Total Ankle Replacement Options.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomedical engineering
• Podiatric medicine

Background:

• Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) development spans over four decades.
• Early TAA designs faced high failure rates, but current implants show significant improvements.
• Advancements have led to promising functional results and clinical outcomes in TAA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution and current state of total ankle arthroplasty.
• To outline available total ankle replacement implant options for foot and ankle surgeons.
• To aid surgeons in selecting appropriate TAA prostheses based on patient and surgical factors.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical and current total ankle arthroplasty literature.
• Analysis of different total ankle replacement designs, categorizing them into mobile-bearing and fixed-bearing types.
• Discussion of factors influencing patient suitability and implant choice for ankle arthroplasty.

Main Results:

• Total ankle arthroplasty implants have progressed from experimental to reliable options.
• Current TAA designs demonstrate enhanced functional and clinical performance.
• A variety of prostheses are available, necessitating careful consideration for optimal patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Total ankle arthroplasty is a viable treatment option with improved outcomes.
• Understanding the differences between mobile-bearing and fixed-bearing designs is crucial.
• Surgeons must carefully evaluate patient factors and available implant options for successful ankle replacement.