DR DANIEL WALKLEY

In this lecture we will discuss the muscle scaffold of the triceps surae, variability in anatomy, clinical presentation, imaging appearance and the significance of return to play.

What excites you about this presentation?
Diving into the detail of the mechanics and pathology of the free gastrocnemius aponeurosis. The relevance of this structure and how its integrity has a huge impact on return to play.

What do you wish more podiatrists understood about the topic you will cover?
Plantaris tears are actually a rare occurrence, more commonly it is the free tendon of medial gastrocnemius. Soleus tears are difficult to assess clinically but extremely common. There is huge variability in the anatomy and intramuscular architecture. MRI is the preferred method of assessing the extent of these pathologies.

Metatarsophalangeal joint overload, plantar plates, and neural involvement. How ultrasound is used to differentiate and define these as separate pathologies. Sonographic presentation and associated image guided interventional procedures will be discussed.

What excites you about this presentation?
Forefoot ultrasound is so commonly poorly performed. With a systematic approach, most pathologies can be readily and accurately identified. The imaging findings should match your clinical assessment 

What do you wish more podiatrists understood about the topic you will cover?
Neuromas are commonly misdiagnosed. The most common pathology that we see in the clinic is plantar plate pathology with pericapsular fibrosis.