[Arthrodesis of the ankle joint]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Musculoskeletal System Research

Background:

• Ankle arthrodesis remains vital for managing painful arthrosis, chronic infection, and instability after failed conservative treatments.
• Prosthetic ankle replacement is currently limited primarily to rheumatoid arthritis patients.
• Long-term outcomes favor ankle arthrodesis over alloarthroplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of ankle arthrodesis.
• To compare ankle arthrodesis with prosthetic replacement.
• To review current techniques and complications associated with ankle fusion.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and surgical techniques for ankle arthrodesis.
• Discussion of compression arthrodesis methods including external fixators, ring fixators, and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).
• Mention of arthroscopic ORIF as a viable option.

Main Results:

• Ankle arthrodesis provides good functional results when performed in the correct position, reducing the need for replacement compared to hip or knee.
• Fusion is achievable in most cases, including infection, malalignment, osteoporosis, and soft tissue damage.
• Key complications include pseudarthrosis (up to 35%) and postoperative infection (3%-25%).

Conclusions:

• Ankle arthrodesis is a highly effective procedure for specific ankle conditions, with functional limitations mainly concerning running.
• Advanced techniques ensure successful fusion in complex cases.
• Adjacent joint arthrosis is a significant long-term complication (10-60%).