Total ankle replacement versus nonoperative management for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis: A comparative analysis

The optimal management of end-stage ankle osteoarthritis remains debated. This study compared short-term outcomes between non-operative treatment, total ankle replacement (TAR), and cases in which indicated surgery was delayed.

In this secondary analysis of prospectively collected data, treatment survival, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), and patient satisfaction were assessed at baseline and at 1- and 2-year follow-up.

In a total of 316 patients one-year treatment survival was highest for TAR (99.3%), followed by NOM (94.4%) and delayed surgery (80.9%). TAR demonstrated significantly superior FAOS pain and quality-of-life scores compared with NOM and delayed surgery. Delayed surgery was associated with significantly worse pain and quality-of-life outcomes. Patient satisfaction was highest in the TAR group and lowest in the delayed surgery group.

TAR provides superior pain relief, quality of life, and satisfaction compared with non-operative management in end-stage ankle OA. While NOM remains a valid option for selected patients, delaying indicated surgery results in inferior outcomes, underscoring the importance of timely, shared decision-making.