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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Treatment of Ankle Osteoarthritis with Total Ankle Replacement Through a Lateral Transfibular Approach
Published on: January 24, 2018
[Single-stage arthrodesis for septic arthritis of the ankle and hindfoot]
Zhiyu Wang1, Wenjing Li1,2, Baozhou Zhang1
1Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 102208, China.
Objective:
To evaluate the clinical outcomes of one-stage debridement, arthrodesis, and Ilizarov external fixation for the treatment of septic arthritis of the ankle and hindfoot.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 12 patients with septic arthritis of the ankle or hindfoot who underwent one-stage debridement, arthrodesis, and Ilizarov external fixation performed by the same surgeon between April 2015 and June 2023. The study included 8 males and 4 females, with a mean age of (53.6±16.2) years at surgery; all procedures were unilateral. General clinical characteristics, bacterial culture results, and the time to external fixator removal were recorded. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain were recorded and compared between the preoperative period and the final follow-up. Patient satisfaction with the surgery and the occurrence of complications were also documented.
Results:
All patients were followed up for a mean of (51.3±34.0) months postoperatively. Positive bacterial cultures were found in 7 cases. Infection control was achieved in all patients, with a 100% bone fusion rate confirmed by radiographs or CT. The median time to external fixator removal was 16 (12, 24) weeks. Preoperatively, the median VAS score was 7 (5.3, 7.8) points, and the mean AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was (42.8±10.4) points. At the final follow-up, the median VAS score was 1 (0, 2) point, and the mean AOFAS score was (77.6±10.2) points, both showing significant improvement compared with preoperative values (P < 0.01). Regarding complications, there was 1 case of pin tract infection, 3 cases of limb shortening, and 2 cases of skin numbness. Nine patients were very satisfied with the surgery, and 3 were satisfied.
Conclusion:
One-stage debridement, arthrodesis, and Ilizarov external fixation are a reliable method for treating septic arthritis of the ankle and hindfoot. It effectively controls infection, shortens treatment duration, and yields favorable functional and imaging outcomes, with high patient satisfaction and acceptable complication rates.
