Background: The impact of proximal lower extremity malalignment on mosaicplasty outcomes for medial talar osteochondral lesions remains unclear.
Purpose: To determine whether knee-origin varus malalignment of the mechanical axis affects clinical outcomes and cartilage repair quality after mosaicplasty for medial talar osteochondral lesions.
Methods: Forty-four patients who underwent mosaicplasty for medial talar osteochondral lesions (2020-2023) were stratified into Group 1 (varus malalignment, n = 21) and Group 2 (neutral/mild valgus, n = 23) based on standing long-leg radiographs. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, and Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) 2.0 scores were compared. Mean follow-up was 49.3 ± 26.2 months.
Results: Group 1 demonstrated significantly higher postoperative VAS scores (4.4 ± 2.0 vs. 1.5 ± 0.7, p < 0.001) and less pain improvement (ΔVAS: 4.2 ± 2.0 vs. 5.7 ± 1.1, p < 0.05) compared with Group 2. AOFAS scores were similar postoperatively (81.8 ± 9.8 vs. 85.5 ± 8.6, p = 0.075). MOCART 2.0 scores showed no significant difference (75±19 vs. 77±18, p = 0.859). Strong correlations existed between mechanical axis deviation and postoperative VAS (ρ=0.804, p < 0.001). Although some patients developed radiographically visible arthritic changes during follow-up, no patient underwent revision surgery or arthrodesis due to advanced osteoarthritis.
Conclusions: Varus malalignment was associated with higher postoperative pain scores and less pain improvement following mosaicplasty for medial talar osteochondral lesions, despite similar functional outcomes and cartilage repair quality. These findings suggest that surgical planning should consider mechanical axis alignment and that corrective realignment procedures may be warranted in select patients with significant varus deformity to optimize pain outcomes.
Background: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is a useful treatment for ankle arthritis. A common complication however is incisional dehiscence. Adhesive suture retention devices (ASRDs) can assist with closure of surgical and traumatic wounds under tension.
Purpose: This retrospective comparative study evaluates the use of ASRDs on TAA patients' incision healing time and time to full weightbearing.
Study design: Fifty TAA patients between 2021 and 2023 were divided equally into 2 groups. Demographics included age, BMI, implant, comorbidities and complications.
Methods: Results included healing time of the incision, time to full weightbearing, and incision length (cm). Preoperative and postoperative AOFAS, FFI, and VAS scores were also recorded.
Results: Mean follow-up for the group without ASRDs was 27.7 months, and 24.3 months in the group with ASRDs. Mean incision healing time and return to weightbearing was 37.1 days (Range 28-44 days; SD 4.65) in the group without ASRDs, with average incision length 9.1 cm (Range 5-14 cm; SD 2.00). Mean healing time was 19.9 days (Range 16-27 days; SD 3.29), with average incision length 7.4 cm (Range 6-9 cm; SD 0.76), in the group with ASRDs. This shows a statistically-significant decrease in incision length (p = 0.0065) and return to weightbearing (p < 0.001) in the ASRD group. There was statistically-significant improvement of postoperative AOFAS (p < 0.001; p < 0.001 VAS (p < 0.001; p < 0.001), and FFI (p < 0.001; p < 0.001) scores when compared to preoperative values within either group, no ASRD and ASRD, respectively.
Conclusion: Utilization of ASRDs on TAA incisions can greatly decrease time to full weightbearing and incision healing time.
Background: A Moberg osteotomy is a dorsal closing wedge osteotomy of the base of the first proximal phalanx that is thought to augment the effect of cheilectomy by increasing dorsiflexion and ultimately improve patient outcomes in Hallux Rigidus.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the addition of a Moberg osteotomy to dorsal cheilectomy on patient reported outcomes.
Study design: Retrospective chart review.
Methods: 34 patients were identified who received a dorsal cheilectomy with or without a Moberg osteotomy (n = 17 patients, 18 metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints per group). The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) was completed pre-operatively with the FAAM and Foot Function Index-Revised (FFI-R) completed post-operatively.
Results: FAAM scores improved post-operatively (isolated cheilectomy pre 64.9 ± 14.7 and post 84.8 ± 15.3; cheilectomy plus osteotomy pre 63.5 ± 11.6 and post 90.5 ± 12.8; p < 0.001), and there was no difference between procedures postoperatively for the FAAM and FFI-R.
Conclusion: Proximal phalanx osteotomy did not enhance patient-reported outcomes in early stage hallux rigidus in addition to dorsal cheilectomy.

