OPEN ANKLE FUSION IN POSTTRAUMATIC ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Background: Ankle arthrodesis is still a gold standard procedure for the management of ankle arthritis. There are several functional and mechanical benets of ankle arthrodesis, which make it a viable surgical procedure in the management of ankle arthritis. The purpose of this study was to perform a clinical and radiographic evaluation of ankle arthrodesis in posttraumatic arthritis performed using Charnley's compression device. Between January 2019 and December 2022a functional assessment of 12 patient Materials and Methods: s (7 males and 5 females) who had undergone ankle arthrodesis for posttraumatic arthritis and/or avascular necrosis (AVN) talus (n=5), malunited bimalleolar fracture (n=3), distal tibial plafond fractures (n=2), medial malleoli nonunion (n=2). All the patients were assessed clinically and radiologically after an average follow up of 2 years 2 months. All patients had ankylosis and no complications rela Results: ted to the surgery. Scoring the patients with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scale, we found that 7 of the 12 had excellent results, 3 had good, and 2 showed fair results. They were all returned to their preinjury activities. We Conclusion: conclude that, the ankle arthrodesis can still be considered as a standard procedure in ankle arthritis. On the basis of these results, patients should be counseled that an ankle fusion will help to relieve pain and to improve overall function. Still, one should keep in mind that it is a salvage procedure that will cause persistent alterations in gait with a potential for deterioration due to the development of subtalar arthritis