Role of Extra-articular Tibiotalocalcaneal Arthrodesis and Posterior Approach in Highly Complex Cases

Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis is a procedure commonly used as salvage surgery for various pathologic processes that compromise the ankle and subtalar joints. It is a reasonably standardized procedure when performed as a primary surgery in advanced stages of TTC arthritis. For such cases, there are several alternative approaches, fixation materials, and bone substitutes that can be used. Most represent valid options with similar results in the literature. However, in highly complex cases requiring TTC arthrodesis, the options for the approach and fixation material can be limited. Understanding the alternative approaches and techniques is of great help to the surgeon when faced with highly complex cases, such as patients with multiple previous operations, lack of bone stock, severe deformities, or compromise of associated soft tissues. In this article, we describe the role of the posterior approach with some technical variation that allows extra-articular arthrodesis in highly complex cases, and we present a series of patients with tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis who were operated on using this technique.

Retrospective review of all patients who underwent tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis via posterior approach between 2008 and 2016. The surgeries were performed by 2 different surgeons with the same technique (posterior approach with sliding graft) but 2 different fixation methods. Radiographs and computed tomographic (CT) studies were reviewed and patient satisfaction was rated using the Coughlin scale. Mean follow-up was 38 months. We identified 20 patients. The mean age was 51.2 years; 11 patients had post-traumatic arthritis whereas the others had other causes of arthritis (inflammatory disease, neurologic deformity, etc).

The arthrodesis was performed using a tibiotalocalcaneal plate in 9 patients and retrograde intramedullary nail in 11 patients. Radiographic fusion was observed at an average of 3.1 months. Four patients had complications and 15 reported good or excellent results after surgery.

Our study found a fusion rate comparable to other studies in highly complex cases. There were no operative wound complications. We observed that the posterior approach, with an extra-articular fusion procedure, was a valid option for salvage surgery in highly complex cases that require tibiotalocalcaneal fusion.

Level IV, retrospective case series.