Arthrodesis of the ankle secondary to replacement

Ankle arthrodesis for failed total ankle replacement

Between 1999 and 2005, 23 failed total ankle replacements were converted to arthrodeses. Three surgical techniques were used: tibiotalar arthrodesis with screw fixation, tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with screw fixation, and tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with an intramedullary nail. As experience was gained, the benefits and problems became apparent. Successful bony union was seen in 17 of the 23 ankles. The complication rate was higher in ankles where the loosening had caused extensive destruction of the body of the talus, usually in rheumatoid arthritis. In this situation we recommend tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with an intramedullary nail. This technique can also be used when there is severe arthritic change in the subtalar joint. Arthrodesis of the tibiotalar joint alone using compression screws was generally possible in osteoarthritis because the destruction of the body of the talus was less extensive. Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis fusion with compression screws has not been successful in our experience.

Einfach- und doppeltbeschichtete STAR-Sprunggelenkprothesen

An up to 12-year follow-up of 51 single-coated STAR revealed that 15 ankles had undergone fusion. The mean time from primary surgery to the first revision was median 51 months. In a series of 58 double-coated STAR ankles followed up to 5 years only one ankle had to be revised for component loosening. In this series the clinical survival rate was 98% and the radiographic survival rate 94% at 5 years. The radiographic survival rate, with component loosening as endpoint, was significantly better for the last 31 cases in the series of the single-coated prostheses. However, the loosening rate did not differ when these latter 31 cases were compared with the cases operated on with a double-coated prosthesis. One may conclude that improvement of the anchoring surfaces has had a limited influence on the radiographic survival of the STAR ankle. However, from the clinical survivorship figures it is obvious that the learning process continues as the difference in revision rate between the 31 last implanted single-coated and the later on implanted double-coated prostheses approached significance.

The use of circular wire external fixation in the treatment of salvage ankle arthrodesis

The authors retrospectively reviewed their experience with circular wire external fixation in the treatment of salvage ankle arthrodesis during the past 9 years. The results of 43 cases in a difficult patient population are presented with an average follow-up of 27.0 months. Thirty-three patients (80.5%) went on to achieve a solid fusion or stable pseudarthrosis. A minimum of a 4-ring frame construct was applied for an average of 96.1 days. The major complication rate was 51.2%, including 3 below-knee amputations (7.3%), 7 unstable nonunions (17.1%), 7 cases of osteomyelitis and/or deep-space infection (16.3%), 3 malunions (7.3%), and 2 tibial stress fractures (4.7%). The incidence of complications occurred similarly in patients with Charcot arthropathy, failed total ankle arthroplasty, septic fusion, posttraumatic deformity, or avascular necrosis of the talus, whereas it was relatively higher in patients who were diabetics, smokers, or had an increased body mass index. In addition, the incidence of a nonunion tended to increase with longer follow-up, suggesting that early presumption of a solid union may be erroneous. Based on our defined criteria of a stable, well-aligned fusion without severe pain or activity restrictions, 28 patients (68.3%) had a good result. Circular wire external fixation can be a viable treatment for complex ankle salvage pathology; however, it is difficult to predict the prospects of success or failure.

Arthrodèse de cheville pour échec d’arthroplastie totale

We report outcome in eight cases of ankle arthrodesis after failure of a total ankle prosthesis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This series included eight patients, mean age 57 years (range 36-76) who had initially: post-traumatic talocrural joint degeneration (n=4), rheumatoid polyarthritis (n=3), idiopathic talocrural degeneration (n=1). Three patients had a New Jersey (DePuy) cemented prosthesis, four had a Star (Link) uncemented prosthesis and one, whose implantation was performed in another institution, had a spherical cemented prosthesis. The preoperative Kitaoka score was 19.1 (0-32). Seven patients had subtalar joint degeneration; one patient had a subtalar arthrodesis. The tibial component was cemented alone in two patients, the talar piece in three (two with talar fracture). Failure resulted from loosening, talus fracture or deep infection. Bipolar loosening was observed in two patients. Time to revision was 36 months (range 4-108). Arthrodesis was associated with an iliac graft for seven patients: several tricortical grafts (vertical alignment of the corticals) and cancelous grafts for filling. The height of the graft was adjusted to the substance loss. A bone graft could not be used in one patient who had a deep infection. The arthrodesis was fixed with an anterior plate bridging the talocrural space in six patients, with an external fixator in infected patient, with a conventional centromedullary tibial nail transfixing the talocrural joint and planted in the talus and the calcaneus in one. Outcome was assessed with the Kitaoka score. Mean follow-up was 56 Months (range 10-114).

RESULTS

The overall Kitaoka score improved to 54/100 (range 42-70) at last follow-up. The arthrodesis provided improvement in all patients although the final outcome was still considered poor in three patients. Radiographic healing was obtained in seven patients at a mean 3.1 months (range 2.5-6). Wound healing was slow in two patients. One patient developed a deep infection early.

DISCUSSION

The rate of fusion was 87%. This is in the general range reported in the literature; use of an iliac graft allows preserving joint height but because of the poor bone quality often encountered, residual bone stock may be insufficient to achieve complete fixation with screwing. Plate fixation appears to be a better way of achieving fixation. This provides a rate of fusion comparable with earlier series where external fixation was generally employed. For us, external fixation should be reserved for infected cases. Use of a conventional anterograde nail can be another solution in the event of poor bone quality. The overall result remains relatively modest although all the patients achieved a functional gain with arthrodesis. The results obtained are less satisfactory than after first-intention ankle arthrodesis.

Revision arthrodesis of the foot and ankle

Previously failed procedures with less than optimal outcomes always are distressing to the patient and surgeon. The revisional arthrodesis may require a higher level of surgical technique and skill than the original procedure from which it was derived. Another level of difficulty is added when the original procedure was deemed to have failed secondary to poor patient compliance. The basic tenets of successful revisional arthrodesis include a motivated and educated patient, adherence to basic surgical principles and techniques, and the ability to extrapolate those principles and techniques into ideas that are born from thinking along the lines of necessity.

Total ankle arthroplasty: a historical perspective

The ideal total ankle prosthesis has yet to be determined, but much has been learned from early experiences in ankle arthroplasty. Modern implants are typically more respectful of anatomic concerns, have found a happy medium of constraint, and have found novel approaches to decrease interface stress. Biologic fixation has improved on cemented results. Surgical techniques and understanding of wound healing and ligamentous deficiency have advanced. Current series still have varied results, and longer-term follow-up is needed. Despite this, some modern ankle replacements represent significant progress, with improved results and survival challenging those of arthrodesis. Further, benefits of preserved motion and avoidance of foot arthritis outstrip this traditional "gold standard." Today, tempered enthusiasm for the future of total ankle arthroplasty is again apparent. A diverse, international effort is underway to create a lasting joint implant. Building on the lessons of the past, different investigators in different countries, using markedly different prostheses, continue to work toward this goal.

Salvage after complications of total ankle arthroplasty

The problems that arise during surgery and after failure of TAA may be formidable to even the most experienced surgeon. As with any operative procedure, the consideration of this procedure should be tempered with the difficulty in salvage. This article is an early summary of some of the initial problems with the Agility (DePuy) total joint ankle arthroplasty.

Fine wire frame arthrodesis for the salvage of severe ankle pathology

Ankle arthrodesis is an accepted method of treatment for severe ankle pathology, but no single method of treatment is universally successful. Compression is usually applied across the ankle joint and maintained with either internal or external fixation; both are associated with complications such as infection, non-union and pain. We present our experience of 13 difficult cases managed by fine wire external frames, and describe the surgical technique used.A sound arthrodesis was achieved in 12 out of 13 cases, though one case required a repeat procedure, giving a union rate of 92% of cases or 86% of procedures. The mean period of fixation was 24 weeks (range 12-82), followed by a mean period of cast immobilisation of 7 weeks (range 0-10). Using Mazur's functional ankle score there were seven good results, four fair, one poor and one failure, which resulted in a below knee amputation. We believe this method represents a significant improvement on previously published results, but accept that it requires considerable experience and should not be considered for primary ankle arthrodesis. We would recommend its usage for the salvage of failed arthrodesis or severe fracture non-union, particularly in the presence of infection.