Long-term results of total ankle replacement

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Rheumatology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthropathies frequently affect the ankle joint.
• Ankle arthroplasty is a surgical option for managing severe ankle pain and dysfunction in these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of total ankle replacement in patients with inflammatory arthritis.
• To assess the incidence of implant loosening and its impact on patient function and pain.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 19 total ankle replacements performed in 18 patients with inflammatory arthritis.
• Follow-up assessment included clinical evaluation of pain and function, and radiographic analysis for signs of loosening.
• Mean follow-up duration was 54.4 months (minimum 24 months).

Main Results:

• Three out of 19 ankle arthroplasties failed due to loosening.
• Radiographic evidence of loosening was observed in an additional eight patients.
• The remaining patients reported improvements in pain and functional capacity despite radiographic findings.

Conclusions:

• Total ankle replacement can provide pain relief and functional improvement for patients with inflammatory arthritis.
• Implant loosening remains a significant concern, observed both clinically and radiographically, impacting long-term outcomes.
• Careful patient selection and surgical technique are crucial for optimizing results in total ankle arthroplasty for inflammatory arthritis.