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Biomedical subjects

Robert W Mendicino

Publications and source records attributed to Robert W Mendicino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A practical approach to research during residency training.

This article describes a basic model for clinical research in a 3-year residency training program. Obstacles to research along with practical solutions are presented. Performing clinical research should be an integral part of residency training with publication being the ultimate goal for every resident research project.

Internship and Residency↗

ACFAS Universal Foot and Ankle Scoring System: First Metatarsophalangeal Joint and First Ray (module 1).

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons presents the Universal Evaluation Scoring System to evaluate parameters related to foot and ankle surgery. This instrument was developed primarily to allow investigators a means of consistency in clinical assessments. The project was developed in four sections or modules. The first of these modules, First Metatarsophalangeal Joint and First Ray, is presented. This project is unique in that it is the first clinical scoring system of the foot and ankle to become validated by statistical analysis.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Popliteal sciatic nerve blocks after foot and ankle surgery: an adjunct to postoperative analgesia.

The use of sciatic popliteal nerve blocks in conjunction with common peroneal and saphenous nerve blocks can provide prolonged hours of analgesia after foot and ankle surgery. This adjunct to analgesia allows for reduced amounts of postoperative opioids and the undesirable and adverse effects associated with these drugs. The peripheral blocks are technically easy to perform and offer the surgical patient many hours of pain relief. Furthermore, when utilized preoperatively, a lighter depth of anesthesia can be maintained with little demand for opioids so that the postoperative recovery will be accelerated with fewer complications.

Analgesia↗

Peroneal tendon tears: a retrospective review.

Tears of the peroneal tendons are not uncommon but remain an underappreciated source of chronic lateral ankle pain. The purpose of this study was to identify the typical patient profile and nature of the injury, to analyze the course of treatment, and to determine the prevalence of complications seen with surgical repair. Forty patients with chronic pain over the peroneal tendons from the Foot and Ankle Institute at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital underwent peroneal tendon repair. During a 3-year period, a retrospective review was performed by evaluating medical records, surgical reports, and radiographs. The average patient age was 42 years (range, 13 to 64 years). The most common cause was an ankle sprain or other traumatic injury (58%). Peroneus brevis tears (35 patients; 88%), peroneus longus tears (5 patients; 13%), combined peroneus brevis and longus tears (15 patients; 37%), low-lying peroneus muscle belly (13 patients; 33%), lateral ankle ligamentous disruptions (13 patients; 33%), and peroneal subluxation (8 patients; 20%) were identified during surgery. The average follow-up was 13 months (range, 9 to 40 months). Ninety-eight percent of the patients were able to return to full activities without pain at final follow-up. The minor complication rate (transient symptoms) was 20%. Clinically significant (major) complications (continued symptoms or revisionary surgery) occurred in 10% of patients. This study indicates that lateral ankle ligamentous incompetence, combined peroneal brevis and longus tears, and low-lying peroneus muscle belly commonly coexist in patients with peroneal tendon injuries. Appropriate surgical intervention of peroneal tendon tears and their coexisting pathology yields successful and predictable results with few clinically significant complications.

Adolescent↗

Magnetic resonance imaging and surgical correlation of peroneus brevis tears.

This study reviewed retrospectively preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intraoperative findings of 32 patients who underwent surgical treatment of longstanding peroneus brevis tendon pathology. The purpose of this study was 3-fold: 1) to determine the sensitivity and specificity of MRI diagnosis of peroneus brevis tendon tears as confirmed by surgical findings, 2) to define the prevalence of osseous and soft-tissue pathologies that coexist with peroneus brevis injuries, and 3) to compare the occurrence rates of other associated pathologies found on MRI to that of the surgical findings. MRI diagnosis of a peroneus brevis tendon tear showed 83% sensitivity and 75% specificity to intraoperative findings. Four false positive and 2 false negative cases were identified. Coexisting conditions identified by MRI included a low-lying muscle belly/peroneus quartus (44%), anterior talofibular ligament rupture (50%), flattened/hypertrophy peroneus longus tendon (56%), increased signal intensity within peroneus longus tendon (53%), and a flat/convex fibular groove (78%). These results show that peroneus brevis tears rarely present as isolated injuries and support the need for a comprehensive preoperative clinical evaluation and MRI assessment of the entire lateral ankle complex.

Adolescent↗

Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with retrograde intramedullary nailing.

Nineteen patients (20 feet) with severe hindfoot and ankle deformity underwent tibiotalocalcaneal fusion with a retrograde locked intramedullary nail as a limb-salvage procedure. The purpose of this study was to compare the complication rates of this procedure in diabetic versus nondiabetic patients. There were 8 men and 11 women with preoperative diagnoses including Charcot neuroarthropathy, primary osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, equinocavovarus, posttraumatic osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis, and ankle malunion. Ten of 20 procedures were performed in patients with diabetes. The average patient age was 56 years, and the average postoperative follow-up was 19.8 months. Nineteen of 20 ankles (95%) achieved successful fusion with an average time of 4.1 months. Four patients (21%) required either a fracture brace or an ankle foot orthosis at final follow-up. Five patients (25%) had major complications and 11 patients had minor complications. Major complications included osteomyelitis (n = 2), Charcot arthropathy (n = 2), failure of fixation (n =1), soft-tissue necrosis (n = 1), cardiac arrest (n = 1), cerebral vascular accident (n = 1), and fatal pulmonary embolus (n = 1). All patients with major complications were diabetic, and 14 of 20 combined major and minor complications occurred in patients with diabetes. The complication rate was found to be high in diabetic patients with end-stage deformity undergoing a limb salvage

Adult↗

The Cole midfoot osteotomy: a retrospective review of 11 procedures in 8 patients.

This article presents the results of a retrospective chart and radiographic review of 11 feet (8 patients) that underwent a Cole midfoot osteotomy from February 1998 through October 2000 at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital. The average time to follow-up was 23 months (range, 11 to 29.5 months). A 100% bony union rate was achieved, with an average time to radiographic union of 2.3 months (range, 1.2 to 4.5 months). The average time until full weightbearing was 3.3 months (range, 2 to 4.25 months). The average preoperative talo-first metatarsal angle on an anteroposterior radiograph was 8.60 degrees and 8.64 degrees on the lateral radiograph. The average postoperative change was 3.50 degrees (P =.03) on the anteroposterior radiograph and 16.82 degrees (P =.003) on the lateral radiograph. At the final follow-up visit, all patients were independently active and were able to wear conventional shoe gear. A postoperative questionnaire was completed by 5 of 8 patients (8 of 11 feet) at a mean 21 months (range, 13 to 29.5 months) postoperatively. Of these patients, 4 of 5 patients (7 of 8 feet) would recommend this surgery to others. No major complications were reported in this study. These results suggest that the Cole midfoot osteotomy is a reasonable procedure to consider for correcting pes cavus deformities with the apex in the midfoot.

Foot Deformities↗

A systematic approach to evaluation of the rearfoot, ankle, and leg in reconstructive surgery.

The current literature shows that proper alignment of the lower extremity allows for greater function throughout the gait cycle. Therefore, realignment should be one of the primary goals in the surgical management of lower-extremity deformities and pathology. Multiplanar radiographic angular relationships should be critically evaluated to appropriately identify the level and extent of the deformity before performing realignment procedures. This article describes a systematic approach to deformity evaluation through a comprehensive radiographic assessment of the rearfoot, ankle, and lower leg.

Ankle↗