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Is The First MPJ Arthrodesis Underutilized For Severe Bunion Deformities?
I admit that I am a perfectionist—almost to a fault. This is a good thing if you are a surgeon but if you are trying to organize your bookshelf or your digital pictures, it is tedious. I expect perfect results when I do surgery while also striving for perfection in my everyday life.
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Can An Adjunctive Akin Give You That Perfection You Are Looking For In Bunion Surgeries?
There are some procedures that unfairly get a “bad” reputation. This is usually due to overuse or prior misuse. The Akin procedure is one such procedure and many have used the term “cheater Akin.” This is a case in which a practitioner incorrectly uses the procedure for bunion correction. This procedure is designed for correcting the hallux interphalangeus deformity only, not any deformity proximal to the metatarsophalangeal joint.
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My Top 10 Essential Podiatric Textbooks
I love books — both hard copy and digital. I can get lost in a bookstore for hours. My love of books prompted me to put together a list of my top 10 podiatric textbooks. In no particular order, I consider these essential to any podiatric library. I have no vested interest in any of these textbooks. This list is based solely on my personal opinion. I love the discussion and debate that book lists create so bring it on.
Foot and Lower Extremity Biomechanics: A ten-year collection of Precision Intricast, Inc. newsletters, Volume 1 (Precision Intricast, 1997) by Kevin Kirby, DPM, MS
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What A Spanish Podiatrist Learned From Visiting With Podiatrists In The United States
Editor’s note: This entry’s guest author is Gabriel Aguirrezabal, a Spanish podiatrist. He is in private practice in Bilbao in Basque Country, Spain.
I am Gabriel Aguirrezabal, a Spanish podiatrist. I am very thankful to Dr. DeHeer and his colleagues for welcoming me into Indianapolis for two weeks in March.
During my journey, I wanted to develop new podiatric skills and discover how doctors practice podiatric medicine in the United States. I was able to rotate through a variety of podiatric settings such as surgery, clinical practice and even wound care.
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Is Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate The Newest Game Changer In Podiatric Surgery?
What do AO technique, external fixation and locking plate technology have in common? They are all game changers for foot and ankle surgeons. They have become gold standards. Game changers do not come along often. However, when they do, both surgeons and patients benefit. Surgeons benefit from simplification of surgical techniques and patients benefit from better outcomes.
Another game changer is bone marrow aspirate concentrate. When will this become as commonplace as American orthopedic technique, external fixation or locking plate technology?
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Sharing Your Podiatric Knowledge: Why Those Who Can Should Teach
Knowledge is a gift that we must share and pass on. When you keep it to yourself, you diminish the power of knowledge. Without sharing knowledge, especially knowledge that derives its source from experience, a society, including the profession of podiatric medicine, is cheated.
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The Challenges And Rewards Of Establishing A Diabetic Foot Program In Haiti
There are times in your life when you know you are a part of something important, something that has the potential to be significant. These are the events that give meaning and depth to life. I recently had such an experience. I knew even before it happened that I was going to be involved in something special.
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Cutting Down On Wait Times Without Sacrificing Quality
Medicine is a volume business. In order to have a financially thriving practice, clinicians need to see more patients. More patients equal more revenue. This is a dirty little truth that anyone in medicine knows but is very reluctant to talk about because it is not politically correct.
The problem with a high volume is patients spend more time waiting. I have always inherently been aware of patient wait times. The longer patients wait, the more pressure I feel. Recently, I asked patients to fill out a survey with the following questions:
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Are You Taking The Easy Way Out With The Weil Osteotomy?
There are a few procedures in our podiatric arsenal that we tend to overuse. I find the procedural volume of the Weil osteotomy particularly perplexing. I do not understand any central ray elevation or shortening osteotomy either.
In most cases, I cannot help but judge the Weil osteotomy as a wimpy solution to a more complex problem.
Do I perform the Weil osteotomy? I do use this procedure reluctantly on rare occasions.
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Getting What You Deserve After Residency Graduation
This July, podiatric residency graduates are transitioning from comfort and protection into the world of student loans, angry patients, indifferent staff, long hours, mountains of paperwork, unjust malpractice laws, malicious malpractice attorneys and insatiable insurance companies. I wish to offer them a collective piece of advice:
Do not listen to the naysayers.
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