Toxins for toe-walking: should they be used?

Cutaneous metallosis following ceramic insert fracture in total hip arthroplasty: a case report and revision with ceramic-on-ceramic bearing couple

Ceramic fractures in total hip arthroplasty (THA) are rare complications that pose significant challenges for revision surgery. This case report describes a 68-year-old male who experienced a spontaneous alumina (ceramic) insert and head fracture four years after the initial THA. The first revision with cobalt-chrome and polyethylene components led to severe metallosis, including subcutaneous tissue discoloration. A second revision utilized a ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearing couple, resulting in excellent functional outcomes and resolution of symptoms. Cutaneous pigmentation post-THA is rare and has not been previously reported following a ceramic fracture. The case underscores the need for careful material selection in revision surgery to minimize complications such as metallosis. The decision to use a ceramic-on-ceramic bearing couple in this case proved effective, ensuring durability and reducing the risk of third-body wear, which can result from inadequate management of ceramic fractures and lead to joint, systemic, or cutaneous complications.

Orthotic treatment of idiopathic toe walking with a lower leg orthosis with circular subtalar blocking

BACKGROUND

There is no universally accepted treatment standard for idiopathic toe walking patients (ITW) in the current literature. None of the established methods provide homogenous satisfying results. In our department we treat ITW patients with lower leg orthoses with a circular foot unit for a total of 16 weeks. In this study we reviewed our database to evaluate the success of our treatment protocol for a 24 months follow up period.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were included in this study. Age at the beginning of treatment was 7.0 years +/- 2.9 (range 2.5-13.1). Percentage of ITW at the beginning of treatment according to the perception of the parents was 89% +/- 22.2 (range 50-100). Immediately after the treatment with our device, percentage of ITW dropped to 11% +/- 13.2 (range 0-50). After 12 months, 73% of the patients (16/22) walked completely normal or showed ITW less than 10% of the day. After 24 months, 64% of the patients kept a normal gait (14/22).

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that the treatment of idiopathic toe walking with lower leg orthoses with a circular foot unit results in satisfying long-term results in two thirds of the patients.