Clinical outcome after primary triple arthrodesis.

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Foot and Ankle Surgery
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Triple arthrodesis is a surgical procedure to treat complex foot and ankle deformities.
• Factors influencing outcomes include preoperative deformity, diagnosis, and surgical correction.
• Postoperative analysis of these factors is crucial for understanding intermediate results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors on triple arthrodesis outcomes.
• To investigate the relationship between postoperative ankle arthritis and patient satisfaction.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of triple arthrodesis in pain relief and functional improvement.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 111 patients (132 feet) who underwent triple arthrodesis between 1987 and 1995.
• Exclusion criteria included infection, neuroarthropathy, and revision arthrodesis.
• Follow-up averaged 5.7 years, with a minimum of 2 years, using rigid screw fixation and joint realignment.

Main Results:

• Postoperative ankle arthritis was significantly more prevalent than preoperative (p<0.01).
• Patient satisfaction averaged 8.3/10 and was significantly associated with postoperative alignment (p=0.001), not arthritis.
• 91% of patients would undergo the procedure again, independent of preoperative diagnosis or deformity.

Conclusions:

• Triple arthrodesis is effective for treating foot deformities, reducing pain, and improving function.
• Despite a high incidence of subsequent ankle arthritis, it does not correlate with patient satisfaction.
• Postoperative alignment is a key factor in patient satisfaction after triple arthrodesis.