Foot and Ankle Arthroscopy: Latest and Emerging Techniques by the Leaders! (AANA22)-Advances in Foot and Ankle Posterior Arthroscopy

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Brian presents on subtalar fusion using posterior arthroscopy, emphasizing the importance of thorough anatomical knowledge, particularly of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) to avoid neurovascular injury. He discusses the prone positioning preference and the evolving use of thinner scopes. Posterior arthroscopy provides superior visualization of the posterior talar dome, aiding in conditions like posterior impingement in dancers, osteochondral lesions, tarsal coalitions, and others. Brian highlights the posterior arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis (PASTA) technique, which uses minimal incisions and shows benefits in shorter hospital stay, quicker union, and faster return to activities compared to open surgery, with comparable union rates. He advocates for using bone graft substitutes in fusions to enhance healing speed and patient outcomes, stressing that faster fusion leads to less pain and quicker recovery. Brian calls for broader adoption and research into biologics to improve fusion results and patient quality of life, urging orthopedic surgeons to prioritize these advancements despite cost concerns.

Asset Caption

Brian Lau, M.D.

Keywords

subtalar fusion

posterior arthroscopy

flexor hallucis longus

posterior arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis (PASTA)

bone graft substitutes