Arthroscopic Versus Open Ankle Arthrodesis: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Ankle Joint Reconstruction

Background:

• Ankle arthrodesis is a procedure to fuse the ankle joint, relieving pain in severe arthritis.
• Open ankle arthrodesis (OAA) has been the traditional approach.
• Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (AAA) is a less invasive alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and compare clinical outcomes of OAA versus AAA.
• Key outcomes include clinical scores, union rates, complications, reoperations, hospital stay, and operation time.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis of 7 retrospective comparative studies.
• Searches conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases.
• Data extraction and quality assessment performed by two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

• Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (AAA) demonstrated superior clinical scores (AOFAS, OA S) compared to open ankle arthrodesis (OAA).
• AAA showed significantly lower complication rates and shorter hospital stays than OAA.
• Union rates, reoperation rates, and operation times were comparable between AAA and OAA.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (AAA) presents advantages over open ankle arthrodesis (OAA), including improved clinical outcomes, reduced complications, and shorter hospitalization.
• The efficacy in terms of fusion and revision rates remains similar between both techniques.