[Intraoperative pedography]

Abstract

The problem: Intraoperative assessment of the restored or maintained physiological plantar force distribution during foot and ankle corrections is very difficult.

The solution: Intraoperative assessment of the restored or maintained physiological plantar force distribution during foot and ankle corrections with intraoperative pedography (IP).

Surgical technique: Bilateral pedography with the "Kraftsimulator Intraoperative Pedographie" (KIOP, R-Innovation, Coburg, Germany) and a mat sensor (Pliance, custom-made, Novel, Munich, Germany) in the preparation room under anesthesia. Three measurements each side with a total force corresponding to half of the body weight are performed. Transfer of the patient to the operating room and correction including definitive internal fixation following the planning and findings. Sterile draping of the sensor mat and usage of a sterile KIOP for IP of the operated foot with three measurements, and assessment and comparison with preoperative, contralateral and physiological pedographic findings. When a correction of the force distribution is indicated, modification of the correction and internal fixation and renewed IP.

Postoperative management: IP has no influence on the postoperative management.

Results: IP was validated in an earlier study. In a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study, the potential clinical benefit of IP in a sufficient number of cases in comparison to cases treated without IP was analyzed. 100 cases were included until April 11, 2008. 52 patients were randomized for the use of IP. Mean interruption of the operative procedure for the IP was 321 +/- 39 s. In 24 of the 52 patients (46%), the correction was modified after IP during the same operation. The changes were done most commonly in midfoot correction arthrodeses (64%), and least commonly in subtalar joint arthrodeses (25%).