The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Oct 2007
Lisfranc joint displacement following sequential ligament sectioning.
There are two primary radiographic patterns of Lisfranc instability, transverse and longitudinal. There is no single diagnostic method with which to consistently confirm the diagnosis of an unstable injury. Our purpose was to define which ligament disruptions produce these two injury patterns and to compare the utility of weight-bearing and stress radiographs for detecting each pattern of instability. ⋯ Transverse instability required sectioning of both the interosseous first cuneiform-second metatarsal ligament and the plantar ligament between the first cuneiform and the second and third metatarsals. Longitudinal instability required sectioning of both the interosseous first cuneiform-second metatarsal ligament and the interosseous ligament between the first and second cuneiforms. Compared with weight-bearing radiographs, injury-specific manual stress radiographs showed qualitatively greater displacement when used to evaluate both patterns of instability.
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The trend toward temporizing external fixation of complex fractures has resulted in increased expenditures for these devices. Increasing pressure to reduce health-care expenditures has led to exploration of reuse of equipment intended for single use. Devices must be tested and recertified prior to redeployment in hospital stock. We report the rate of manufacturer recertification and institutional cost savings associated with a reuse program approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. ⋯ With the expansion of cost-control efforts, the recycling of medical devices appears inevitable. Previous data have demonstrated the safety of reuse of external fixation devices, and this study confirms that finding. Our paper demonstrates the real cost savings associated with a manufacturer-based testing and recertification program. Issues of voluntary participation in reuse programs, component ownership, and the impact of savings on patient charges are yet to be worked out by individual institutions.