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Published on: January 24, 2018
Short-Term Outcomes of Primary Total Ankle Arthroplasty in Octogenarians: A National Database Analysis
Matthew Partan1,2,3,4, Nicholas Frane1,2,3,4, Cesar Iturriaga1,2,3,4
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwell Health Plainview Hospital, Plainview, New York (MP, NF, CI, PM).
Background:
Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is an increasingly popular option for end-stage ankle arthritis. Americans over the age of 80 years grew to 16.7 million in 2010, but there are scarce data assessing the outcomes of octogenarians undergoing TAA. This study evaluated (1) perioperative factors, (2) 30-day postoperative complications compared to a nonoctogenarian cohort, and (3) independent risk factors for adverse outcomes.
Methods:
A national database registry was queried for patients who had undergone primary TAA. This yielded 1113 patients, under (n = 1059) and over (n = 54) age 80 years. Demographics and perioperative data were compared using Fisher's exact, χ2, and independent-samples t tests. Logistic and Poisson regressions were used to calculate odds ratio (OR) of complications and independent risk factors.
Results:
The octogenarian cohort had longer in-hospital length of stay (1.9 vs 2.5 days, P < .0001). Octogenarians were not significantly more likely to develop any complication (OR = 1.32; 95% confidence interval = 0.29-6.04; P = .722), or increased number of complications (OR = 1.18; 95% CI = 0.27-5.18; P = .820). Octogenarians had significantly increased risk of being discharged to rehab/skilled nursing (OR = 6.60; 95% CI = 2.16-20.15; P < .001) instead of home.
Conclusion:
Although the elderly population may carry inherent risk factors, octogenarians do not present an increased risk of short-term complications following TAA.
Levels Of Evidence:
Therapeutic, Level III: Retrospective cohort study.
