Adjustments in the Range of Angular Motion during Walking after Amputation of the Toes: A Case Report

The forefoot plays an important role in providing body support and propulsion during walking. We investigated the effect of forefoot dysfunction on the gait pattern of a young adult with partial bilateral amputation of the toes. We measured our participant’s gait kinematics during barefoot and shod overground walking and analysed time-distance and joint range of motion (RoM) parameters against a group of healthy adults. Forefoot dysfunction gait is improved by footwear and walking experience; however, this improvement was still remarkably different (exceeded 95% CI) when compared to healthy gait at matching walking speed. Compared to healthy gait, walking barefoot had a slower speed and a 30% reduction in ankle and knee joint RoM, but a larger hip RoM. Shod gait resulted in a remarkable increase in ankle RoM and walking speed compared to barefoot gait. These results are consistent with the important role of the forefoot (tarsals and metatarsophalangeal joints) and suggest that footwear can facilitate gait function following toe amputation.

The Impact of Kinesiology Taping on a Greek Foot with a Hammertoe—A Case Report

Background and Objectives: Hammertoe, one of the most common toe deformities, causes pain due to overloading of the periarticular tissues and skin lesions. Additionally, it results in problems with footwear choice, an unattractive foot appearance and a deterioration in quality of life. The most common treatment for rigid and advanced deformities is surgery, and these procedures are widely described in literature. If the changes in the interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints are flexible (that mean they undergo correction without causing pain) or surgery is not possible, conservative treatment should be considered. No research, however, has been found detailing this treatment method. Conservative treatment includes the Kinesiology Taping (KT) method, which involves applying taping to correct deformities. This report describes the effect of KT treatment in a female patient with hammertoes. Materials and Methods: Anthropometric foot measurements (3D scanner) and foot loadings (baropodometric platform) are presented before KT applying, immediately after tapes application and after tapes removal following one month of use. Results: After using KT application parameters such as: foot length, maximum foot load, load under the area of the metatarsals II-III changed. Conclusion: Kinesiology Taping seems to be a symptomatic form of treatment of the effects of lesser toes deformity, therefore it is a good alternative for patients who do not want or cannot undergo surgery.

Silicoarthritis: issues of early diagnosis, prevention

Background. The severity of the course of silicosis is aggravated by the addition of complications; one of the serious and rare complication of silicosis is silicoarthritis or Kaplan’s syndrome (KS), which accounts for 0.1-0.6% of all cases of silicosis. Silicoarthritis significantly reduces the quality of the life of patients and leads to early and persistent disability.Aim. To establish the most significant methods of diagnosing silicoarthritis for early detection of the disease and prevention of complications.Materials and methods. The article presents clinical cases of silicosis and its rare complication - SC. The basis for the diagnosis of this pathology is X-ray, immunological and functional methods.Results. In patients with more than 5 years of experience exposed to aerosols of fibrogenic action, crystalline silicon dioxide, with an excess of the MPC level from 2.3 to 4 times on the basis of MSCT of the lungs, during which multiple polymorphic foci with a diameter of 2 up to 10 mm, partly merging with each other into peribronchovascular couplings, as well as perifocal areas of reduced airiness like ground glass and thickening of the axial interstitium, a diagnosis of late silicosis, stage 2 nodular form was established, the diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy data. In dynamics, after 5 years, arthralgic complaints joined. On the basis of immunological (increased TNF-alpha, IL-1b), X-ray examination (osteoarthritis of the distal and proximal interphalangeal, wrist, metatarsophalangeal joints), the diagnosis was clarified as Silicoarthritis: Kaplan’s syndrome.Conclusion. Diagnosis of silicosis and its complications at the preclinical stage in workers who have been in contact with silica dust for 5 years or more should include: MSCT of the lungs, determination of TNF-alpha, IL-1b, rheumatoid factor, and a study of respiratory function.

Sonographic estimation of monosodium urate burden predicts the fulfillment of the 2016 remission criteria for gout: a 12-month study

Objective To investigate whether baseline monosodium urate (MSU) burden estimated by ultrasound (US) predicts the achievement of the 2016 remission criteria for gout after 12 months. Methods In this 12-month prospective, observational and single-center study, patients with gout fulfilling all the domains of the 2016 preliminary remission criteria for gout at baseline and on urate-lowering therapy (ULT) for at least the preceding 6 months were consecutively enrolled. The US findings indicative of MSU deposits [aggregates, double contour (DC) sign, and/or tophi] were identified according to the Outcome Measure in Rheumatology US Working Group definitions. The US MSU burden was estimated by evaluating elbows, wrists, 2nd metacarpophalangeal joints, knees, ankles, and 1st metatarsophalangeal joints. Results Remission criteria were fulfilled in 21 (42.0%) out of 50 patients at 12 months. The baseline US MSU burden was significantly lower in patients who achieved remission than in those who did not fulfill the remission criteria at 12 months (1.9±1.8 vs 5.1±3.1, p<0.01). US scores and ongoing flare prophylaxis were the only significant predictors of remission with an odds ratio of 10.83 [(95%CI=1.14–102.59), p=0.04] for the absence of MSU deposits, 5.53 [(95%CI=1.34–22.76), p<0.01] for the absence of aggregates, 7.33 [(95%CI=1.71–31.44), p<0.01] for the absence of DC sign, 3.88 [(95%CI=1.08–13.92), p=0.04] for the absence of tophi, and 0.23 [(95%CI=0.07–0.75), p=0.02] for ongoing flare prophylaxis. Conclusion In gout, baseline US estimation of MSU burden is an independent predictor of the achievement of the remission criteria at 12 months.

Acute gout flare of bilateral first metatarsophalangeal joints due to ibrutinib use in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Introduction Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors represent important tools in the therapeutic armamentarium against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other B-lymphoproliferative disorders. Case Report We describe herein a unique 65-year-old patient who presented with bilateral foot pain four months after starting treatment with ibrutinib for CLL. Of note, the patient had previously been diagnosed with gout, and was taking allopurinol prophylactically at the time of the event. Compliance with allopurinol was in excess of 99%. Yet, he was diagnosed with acute gout flare of bilateral first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints. Management & Outcome: Ibrutinib dose was reduced by one third, and the patient’s gout flare up was treated with ibuprofen as needed. After symptoms abated, ibrutinib was continued at 2/3rds of the dose, with an excellent CLL control. The patient tolerated this dose without any further adverse effects. Discussion/Conclusions: We have reported a unique side effect of acute bilateral first MTP joint gout flare likely triggered by ibrutinib use for CLL while the patient was taking a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. The mechanism by which ibrutinib caused this phenomenon remains to be elucidated.

New Affordable Method for Measuring Angular Variations Caused by High Heels on the Sagittal Plane of Feet Joints during Gait

Gait is influenced by many factors, but one of the most prominent ones is shoe heel height. Optical motion tracking technology is widely used to analyze high-heeled gait, but it normally involves several high-quality cameras and licensed software, so clinics and researchers with low budgets cannot afford them. This article presents a simple, effective technique to measure the rotation angles on the sagittal plane of the ankle (tibiotalar) and toe (metatarsophalangeal) joints when no shoes (0 cm heel) and high-heeled shoes (2, 6 and 10 cm heels) are worn. The foot’s position was determined by a set of equations based on its geometry and video analysis techniques with free software (Tracker). An evaluation of the spatio-temporal variables confirmed observations from previous studies: increasing heel heights reduces gait cycle length and speed but does not change cadence. The range of movement at the tibiotalar joint progressively narrowed from 28° when no heel height was worn to 9° when a 10 cm heel was used, and these reductions ranged from 30° to 5° for metatarsophalangeal joints, respectively. This aligns with other authors’ previous studies, and confirms that the proposed method accurately measures kinematic ankle–foot set changes when wearing high heels.

POS0823 ARTHRITIS IN ADULT IGA VASCULITIS

Background:Arthritis is one of the main clinical features of IgA vasculitis (IgAV). Joint involvement represents the second most common manifestation in childhood IgAV with the predilection for the knees and ankles.Objectives:We aimed to describe the characteristics of arthritis in adult IgAV cohort.Methods:We analysed medical records of histologically proven adult IgAV cases, diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2020 at our secondary/tertiary rheumatology centre. The frequency, temporal occurrence and the localization of arthritis was recorded. In addition, we searched for potential differences in other IgAV features between patients with and without arthritis.Results:During the 132-month observation period we identified 328 new IgAV cases (59.5% males, median (IQR) age 64.3 (45.1; 76.1) years). Forty-eight (14.6%) patients developed arthritis. Arthritis was the first IgAV manifestation in 16 (4.9%) patients. Arthritis was mono-, oligo- and poly- articular (involving up to 15 joints) in 13 (4.0%), 25 (7.6%) and 10 (3.0%) patients, respectively. Arthritis was most common in wrists and ankles (each in 18 (37.5%) patients); metacarpophalangeal joints and knees (each in 11 (22.9%)); proximal interphalangeal joints (9 (18.8%)); elbows (8 (16.7%)) and metatarsophalangeal joints (4 (8.3%)). Clinical differences between IgAV patients with and without arthritis are presented in table 1. Patients with arthritis were significantly younger, more commonly developed gastrointestinal tract involvement compared to those without arthritis. Arthritis remitted in all with immunomodulatory treatment (given predominantly for necrotic skin purpura or visceral involvement). Follow up (FU) data accessible for 42/48 (87.5%) patients with arthritis showed that IgAV relapsed in 10 (23.8%) patients during a median (IQR) 24.5 (12.9; 40.7) month FU. Relapses were limited to skin and/or kidneys, there were no relapses of arthritis.Table 1.Clinical characteristics of IgA vasculitis patients with and without arthritisClinical characteristicsArthritis IgAV(48)Non-arthritis IgAV(280)P valueMale gender (%)56.360.00.636Age (years)*49.9 (36.1-66.9)65.4 (48.4;77.5)<0.001Ever smoker (%)50.043.60.435Prior infection (%)43.830.40.094Generalized purpura50.050.01.0Skin necroses (%)35.449.60.085GI involvement (%)47.925.00.002Renal involvement (%)47.946.81.0Elevated serum IgA (%)33.3 (11/33)52.0 (115/221)0.061Legend: * median and IQR; GI gastrointestinal;Conclusion:Arthritis in adult IgAV was frequently oligoarticular, involved large and small joints of both upper and lower extremities, and was not prone to chronic course and recurrence. In addition, we found an association between arthritis and gastrointestinal tract involvement.Disclosure of Interests:None declared