Lower Extremity Review
Surgical site dehiscence is one of the most commonly reported complications seen post-operatively. Surgical wound dehiscence (SWD) is defined as the separation of the margins of a closed surgical incision that has been made in skin, with or without exposure or protrusion of underlying tissue, organs, or implants.
By Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP
Background: Chronic wound treatment currently relies heavily on visual assessment by clinicians; however, the clinical signs and symptoms of infection and…
By David G. Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD; Karen Bauer, DNP, APRN-CNP, CWS; Greg Bohn, MD; Marissa Carter, MA, PhD; Robert Snyder, DPM, MBA, MSc, CWSP; and Thomas E. Serena, MD, FACS, FACHM, MAPWCA
Inflammation associated with gout may change tissue elasticity. Ultrasound imaging using shear wave elastography (SWE) offers a non-invasive method of quantifying changes in tendon stiffness. These authors sought to determine differences in Achilles tendon stiffness in people with gout compared to controls (non-gout) using SWE.
By Simon Otter, Catherine Payne, Anna-Marie Jones, Nick Webborn, and Peter Watt
The bunion deformity, technically termed Hallux Abductovalgus or HAV for short, is much more than just a bump of bone growing on the foot. Technically, it is a 3-dimensional positional misalignment of the entire 1st ray, which includes the great toe and the first metatarsal. Simply put, it’s a biomechanical misfit between the bones that control your big toe…
By Paul J. Betschart, DPM, FACFAS
Sleep – that magical state where our bodies recuperate, our minds rejuvenate, and we are free of the everyday stresses of the world – is a necessary physiological process that all humans require. This article is the first of a series that will explore the need for sleep and its many restorative benefits.
By Jeremy R. Hawkins, PhD, LAT, ATC; Michael Reeder, DO; and Alli Powell, DAT, LAT, ATC
Neoplasm should be high on the differential diagnosis list when evaluating patients with chronic, non-healing wounds. Over the past 40 years, skin cancer incidence has been on the rise, growing on average 4-8% annually.1 Due to this increasing commonality of skin cancers, wound care providers are likely to frequently encounter these malignancies over the course of their clinical practice.
By Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP
As people age, the risk of falling increases and so does the fear of having a fall-related accident. Indeed, some estimate that more than one-third of adults over age 65 fall every year. Part of that fear prevents many from engaging in physical activities. Rather than avoiding an active lifestyle, there are strategic, smart ways to stay active while decreasing the chance of falling.
By Detric Smith
Many would argue that the key to great skiing is understanding how to properly apply pressure to the edge of your skis. Since your feet are connected to those skis, this task falls to them. Ski boots have the critical job of communicating your thoughts to your skis, keeping your feet warm and comfortable, and helping you perform better on the slopes.
By Mark Paigen
3D printing has been making countless inroads into everyday work routines. Here, O&P professionals share their use of the technology. As this month’s cover conveys, three-dimensional (3D) printing has created breakthrough opportunities across the spectrum of lower extremity challenges.
By Janice T. Radak and Friends
Clinicians deal with clients and patients with a range of abilities. This author provides expert guidance on meeting patients and clients where they are to succeed in communicating.
By Eric Chessen, M.S.
By far, the most common cause of heel pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis. This condition is an injury to a ligament on the bottom of the foot called the plantar fascia. This ligament runs the length of the foot from the heel bone to the base of the toes.
By Paul J Betschart, DPM, FACFAS
With increasing demand for biomaterials that have the ability to support wound healing, tissue engineers have been challenged to develop innovative bioactive scaffold materials. In general, bioactive materials have the mechanical properties of the tissue to be replaced while supporting biological activities such as cellular adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis.
By Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP
As obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to be growing public health burdens, clinicians will be faced with increasing numbers of patients who suffer from their complications, in particular, peripheral neuropathy. These authors review the multiple medications available to help. A 2015 report published in the Journal of Pain, found that…
By Shana Shetty, DPM PGY3, and Marshall G. Solomon, DPM FACPM, FACFAS
Science and quantification are long overdue in the orthotic work that we do on a daily basis. The process of capturing the anatomical arch, creating a positive model, and managing arch fill has been solely a decision of those trained in the art.
By Ian Engelman
A long-overlooked part of the human foot is key to how the foot works, how it evolved, and how we walk and run, according to a Yale-led team of researchers. The discovery upends nearly a century of conventional thinking about the human foot and could open new avenues to explore in evolutionary biology as well as guide new designs for robotic and prosthetic feet, said the study team.
By William Weir
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