The management of failed ankle replacement

[Results for endoprosthetic care in patients younger than 50 years]

Arthroplasty has become the most successful surgical procedure in developed countries. Replacement of severely damaged joints results in a substantial relief of pain, as the main symptom of osteoarthritis, in the majority of treated patients. With improved results in endoprosthetic surgery over the last decades, however, patients are increasingly undergoing the procedure to enhance their functional capacity and physical mobility. Especially younger patients, who cannot accept a restriction in their professional or sports activity, have become demanding candidates for surgery. This review summarizes the published results on shoulder, hip, knee, ankle and first metatarsophalangeal joint replacement in patients who are younger than 50 years of age. Mid- and long-term follow-up studies in this age group are evaluated in terms of prosthesis survival as well as functional improvement.

Management of hindfoot disease in rheumatoid arthritis

There is a wide variety of hindfoot disease seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Initial treatment is conservative including optimizing medical management to control the disease process. Should symptoms persist, surgical treatment may be performed, although there is an increased complication rate related to both the disease and the side effects of the medications used to treat it.