Cement arthroplasty for ankle joint destruction

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Arthroplasty
• Salvage Procedures

Background:

• Ankle joint destruction presents significant challenges in treatment.
• Primary salvage procedures are crucial for managing complex ankle pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of cement arthroplasty as a primary salvage procedure for ankle joint destruction.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of cement arthroplasty in a cohort of patients with severe ankle disorders.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of sixteen patients undergoing primary cement arthroplasty for infection, nonunion, bone defects, or tumors.
• Radiographic evaluation of cement spacer, osteolysis, and joint alignment.
• Assessment of functional outcomes using American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, and patient questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Cement spacers were retained without breakage in all patients over a mean follow-up of 39 months.
• Significant improvements observed in AOFAS scores (39 to 70) and VAS pain scores (8 to 3) (p=0.001).
• Nine patients ambulated without walking aids, ten used no pain medication, and nine could walk continuously for over an hour.

Conclusions:

• Primary cement arthroplasty serves as a potential treatment option for advanced ankle destruction.
• This procedure may be particularly beneficial for elderly and less active patient populations.
• Cement arthroplasty demonstrated positive functional outcomes and pain reduction in this cohort.