Protective Approach for Anatomical Structures at Risk in Total Ankle Replacement

Currently, total ankle replacement (TAR) is an alternative to arthrodesis in selected patients, with the anterior approach being the most widely used to carry it out. Regardless of the type of implant used, the pins for bone resection guides, chisels, and the saw for distal tibial resection can endanger the neurovascular and tendon structures that lie in intimate proximity to the posterior aspect of the ankle. Additionally, there is a documented complication rate of up to 15.3% in such surgery. We have implemented a protective posteromedial approach that complements the anterior approach to reduce this risk of intraoperative iatrogenic injury. Using this method we introduce a protective instrument that separates the posterior anatomical structures from the posterior cortex of the tibia. This article describes the surgical technique used to carry out TAR through an anterior approach in a safer way, without increasing complications or the duration of real-time surgery.