The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 13,500 Podiatrists Daily

January 26, 2012 #4,368 Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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FL Podiatrist Discusses Sever's Disease

"Unlike adults, heel pain is very uncommon in children. When children do experience heel pain, it is highly likely to be caused by a disturbance to the growth plate in the heel bone (calcaneus), where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel. This disturbance is known as Sever’s disease or calcaneal apophysitis (inflammation of the growth plate)," says podiatrist Dr. Burton Schuler.

Dr. Burton Schuler

"Sever’s disease is most common between the ages of 10 and 14 years, and it is one of several different osteochondroses that may occur in other parts of the body, such as at the knee (Osgood-Schlatters disease). Physically active children run the risk of developing Sever’s disease because they put the most strain on their growing bones. Sever’s usually occurs during the adolescent growth spurt, when young people grow most rapidly," says Schuler..

Source: Michelle Matisons, PhD, La Luz Press [1/24/12]

UK Podiatrist Sues Stalker for £50,000

A psychiatrist found that Ann Moulds suffered anxiety problems because stalker Alex Reid sent her sexually explicit messages and photos. Reid, 51, of Prestwick, was put on the sex offenders register and placed on probation for three years in April 2008 after admitting a breach of the peace charge.

Ann Moulds, podiatrist

After her experience, Ms. Moulds launched a campaign to change stalking laws in Scotland. She has addressed the Scottish Parliament on the issue. She is helping to oversee new laws that will make stalking a crime in Scotland. The podiatrist, from Ayrshire, claims that Reid began sending her obscene material anonymously in September 2004. The stalking lasted until December 2006 when Reid was identified as being the man responsible, following DNA tests on a letter he sent Ms. Moulds.

Source: STV [1/24/12]

KY Podiatrist Speaks Out Against Smoking in Public Places

Pulaski County’s largest city is now smoke-free. Somerset City Council voted Monday evening on the second reading of Ordinance 12-02 that would ban smoking in all enclosed public areas within the city limits. Local podiatrist Dr. Pamela Jensen-Stanley told the council that she works with patients suffering from ailments related to smoking nearly every day. 

Dr. Pamela Jensen-Stanley

“The nursing homes, and rest homes, I actually am personally offended ... going into these facilities wafting through smoke to find my patients, who all are very, very sick and the last thing they need to be doing is breathing second-hand smoke,” Jensen-Stanley said. “I believe this ban is necessary,” Jensen-Stanley later added. “I think it’s time that Somerset moves up and gets with the program.”

Source: Heather Tomlinson, Commonwealth Journal [1/13/12]

Diabetic Compression Socks Reduce Edema in Diabetics: IL Podiatrist

In a recent pilot study, the use of the SIGVARIS reduced edema in diabetic patients. "The use of the SIGVARIS mild (18-25mmHg) compression diabetic socks showed statistically significant decreases in calf, ankle, and foot circumferences in this initial study, and may help patients with diabetes and lower extremity edema without compromising lower extremity vascularity," says Dr. Stephanie Wu of the the William Scholl College of Podiatry at the Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine in Chicago.

Dr. Stephanie Wu

According to this initial study, patients who were able to wear this level of compression experienced an increase in their activity level because their legs did not ache. "A newly diagnosed diabetic patient gets a second chance at improving his or her health by wearing graduated compression socks," says Judith Brannan, SIGVARIS' Medical Affairs and Education Manager in the United States.

Superbones West to be First Podiatric Conference at New Vegas Hotel

The Superbones Conferences has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to host the 2012 Superbones West Conference at the brand new Aria Hotel in the breathtaking ultra-modern CityCenter in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 18-20, 2112. Known for presenting the highest quality podiatric CME conferences at the coolest state-of-the-art hotel destinations, Superbones West will be the first podiatric conference held at a CityCenter venue.

October 18-20, 2112

It has been more than 18 years since the first Superbones gathering of podiatric surgeons and footcare specialists, and this event is still going strong. When not attending one of the many medical lectures, guests may take advantage of Aria's numerous amenities.

Query: Exparel Extended-Release Anesthetic

I have recently been looking into ways to decrease post-op pain for my patients in my out-patient surgery center. Pain pumps work well if used properly, but they are expensive and are not separately covered in the facility fee. They also can cause problems with leaking and be a portal of entry for infection. I have been reading about an extended-release form of bupivicaine (Exparel) and wonder if someone might share their experience with it. Where is this purchased, and what is the cost per 10cc unit?
 
Tip Sullivan, DPM, Jackson, MS

RE: Painful Piezogenic Papules (Doug O'Heir, DPM)
From: G Dock Dockery, DPM

For almost 30 years, I have successfully treated piezogenic papules with a combination of sublesional injections of 4% alcohol solution and M-F plastic heel cups. It usually takes 2-3 injections spaced about 10 days apart to stop the burning pain of piezogenic papules. The 1/4 cc injections are placed directly under the center of the lesions. I have also treated a few very large papules with surgical excision but they have been few in numbers.
 
G Dock Dockery, DPM, Seattle, WA,gdockdockery@aol.com

RE: Achilles Tendon Problem (Geoffrey Bricker, DPM)
From: Richard I Polisner, DPM

Unfortunately, I have first-hand knowledge of Serapin injections for chronic Achilles tendon pain. I had pain for 6-9 months, which was not significantly helped by PT, ice, heel lift, or anti-inflammatories. I did continue playing basketball and tennis with pain. After researching the literature which talks about increased incidence of rupture, I finally had it injected with Serapin and a local anesthetic. There was immediate relief which lasted about 8 weeks until the tendon ruptured just proximal to the insertion. It has not been painful since the surgical repair. 

Richard I Polisner, DPM, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, rpolisner@hotmail.com

RE: Get Your Practice Accredited with the Better Business Bureau
From: Hal Ornstein, DPM

Recently, our practice has taken the steps necessary to get accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) is an organization aimed at monitoring the business practices of organizations on a state-by-state basis. the BBB has an accreditation process that involves a background check on your business (practice), a minor investigation to the current operations of the business, and a validation of physician licenses, etc.

There is an initial fee involved for this process, and an ongoing annual fee for each location of the practice being "BBB accredited", but it is not significant by any means relative to the benefits it will provide. Once the accreditation process is complete, the BBB will provide you with plaques and certificates to display in your office, electronic files of BBB accredited logos for you to use on your website, advertising, etc., and will also add you to their website as a BBB-accredited organization. Aside from this being good business practice, it also appeals to many existing and prospective patients that we are a BBB-accredited business.

By enrolling in the BBB accreditation program, you will not only provide quality service beyond our patients' expectations, but you will satisfy the "perception is reality" motto by making your patients aware that you are accredited through the organization that monitors businesses statewide to be the best possible for the consumer (patient).
 
Hal Ornstein, DPM, Howell, NJ, halo@footdoctorsnj.com

RE: Extra EMR Fees (Jack Ressler, DPM)
From: Ed Wiebe, DPM

Practice Fusion is all FREE. It is certified, it has support, and  it has free eRx. What else do you want but FREE? All EMR systems require the doctor's time to get used to the programs. 

Ed Wiebe, DPM, Flagstaff, AZ, elw520@hotmail.com

RE: Passing of Harold Marquit, DPM (David Schofield, DPM)
From: Marc A. Brenner, DPM

After reading Dr. Schofield's warm message, I wish to express my humble feelings to our community. Dr. Marquit gave me my first opportunity to practice podiatric medicine. We worked together daily for one year. I learned more about podiatric medicine, diabetes, and inter-profession relationships than in my previous five years. Harold was certainly classy, warm-hearted, enlightened, and a paternal teacher and practitioner. He was a gentleman's gentleman, soft spoken, but politically powerful. He understood that podiatric medicine could not be an island to itself. Therefore, he authored the first chapter of my text, "Working Relationships between the Podiatrist and the Diabetologist."
 
We remained friends and collegues for over 35 years. He was a great gift to our podiatric family, and to me, one never to forget. His void is hard to fill. I will miss him greatly. My very best to his beloved family.
 
Marc A. Brenner, DPM, Glendale, NY

RE: PM Celebrates 30th Anniversary
From: Kathleen Satterfield, DPM
 
Where would we be as a profession without PM and PM News, and also how woefully uninformed? Let me use the January 21st issue as an example.
 
Hot Topics: The light-surgical/non-surgical podiatric practice that the majority of us practice every day.

Ask for consultations and advice: Decision-making about a difficult Achilles tendon problem, information about the costs of EMR costs, and scanners; coding questions and access to Codingline; how to deal with deaf patients, and a news report about an Aussie colleague and his comments on children’s shoes.

Surprising Topics: The Dance for Diabetes at Scholl College is still going after 25 years! As APMSA student rep from the Des Moines College, and the ADA liaison, I and my colleagues initiated this as an all podiatry schools’ fundraiser. Scholl is the only one still going that I know of.

Fun and Informative Topics: Ayne Furman, former president of the American Association for Women Podiatrists has a friend who is running a marathon in Antarctica and wanted shoe/sock advice; Dr. Charles Witt, die-hard Cubbies fan at their new minor league park; a reminder to go to www.acfaom.org to watch Barry Block being crowned the king that he is!

Congratulations to Barry and Hermine Block, and to David Kagan for keeping us informed, entertained, and challenged for the past 30 years.

Kathleen Satterfield, DPM, Pomona, CA, vsatterfield@westernu.edu

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