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INTRODUCTION: The treatment of Lisfranc injuries continues to evolve with time. The purpose of this study was to report early outcomes of patients with Lisfranc ligamentous injuries treated with the Arthrex InternalBrace, which has benefits to other previously described techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 15 adult patients with Lisfranc injuries that were treated via open reduction internal fixation with the Arthrex InternalBrace (Naples, Fl). These patients were identified at two separate United States institutions between 2019 and 2022. Demographic data, mechanism of injury, and concomitant foot injuries were recorded. Outcomes were assessed by return-to-work or sport and time to weight-bearing. Secondary complications or revision surgeries were noted. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 35 years. Eight patients had isolated Lisfranc ligamentous injuries and seven had additional intercuneiform instability, which required a supplemental limb of the fixation device. The most common mechanism of injury was a cutting/pivoting maneuver (n = 5) followed by fall (n = 4). The mean radiographic follow-up time was 7.3 months. The average time to weight-bearing as tolerated was 6.6 weeks (± 2.2). The average time to return-to-work/sport as tolerated was 14.1 weeks (± 3.6). Only two minor complications were noted at follow-up but no major complications or revision surgeries occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this case series suggest that the Arthrex InternalBrace is a viable option when performing open reduction and internal fixation of Lisfranc ligamentous injuries. Future prospective studies are needed to directly compare this device with alternative fixation methods.

Abstract Background The biomechanical environment created by suture‐button fixation Latarjet is conducive to the healing and shaping of the transplanted coracoid, but its mechanism remains unclear. The latest research has found that the absence of stem cell chemokine (CXCL12) impeded bone regeneration in Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)‐deficient animals. However, whether the biomechanical environment affects SHH and CXCL12 function has not been studied. Methods Rat fracture models were constructed to simulate stress environments under non‐load‐bearing and load‐bearing conditions. The fracture healing and shaping, as well as the expression levels of SHH and CXCL12, were assessed through gross viewing, micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT), and histochemical staining. Results Under flexible fixation, the relative bone volume (BV/TV) of rats exposed to the load‐bearing stress environment was significantly higher than that of rats under a non‐load‐bearing stress environment (p ≤ 0.05). Adverse bone shaping was not observed in rats subjected to flexible fixation. The levels of SHH and CXCL12 in load‐bearing rats exhibited significant elevation (p ≤ 0.05). Under a load‐bearing stress environment, no significant difference was observed in the BV/TV between the flexible fixation group and the rigid fixation group (p ≥ 0.05), but there was excessive hyperplasia of the fracture callus in the rigid fixation group. The levels of SHH and CXCL12 in rats subjected to rigid fixation were significantly elevated (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions Flexible fixation and load‐bearing stress environment may contribute to bone healing and shaping by influencing the levels of SHH and CXCL12, suggested that this mechanism may be relevant to the healing and shaping of the transplanted coracoid after suture‐button fixation Latarjet.

Background: Lisfranc injuries are often treated with open reduction and internal fixation using rigid fixation techniques. The use of flexible fixation to stabilize the Lisfranc joint is a newer technique. The purpose of this cadaveric study is to compare the amount of diastasis at the Lisfranc interval under diminished physiologic loads when treated with a knotless suture tape construct and a solid screw. Methods: Ten cadavers (20 feet) had native motion at the intact Lisfranc interval assessed at multiple increasing loads (69, 138, and 207 N). The Lisfranc ligamentous complex was then disrupted, and testing repeated to evaluate the amount of diastasis. Randomization was performed to determine the type of fixation for each cadaver: solid screw or knotless suture tape construct. Once fixation was completed, specimens were cyclically loaded for 10 000 cycles at loads, and diastasis was quantified after each load cycle to compare the interventions. Diastasis was measured using motion tracking cameras and retroreflective marker sets. A non-inferiority statistical analysis was performed. Results: Diastasis mean values were confirmed to be >2 mm for all load bearing conditions in the injury model. Posttreatment, diastasis was significantly reduced when compared to the sectioned conditions (P <.01) for both treatment options. Non-inferiority analyses showed that the knotless suture tape construct did not perform inferior to screw fixation for diastasis at the Lisfranc interval at any of the compared load states. Conclusion: Under the loads tested, there is no significant difference in diastasis at the Lisfranc interval when treating ligamentous Lisfranc injuries with a knotless suture tape construct or solid screws. Both reduced diastasis from the injured state and were not different from the intact state. Clinical Relevance: In this cadaveric model with ligamentous Lisfranc injury, diastasis of a knotless suture tape construct is compared to solid screw fixation as tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ankle fractures with syndesmosis disruption present a challenge for foot and ankle surgeons. After open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), conventional postoperative treatment requires a period of immobilization and non-weightbearing, which if prolonged, can be detrimental to patients. The purpose of this case series is to present outcomes of early weightbearing after ankle fracture ORIF requiring syndesmosis stabilization using a dynamic fixation device. Thirty consecutive patients from August 2019 to July 2021 were included. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed to determine patient and surgical characteristics, postoperative complications, and reduction maintenance. Surgical treatment consisted of ORIF of malleolar fractures and stabilization of the syndesmosis with a Tightrope® XP (Arthrex Inc., Naples, FL). The mean age was 49 years. Mean BMI was 28.8. There were 24 supination-external rotation and 6 pronation-external rotation injuries. Twenty-six patients had syndesmosis fixation with a single implant, and 4 patients had syndesmosis fixation with two implants. The average time to weightbearing in a walking boot was 9.7 days. Average follow up was 13 months. One patient developed early postoperative saphenous neuritis, which resolved with conservative measures. There were no infections, malunions or nonunions, and all patients maintained fracture and syndesmosis reduction. In conclusion, the Tightrope® XP provides a safe and effective method for treatment of ankle fractures with syndesmosis disruption and supports early weightbearing after ORIF in an active healthy population. The results of this study are comparable to prior studies and show there is a low risk of complication and need for routine removal of implants.

Purpose: Fibular mobility after suture button stabilization (SBS) of inferior tibiofibular joint (syndesmosis) injuries has been described. This effect is called the "flexible nature of fixation (FNF)." In this study, we aimed to quantify FNF in syndesmotic stabilization.Methods: Postoperative bilateral computed tomography (CT) of ankle fractures with syndesmosis stabilization by SBS or syndesmotic screw (SYS) was retrospectively analyzed. The transverse offset (TO) and vertical offset (VO) were defined by evaluating the drill channels. The reduction outcome was evaluated by the side-to-side difference between the clear space and the anterior tibiofibular distance (antTFD). The calculated anterior tibiofibular distance (cal-antTFD) was calculated by subtracting the TO from the validated antTFD. Subsequently, a reevaluation of the reduction outcomes after SYS or SBS stabilization was performed using cal-antTFD.Results: Sixty patients (44 with SBS and 16 with SYS stabilization) were analyzed. The intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities for TO and VO were excellent (α > 0.92). SYS stabilization showed lower mean TO (- 0.02 mm; SD 0.14) and VO (0.11 mm; SD, 0.29 mm) than SBS stabilization (TO 1.16 mm, SD 1.4 mm; VO 0.2 mm, SD 0.8 mm; p = 0.001). The rate of malreduction according to cal-antTFD was higher than that of antFTD (p = 0.033).Conclusion: The presented method, which evaluates the position of the tibial to the fibular drill channel, allowed the quantification of the "FNF." The often described difference in the dynamic stabilization of SBS compared to the rigid stabilization by SYS could be objectified. Considering cal-antTFD illustrates that FNF potentially reduces the rate of malreduction in SBS stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible fixation (FF) has allowed treatment of isolated ligamentous Lisfranc injuries while preserving joint motion. We hypothesize that patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), complications, and return-to-activity rates will be similar between patients undergoing FF versus those undergoing open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) or primary arthrodesis (PA). Databases included PubMed, OVID Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials, and clinicaltrials.gov from their inception to 5/13/2024. Search terms focused on treatment of Lisfranc injuries with FF, ORIF, or PA. Only English studies were included. Studies were included if the Lisfranc injury was purely ligamentous and had PROM scores. Quality, validity, and comparability were assessed using MINORS and GRADE criteria. Meta-analysis was conducted using pooled statistics. Cohen's d and odds ratios (OR) determined effect sizes. Twenty-five studies were included. There were 184 patients undergoing FF, 236 patients undergoing ORIF, and 80 patients undergoing PA. Postoperatively, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores were 89.7 ± 10.0, 78.7 ± 44.2, and 87.4 ± 31.8, VAS-pain scores were 1.5 ± 1.5, 1.6 ± 3.8, and 0.3 ± 2.6, and return to activity rates (RTA) were 100 %, 63.3 %, and 78.4 %, respectively. Rates of post-traumatic arthritis were 0 %, 13.0 %, and 0 %, hardware removal were 0 %, 86.0 %, and 22.5 %, and complications were 3.8 %, 17.7 %, and 23.5 %. Meta-analysis demonstrated that FF had superiority over ORIF regarding better AOFAS scores and RTA with lower rates of post-traumatic arthritis, hardware removal, and complications (p < 0.05). Also, FF had superiority over PA with higher RTA and lower rates of hardware removal and complications. PA demonstrated better VAS-pain scores (p < 0.05). FF had satisfactory outcomes after Lisfranc injury treatment. Low-quality evidence suggested that FF had better outcomes, however, this conclusion was drawn from single-arm studies which have significant limitations. Further prospective, comparative studies should investigate this relationship. • Flexible fixation can be used for ligamentous Lisfranc injuries. • Conventional treatment includes ORIF and primary arthrodesis. • Flexible fixation appears to be equivalent to conventional treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lapidus arthrodesis is a powerful procedure for the correction of hallux valgus with metatarsus primus varus. Yet, first ray instability may persist despite correction of the primary deformity with 2 crossed screw fixation. A third screw is often utilized as the additional point of fixation for noteworthy residual transverse plane motion, but it is not without potential complications. The suture and button fixation device may be an appropriate alternative to the third screw construct. This retrospective cohort study identified clinical / radiographic outcomes and complication rates following a third point of fixation with either a screw or suture and button fixation device in patients undergoing a modified Lapidus arthrodesis. One surgeon performed all of the Lapidus procedure with a third screw while the other surgeon performed all with a suture and button fixation device. Of 136 consecutive patients who underwent a modified Lapidus arthrodesis, 83 (61%) patients required a third point of fixation for satisfactory stabilization of the first ray. Surgical technique was similar between the 2 surgeons; however, one utilized the suture and button fixation device method (n = 36), while the other used a third screw for fixation (n = 47). Many of the clinical outcomes, radiographic results, and the union rate were similar between the 2 methods. Nineteen (40%) complications occurred in the third screw group compared to 6 (17%) in the suture and button fixation device group. However, the third screw group demonstrated 100% maintenance of deformity correction at 1 year versus 95% in the suture and button fixation device group. Although fixation with a suture and button fixation device was associated with fewer complications, a larger study is necessary to determine if these variations are statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]