Extra-articular ankle stabilization: a case series

Maintenance of the foot at 90 degrees to the lower leg following posterior calf lengthening or to prevent an equinus contracture in situations in which splint, cast, or external fixation is deemed inappropriate is a challenge. The author presents an observational case series involving 9 extra-articular ankle stabilizations performed in 9 consecutive patients. Each patient underwent his or her index surgery followed by percutaneous placement of 2 smooth 2.8-mm or larger diameter Steinmann pins extra-articular to the ankle joint. There were 6 men and 3 women with a mean age of 56.1 years (range, 31-73 years). Five patients had diabetes with peripheral neuropathy, 2 had critical limb ischemia, 1 had alcohol-induced neuropathy, 1 had lupus, and 1 was an active smoker. Eight patients had posterior calf lengthening, and 1 had open metatarsal fractures with severe soft-tissue disruption with an inability to use splint immobilization. Three patients had a transmetatarsal amputation, 2 patients had Chopart amputations, 2 patients had forefoot plastic surgery reconstructive procedures, 1 had a complex Charcot reconstruction, and 1 had a splittibialis anterior tendon transfer. Extra-articular ankle stabilization fixation was retained for a mean of 5.5 weeks (range, 2-10 weeks). Mean follow-up was 12 months (range, 1-17 months). All extra-articular stabilization procedures were deemed successful. When properly performed, extra-articular stabilization to maintain the foot at 90 degrees to the lower leg represents a safe, simple, reliable, and minimally invasive technique useful in situations in which traditional splint or cast immobilization is not possible and when external fixation is deemed inappropriate.