Outcomes of Total Ankle Replacement.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomedical engineering
• Rheumatology

Background:

• End-stage ankle osteoarthritis (OA) significantly impacts patient quality of life.
• Ankle arthrodesis (AA) is a traditional treatment, but total ankle replacement (TAR) offers an alternative.
• TAR aims to restore joint function and alleviate pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of total ankle replacement (TAR) for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis (OA).
• To compare TAR outcomes with ankle arthrodesis (AA).
• To identify factors influencing TAR success and long-term implant survivorship.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical outcomes, kinematic function, and pain relief following TAR.
• Comparison of TAR with AA in appropriate patient populations.
• Analysis of patient-specific factors (age, weight, deformity) and implant designs (mobile-bearing vs. fixed-bearing).

Main Results:

• TAR provides improved kinematic function and decreased stress on adjacent joints compared to AA.
• Equivalent pain relief is achieved with TAR compared to AA.
• Both mobile-bearing and fixed-bearing TAR implants show favorable short-to-medium term outcomes and survivorship.

Conclusions:

• TAR is an effective treatment for select patients with end-stage ankle OA.
• Careful patient selection considering age, weight, deformity, and joint status is crucial for optimal outcomes.
• While TAR demonstrates good survivorship, long-term performance necessitates continued innovation in implant design and revision strategies.