Clinical outcomes comparing arthroscopic vs open ankle arthrodesis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Ankle Arthrodesis

Background:

• Minimally invasive ankle arthrodesis has become a preferred alternative to open surgery.
• It is associated with reduced hospital stays and fewer complications.
• This study compares arthroscopic and open ankle fusion outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare clinical outcomes of arthroscopic versus open ankle arthrodesis at 24-month follow-up.
• To evaluate pain, functional scores, and complication rates.
• To determine the superiority of one surgical approach over the other.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective comparative series (Level III evidence).
• Matched cohort of 28 arthroscopic and 56 open ankle arthrodesis cases.
• Clinical outcomes assessed using VAS, AOFAS, and SF-36 scores at baseline, 6, and 24 months.

Main Results:

• Arthroscopic group showed significantly less perioperative pain (1.9 vs 3.8, p<0.001) and shorter hospital stay (2.1 vs 3.5 days, p<0.001).
• Higher SF-36 physical functioning scores at 6 months (58.4 vs 47.1, p<0.05) and AOFAS scores at 24 months (78.9 vs 68.9, p<0.05) in the arthroscopic group.
• No complications in the arthroscopic group versus 11 (9 requiring reoperation) in the open group.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis demonstrates superior clinical outcomes compared to open surgery at 24 months.
• Advantages include reduced perioperative pain, improved functional scores, shorter hospitalization, and fewer complications.
• Arthroscopic ankle fusion is a favorable option for patients requiring ankle fusion.