Arthrodesis of the Ankle

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Foot and Ankle Surgery

Background:

• Posttraumatic ankle arthritis is a common cause of pain and disability.
• Traditional treatments may have limitations, necessitating advanced surgical techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a minimally invasive ankle arthrodesis technique.
• To assess outcomes in patients with painful posttraumatic ankle arthritis.

Main Methods:

• A standardized, minimally invasive ankle arthrodesis using a small anterior approach with 4-5 screw fixation.
• Percutaneous insertion of posteromedial and transfibular screws in most cases.
• Alternative approaches (posterolateral, transfibular) and fixation methods (double plate, Charnley fixator) for complex cases.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 99% union rate (92/93) with rapid bone healing (8 ± 2 weeks).
• Reported a low minor complication rate of 8%.
• Significantly improved the AOFAS ankle/hindfoot score from 36 to 85 and preserved midtarsal movement (24° ± 16°).

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive ankle arthrodesis with 4-5 screw fixation is highly successful for treating painful posttraumatic ankle arthritis.
• This technique offers excellent union rates, low complications, and substantial functional recovery.
• Complex cases may require modified approaches and multi-stage procedures.