Kraus, Jonathan C.

Background: The deep peroneal nerve (DPN) plays a role in afferent nociceptive dorsal midfoot joint pain perception. DPN neurectomy for treatment of symptomatic dorsal midfoot osteoarthritis allows early mobilization and weightbearing. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the patient satisfaction and pain relief after DPN neurectomy for treatment of chronic dorsal midfoot pain due to osteoarthritis. Methods: In this retrospective, IRB-approved, questionnaire-based study, we evaluated 48 patients (55 feet) with an average follow-up of 35.1 (range, 16-51) months who underwent DPN neurectomy at our institution between September 2017 and February 2021. There were 38 women and 10 men, 41 unilateral (22 right, 19 left) and 7 bilateral procedures, with an average age of 67.8 (range, 35-88) years at the time of surgery. A questionnaire that included questions regarding postsurgical dorsal midfoot pain relief, surgical result satisfaction, and current functional limitations was administered via telephone. Demographic information, patient responses, and complications were recorded. Results: Of the 48 patients, 80.8% were satisfied with the result of the surgery in relieving their dorsal midfoot pain, 84.6% would repeat the surgery under the same circumstances, 83.8% would recommend the surgery to a friend, 10.4% reported they wish they had undergone arthrodesis, 91.7% reported pain relief in the first 6 months, and 55.6% reported current activity limitations. Six feet (10.9%) underwent a second procedure with an average postoperative time of 20.5 (range, 1-36) months. Complications included 1 hematoma and deep wound infection, 1 DPN neuroma and superficial peroneal nerve entrapment, and 4 patients with inadequate pain relief. Conclusion: In this cohort, DPN neurectomy appeared to be a reasonable surgical alternative to arthrodesis for the management of chronic dorsal midfoot pain due to midfoot osteoarthritis after failed nonoperative management. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Background: The Internet is often the first resource used by applicants to evaluate fellowship programs. However, information on these websites can be often incomplete, inaccessible, and/or inaccurate. The primary objective of this study was to examine key factors that orthopedic foot and ankle fellowship applicants use to rank programs. The secondary objective was to assess both the accessibility and availability of the information on orthopedic foot and ankle fellowship program websites. Methods: A Qualtrics survey was distributed via e-mail to those who matched into an orthopedic foot and ankle fellowship position from years 2008-2020. A comprehensive list of orthopedic foot and ankle fellowship programs was created. Program websites were evaluated for accessibility as well as the quality of recruitment and educational content. Results: There were a total of 114 survey responses out of 644 invites (17.7%). The most important factors for establishing a rank list were operative experience, current faculty, and program reputation. Eighty-five percent (41/48) of orthopedic foot and ankle fellowship websites were directly accessible using Google. On average, accessible orthopedic foot and ankle fellowship websites contained only 57% (11.5/20) of the content deemed desirable. Conclusion: Orthopedic foot and ankle websites are widely accessible and have higher recruitment and educational quality content scores compared with previously published data. The most important factors for establishing a rank list are consistent with previous literature. Those who ranked operative experience as one of the most important factors when establishing a rank list did not complete more operative cases than those who did not. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

Background: Dorsal pain from osteoarthritic midfoot joints is thought to be relayed by branches of the medial and lateral plantar, sural, saphenous, and deep peroneal nerves (DPN). However, there is no consensus on the actual number or pathways of the nervous branches for midfoot joint capsular innervation. This study examined the DPN’s terminal branches at the midfoot joint capsules through anatomic dissection and confirmation of their significance in a clinical case series of patients with midfoot pain relief after DPN block. Methods: Eleven cadaveric lower leg specimens, 6 left and 5 right, were dissected using operative loupe magnification. We preserved the terminal branches and recorded their paths and branching patterns. Joint capsular innervations were individually noted. To confirm our hypothesis of significant dorsal midfoot joint capsular innervation by the DPN, we also performed an institutional review board–approved retrospective chart review of 37 patients with painful dorsal midfoot osteoarthritis who underwent diagnostic local anesthetic injection block of the DPN. The percentage of temporary pain relief after the injection was recorded. Results: Terminal innervation of the DPN branches showed distribution of the second and third tarsometatarsal joints in all specimens. Inconsistent innervation of the naviculocuneiform (9/11), fourth (7/11), first (6/11), and fifth (4/11) tarsometatarsal and calcaneocuboid joints (1/11) were observed. The retrospective review of pain relief in patients with dorsal midfoot pain due to arthritis after diagnostic injection demonstrated a mean of 92.1% improvement. Conclusion: Innervation of the dorsal midfoot joint capsule appears to follow a consistent distribution across 3 joints: second and third tarsometatarsal joints and the naviculocuneiform joint. Acute relief of dorsal midfoot arthritic pain after diagnostic injection suggests that dorsal midfoot nociceptive pain is at least partly transmitted by the DPN. Level of Evidence: Level IV, case series.