"ANKLE"

OBJECTIVE: Ultrasound-guided tibial nerve pulsed radiofrequency (US-TN PRF) and fluoroscopy-guided intralesional radiofrequency thermocoagulation (FL-RFT) adjacent to the painful calcaneal spur are two interventions for pain management in painful calcaneal spur (PCS) and plantar fasciitis (PF). This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the two procedures. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, single-blind study. SETTING: Single-center pain clinic...

Dear Editor, Ticks carry many diseases, bacteria, and viruses and represent a very important healthcare issue both in Croatia and globally. Although most ticks are not infected with pathogens dangerous to humans, some ticks can transmit infectious diseases with significant morbidity and mortality. This is caused by the increasing incidence of many tick-borne diseases over a growing geographical area. Many factors influence which species of ticks are present in a given geographical area, as well as the density of their population and the risk of human exposure to infected ticks...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Radiographic measurements for the assessment of metatarsus adductus (MTA) have a broad range of interpretation without a consensus regarding surgical indications. The "Plumbline" (PL) radiographic assessment method helps identify MTA and determines if physical space is available to align the first metatarsal to the longitudinal foot axis without the need to realign the lesser metatarsals. Forty-five neutral weight-bearing anterior-posterior (AP) radiographs of patients scheduled for surgical intervention for isolated hallux valgus (HV) or combined MTA/HV deformities were reviewed...

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) in enhancing ankle function in patients with Achilles tendon injuries. The choice of rESWT was based on previous success in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. The study involved an intervention group that received rESWT, and a control group that received sham therapy. The results revealed that rESWT led to significant improvements in single-leg vertical jump ( d = 0.55, p < 0.05), indicating enhanced power generation and ankle functionality that were not observed in the control group...

Background Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage, brings together over two million pilgrims in the city of Makkah to participate in a series of rituals. Given the physically demanding nature of the Hajj, pilgrims are susceptible to musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries and exhaustion. MSK pain and injuries are frequent occurrences among pilgrims, necessitating an assessment of the scope of this issue. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of MSK injuries among pilgrims during the 2023 Hajj season...

OBJECTIVE: Peroneus Longus Tendon (PLT), a viable anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft, shares similar biomechanics, making it suitable for reconstruction. Controversy exists over whether PLT transplants affects the donor ankle joint. The purpose of this study was to examine the recovery of knee joint function following arthroscopic ACL restoration using autologous PLT and its influence on the donor ankle joint. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 65 patients with ACL rupture who underwent PLT graft reconstruction in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2021...

BACKGROUND: Long-term strength deficits are common after Achilles tendon ruptures. Early use of progressive resistance exercises may help reduce strength deficits, but the feasibility of this approach is unknown. The aim was to investigate the feasibility of early progressive resistance exercises regarding patient acceptability and compliance with the intervention. METHODS: We recruited patients with an acute Achilles tendon rupture treated non-surgically. During 9 weeks of immobilisation with a walking boot, participants attended weekly supervised physiotherapy sessions of progressive resistance exercises and performed home exercises, consisting of isometric ankle plantarflexion, seated heel-rise, and elastic band exercises...

The monoterpene oxide, Eucalyptol (1,8-Cineole), a primary component of eucalyptus oil, has been evaluated pharmacologically for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Current research aimed to evaluate Eucalyptol's anti-arthritic potential in a Complete Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis that resembles human rheumatoid arthritis. Polyarthritis developed after 0.1 mL CFA injection into the left hind footpad in rats. Oral administration of Eucalyptol at various doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced paw edema, body weight loss, 5-LOX, PGE2 and Anti-CCP levels...

PURPOSE: Our objective was to evaluate the syndesmotic and fracture instability using conventional ankle computed tomography (CT) with stress maneuvers. METHODS: A consecutive sample of 123 individuals with an ankle sprain was assessed for eligibility. In total, 33 patients met the inclusion criteria. All patients underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scan with stress maneuvers (CTSM). The patterns of ligament tears f were classified using West Point grades I, IIA, IIB, III...

AIM: To compare the image quality of virtual noncontrast (VNC) and true noncontrast (TNC) CT images and to evaluate the clinical feasibility of VNC CT images for assessing osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five OLT patients who underwent ankle CT arthrography (CTA) using dual-layer spectral detector CT were enrolled. Reconstruction of VNC and three-dimensional volume rendering images was performed. Afterward, image noise, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured...

Evaluation of human gait through smartphone-based pose estimation algorithms provides an attractive alternative to costly lab-bound instrumented assessment and offers a paradigm shift with real time gait capture for clinical assessment. Systems based on smart phones, such as OpenPose and BlazePose have demonstrated potential for virtual motion assessment but still lack the accuracy and repeatability standards required for clinical viability. Seq2seq architecture offers an alternative solution to conventional deep learning techniques for predicting joint kinematics during gait...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) mainly arises from trauma, particularly lateral ligament injuries. Among lateral ligament injuries, ankles with calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) injuries exhibit increased instability and can be a risk factor ankle OA progression. However, the relationship between CFL injury and OA progression remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to assess the relationship between CFL injuries and ankle OA by investigating stress changes and osteophyte formation in subtalar joint...

BACKGROUND: The distribution of forces within the ankle joint plays a crucial role in joint health and longevity. Loading disorders affecting the ankle joint can have significant detrimental effects on daily life and activity levels. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the mechanical behavior of tibiotalar joint articular cartilages in the presence of varus deformity using finite element analysis (FEA) applied to patient-specific models. METHODS: Two personalized ankle models, one healthy and another with varus deformity, were created based on CT scan images...

A gastrocnemius contracture is a common problem that results in decreased ankle dorsiflexion that contributes to an array of foot and ankle ailments. A common surgical treatment for this condition is a gastrocnemius recession (GR). Many adaptations of the original procedure have been described. Misinterpretations of proper GR procedures have potentially caused confusion when selecting a treatment. This paper proposes to identify errors between the use of GR and gastrocnemius-soleus recession (GSR) procedure techniques in the current literature...

Background and objectives The study aimed to compare the efficacy of standard home care versus structured ankle mobility exercises in enhancing ankle and foot joint range of motion (ROM) among individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). Additionally, it investigated the impact of foot intrinsic muscle strengthening exercises on hallux grip force in those with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DN). Materials and methods In a study of 200 patients with Diabetic Neuropathy (DN), selected from 345 screened diabetics with stable glucose levels and routine monitoring at a tertiary care facility, the efficacy of structured exercises versus standard care was evaluated...

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Ultrasound popliteal sciatic nerve block (UPSNB) is commonly performed in foot and ankle surgery. This study aims to assess the use of dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as adjuvants in UPSNB for hallux valgus (HV) surgery, comparing their efficacy in producing motor and sensory block and controlling postoperative pain. The adverse event rate was also evaluated. METHODS: This mono-centric retrospective study included 62 adult patients undergoing HV surgery: 30 patients received lidocaine 2% 200 mg, ropivacaine 0...

Osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) is a localized cartilage and subchondral bone injury of the talus trochlea. OLT is caused by trauma and other reasons, including osteochondritis dissecans of the talus (OCD) and talus osteochondral tangential fracture. OLT can develop from being asymptomatic to subchondral bone cysts accompanied by deep ankle pain. OLT tends to occur on the medial and lateral sides of the talar vault. OLT seriously affects the patients' life and work and may even lead to disability. Herein, we reviewed advances in the treatment of OLT and the strengths and weaknesses of various treatments...

Purpose: The effects of the combination of strength training and acupuncture on chronic ankle instability have not been studied. This study examined effects of strength training combined with acupuncture on balance ability, ankle motion perception, and muscle strength in chronic ankle instability among college students. Methods: Forty-six chronic ankle instability college students were randomly categorized into the experimental group (n = 24, strength training + acupuncture) and the control group (n = 22, strength training) for an 8-week intervention...