Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2025
Treatment of Ankle Osteoarthritis with Total Ankle Replacement Through a Lateral Transfibular Approach
Published on: January 24, 2018
Early Clinical Outcomes and Complications of Transfibular Total Ankle Arthroplasty: The Australian Experience
Ellery Clugston1, Nalan Ektas2, Corey Scholes2
1Orthopaedics, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
Background:
We report the short-term outcomes of a retrospective cohort of Trabecular Metal total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs) via a transfibular approach from a single, nondesigner surgeon in Australia.
Methods:
This was a retrospective cohort study. Demographic, clinical, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected. The primary outcome was the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), and secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction, the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ5D), and complications including revision rates.
Results:
Between 2016 and 2019, 84 trabecular metal prostheses were implanted in 84 patients. Mean age (SD) at time of surgery was 68 (7.8) years, and 46 (55%) were male. Mean follow-up (SD) was 26.1 (13) months. There were significant (P < .001) improvements in the FAOS in the subscales of pain (47.9 to 79.1), activities of daily living (59.5 to 83.7), and quality of life (25.5 to 60.2) and EQ-5D (0.55 to 0.75) (P < .001), and overall satisfaction was 69.6%. The commonest complications were wound infection or breakdown (11.9%, n=10), fibular nonunion (3.5%), plate irritation (3.5%), and tibial nerve neuropathy (3.5%). There were no thromboembolic complications. Implant survivorship was 100%, with Trabecular Metal components retained in all patients. Two patients developed deep infection, with 1 requiring debridement and polyethylene exchange. No patients experienced implant loosening.
Conclusion:
Our results demonstrate that the trabecular metal survival rates are comparable with other total ankle implants in the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry and as published in other international literature. Overall patient satisfaction was high, as were PROMs. However, the data highlight potential complications uniquely associated with this implant. The authors believe that these figures support TAA via a transfibular approach as a viable option in the treatment of ankle arthritis.
Level Of Evidence:
Level IV, retrospective cohort study.
More Related Videos
09:51The Transition to an Anterior-Based Muscle Sparing Approach Improves Early Postoperative Function but is Associated with a Learning Curve
Published on: September 7, 2022
07:24Autologous Microfractured and Purified Adipose Tissue for Arthroscopic Management of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
Published on: January 23, 2018