (degree of experience and satisfaction in supramalleolar osteotomy, fixation method for arthrodesis, preferred TAA prosthesis and longevity, degree of experinece, annual number of TAA operation. Conclusion This study proposes updated information with regard to the current trends in the management of ankle arthritis in Korea. Both consensus and variations in the approach to patients with ankle arthritis were identified through this survey. With an increasing preference for TAA, the need for the development of a prosthesis optimized for Koreans and a stable supply of prostheses were the suggestions made by the study.

Purpose: Variations in the preferred conservative and operative treatment methods for ankle arthritis may be observed in the practice of orthopedic surgeons. This study is based on the Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) member survey and aims to report the current trend and changes in the management of ankle arthritis over the last few decades. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire containing 24 questions was sent to all KFAS members in July 2021. The questions were mainly related to the preferred techniques and clinical experience in osteotomy, arthrodesis, and total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for patients with ankle arthritis. Results: Sixty-three out of 550 surgeons (11.5%) responded to the survey. The responses to 6 out of the total of 24 questions (25.0%) achieved the levels needed to reflect a tendency. Answers that showed a tendency were related to the following: a surgical approach for arthrodesis (anterior approach), use of auto-bone graft for arthrodesis (iliac bone), a nonunion rate of more than 10% following arthrodesis, main reason related to unsatisfactory results after arthrodesis (nonunion or delayed union), the main reason to change total ankle prosthesis (unstable supply of prosthesis), the unusualness of revision TAA and conversion of fusion to TAA. Diversity was found in several aspects of treatment (degree of experience and satisfaction in supramalleolar osteotomy, fixation method for arthrodesis, preferred TAA prosthesis and longevity, degree of experinece, annual number of TAA operation. Conclusion This study proposes updated information with regard to the current trends in the management of ankle arthritis in Korea. Both consensus and variations in the approach to patients with ankle arthritis were identified through this survey. With an increasing preference for TAA, the need for the development of a prosthesis optimized for Koreans and a stable supply of prostheses were the suggestions made by the study.

Purpose: To determine how the location, displacement, intra-articular involvement, comminution of a 5th metatarsal base fracture affect results of early weight-bearing treatment. Materials and Methods: From January 2013 to July 2017, 34 cases of 34 patients diagnosed with a fracture of the zone I and II 5th metatarsal base were enrolled. The mean follow-up period was 13 months (6–15 months). One patient was excluded as a refracture during the follow-up period, and 33 patients underwent conservative treatment. Anteroposterior, lateral, and simple oblique radiography and computed tomography of the foot were performed to evaluate the location and displacement of the fracture, the degree of joint involvement, and comminution. In all 33 patients, a short leg cast or boot brace was selected immediately after the injury, tolerable weight bearing was allowed. If the pain disappeared, full weight bearing was performed after wearing a plain shoe or postoperative shoe. As a clinical result, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was evaluated at the final follow-up. During outpatient follow-up, a simple radiograph of the foot was taken to confirm the time of radiological bone union and return to work. Results: Nine males and 24 females, with an average age of 48.7 years, were enrolled in the study. Twenty-four patients had zone I fractures, and nine patients had zone II fractures. Twenty-two out of 33 patients had a fracture displacement of 2 mm or more. Nine and five patients had joint involvement and comminution, respectively. There was a statistically significant return to work from zone I to zone II. The AOFAS score was excellent at the final follow-up and there was no significant difference. When classifying and comparing the degree of fracture displacement, joint involvement, and comminution, there were no significant differences in the radiological union time and return to work. In all cases, satisfactory results were obtained at the final follow-up. Conclusion Satisfactory clinical results can be obtained by allowing early weight-bearing regardless of the fracture location, displacement, joint involvement, or comminution in zone I and II 5th metatarsal base fractures.

Purpose: To investigate normal location of the peroneus longus tendon (PL) in the cuboid groove by evaluating it between ankles with no significant abnormality (asymptomatic group) and those with retromalleolar PL dislocation (dislocation group) using three-dimensional isotropic fast spin-echo (3D-FSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the ankle. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six and 32 3D-FSE ankle MRI were assigned to the asymptomatic group and the dislocation group, respectively. Using multiplanar reformatted 3D-FSE, qualitative PL location (i.e., outside, overlying, and inside in relation to the cuboid groove), quantitative PL location (i.e., distance between the proximal margins of PL and cuboid groove), and cuboid groove size were measured in lateral, middle, and medial levels of the cuboid groove. Results: In the asymptomatic group, 64%, 42%, and 11%, respectively, had the outside or overlying-located PL in lateral, middle, and medial levels of the cuboid groove and the quantitative location gradually decreased from lateral to medial level.Qualitative and quantitative PL locations were not significantly different between the asymptomatic group and dislocation group. Cuboid groove size showed significant negative correlation with quantitative PL location in both groups. Conclusion Outside- or overlying-located PL in lateral and middle levels of the cuboid groove would be a normal finding, regardless of PL status at the retromalleolar level.

Osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) is a broad term used to describe an injury or abnormality of the talar articular cartilage and adjacent bone. Various terms are used to describe this clinical entity, including osteochondritis dissecans, osteochondral fractures, and osteochondral defects. Several treatment options are available; the choice of treatment is based on the type and size of the defect and the treating clinician’s preference. Arthroscopic microfracture (a bone marrow stimulation technique) is a common and effective surgical strategy in patients with small lesions or in those in whom non-operative treatment has failed. This study had the following aims: 1) to review the historical background, etiology, and classification systems of OLT; 2) to describe a systematic approach to arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation for OLT; and 3) to determine the characteristics that are useful for assessing osteochondral lesions, including age, size, type (chondral, subchondral, cystic), stability, displacement, location, and containment of the lesion.

Purpose: Ankle fractures with dislocations and pilon fractures at the distal tibia are usually associated with soft tissue damage caused by high-energy damage. Recently, a two-stage operation to perform internal fixation after the application of external fixation devices for stabilizing soft tissues has been accepted as the treatment of choice. This paper reports the clinical result of these injuries treated with threaded trans-calcaneal pin external fixation devices. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three patients diagnosed with ankle fractures with dislocations or tibial pilon fractures without open wounds. They underwent surgical treatment with threaded trans-calcaneal pin external fixation from January 2008 to February were enrolled in this study. This study evaluated the visual analogue scale (VAS), foot function index (FFI), and Olerud & Molander score as well as whether complications occurred. Results: The average VAS showed a meaningful decrease (p<0.001) from 7.4 before surgery to 2.6 after application of the external fixation device, and 1.4 at 12 months after surgery. The FFI also decreased significantly from 84.3 preoperatively to 20.3 at 12 months postoperatively (p<0.001). The Olerud & Molander score averaged 71.4 points, showing good clinical results. Complete bone union was observed in all patients. One patient each underwent debridement due to wound necrosis and infection in the pin insertion site. At the final follow-up, seven patients had posttraumatic ankle joint arthritis, according to a radiological examination. Conclusion Manual reduction and external fixation using a threaded trans-calcaneal pin is a suitable surgical technique that is easy to perform and shows good clinical outcomes in stabilizing soft tissue damage in fractures and dislocations of ankle fracture or tibia pilon fractures in foot and ankle injury.

Lipoma arborescens or synovial lipomatosis is a rare disorder that is characterized by mature fat infiltration of the hypertrophic synovial villi, most frequently affecting the supra-patellar pouch of the knee. This paper presents a case of lipoma arborescens of the ankle joint bilaterally in an adult patient with involvement of both the intra-articular synovium and the synovial sheath of the tendons around the ankle.
Adult ; Ankle Joint ; Ankle ; Humans ; Knee ; Lipoma ; Lipomatosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Synovial Membrane ; Tendons