Osteotomies for Managing Varus and Valgus Malalignment with Total Ankle Replacement

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Coronal plane malalignment, such as varus or valgus deformities, presents challenges in total ankle replacement.
• Achieving neutral ankle alignment is crucial for successful total ankle arthroplasty outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of total ankle replacement in managing varus and valgus ankle deformities.
• To highlight the importance of preoperative assessment and adjuvant osteotomies for deformity correction.

Main Methods:

• Review of cases involving total ankle replacement with pre-existing coronal plane malalignment.
• Analysis of preoperative assessment techniques for deformity quantification.
• Evaluation of various osteotomy techniques (tibial, malleolar, calcaneal, metatarsal) for correction.

Main Results:

• Total ankle replacement can yield successful outcomes in varus and valgus ankles when neutral alignment is achieved.
• Preoperative assessment is critical for selecting appropriate adjuvant procedures like osteotomies.
• Osteotomies proximal, within, or distal to the ankle effectively correct coronal plane deformities.

Conclusions:

• Total ankle replacement is a suitable option for varus and valgus ankles requiring coronal plane correction.
• Meticulous preoperative planning and surgical correction of malalignment are key to favorable short-term outcomes.