Outcomes of total ankle replacement - Current evidence

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Total ankle replacement (TAR) is increasingly recognized as a viable treatment for end-stage ankle arthritis.
• Arthrodesis (ankle fusion) is a traditional treatment, but direct comparative studies with TAR are limited.
• Long-term outcome data for total ankle replacement is still scarce, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize clinical outcomes reported for total ankle replacement surgery.
• To analyze survivorship data for total ankle replacements from national arthroplasty registers.
• To provide a basis for better patient counseling and treatment selection by comparing TAR and ankle fusion outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical outcomes reported in existing literature on total ankle replacement.
• Analysis of survivorship data from national arthroplasty registers for ankle replacement procedures.
• Synthesis of data to compare outcomes between total ankle replacement and ankle fusion.

Main Results:

• Total ankle replacement is emerging as a popular alternative to ankle fusion for end-stage ankle arthritis.
• Limited direct comparative studies exist between total ankle replacement and ankle fusion.
• Survivorship data from national registers is crucial for understanding long-term effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive understanding of clinical and patient-reported outcomes is essential for informed treatment decisions in end-stage ankle arthritis.
• Further research and data collection on long-term outcomes are needed for both total ankle replacement and ankle fusion.
• This review aims to consolidate current knowledge to aid surgeons in patient management and treatment selection.