Ankle Fusion Research Articles

Lessons from Revision Total Ankle Replacement: Tibias Fail Early, and Taluses Fail Late (And Fail Again)

Introduction/Purpose: With the last decade’s surge in total ankle replacement (TAR), there is an anticipated commensurate increase in the number of revisions that orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons will encounter. The salvage and implant options to deal with a failed primary TAR are expanding. However, the literature on survivorship and outcomes after revision TAR in the modern era is relatively limited. What’s more, little is known about the risk factors for further revision or failure of revision TAR. This study aimed to describe the timing to and survivorship after revision TAR. We hypothesized that tibial-sided failures would occur earlier after the index surgery, and secondary revisions after failure of revision TAR would occur more due to talar-sided failures than tibial-sided failures. Methods: This is a single-institution retrospective cohort study of TAR patients (2012-2022) with minimum 2-year follow-up. Revision TARs (defined as exchange of tibial and/or talar components) with any implant (Cadence, Inbone, Invision, Infinity, Salto, STAR, Vantage, Zimmer; or custom total talus replacement [TTR]) were included. Five surgeons contributed patients. Demographics, primary and revision surgical data, and postoperative complications were recorded. Etiology of failure necessitating revision (tibial failure, talus failure, combined failure) and ultimate outcomes after revision (revision TAR survived, additional revisions, conversion to fusion, below-knee-amputation [BKA]) were recorded. Revisions for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and conversions to fusion were excluded. There were 59 ankles that underwent revision for any cause. Excluding 9 2-stage revisions for PJI and 3 conversions to ankle or tibiotalocalcaneal fusion, there were 47 ankles that underwent revision TAR that were included for analysis. Chi-square and ANOVA tests were used to compare risk factors and timing for failure. Results: There were 47 revision TARs, with mean age 60.6 (range: 31-77) years, mean BMI 29.5 kg/m2, 19 (40.4%) females, and mean 3.5 years follow-up. Revisions for tibial failure (n=22) occurred significantly earlier (1.3 ± 0.5 years) than those for talus failure (n=19, 2.3 ± 1.7 years) or combined tibial/talus failure (n=6, 2.9 ± 3.3 years) (P=0.048). Revisions for tibial-only failure had significantly better survivorship (95.5%) than revisions for talus or combined tibia/talus failures: 26% of talus failures and 33% of combined tibia/talus failures underwent at least one more revision (P=0.033). Of the 7 failures after revision talus, 2 ultimately underwent BKA, 2 were converted to TTR, 2 were revised to modular stemmed talus implants, and 1 was treated with explant and cement spacer for PJI. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that TAR tibial failures occur earlier than talus failures or combined tibial/talus failures. When patients with isolated tibial failure undergo revision of both tibial and talar components, they usually do well with good survivorship post-revision. However, revisions for talar failures and combined tibial/talar failures occur later but are more devastating: nearly 1/3 go on to a second revision. This is important given the consequences of talar implant subsidence, bone necrosis, loss of bone stock, and limited salvage options. As TAR utilization expands, it is imperative to develop implants and surgical strategies to maximize success for revision surgery. Flowchart of failures after revision TAR. PJI = periprosthetic joint infection. TTC = tibiotalocalcaneal. BKA = below-knee amputation. Tibial implant geometry included: Low-pro = lowprofile tibial implant. Stem = stemmed tibial implant. Keel = keeled tibial implant. Talus implant geometry included: chamfer/round and flat-cuttalus.

An Assessment of Ankle Function, Oxidative Damage, and Inflammatory Factor Levels in Minimally Invasive Ankle Joint Fusion Surgery for the Treatment of Traumatic Ankle Osteoarthritis

An Assessment of Ankle Function, Oxidative Damage, and Inflammatory Factor Levels in Minimally Invasive Ankle Joint Fusion Surgery for the Treatment of Traumatic Ankle Osteoarthritis

Evaluating the Effect of Diabetic Medications on Rates of Nonunion in Patients Undergoing Foot and Ankle Arthrodesis Treatments

Introduction/Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to negatively impact outcomes following surgical operations and increase the susceptibility of affected individuals to higher rates of nonunion, surgical site infection, ulceration, increased risk of amputation of the extremities, and various other perioperative complications. A number of in vitro studies suggest that the increase in undesired outcomes is largely secondary to the effects of diabetes-induced prolonged inflammation and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on these patients' vascular systems and skeletal microarchitecture. However, there is a paucity of literature investigating the effects of blood glucose-regulating medications on the clinical outcomes of diabetic patients following fusion procedures. This study aims to determine the impact of commonly prescribed diabetic medications on bone health and bone healing following foot and ankle operations. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 114 diabetic patients undergoing ankle, hindfoot, or midfoot arthrodesis by one of two fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons from 2015-2022. Patients were identified by having undergone surgery via 27870, 27815, 27825, or 27835 CPT codes, as well as having been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus prior to or at time of surgery. Joints fused included the tibiotalar joint (n=45; 39.5%), subtalar joint (n=62; 54.4%), talonavicular joint (n=31; 27.2%), and calcaneocuboid (n=14; 12.3%). Data collected included demographics, medical history, diabetic medication, postoperative complications, readmission rates, and reoperation rates. 36 patient cases were noted to not have concurrent medications prescribed to control their diabetes, while the other 78 patient cases were concurrently prescribed either metformin (33 cases; 28.9%), insulin (19 cases; 16.7%), both metformin and insulin (18 cases; 15.8%), glipizides (11 cases; 9.6%), dulaglutides (7 cases; 6.1%), semaglutides (9 cases; 7.9%), and sitagliptins (8 cases; 7.0%). Results: The overall cohort was majority male (62.3%) with mean age 60.38 (range 31-76) years, mean BMI 34.00 (range 21.47- 61.38) kg/m2 and mean follow-up 1.90 (range .50-6.25) years. The cohort had a 27.2% superficial infection rate, 28.9% deep infection rate, 41.2% non-union rate, 47.4% reoperation rate, and a 14% 90-day readmission rate. Except for insulin-treated patients, who had significantly higher infection (insulin=45.9%, non-insulin=18.2%; p=.003) and deep infection rates (insulin=45.9%, non-insulin=18.2%; p=.003), there was no statistically significant difference in any outcomes by specific medication or any diabetic medication use. Patients with Charcot arthropathy (n=42) had significantly higher superficial infection (charcot=42.9%, non- Charcot=18.1%; p=.005), deep infection (Charcot=52.4%, non-Charcot=15.3%; p<.001), and 90-day readmission rates (Charcot=26.2%, non-Charcot=6.9%; p=.006). Conclusion: Our results indicate that patients on insulin or patients with Charcot arthropathy may be at increased risk of infection following foot and ankle fusion procedures. Other common medications to control diabetes mellitus were not found to increase risk of adverse outcomes. This finding is useful for surgeons and physicians attempting to optimize the clinical outcomes of diabetic patients undergoing the described procedures. However, further study with a greater sample size is necessary to confirm these findings.

Single-Center, Early Experience with the First 3D-Printed Surface, Fixed Bearing, Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Minimum of 2-Year Follow-Up

Introduction/Purpose: As the fourth generation of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) implants evolve, treatment solutions for end- stage ankle arthritis continue to improve. Technological advancements in CT guided planning and 3-D printing offers surgeons the ability to perform TAA with patient specific instrumentation and implants. 3-D printed components are designed to act as scaffold in hopes to facilitate early in-growth, to increase implant stability, to support long-term survivorship, and ultimately to improve the quality of life our patients. We present our early experience at a single academic center with a minimum of 2-year follow up data on the first 3-D printed, fixed bearing, TAA in the United States. We hypothesize that 3-D printed technology will demonstrate improved long-term survival and increased bony in-growth on the implant-bone interface. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent TAA with a minimum of 2-year clinical and radiographic data in which this 3-D printed TAA was utilized at our single academic center. Patient demographic, radiographic, and functional outcome scores were collected preoperatively, at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. The severity of ankle arthritis and associated deformities in patients were stratified using the COFAS classification. The primary outcomes of this study were implant survivorship, comparative analysis of preoperative and postoperative Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical function scores, VAS pain scores, radiographic development of linear radiolucency >2 mm, cystic radiolucency > 5mm, subsidence, and adverse events within 2 years of surgery. Results: Thirty patients were included with a median follow-up of 26 months (range, 24-36 months). Implant survival rate was 90%. One patient was revised to a stemmed TAA secondary to tibial subsidence. One patient required a TTC fusion secondary to Charcot collapse. One patient was revised to a staged ankle fusion secondary to periprosthetic joint infection. Two patients (6.7%) experienced linear radiolucency >2mm with tibial subsidence in which one patient required a revision TAA (mentioned above) and another who was asymptomatic. No significant cystic radiolucency >5 mm were identified. Five patients required re-operation from complications unrelated to the implant. VAS scores decreased significantly from 6 (IQR, 4-8) to 1 (IQR, 2-4) (P <.001; r=0.55). PROMIS Physical scores increased significantly from 43.6 (IQR, 33-47.7) to 50.8 (44.8-57.7)(P <.001; r=0.60). Conclusion: The utilization of this new 3-D printed, fixed bearing TAA demonstrated a ninety percent overall implant survival rate in our small cohort of patients. Further data will be required to determine the long term efficacy of this new 3-D printed implant on patient outcomes. Our early experience and complications presented in our study demonstrate that this 3-D printed TAA implant is safe and effective in the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis.

Is the Ankle Fusion the Single Salvage Procedure and the Best Result for the Massive Distal Tibial Loss: Surgical Techniques and Clinical Results

Background. Management of high-energy injuries with extensive soft tissue damage and massive distal tibial loss is challenging and often lead to severe dysfunction. In these complex situations ankle fusion procedure is the most commonly performed surgery. Publications devoted to treatment options and outcomes in these surgical challenging conditions are relatively rare. Objective The purpose of this work is to present our clinical experience in using staged external fixation protocol in the treatment of six patients who suffered from complex open fractures of the distal tibial segment with severe bone and soft tissue loss due to high-energy trauma. Methods. The retrospective analysis of six patients (Gustilo-Anderson III B and III C fractures) with massive distal tibial loss and treated using a staged protocol of external fixation between 1998 and 2010, was carried out. Mean bone loss was 11.5 cm (range, 9 – 15 cm). Results. All patients had reconstructive surgery using circular external fixation frames. The outcome in three of them was solid ankle fusion – two patients had acute distal shortening and proximal tibial elongation by distraction osteogenesis and one had acute fibular transfer to replace distal tibial loss with fixation using Ilizarov circular frame. In other three patients, the functional and the radiological outcome was pain-free ankle joint pseudoarthrosis – one had proximal tibial elongation, one had a combination of bone transport with distal fibular transfer and one had acute limb shortening without tibial elongation. All six patients were pain-free and satisfied with functional outcomes, regardless of the final solid bone fusion or pseudoarthrosis. Conclusions. The method of circular external fixation combined with proximal tibial elongation by distraction histogenesis is recommended for limb reconstruction in high-energy injuries with massive distal tibial loss including articular surface. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level Ⅳ.

Limb salvage reconstruction of the lower limb with complex ankle arthrodesis and magnetic internal lengthening nail.

With advances in orthopedic implants, the use of intramedullary lengthening devices has gained increasing popularity as an alternative technique compared to lengthening with external fixators, with alleged comparable or better outcomes. The aim of this study is to report our single-center technique and outcomes of combined ankle arthrodesis and proximal tibial lengthening using external fixator with a motorized intramedullary nail, respectively. Fourteen patients with post-traumatic advanced ankle arthritis underwent staged ankle arthrodesis with external fixator and proximal tibial lengthening using the PRECICE® ILN. Amount of shortening, length achieved, bone healing index, infection rate, ankle fusion rate, and ASAMI score were evaluated. The average age was 44 years old (range, 30-62). The mean follow up is 70 months (range, 43-121.4). The average amount of limb shortening for patients after ankle fusion was 36.7 mm (18-50) while lengthening was 35.9 mm (range, 18-50). Patients had the nail implanted for an average of 479 days (range, 248-730). Ankle fusions were healed in an average of 178.3 days. There were no surgical infections. All osteotomy-lengthening sites healed after an average 202 days (106-365). The mean bone healing index (BHI) was 56.0 days/cm (21.2-123.6) among the whole cohort. There were no cases of nonunion. ASAMI bone scores were excellent or good among all patients. Ankle arthrodesis with external fixation along with proximal tibial lengthening using motorized IMN yielded high rates of fusion and successful lengthening. This technique could be offered as a reasonable alternative to using external fixation for both purposes. Level IV, Retrospective cohort study.

Primary Ankle Fusion Using an Antegrade Nail Into the Talus for Early Treatment of OTA Type C3 Distal Tibial Plafond Fractures: A Preliminary Report.

Type C3 distal tibial plafond fractures consistently show poor outcomes with high complication rates and significant risk of posttraumatic arthritis. We describe a minimally invasive technique of performing a primary ankle fusion using an anterograde tibial nail and compare our early results to traditional methods of fixation. During the acute admission, the patient undergoes an arthroscopic preparation of the ankle joint and insertion of an anterograde nail into the talus. This technique is described in detail and presented alongside a retrospective 5-year review of all adult C3 distal tibial plafond fractures from our center. Twenty-six patients (8 open fractures) had been fixed traditionally using open reduction internal fixation (24 patients) and circular frames (2 patients) with an average follow-up of 20 months. Those internally fixed had protected weightbearing for 3 months. Complications included deep infection (12%), nonunion (8%), malunion (4%), severe posttraumatic osteoarthritis (27%), and the secondary conversion to ankle replacement/fusion (12%) requiring an average of 3 reoperations.Six patients underwent primary fusion (3 open fractures) with an average follow-up of 18 months. Patients were allowed to immediately weightbear. There were no reported complications and the primary fusion group demonstrated shorter hospital stays, faster return to work, and higher mean self-reported foot and ankle score (SEFAS) compared to those treated with ORIF. C3 distal tibial plafond fractures are difficult to manage and there has not been a satisfactory method of treating them that allows early return to work, has a low risk of complications, and reduces the risk of posttraumatic tibiotalar arthritis.We present our initial results with a method that uses traditional arthroscopic techniques to prepare the tibiotalar joint together with minimally invasive anterograde tibiotalar nailing. In this initial report of a small group of patients, we found that surgery can be performed once the swelling has subsided after injury and that allowing weightbearing as tolerated did not appear to have a negative effect on initial outcomes. Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Joint-Preserving Osteotomy of the Lateral Tibial Plafond for Posttraumatic Osteonecrosis: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Posttraumatic osteonecrosis (ON) of the lateral distal tibia is a rare but severe complication of malleolar fractures. Treatment options include ankle fusion, arthroplasty, osteotomy, and drilling but clinical data on outcomes are limited to single case reports. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the outcome following joint-preserving reconstruction. Over a 10-year period, 10 patients (8 females and 2 males, average age 36 years; range, 27-68 years) with posttraumatic ON were treated with intra-articular osteotomy of the distal tibia and bone grafting. All patients initially sustained a closed pronation injury, 7 with initial tibiotalar subluxation. Chronic syndesmotic instability following initial treatment was present in 4 patients and 5 were smokers. All patients were followed for a median of 68 (range, 12-103) months, 7 returned in person for clinical and radiographic follow-up. No immediate postoperative complications were seen. Secondary ankle fusion was necessary in 1 case (10%) because of progressive osteoarthritis. At the time of follow-up, anterior ankle arthritis leading to impingement and requiring cheilectomy was noted in 4 cases, partial graft necrosis, and secondary syndesmotic instability requiring revision surgery was seen in 1 case each. Compared with the preoperative values, significant improvement in the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (P = .012), EuroQuol-5 Score (P = .008), and Foot Function Index (FFI-D pain, P = .028; FFI-D restriction, P = .038) was seen. Average range of motion at the ankle was 45 degrees. In our limited series of patients with posttraumatic ON of the lateral distal tibia, we found that joint-preserving reconstruction using an intra-articular distal tibial osteotomy with autologous bone grafting usually provided significant functional improvement and pain relief. In our cohort secondary fusions by a median 5.5-year follow-up were rare, but secondary, joint-sparing surgeries were common. Level III, prospective study.

Total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle fusion.

Total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle fusion.

Ankle Fusion Rates using Composite Peptide-enriched Bone Graft

Introduction Joint fusion is a widely accepted treatment option for debilitating arthritis and deformity in the foot and ankle. Autologous bone grafting has long been accepted as the gold standard form of bone grafting; however, it can still be associated with non-union. This study aims to investigate joint fusion rates using Composite Peptide Enhanced Bone Graft (CPEBG) as an adjunct during ankle fusion surgery. Methods Data was collected retrospectively for patients over the age of 18 years, undergoing ankle fusion between June 2016 and August 2020 with autologous bone graft and CPEBG. All patients had their primary or secondary procedure performed by a single surgeon with follow-up at 6 and 12 months post-operatively. Data included baseline demographic data and procedural characteristics. The primary endpoint was to assess joint union at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Secondary objectives included post-operative pain, mobility and the use of walking aids. Results Radiographic union rates for the primary group were 40/48 (83%) and 43/48 (90%) at 6 and 12 months and 2/3 (67%) and 3/3 (100%) at 6 and 12 months for the secondary group, respectively. The overall non-union rate for primary ankle fusions was 8%, while no non-unions were observed in the secondary group. Conclusion CPEBG in foot and ankle fusion procedures yields similar union rates compared to other graft options. Further well-designed randomised control trials are warranted to confirm these findings.

Preliminary Outcomes of a Staged Percutaneous Retrograde Prefabricated Gentamicin-coated Intramedullary Nail to Manage Complications after Ankle Fusion through Tibial Bone Transport.

Distal tibial injuries combining bone loss, articular destruction and infection can be treated through distraction osteogenesis combined with ankle fusion. Bone transport is not without complications. This study investigates our preliminary results using a retrograde prefabricated gentamicin-coated nail (ETN PROtect®) to treat complications after infected bone defects of the distal tibial were managed by ankle arthrodesis and distraction osteogenesis. This is a retrospective case series study. All consecutive patients with bone transport complications after ankle arthrodesis and distraction osteogenesis who were subsequently operated on using a retrograde ETN PROtect® nail were analysed. The cases occurred between 2017 and 2020. The primary objective was to report on the resolution of the clinical problem and the risk of deep infection after nail implantation. Five patients have included: two docking site non-unions, two regenerated bone fractures and one hypotrophic regenerated bone. These complications were resolved in all patients (5/5, 100%). A painless, stable and plantigrade ankle arthrodesis was achieved in all cases. No patient developed a local infection or required nail removal (mean follow-up: 35.2 months). The mean LEFS score was 46.8 ± 13.8 and the mean knee ROM was 112 ± 12.7°. All patients tolerated full weight-bearing. All patients were very satisfied with the procedure (mean SAPS score was 93.8 points). The staged retrograde nailing technique using the ETN PROtect® nail may represent an effective and safe treatment for bone transport complications in high-infection-risk patients. Furthermore, the technique allows simultaneous achievement of ankle arthrodesis. The patients had good functional outcomes and were satisfied with the procedure. This strategy of using retrograde gentamicin-coated tibial nails offers a solution to resolve bone transport complications while simultaneously achieving functional ankle arthrodesis. Pujol O, Vicente M, Castellanos S, et al. Preliminary Outcomes of a Staged Percutaneous Retrograde Prefabricated Gentamicin-coated Intramedullary Nail to Manage Complications after Ankle Fusion through Tibial Bone Transport. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr 2023;18(3):155-162.

Cost-Utility Analysis of Total Ankle Replacement Compared with Ankle Arthrodesis for Patients Aged 50-85 Years with End-Stage Ankle Osteoarthritis: The TARVA Study.

Patients with end-stage ankle osteoarthritis suffer from reduced mobility and quality of life and the main surgical treatments are total ankle replacement (TAR) and ankle fusion (AF). Our aim was to calculate the mean incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of TAR compared with AF in patients with end-stage ankle osteoarthritis, over 52 weeks and over the patients' lifetime. We conducted a cost-utility analysis of 282 participants from 17 UK centres recruited to a randomised controlled trial (TARVA). QALYs were calculated using index values from EQ-5D-5L. Resource use information was collected from case report forms and self-completed questionnaires. Primary analysis was within-trial analysis from the National Health Service (NHS) and Personal Social Services (PSS) perspective, while secondary analyses were within-trial analysis from wider perspective and long-term economic modelling. Adjustments were made for baseline resource use and index values. Total cost at 52 weeks was higher in the TAR group compared with the AF group, from the NHS and PSS perspective (mean adjusted difference £2539, 95% confidence interval [CI] £1142, £3897). The difference became very small from the wider perspective (£155, 95% CI - £1947, £2331). There was no significant difference between TAR and AF in terms of QALYs (mean adjusted difference 0.02, 95% CI - 0.015, 0.05) at 52 weeks post-operation. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was £131,999 per QALY gained 52 weeks post-operation. Long-term economic modelling resulted in an ICER of £4200 per QALY gained, and there is a 69% probability of TAR being cost effective at a cost-effectiveness threshold of £20,000 per QALY gained. TAR does not appear to be cost effective over AF 52 weeks post-operation. A decision model suggests that TAR can be cost effective over the patients' lifetime but there is a need for longer-term prospectively collected data. Clinical trial registration ISRCTN60672307 and ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02128555.

Total ankle replacement versus ankle fusion for end-stage ankle arthritis: A meta-analysis.

This study aims to systematically review the efficacy and safety of total ankle replacement (TAR) and ankle fusion (AF) as treatment options for end-stage ankle arthritis. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on data from multiple databases, including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Construction and Building Materials, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus for RCTs and prospective cohort studies comparing TAR and AF in patients with end-stage ankle arthritis from inception up to June, 2023. Our primary outcomes of interest included patients' clinical function scores and complications. We employed Review Manager 5.4 and Stata/MP 14.0 software for the meta-analysis. Our analysis incorporated 13 comparative studies, including 11 prospective studies, one pilot RCT, and one RCT. The pooled results revealed no significant difference in postoperative Short Form-36 scores between the TAR and AF groups (MD = -1.19, 95% CI: -3.89 to 1.50, p = .39). However, the postoperative Foot and Ankle Ability Measure scores in the AF group were significantly higher than in the TAR group (MD = 8.30, 95% CI: 1.01-15.60, p = .03). There was no significant difference in postoperative complication rates between the TAR and AF groups (RR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.54, p = .85). Currently available evidence suggests no significant disparity in postoperative outcomes between TAR and AF. In the short term, TAR demonstrates better clinical scores than AF and lower complication rates. Conversely, in the long term, AF exhibits superior clinical scores and lower complication rates, although this difference is not statistically significant.

Midterm Results after Tibiotalar or Tibiotalocalcaneal Fusion Using an Ilizarov External Fixator.

Ankle fusion is considered a treatment of choice for end-stage ankle arthritis when a total ankle replacement procedure is not indicated. However, the potential risk of secondary arthritis in the adjacent joint after ankle fusion raises arguments on whether preserving the adjacent joint during an isolated tibiotalar (TT) fusion brings about any future benefits with regard to pain and gait discomfort. In this study, we intended to present midterm results following TT or tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) fusion using an Ilizarov external fixator and to investigate whether spontaneous fusion occurred in the subtalar or midtarsal joint. This is a retrospective observational study. Medical records of patients who underwent TT or TTC fusion using an Ilizarov external fixator for substantial bone defects around the ankle joint between 1994 and 2018 were manually searched. Forty-one patients were included and the status of the joints adjacent to the fusion site was evaluated in radiographic examinations. Of the 34 patients who underwent TT fusion, 30 patients (88.3%) had a spontaneous fusion in the adjacent joints. Specifically, 11 patients (29.4%) had subtalar joint fusion and 19 patients (55.9%) had both midtarsal joint and subtalar joint fusion. In TTC fusion, the midtarsal joint was spontaneously fused in all 7 patients. In this study, we observed spontaneous adjacent joint fusion following TT or TTC fusion using an Ilizarov external fixator for substantial bone defects around the ankle joint. Although a careful approach should be made since patients treated in this study may not represent typical candidates that need primary joint-sacrificing procedures, we believe that this study may draw attention from surgeons concerned about the fate of the adjacent joint status after TT or TTC fusion.

Interprofessional Collaboration to Support Person-centered Care: Implementation of an Integrated Surgical Pathway for Complex Foot and Ankle Patients

Introduction: Traditionally foot and ankle patients have high medical and social complexities that require additional support and care navigation following surgery to improve transitions out of hospital into the community for recovery at home. We explored implementation of an integrated surgical pathway that included an interprofessional, centralized intake model for surgical consult, pre-operative mobility assessment to assess post-operative supports and potential barriers to successful discharge home, and creation of a partnership with transitional care, while providing person-centered care to improve patient experience and surgical recovery. 
 Aims, Objectives and Methodology: Our objective was to develop and implement an integrated surgical pathway for complex foot and ankle patients to support seamless transitions in care from acute to recovery at home following surgery. 
 A working group was formed with members spanning operational and clinical roles across the care continuum including: physiotherapist practitioner, surgeon administrative support, clinical managers, inpatient physiotherapists, social work, nurse practitioners and transitional care program managers. A 2-hour process mapping session was conducted outlining the current state surgical pathway and potential barriers to successful discharge were identified. Standard care path guidelines were developed with decision tree clinical resources to assist the care team in facilitating referrals to transitional care pre-operatively to ensure seamless transition for the patient after surgery. 
 Highlights and Key Findings: The patient population supported by this integrated pathway were those with complex foot and ankle surgical procedures including: ankle and midfoot fusion, ligament reconstruction, ankle osteotomy, total ankle replacement and triple arthrodesis. Fairly equal distribution was seen between male and female (48% and 52% respectively), and the average age was 54 years. The addition of an interprofessional consult offered more robust patient education, pre and post surgical planning and expectation setting. A pre-op mobility assessment optimized post-operative care coordination. This was illustrated by a reduction in the acute length of stay from an average of 8.2 days in 19/20 to 3.4 days in 20/21. From 2018 to 2022 the discharge disposition of this patient cohort remained consistent with the majority of patients (66%) supported to return home with outpatient physiotherapy, 24% of patients were discharged home with homecare services coordinated and a small proportion (<10%) were transferred to a transitional care, inpatient or residential care facility. Qualitative report from patient's revealed that supports provided eased anxiety and improved post-operative transitions home for recovery.
 Conclusions: Implementation of an integrated surgical pathway for complex foot and ankle patients that maximize pre-operative care planning and leveraging existing community partnerships, both in-home and institutional; enable the delivery of person-centred care, facilitating seamless transitions from acute care to community for patients while optimizing hospital resource utilization.
 Implications for applicability/transferability, sustainability and limitations: Expansion of collaborative integrated models that support additional orthopedic surgical patient populations from hospital to recovery within the community are critical in providing person-centered care. Sustainability of these models will rely on securing the resources required for pre-surgical patient education, expectation setting and care and resource planning for seamless post-operative transitions. 

Outcomes of total ankle replacement – Current evidence

Total ankle replacement surgery is gaining popularity and is beginning to establish itself as a viable alternative to arthrodesis in the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis. Only a few studies exist directly comparing these 2 techniques. Also lacking are the long-term outcome studies of ankle replacement surgery. A better understanding of clinical and patient-reported outcome measures after ankle fusion and replacement will enable the surgeon to better counsel the patient and help choose the right treatment. This article will summarise the reported clinical outcomes after total ankle replacements and survivorship analysis from the various national arthroplasty registers.

A MEDIUM-TERM REVIEW OF THE OUTCOMES OF TALAR OSTEOCHONDRAL LESIONS TREATED WITH MATRIX-ASSOCIATED STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION

IntroductionOsteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the talus are a challenging and increasingly recognized problem in chronic ankle pain. Many novel techniques exist to attempt to treat this challenging entity. Difficulties associated with treating OCLs include lesion location, size, chronicity, and problems associated with potential graft harvest sites. Matrix associated stem cell transplantation (MAST) is one such treatment described for larger lesions >15mm2 or failed alternative therapies. This cohort study describes a medium-term review of the outcomes of talar lesions treated with MAST.MethodsA review of all patients treated with MAST by a single surgeon was conducted. Preoperative radiographs, MRIs and FAOS outcome questionnaire scores were conducted. Intraoperative classification was undertaken to correlate with imaging. Postoperative outcomes included FAOS scores, return to sport, revision surgery/failure of treatment and progression to arthritis/fusion surgery.Results58 MAST procedures in 57 patients were identified in this cohort. The mean follow up was 5 years. There were 20 females and37males, with a mean age of 37 years (SD 9.1). 22 patients had lateral OCLS were and 35 patients had medial OCLs. Of this cohort 32patients had previous surgery and 25 had this procedure as a primary event. 15 patients had one failed previous surgery, 9 patients had two, four patients had three previous surgeries and three patients had four previous surgeries. 12 patients had corrective or realignment procedures at the time of surgery. In terms of complications 3 patients of this cohort went on to have an ankle fusion and two of these had medial malleolar metal work taken out prior to this, 5 patients had additional procedures for arthrofibrotic debridements, 1 patient had a repeat MAST procedure, 1 additional patients had removal of medial malleolar osteotomy screws for pain at the osteotomy site, there were 2 wound complications one related to the ankle and one related to pain at the iliac crest donor site.ConclusionMAST has demonstrated positive results in lesions which prove challenging to treat, even in a “ failed microfracture” cohort.RCT still lacking in field of orthobiologics for MAST. Longer term follow up required to evaluate durability.

Comparison of Operative vs Non-operative Management of Ankle Fractures in Diabetic Patients: Prospective Randomized Trial

This study investigates the outcomes and complications associated with the management of ankle fractures in diabetic patients. A total of 44 diabetic patients with ankle fractures were enrolled, and they were randomly assigned to either conservative or operative treatment groups. The study evaluated demographic characteristics, diagnosis, complications, functional outcomes, and correlation with HbA1c and ankle brachial index. The results revealed a 29.5% complication rate among the patients, including superficial infections, Charcot neuroarthropathy, arthritic changes, loss of reduction leading to ankle fusion, and stiffness. Functional outcome scores (AOFAS and SF36) did not significantly differ between the conservative and operative groups. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between HbA1c levels and functional scores in the conservative group. Ankle brachial index demonstrated a negative correlation with the SF36 score in the conservative treatment group. The study emphasizes the importance of diabetic control and vascular assessment in guiding treatment decisions for diabetic ankle fractures.

Functional and radiographic assessments of post-traumatic asymmetrical ankle osteoarthritis treatment using supramalleolar osteotomies

PurposeThis study's objective is to assess the effectiveness of supramalleolar osteotomies (SMOT) in the treatment of asymmetrical ankle osteoarthritis in terms of the improvement in alignment assessed radiographically and its impact on symptoms measured by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle–hindfoot score (AOFAS ankle–hindfoot score).MethodsTwelve patients participated in this prospective observational case series study. Standing anteroposterior, true lateral, and mortise views radiographs were taken. For preoperative planning, the lateral distal tibial angle (LDTA), talar tilt (TT), talocrural angle (TCA), and anterior distal tibial angle (ADTA) were all measured. A medial opening wedge osteotomy mainly was used to treat the varus arthritis ankle. A further oblique fibular osteotomy is frequently necessary.ResultsThe male-to-female ratio was 3:1, and the mean age of the patients was 26.25 ± 13.032 years. There were highly statistically significant differences between pre-and post-operative AOFAS ankle–hindfoot score (p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences concerning ankle range of motion (p = 0.002, < 0.001) of dorsiflexion and planter flexion were detected. Comparison between pre-and post-operative patients' radiology characteristics shows statistically significant differences concerning TT (p = 0.016) and LDTA (p = 0.046).ConclusionSMOT is very effective in the treatment of post-traumatic ankle osteoarthritis and postpones ankle fusion or total ankle replacements. This surgery significantly improves functional and radiological outcomes as well as the range of motion in the ankle. Meticulous preoperative planning by radiological measurements of different angles around the ankle is considered the crucial factor in success of that operation.

Decreased Reoperation Rate with ABMP in Foot and Ankle Fusions

Category: Ankle; Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: A nonunion is a challenging clinic problem following foot and ankle arthrodeses. There is great interest in orthobiologics as surgical adjuvants. The purpose of this study is to compare three orthobiologics (PDGF-B agonist [PDGF-B], allograft bone morphogenetic protein [ABMP], crushed cancellous allograft [CC]) to determine if there is a difference in union rates following foot and ankle arthrodeses. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 258 feet (255 patients) with minimum 3-month follow-up, undergoing arthrodesis by a single fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon from 2016-2022. Patients underwent ankle, pantalar, triple, subtalar (ST), midfoot, or talonavicular fusion. Data collected included demographics, medical history, orthobiologics used, postoperative complications, readmission and reoperation rates. 83 (34.0%) cases used PDGF-B with CC, 32 (13.1%) used solely ABMP, 66 (27.0%) used ABMP with CC, and 63 (25.8%) used solely CC. Union was defined as bridging bone on three joint quadrants on AP and lateral radiographs, or greater than 50% bridging bone of the joint space on computed tomography (CT). Results: Of the 258 cases, the ST joint was most commonly fused (53.7%). Cases using ABMP had statistically significantly shorter mean time to fusion (ABMP=120.81 days, no ABMP=162.04 days). Patients treated with ABMP were also significantly less likely to undergo reoperation or removal of hardware. Between PDGF-B+CC and ABMP+CC groups, only reoperation rates differed significantly (PDGF-B+CC=26.5%, ABMP+CC=7.6%,). Multivariate regression modeling for time to fusion found ABMP usage to be the only statistically significant predictor of time to fusion, predicting patients will achieve fusion nearly 40.7 days quicker with the use of ABMP. Conclusion: Joints treated with PDGF-B and ABMP demonstrated equivalent fusion rates. Treatments using ABMP and CC achieved quicker time to fusion and lower rates of reoperation when compared to treatments using PDGF-B and CC.