IntroductionA prospective nonrandomized consecutive series case study was conducted by a single surgeon for the past 13 years to study the safety and efficacy of arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (AAA) as well as arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis (ASTA).Materials and methods60 of 61 patients undergoing arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis were followed, as well as 25 of 25 patients with arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis. Mean follow up time for AAA patients was 5.1 years and 4.4 years for ASTA patients. Procedures were done through conventional arthroscopic techniques. In the AAA group, there were 55 with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and posttraumatic arthritis, 4 with neurological deficits, and 1 avascular necrosis. In the ASTA group, there were 20 cases with arthritis, 4 with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, and 1 tarsal coalition.ResultsIn AAA patients, there were 53 cases that went on to unite, 4 delayed unions, and 3 nonunions. In ASTA, all 25 patients had successful fusion. There is a 96% fusion rate in AAA in those patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and posttraumatic disorders. The average time until union in the AAA series was 10.8 weeks, and in the ASTA series was 8.1 weeks. There was an 8% complication rate in AAA patients and none in the ASTA group.Conclusions and discussionThe patients undergoing AAA/ASTA were felt to have benefited from an increased union rate, an increased time until complete fusion, an accelerated rehabilitation program, as well as less complications. IntroductionA prospective nonrandomized consecutive series case study was conducted by a single surgeon for the past 13 years to study the safety and efficacy of arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (AAA) as well as arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis (ASTA). A prospective nonrandomized consecutive series case study was conducted by a single surgeon for the past 13 years to study the safety and efficacy of arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (AAA) as well as arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis (ASTA). Materials and methods60 of 61 patients undergoing arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis were followed, as well as 25 of 25 patients with arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis. Mean follow up time for AAA patients was 5.1 years and 4.4 years for ASTA patients. Procedures were done through conventional arthroscopic techniques. In the AAA group, there were 55 with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and posttraumatic arthritis, 4 with neurological deficits, and 1 avascular necrosis. In the ASTA group, there were 20 cases with arthritis, 4 with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, and 1 tarsal coalition. 60 of 61 patients undergoing arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis were followed, as well as 25 of 25 patients with arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis. Mean follow up time for AAA patients was 5.1 years and 4.4 years for ASTA patients. Procedures were done through conventional arthroscopic techniques. In the AAA group, there were 55 with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and posttraumatic arthritis, 4 with neurological deficits, and 1 avascular necrosis. In the ASTA group, there were 20 cases with arthritis, 4 with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, and 1 tarsal coalition. ResultsIn AAA patients, there were 53 cases that went on to unite, 4 delayed unions, and 3 nonunions. In ASTA, all 25 patients had successful fusion. There is a 96% fusion rate in AAA in those patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and posttraumatic disorders. The average time until union in the AAA series was 10.8 weeks, and in the ASTA series was 8.1 weeks. There was an 8% complication rate in AAA patients and none in the ASTA group. In AAA patients, there were 53 cases that went on to unite, 4 delayed unions, and 3 nonunions. In ASTA, all 25 patients had successful fusion. There is a 96% fusion rate in AAA in those patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and posttraumatic disorders. The average time until union in the AAA series was 10.8 weeks, and in the ASTA series was 8.1 weeks. There was an 8% complication rate in AAA patients and none in the ASTA group. Conclusions and discussionThe patients undergoing AAA/ASTA were felt to have benefited from an increased union rate, an increased time until complete fusion, an accelerated rehabilitation program, as well as less complications. The patients undergoing AAA/ASTA were felt to have benefited from an increased union rate, an increased time until complete fusion, an accelerated rehabilitation program, as well as less complications.