Peritalar Kinematic Changes Associated with Increased Spring Ligament Tear in Cadaveric Flatfoot Model

Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity (AAFD) is a complex and progressive deformity characterized by abduction of the midfoot and valgus alignment of the hindfoot. Spring ligament tear is often present in advanced stages of the AAFD. Previous anatomic studies hav...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ashlee MacDonald MD, David Cifo MD, Emma Knapp BS, Hani Awad PhD, John Ketz MD, Adolph Flemister MD, Irvin Oh MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2018-09-01
Series:Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011418S00326
_version_ 1818306828504662016
author Ashlee MacDonald MD
David Cifo MD
Emma Knapp BS
Hani Awad PhD
John Ketz MD
Adolph Flemister MD
Irvin Oh MD
author_facet Ashlee MacDonald MD
David Cifo MD
Emma Knapp BS
Hani Awad PhD
John Ketz MD
Adolph Flemister MD
Irvin Oh MD
author_sort Ashlee MacDonald MD
collection DOAJ
description Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity (AAFD) is a complex and progressive deformity characterized by abduction of the midfoot and valgus alignment of the hindfoot. Spring ligament tear is often present in advanced stages of the AAFD. Previous anatomic studies have demonstrated that the superficial deltoid ligament blends with the superomedial spring ligament to provide both medial tibiotalar and talonavicular stability aiding in coronal plane stability. Given that the spring ligament blends with the superficial deltoid ligament, we sought to investigate the kinematic effect of spring ligament tear in development of peritalar instability in cadaveric flatfoot model. We hypothesized that increased spring ligament tear size will result in increased talonavicular joint abduction (axial) and plantarflexion (sagittal), and increased valgus alignment of the tibiotalar and subtalar joints (coronal). Methods: Seven fresh-frozen cadaveric foot specimens were employed. Reflective markers were mounted on the tibia, talus, navicula, calcaneus and the first metatarsus. Kinematics of the peritalar joints were captured by multiple camera motion capture system. A flatfoot model was created by sectioning the medial and inferior talonavicular interosseous ligament, followed by cyclic axial load of 1150 N under a hydraulic loading frame with 350 N load applied to the Achilles tendon. The talo-first metatarsus (T- 1MT) abduction angle was calculated and cycles were applied until abduction of 5-10° (mild flatfoot) was achieved. Spring ligament sectioning was extended 1 cm proximally along the superomedial ligament followed by cyclic loading until 10-15° (moderate) of T- 1MT abduction was achieved. The spring ligament was sectioned for another 1 cm followed by cyclic loading until >15° (severe) abduction was noted. The relative kinematic changes were compared among the initial, mild, moderate, and severe flatfoot model using two-way ANOVA. Results: The average T-1MT abduction angles in the mild, moderate, and severe flatfoot were 7.79°+/-2.27°, 11.47°+/-2.82°, and 15.46°+4.15°. Meary’s angle increased with progression of the flatfoot (mild 6.17°+/-2.92°, moderate 9.71°+/-3.4°, severe 12.46°+/-4.13°). Hindfoot valgus angle also increased. The mild, moderate, and severe flatfoot showed 2.4°+/-3.85°, 4.13°+/-3.9°, and 4.75°+/-3.79° of tibiotalar valgus angle. The subtalar joint exhibited 2.94°+/-3.41°, 5.52°+/-4.34°, and 6.97°+/-4.83° valgus angle in the mild, moderate, and severe models. The T-1MT abduction angle and Meary’s angle were significantly different in all flatfoot models compared to the initial condition (p<0.001), and the severe vs. mild models (p<0.01). Tibiotalar valgus was significantly increased in severe compared to the initial model (p=0.02). Subtalar valgus angle significantly increased in the moderate and severe models compared to the initial (p<0.01, p<0.001). Conclusion: Serial increment in spring ligament tear size in simulated flatfoot increased relative talus adduction and plantarflexion. It also resulted in gradual increment of valgus alignment of the tibiotalar and subtalar joints in coronal plane. This finding demonstrates that a large spring ligament tear in advanced stage AAFD leads to increased strain across the medial peritalar ligaments. In addition to osseous correction and tendon transfer, medial ligament augmentation, may be a critical component in surgical correction of AAFD with a large spring ligament tear.
first_indexed 2024-12-13T06:48:41Z
format Article
id doaj.art-170d0699764e4adf91c807e02d138876
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2473-0114
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T06:48:41Z
publishDate 2018-09-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
spelling doaj.art-170d0699764e4adf91c807e02d1388762022-12-21T23:56:11ZengSAGE PublishingFoot & Ankle Orthopaedics2473-01142018-09-01310.1177/2473011418S00326Peritalar Kinematic Changes Associated with Increased Spring Ligament Tear in Cadaveric Flatfoot ModelAshlee MacDonald MDDavid Cifo MDEmma Knapp BSHani Awad PhDJohn Ketz MDAdolph Flemister MDIrvin Oh MDCategory: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity (AAFD) is a complex and progressive deformity characterized by abduction of the midfoot and valgus alignment of the hindfoot. Spring ligament tear is often present in advanced stages of the AAFD. Previous anatomic studies have demonstrated that the superficial deltoid ligament blends with the superomedial spring ligament to provide both medial tibiotalar and talonavicular stability aiding in coronal plane stability. Given that the spring ligament blends with the superficial deltoid ligament, we sought to investigate the kinematic effect of spring ligament tear in development of peritalar instability in cadaveric flatfoot model. We hypothesized that increased spring ligament tear size will result in increased talonavicular joint abduction (axial) and plantarflexion (sagittal), and increased valgus alignment of the tibiotalar and subtalar joints (coronal). Methods: Seven fresh-frozen cadaveric foot specimens were employed. Reflective markers were mounted on the tibia, talus, navicula, calcaneus and the first metatarsus. Kinematics of the peritalar joints were captured by multiple camera motion capture system. A flatfoot model was created by sectioning the medial and inferior talonavicular interosseous ligament, followed by cyclic axial load of 1150 N under a hydraulic loading frame with 350 N load applied to the Achilles tendon. The talo-first metatarsus (T- 1MT) abduction angle was calculated and cycles were applied until abduction of 5-10° (mild flatfoot) was achieved. Spring ligament sectioning was extended 1 cm proximally along the superomedial ligament followed by cyclic loading until 10-15° (moderate) of T- 1MT abduction was achieved. The spring ligament was sectioned for another 1 cm followed by cyclic loading until >15° (severe) abduction was noted. The relative kinematic changes were compared among the initial, mild, moderate, and severe flatfoot model using two-way ANOVA. Results: The average T-1MT abduction angles in the mild, moderate, and severe flatfoot were 7.79°+/-2.27°, 11.47°+/-2.82°, and 15.46°+4.15°. Meary’s angle increased with progression of the flatfoot (mild 6.17°+/-2.92°, moderate 9.71°+/-3.4°, severe 12.46°+/-4.13°). Hindfoot valgus angle also increased. The mild, moderate, and severe flatfoot showed 2.4°+/-3.85°, 4.13°+/-3.9°, and 4.75°+/-3.79° of tibiotalar valgus angle. The subtalar joint exhibited 2.94°+/-3.41°, 5.52°+/-4.34°, and 6.97°+/-4.83° valgus angle in the mild, moderate, and severe models. The T-1MT abduction angle and Meary’s angle were significantly different in all flatfoot models compared to the initial condition (p<0.001), and the severe vs. mild models (p<0.01). Tibiotalar valgus was significantly increased in severe compared to the initial model (p=0.02). Subtalar valgus angle significantly increased in the moderate and severe models compared to the initial (p<0.01, p<0.001). Conclusion: Serial increment in spring ligament tear size in simulated flatfoot increased relative talus adduction and plantarflexion. It also resulted in gradual increment of valgus alignment of the tibiotalar and subtalar joints in coronal plane. This finding demonstrates that a large spring ligament tear in advanced stage AAFD leads to increased strain across the medial peritalar ligaments. In addition to osseous correction and tendon transfer, medial ligament augmentation, may be a critical component in surgical correction of AAFD with a large spring ligament tear.https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011418S00326
spellingShingle Ashlee MacDonald MD
David Cifo MD
Emma Knapp BS
Hani Awad PhD
John Ketz MD
Adolph Flemister MD
Irvin Oh MD
Peritalar Kinematic Changes Associated with Increased Spring Ligament Tear in Cadaveric Flatfoot Model
Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
title Peritalar Kinematic Changes Associated with Increased Spring Ligament Tear in Cadaveric Flatfoot Model
title_full Peritalar Kinematic Changes Associated with Increased Spring Ligament Tear in Cadaveric Flatfoot Model
title_fullStr Peritalar Kinematic Changes Associated with Increased Spring Ligament Tear in Cadaveric Flatfoot Model
title_full_unstemmed Peritalar Kinematic Changes Associated with Increased Spring Ligament Tear in Cadaveric Flatfoot Model
title_short Peritalar Kinematic Changes Associated with Increased Spring Ligament Tear in Cadaveric Flatfoot Model
title_sort peritalar kinematic changes associated with increased spring ligament tear in cadaveric flatfoot model
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011418S00326
work_keys_str_mv AT ashleemacdonaldmd peritalarkinematicchangesassociatedwithincreasedspringligamenttearincadavericflatfootmodel
AT davidcifomd peritalarkinematicchangesassociatedwithincreasedspringligamenttearincadavericflatfootmodel
AT emmaknappbs peritalarkinematicchangesassociatedwithincreasedspringligamenttearincadavericflatfootmodel
AT haniawadphd peritalarkinematicchangesassociatedwithincreasedspringligamenttearincadavericflatfootmodel
AT johnketzmd peritalarkinematicchangesassociatedwithincreasedspringligamenttearincadavericflatfootmodel
AT adolphflemistermd peritalarkinematicchangesassociatedwithincreasedspringligamenttearincadavericflatfootmodel
AT irvinohmd peritalarkinematicchangesassociatedwithincreasedspringligamenttearincadavericflatfootmodel