Naohiro Shibuya D.P.M.

Jupiter, D. C., J. C. Thorud, C. J. Buckley and N. Shibuya (2016). “The impact of foot ulceration and amputation on mortality in diabetic patients. I: From ulceration to death, a systematic review.” Int Wound J 13(5): 892-903.

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A great deal of emphasis, clinical and financial, is placed on limb salvage efforts in diabetic patients suffering from lower extremity ulceration. This is because of the impression that amputation in such patients may be a proximal cause of death. While amputation is certainly a negative clinical outcome, it is not entirely clear that it causes death. In this systematic review, we examine the available literature to attempt to understand the role that the ulceration itself may play in mortality. In brief, we searched for human studies in OVID, CINAHL and the COCHRANE CENTRAL DATABASE from 1980 to 2013, looking for articles related to ulcer or wound of the foot, in patients with diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, and death. We looked for articles with 5 years of follow-up, or Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year mortality, and excluded reviews and letters. Articles were assessed for quality and potential bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. We find that while the patient populations studied varied widely in terms of demographics and comorbidities, limiting generalisability, 5-year mortality rates after ulceration were around 40%. Risk factors for death commonly identified were increased age, male gender, peripheral vascular disease and renal disease.

Thorud, J. C., D. C. Jupiter, J. Lorenzana, T. T. Nguyen and N. Shibuya (2016). “Reoperation and reamputation after transmetatarsal amputation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” J Foot Ankle Surg: 2016 Jul [Epub ahead of print].

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Transmetatarsal amputations have generally been accepted as a relatively more definitive amputation compared with other lesser ray resections. However, many investigators have reported a high occurrence of more proximal amputation after transmetatarsal amputation. A systematic review was performed to evaluate the occurrence of reamputation and reoperation after transmetatarsal amputations. A search of the Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central databases yielded 159 abstracts. After review, 24 reports were included in the study. A total of 391 (26.9%) reoperations were identified after 1453 transmetatarsal amputations. Any level reamputation occurred in 152 (29.7%) of 365 transmetatarsal amputations and major amputation occurred in 380 (33.2%) of 1146 transmetatarsal amputations. Using a random effects model, the reoperation rate was estimated at 24.43% (95% confidence interval 11.64% to 37.21%), the reamputation rate was estimated at 28.37% (95% confidence interval 19.56% to 37.19%), and the major amputation rate was estimated at 30.16% (95% confidence interval 23.86% to 36.47%). These findings raise questions about the conventional wisdom of performing primary transmetatarsal amputation in lieu of other minor amputations, such as partial first ray amputation, and suggest that the choice between transmetatarsal amputation and other minor amputations might be a decision that depends on very patient-specific factors.

Shibuya, N., J. C. Thorud, L. R. Martin, B. S. Plemmons and D. C. Jupiter (2016). “Evaluation of hallux valgus correction with versus without akin proximal phalanx osteotomy.” J Foot Ankle Surg: 2016 June [Epub ahead of print].

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Although the efficacy of Akin proximal phalanx closing wedge osteotomy as a sole procedure for correction of hallux valgus deformity is questionable, when used in combination with other osseous corrective procedures, the procedure has been believed to be efficacious. However, a limited number of comparative studies have confirmed the value of this additional procedure. We identified patients who had undergone osseous hallux valgus correction with first metatarsal osteotomy or first tarsometatarsal joint arthrodesis with (n = 73) and without (n = 81) Akin osteotomy and evaluated their radiographic measurements at 3 points (preoperatively, within 3 months after surgery, and >/=6 months after surgery). We found that those people who had undergone the Akin procedure tended to have a larger hallux abduction angle and a more laterally deviated tibial sesamoid position preoperatively. Although the radiographic correction of the deformity was promising immediately after corrective surgery with the Akin osteotomy, maintenance of the correction was questionable in our cohort. The value of additional Akin osteotomy for correction of hallux valgus deformity is uncertain.

Thorud, J. C., T. Jolley, N. Shibuya, E. Lew, M. Britt, T. Butterfield, A. Boike, M. Hardy, S. P. Brancheau, T. Motley and D. C. Jupiter (2016). “Comparison of Hallux Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis Fixation Techniques: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.” J Foot Ankle Surg 55(1): 22-27.

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Few studies have investigated the complications that occur after hallux interphalangeal joint arthrodesis. The present study evaluated complications in 152 patients aged 18 to 80 years from 2005 to 2012 from 4 different academic institutions after hallux interphalangeal joint arthrodesis. Overall, 65.8% of the patients had >/=1 complication. Infections occurred in 16.5%, dehiscence in 12.5%, and reoperations in 27.0%. The clinical nonunion rate was >/=17.8%, and the radiographic nonunion rate was >/=13.8%. After logistic regression analysis, only the study site and peripheral neuropathy were associated with having >/=1 complication (p < .01 and p < .05, respectively). Single screw fixation compared with other fixation did not have a statistically significant influence on the postoperative complications. However, when fixation was expanded to 4 categories, single screw fixation had lower infection and reoperation rates than either crossed Kirschner wires or other fixation category but not compared with crossed screws on multivariate logistic regression analysis. Although additional studies are warranted, the findings from the present study might aid in both the prognosis of complications and the support of the use of a single screw over crossed Kirchner wire fixation in hallux interphalangeal joint arthrodesis.

Shibuya, N., G. T. Liu, M. L. Davis, J. P. Grossman and D. C. Jupiter (2016). “Risk Factors for Open Malleolar Fractures: An Analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank (2007 to 2011).” J Foot Ankle Surg 55(1): 94-98.

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A limited number of studies have described the epidemiology of open fractures, and the epidemiology of open ankle fractures is not an exception. Therefore, the risk factors associated with open ankle fractures have not been extensively evaluated. The frequencies and proportions of open ankle fractures among all the recorded malleolar fractures in the US National Trauma Data Bank data set from January 2007 to December 2011 were analyzed. Clinically relevant variables captured in the data set were also used to evaluate the risk factors associated with open ankle fractures, adjusting for other covariates. The entire cohort was further subdivided into “lower” and “higher” energy trauma groups and the same analysis performed for each group separately. We found that a body mass index of >40 kg/m(2) and farm location were risk factors for open ankle fractures and impaired sensorium was protective against open ankle fractures. In the “lower energy” group, male gender, alcohol use, peripheral vascular disease, other injuries, and injury occurring at a farm location were risk factors for open fractures. In the “higher energy” group, female gender, work-related injury, and injury at a farm or industry location demonstrated statistically significantly associations with open fractures.