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Updated: Mar 2, 2026
Treatment of Ankle Osteoarthritis with Total Ankle Replacement Through a Lateral Transfibular Approach
Published on: January 24, 2018
[Aseptic loosening of total ankle replacement : One-stage revision ankle arthroplasty]
G Pagenstert1, M D Wimmer2, M Jacxsens1,3
1Orthopädische Klinik, Universität Basel, Basel, Schweiz.
Objective:
To revise one or both loosened prosthesis components, to achieve postoperative pain relief, and preserve ankle range of motion.
Indications:
Aseptic loosening of the tibial and/or talar ankle prosthesis components without substantial bone defect of the tibial or talar bone stock.
Contraindications:
General surgical or anesthesiological risks, infections, critical soft tissue conditions, nonmanageable hindfoot instability, neurovascular impairment of the lower extremity, neuroarthropathy (e. g. Charcot arthropathy), substantial nonreconstructable osseous defects with or without cysts on the tibial and/or talar side, non-compliance, patients with primary total ankle replacement (TAR) using intramedullary fixation (stem fixation), patients with severely reduced bone quality, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, smoking, unrealistic patient expectations, patients with high activity in sports.
Surgical Technique:
Exposure of the ankle joint using the previous incision (anterior or lateral transfibular approach). Mobilization and removal of loosened prosthesis component. Careful debridement of bone stock at bone-prosthesis interface. Determination of prosthesis component size. Implantation of definitive prosthesis components. Wound closure in layers.
Postoperative Management:
A soft wound dressing is used. Thromboprophylaxis is recommended. Patient mobilization starts at postoperative day 1 with 15 kg partial weight bearing using a stabilizing walking boot or cast for 6 weeks. Following clinical and radiographic follow-up at 6 weeks, full weight bearing is initiated gradually.
Results:
Between January 2007 and December 2012 a one-stage revision TAR was performed in 14 patients with a mean age of 52.7 ± 12.0 years (29.8-70.5 years). The indication for revision surgery was aseptic loosening of one or both prosthesis components. The mean time between the initial TAR and revision surgery was 5.9 ± 2.9 years (2.0-11.5 years). In 2 patients a tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis was performed due to painful aseptic loosening of revision TAR. In all patients a significant pain relief was observed.
