Elective surgeries account for 39% of hospital reimbursement in the United States, making foot and ankle surgeries particularly appealing...

by Vince Vacketta, DPM Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) utilization continues to grow . Looking back and projecting forward helps us better...

Dreading Friday night call? It’s for good reason, considering orthopedic trauma does not present in a linear fashion. In fact,...

Name changes, like the recent reversion of Alaska’s Denali back to its former name, Mount McKinley , are seen as a current form of power...

by Vince Vacketta, DPM Joint line height has been established as an influential parameter in TAA, with previous research showing that an...

When treating ankle fractures, the conventional wisdom typically involves a long, six-week period of non-weight bearing (NWB). But, what...

by Vince Vacketta, DPM Beyond a surgeon’s experience and skill, patient selection is critical for the success of total ankle arthroplasty...

Bone grafts are widely available, but finding ones backed by solid level-1 evidence is a challenge. It’s refreshing to see a company...

With the Final Four happening this weekend, it’s a good time to consider the influence of ”the tournament,” particularly the less...

by Vince Vacketta, DPM Today is the first official day of Spring, bringing an increase in sports activities and, consequently, more LF injuries. Even in 2025, the management of LF injuries remains a topic of debate among foot and ankle surgeons. Common controversies include choosing between primary arthrodesis (PA) and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), as well as the role of routine hardware removal. PA vs. ORIF and return to sport (RTS) A recent systematic rev

Over the past 20 years, trends in orthopaedic surgeon compensation has decreased by 38% when adjusted for inflation. In contrast, other professions such as economists, lawyers, and engineers have experienced inflation-adjusted salary increases of 31%, 26%, and 24%, respectively. Among all the professions analyzed, including healthcare workers, orthopaedic surgeons have seen the most significant decline in salary rates. Foot and ankle is not exempt While hip and knee arthr

The lifetime prevalence of DPN is estimated to be up to 50%, with 15% to 25% of diabetes patients experiencing neuropathic pain. Painful DPN is important because it has a negative impact on quality of life, leading to sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. Can you help me with my sleep? Gabapentinoids, including gabapentin and pregabalin, are sometimes prescribed to help with sleep. However, recent evidence related to nerve injuries suggests that this approach ma

Is there any scientific guidance to help us make decisions beyond sparing patients the discomfort of staple removal? There is some good...

The ongoing consolidation in the foot and ankle market is progressing steadily. In a January 28 company report , Zimmer Biomet (ZB)...

by Vince Vacketta, DPM Corrective wedges are a useful tool for deformity correction and arthrodesis during reconstructive surgery. In...

by Vince Vacketta, DP M Joint line height has been established as an influential parameter in TAA, with previous research showing that an...

In the treatment of the painful, non-ruptured Achilles tendinopathy, the primary focus is on achieving pain relief and maintaining that...

The adoption of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is rapidly expanding from Europe to North America, fueled by technological advancements,...

by Vince Vacketta, DPM The extent of activity limitations after a TAA is not fully understood. We are aware of activities to avoid, such...

The " Same Rate for Same Service" concept argues that services should be paid equally, regardless of where they are provided. This...

For years, the emphasis on focal cartilage lesions has been primarily on restoring the cartilage cap. However, evolving knowledge...

by Vince Vacketta, DPM As frequently highlighted in FIX, innovation within the foot and ankle orthopedic space continues to flourish both...

by Dr. Gregory Berlet, MD As a proud girl dad, I feel it's my mission to explore the potential for my team in the foot and ankle realm....

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications are taking the medical world by storm, with about one in eight patients saying they have...