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A determination of ankle kinematics using fluoroscopy
R D Komistek1, J B Stiehl, F F Buechel
1Rocky Mountain Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory, Denver, Colorado 80222, USA. rkomistek@rmmrl.org
Foot & Ankle International
|May 16, 2000
Summary
This study compared ankle joint motion in patients with total ankle arthroplasty to normal ankles. Implanted ankles showed altered talar contact and increased rotational variability during weight-bearing motion.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Biomechanics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Accurate assessment of joint kinematics is crucial for evaluating orthopedic implants.
- Dynamic in vivo weight-bearing studies using video fluoroscopy provide reproducible joint motion analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the in vivo translational and rotational kinematics of the distal tibia relative to the talus in sagittal and frontal planes.
- To compare the ankle joint motion between normal ankles and those with total ankle arthroplasty under weight-bearing conditions.
Main Methods:
- Dynamic video fluoroscopy was used to analyze the in vivo weight-bearing motion of ten subjects.
- Subjects had one normal ankle and one with a Buechel-Pappas Total Ankle arthroplasty.
- Kinematics were assessed during the transition from maximum dorsiflexion to plantarflexion.
Main Results:
- Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) resulted in increased posterior talar contact during plantarflexion compared to normal ankles.
- Implanted ankles exhibited greater translational and rotational motion variability.
- Average range of motion was slightly reduced in TAA (32.3°) versus normal ankles (37.4°).
Conclusions:
- This study defines normal ankle joint kinematics and highlights differences in TAA.
- Altered talar contact and increased motion variability in TAA may be linked to surgical technique or ligamentous changes.
- Understanding these kinematic differences is essential for optimizing TAA outcomes.