The Italian version of MOXFQ is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating foot pain and functional status in patients affected by hallux valgus.

Hearing thresholds in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis The aim of the study was to evaluate hearing thresholds in 38 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, divided according to disease activity into active (group A, n = 20) and non‐active (group B, n = 18) patients. Pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and complete rheumatological assessment were performed. All patients presented poorer auditory thresholds compared with controls. Patients of group A had both air and bone conduction thresholds poorer than group B (although not statistically significant), and most patients of both groups presented an air–bone (a–b) gap. No significant difference in middle ear pressure was noticed between patients and controls. No correlation between hearing impairment and duration of the disease or patients' age was found. The high prevalence of hearing loss in autoimmune diseases supports the importance of audiometric evaluation in such patients. The auditory recovery through middle ear surgery before cranial nerve involvement could be considered in selected patients. Further investigations are needed for a better knowledge of the middle and inner ear involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

There is a need for more randomized trials performing standardized measurements at fixed follow-up, with results divided by subtypes of distal radius fractures.

The Boc triplane osteotomy seems to restore more physiologic loading of the forefoot in comparison to the Austin procedure, reducing the incidence of painful callus under the second and third metatarsal head.

BackgroundThe widespread of hallux valgus surgery in a day care setting enhanced the role of regional anaesthesia in the last few years. Sciatic nerve block at popliteal fossa has been shown to provide safe and effective analgesia. Our purpose was to compare the success rate and performance time of popliteal block during resident’s training for regional anaesthesia by using nerve stimulation (NS) or combined nerve stimulation and ultrasound (NS + US).Methods70 adult patients undergoing hallux valgus surgery were randomly assigned to receive sciatic nerve block at popliteal fossa with US+NS or NS alone with a double injection technique for peroneal and tibial branches, respectively. Two residents experienced with nerve stimulator performed the procedures after a learning phase concerning ultrasonography. A local anaesthetic solution, containing 10 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine and 10 mL of 2% lidocaine was used: 12 mL were infiltrated close the tibial nerve, and 8mL were infiltrated close the common peroneal nerve. Block success rate, sensory block onset time, block performance time were evaluated. Recourse to general anaesthesia was considered as failure.ResultsNo differences were detected in success rate and onset time of sensory block between the two groups (P > 0.05). The time to block tibial nerve and the overall block time were significantly faster in US+NS group (P < 0.05).ConclusionsUltrasound guidance for popliteal nerve block resulted in similar success rate with a faster procedure time when compared with nerve stimulator, thus providing a possible effect on resident education and operating room efficiency.