Infinity Ankle Arthroplasty Early Latin-America Experience and Patient Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Ankle arthroplasty has advanced with improved implants and instruments, showing promising short-to-intermediate term results.
• High patient satisfaction is frequently reported following total ankle replacement procedures.
• This study evaluates the outcomes of the Infinity total ankle prosthesis in South America.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the clinical and radiological outcomes of the Infinity total ankle prosthesis.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of this specific implant in a real-world setting.
• To evaluate pain reduction, functional improvement, and range of motion post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• A case series of 48 patients (49 prostheses) from Brazil and Colombia, surgically treated between 2016 and 2020.
• Pre- and post-operative assessment using the visual-analogue pain scale (VAS), AOFAS score, and range of motion (ROM).
• Radiological evaluation included standard ankle views in orthostasis, measuring Hintermann parameters. Average follow-up was 4 years.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements observed: VAS decreased from 7.94 to 1.98, AOFAS score increased from 28.02 to 83.16, and ROM improved from 11.45 to 28.08.
• Distal Tibial Slope correlated with VAS and AOFAS/ROM improvements.
• Low complication rate: 4 wound infections, 1 medial malleolus fracture; no component subsidence, wear, or failure. No revision surgeries were required.

Conclusions:

• The Infinity total ankle prosthesis provides substantial improvements in pain, function, and mobility.
• The procedure is safe and reproducible, yielding good outcomes in the short-term follow-up period.
• Results align with existing literature supporting total ankle arthroplasty.