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Published on: January 24, 2018
Arthroscopically assisted ankle fusion in patients with end-stage tuberculosis
Kang-lai Tang1, Qi-hong Li, Guang-xin Chen
1Centre for Joint Surgery, Orthopaedics Department, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. tangkanglai@hotmail.com
Purpose:
Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of arthroscopically assisted ankle fusion in patients with end-stage tuberculosis.
Methods:
Ten patients, all with end-stage tuberculosis, were operated on by arthroscopically assisted ankle fusion, and a half-ring sulcated external fixator was used. Partial weight-bearing was started on the fourth day. The clinical results were assessed with the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score. Ankle fusion was proved by radiographs.
Results:
At the mean follow-up of 23 months, all fusions were healed; the mean time to radiologic healing was 14.5 weeks. The final American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score was 66 points.
Conclusions:
Arthroscopically assisted debridement and ankle arthrodesis with an external fixator provided a very satisfactory rate of ankle fusion in 10 patients who had no recurrences or other complications.
Level Of Evidence:
Level IV, therapeutic case series.
