Minimally Invasive Foot & Ankle Surgery: A Review and a Novel Technique

CATEGORY: Hindfoot; Midfoot/Forefoot INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: There has been a growing interest in the utility of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) to correct foot and ankle deformities. MIS is performed using small, targeted incisions rather than large incisions required of open procedures. Proposed benefits of MIS include preservation of blood supply, limited injury to adjacent soft tissue, and fewer wound complications amongst many others. (Neufeld et al, Lu et al). To date, a large number of minimally invasive techniques have been developed to treat common deformities such as hallux valgus, hammertoe, and bunionette. However, there is no brief review that summarizes the literature comparing open surgery with its minimally invasive counterpart. Additionally the options available for MIS treatment of Flexible Adult Acquired Flat Foot/Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity have failed to keep pace. METHODS: We will begin by synthesizing data on MIS in the foot and ankle through analysis of those three aforementioned deformities, summarizing both technique and associated research. Then, we will introduce a novel technique for stage II (flexible) flat foot correction, the Mini-BEAR (bone extra articular reconstruction). Historically treated with the now largely insufficient FDL transfer, we believe this new technique will not only prove biomechanically efficacious but also lead to improved patient safety and lower complication rates. The rapid pace at which novel MIS procedures are developed requires surgeons to be disciplined in conducting and analyzing studies; this synopsis will aim to aid in that process. RESULTS: A novel surgical technique that involves a minimally invasive, all bone extra-articular reconstruction (Mini-BEAR) system. We believe that this technique can potentially replace the multiple long surgical incisions that accompany the traditional medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy, lateral column lengthening, and Cotton procedures with minimal ones, reduce post-operative recovery time, reduce operating room procedure time, and produce a better cosmetic result. Additionally, we believe it will reduce narcotic use secondary to less pain by virtue of less surgical work on the patient. We have also performed a cadaveric anatomic study that qualitatively and quantitatively observed the tendinous and neurovascular structures at risk with the Mini- BEAR procedure. CONCLUSION: The majority of the publications on the use of MIS to address deformities in the foot and ankle are small cohort studies or retrospective case reviews; many of which lack a control group. Due to this, data showing improvements in MIS vs open techniques is rare. However this is to be expected in a newer, developing field and as larger studies are performed there is optimism that this trend may change. (attached file is example of chart, we have similar format for all 4 deformities discussed in this paper)