Ankle arthrodesis: internal non-compression arthrodesis versus internal compression arthrodesis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Podiatric Surgery
• Musculoskeletal Research

Background:

• Ankle arthritis significantly impacts patient mobility and quality of life.
• Ankle arthrodesis is a standard surgical intervention for severe ankle arthritis.
• Various fusion techniques exist, necessitating comparative studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of Blair's non-compression arthrodesis with internal compression arthrodesis using crossed screws.
• To evaluate union rates and fusion times between the two surgical methods.
• To determine the superior technique for ankle fusion.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 66 patients undergoing ankle arthrodesis.
• Group 1: 34 patients treated with Blair's non-compression arthrodesis.
• Group 2: 32 patients treated with internal compression arthrodesis using two crossed screws.

Main Results:

• Internal compression group: 96.9% union rate, average fusion time of 2.7 months (1 non-union).
• Blair's non-compression group: 91.2% union rate, average fusion time of 5.6 months (3 non-unions).
• The internal compression technique showed a statistically significant reduction in fusion time.

Conclusions:

• Internal compression ankle arthrodesis with crossed screws is superior to Blair's non-compression arthrodesis.
• The crossed-screw technique offers faster fusion and a higher union rate, improving outcomes for ankle arthritis.
• This study supports the use of internal compression for ankle fusion procedures.