Combination Ilizarov technique with tibiotalar or tibiocalcanean arthrodesis for one-stage treatment of ankle joints infection and bone defects

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of Ilizarov technique and tibiotalar or tibiocalcanean arthrodesis for one-stage treatment of ankle joints infection and bone defects. Between January 2014 and April 2016, 14 patients with ankle joints infection and bone defects were treated by Ilizarov technique and tibiotalar or tibiocalcanean arthrodesis for one-stage. There were 12 males and 2 females with an average age of 39.8 years (range, 25-61 years). The causes of ankle infection included falling from height injury in 5 cases, falling injury in 4 cases, traffic accident injury in 1 case, crushing injury in 1 case, sprain injury in 1 case, and hematogenous reason in 2 cases. All the patients received surgery for 0-8 times (mean, 3.7 times) before admission. The modified American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score was 30.25±3.54 before operation. The disease duration was 1-30 months (mean, 10.3 months). All the incisions healed by first intension without recurrence of infection, and two-stage bone grafting operation did not performed. One case felt slight local pain and swell of ankle joint after weight-bearing walking more than 30 minutes, and without special treatment. All the patients had different degree skin redness and swelling of Kirschner wire pinhole for 0-3 times, and relieved after symptomatic treatment. All the patients were followed up 6-27 months (mean, 16.8 months). Except for 2 cases who did not remove the external fixator (with external fixation time of 6 months and 8 months respectively), the other patients removed the external fixator at 6-14 months (mean, 9 months) after operation, all patients recovered the walk function and without ankle pain. The modified AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score after removal of external fixator (70.92±1.0) was significantly higher than preoperative one ( t=-10.992, P=0.000). It is a simple and effective method for one-stage treatment of ankle joints infection and bone defects by Ilizarov technique and tibiotalar or tibiocalcanean arthrodesis.