Arthrodesis with internal fixation of the infected ankle

Arthrodesis may be necessary to avoid amputation when treating an infected tibiotalar joint. In such cases, external or hybrid fixation is usually used. In this retrospective study, we report our experience in treating tibiotalar joint infection by arthrodesis with internal fixation. From March 1992 to October 2005 (13 years, 7 months), 20 patients underwent septic ankle arthrodesis with internal fixation. The mean duration of infection before fusion was 2.5 ± 6.7 years. Arthrodesis was performed with the Méary technique in 9 (45%) cases and with the Crawford-Adams technique in 11 (55%) cases. Internal fixation consisted of screw fixation, staple fixation, or a combination of both. The mean duration of antibiotic treatment was 97.5 ± 37.5 days, and the mean follow-up was 64 ± 36 months, with no patient lost to follow-up. Patients were considered cured if no clinical, biological, or radiologic signs of infection were present at a minimum of 2 years follow-up. The incidence of cure was 85.0% (91.0% with Crawford-Adams and 77.8% with Méary techniques). Radiographic fusion was identified in 89.5% of the cases (91.0% with Crawford-Adams and 87.5% with Méary techniques) at a mean of 4.8 ± 2.4 (range 3 to 11) months postoperative. Tibiotalar arthrodesis in the presence of sepsis can be performed with internal osteosynthesis only under certain conditions. In our experience, this treatment produced satisfactory fusion in 89.5% of patients and eradicated infection in 85.0% of cases.