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Purpose: The exact radiographic assessment of the hindfoot alignment remains challenging. This is reflected in the different measurement methods available. Weightbearing CT (WBCT) has been demonstrated to be more accurate in hindfoot measurements. However, current measurements are still performed in 2D. This study wants to assess the use of computed methods to convert the former uniplanar hindfoot measurements obtained after WBCT towards a 3D setting.Methods: Forty-eight patients, mean age of 39.6 ± 13.2 years, with absence of hindfoot pathology were included. A WBCT was obtained, and images were subsequently segmented and analyzed using computer-aided design operations. In addition to the hindfoot angle (HA), other ankle and hindfoot parameters such as the anatomical tibia axis, talocalcaneal axis (TCA), talocrural angle, tibial inclination (TI), talar tilt, and subtalar vertical angle were determined in 2D and 3D.Results: The mean HA2D was 0.79∘ of valgus ± 3.2 and the HA3D was 8.08∘ of valgus ± 6.5. These angles differed significantly from each other with a P<0.001. The correlation between both showed to be good by a Pearson correlation coefficient (r) of 0.72 (P<0.001). The ICC3D showed to be excellent when compared to the ICC2D, which was good. Similar findings were obtained in other angles. The highest correlation was seen between the TI2D and TI3D (r = 0.83, P<0.001) and an almost perfect agreement in the TCA3D (ICC3D=0.99).Conclusion: This study shows a good and reliable correlation between the HA2D and HA3D. However, the HA3D overcomes the shortcomings of inaccuracy and provides valuable spatial data that could be incorporated during computer-assisted surgery to assess the multiplanar correction of a hindfoot deformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reviewed 14 patients treated with either an ulnar or a hypothenar fat flap for recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome and scar tenderness. Nine patients were satisfied and there were few complications. One patient had delayed skin healing and another developed a hypertrophic scar. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We report a closed rupture of the second, third and fourth annular pulleys associated with avulsion of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon in the ring finger of a healthy, 48-year-old patient. It was caused by sudden and violent flexion of the finger and led to a serious impairment of the proximal interphalangeal joint motion, despite physiotherapy and dynamic splinting. The patient was treated surgically, 3 months after the injury, with reconstruction of the second (A2) and fourth (A4) annular pulleys and excision of the distal portion of the superficialis tendon. The final functional result was satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Continuous-wave operating singlemode quantum-cascade lasers with a threshold current of 75 mA and total power consumption of less than 2 W are presented. The lasers are grown by metal-organic vapour-phase epitaxy; they function up to temperatures higher than 50°C and the emission wavelength is 5.25 µm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]