Der Unfallchirurg
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Ankle impingement syndromes are one of the most frequent chronic and posttraumatic pathologies of the ankle joint. Anterior and posterior impingement result from the abutting of anatomical structures leading to pain and limitation in the range of motion of the ankle joint. Ankle impingement can be classified based on the localization or the underlying cause. ⋯ From a therapeutic perspective, conservative treatment should be initially attempted. If non-operative treatment fails, arthroscopic resection and debridement of the underlying cause is nowadays the standard method of surgical treatment. With a current complication rate of approximately 3 % ankle arthroscopy is a safe operative method, which is associated with a high postoperative rate of patient satisfaction and significant relief of symptoms.
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Ankle sprains are the most relevant injuries of the lower extremities and can lead to damage to ligaments and osteochondral lesions. Up to 50 % of patients with a sprained ankle later develop a lesion of the cartilage in the ankle joint or an osteochondral lesion of the talus. This can lead to osteoarthritis of the injured ankle joint. ⋯ Osteochondral fractures (flake fracture) are usually performed as a mini-open procedure supported by arthroscopy. The use of the osteochondral autograft transfer system (OATS), implantation of membranes with or without autologous bone marrow transfer and possibly with growth factors or implantation of stem cells are carried out in combination with arthroscopic mini-open procedures. The results from the literature are discussed and compared with own results after arthroscopic treatment of chondral lesions of the talus.
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Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis (TTCA) is indicated for a variety of disorders, including end-stage osteoarthritis, severe deformities and complications after operative interventions on the upper and lower ankle joints. Due to the biomechanical advantages, TTCA is predominantly performed with curved retrograde intramedullary nails allowing compression before locking. Hindfoot arthrodesis is most commonly performed by extensive open surgical approaches. ⋯ Arthroscopic TTCA therefore appears to be a promising alternative approach. Even though only few case reports and one case series have been published, in the total collective of 17 patients only one subtalar non-union and one minor complication were reported. Despite the limited evidence available, arthroscopic TTCA appears to be a promising therapy option in patients with an increased risk profile and comorbidities, such as critical soft tissue situations, plantar ulceration, peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and diabetes mellitus.
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Review
[Fractures of the proximal interphalangeal joint : Diagnostic and operative therapy options].
Joint fractures of the fingers often entail operative interventions in contrast to extra-articular fractures. These types of fracture are inclined to dislocate in addition to the actual fracture. The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint in particular often shows comminuted fractures due to the long leverage of the finger and a relatively small diameter of the joint. ⋯ A multitude of operative techniques are available for these mostly complicated fractures. The foremost goal is a stable osteosynthesis of the fracture with repositioning of the dislocation, which enables early physiotherapy in order to prevent tendon adhesion and contracture. This article presents the different types of PIP joint fractures, their specific surgical treatment and postoperative treatment regimens.
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Review Case Reports
[Arthroscopically assisted treatment of ankle fractures].
Acute ankle fractures are one of the most common fractures in adults with an incidence of 0.1-0.2 % per year. Operative treatment by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is the standard method of treatment for unstable or dislocated fractures. The main goal of the operation is the anatomical realignment of the joint and restoration of ankle stability; nevertheless, anatomical reduction does not automatically lead to favorable clinical results. ⋯ If necessary, intra-articular pathologies can be addressed by removing ruptured ligaments and loose bodies, performing chondroplasty or microfracturing. So far there is no evidence that supplementary ankle arthroscopy increases the complication rate. On the other hand, the positive effect of AORIF has also not been clearly documented; nevertheless, there are clear indications that arthroscopically assisted fracture treatment is beneficial, especially in complex fractures.