Arthroscopic Ankle Arthrodesis

No difference between 5 and 6 weeks of non-weight bearing after osteochondral grafts for medial osteochondral defects of the talus with medial malleolar osteotomy

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and safety at a 1-year follow-up after 5 or 6 weeks of non-weight bearing after a Talar OsteoPeriostic grafting from the Iliac Crest (TOPIC) for a medial osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT).

METHODS

A retrospective comparative case-control analysis of prospectively followed patients who underwent a TOPIC procedure with medial malleolus osteotomy was performed. Patients were matched in two groups with either 5 or 6 weeks of non-weight bearing. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) during walking, rest, running, and stairclimbing. Additionally, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score were assessed. Moreover, radiology and complications were assessed.

RESULTS

Eleven patients were included in the 5-week non-weight bearing group and 22 in the 6-week non-weight bearing group. No significant differences were found in any of the baseline variables. The NRS during walking in the 5-week group improved by 3.5 points and 4 points for the 6-week group (p = 0.58 at 1-year post-operatively). In addition, all other NRS scores, FAOS subscales and the AOFAS scores improved (all n.s. at 1 year follow-up). No significant differences in radiological (osteotomy union and cyst presence in the graft) were found. Moreover, no significant differences were found in terms of complications and reoperations.

CONCLUSION

No statistical significant differences were found in terms of clinical, radiological and safety outcomes between 5 or 6 weeks of non-weight bearing following a TOPIC for a medial OLT.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, Therapeutic.

Arthroscopic Tibiotalar Arthrodesis Using an Arthroscopic Autologous Tissue Collector: A Technique Guide

Tibiotalar arthrodesis is a common procedure performed in patients with ankle arthritis to relieve pain, restore function, and improve the quality of life. Obtaining proper bone-to-bone apposition is crucial to obtaining a solid fusion. Therefore, adequate joint preparation is critical. Open-joint preparation is the standard of care, but arthroscopic arthrodesis is becoming increasingly popular, as it can decrease tissue trauma, postoperative pain, hospital stay, and complications. The addition of bone matrix allograft and autograft also improves healing rates. Use of an arthroscopic autologous tissue collector through standard arthroscopic portals allows harvesting of bone matrix autograft without having to perform additional invasive bone harvesting outside of the affected joint. We present our technique for tibiotalar arthrodesis using an arthroscopic approach with an arthroscopic autologous tissue collector.

Tibiotalocalcaneal and Tibiotalar Arthrodesis for Severe Cavovarus Deformity: Tips and Tricks

Cavovarus foot is a complex 3-dimensional deformity. Clinical history, physical examination, and comorbidity assessment are essential for preoperative evaluation. In severe cases, ankle or tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis can provide symptomatic relief and result in a plantigrade foot. This article emphasizes the importance of weight-bearing computed tomography for surgical planning and presents the authors' preferred technique for tibiotalocalcaneal, which includes a novel curved anterolateral incision, partial fibular onlay bridging graft, and patient-specific instrumentation for forefoot deformity correction. The tips and tricks aim to assist surgeons in better treating these challenging patients while optimizing preoperative planning.

Reconstruction of the Articular Surface in the Subtalar Joint by Osteochondral Autologous Transplantation After Failure of Tibiotalocalcaneal Fusion With a Retrograde Nail: A Case Report

Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis (TTCA) using the intramedullary nail has been conducted for severe deformity of both ankle and subtalar joints. While good clinical outcomes have been reported for TTCA, its nonunion rate is relatively high. We report a case of a 65-year-old male with nonunion of the tibiotalar joint and destruction of the subtalar joint after TTCA using a retrograde intramedullary nail. For this patient, we conducted a salvage procedure for the subtalar joint along with revision surgery for the tibiotalar joint to achieve bone union. The intramedullary nail was removed and the tibiotalar joint was debrided. Two osteochondral plugs were harvested from the lateral aspect of the talus and transplanted to the subtalar joint. The tibiotalar joint was fixed using screws and staples, with bone grafting. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at six months after surgery showed that the articular surface of the subtalar joint was flushed and the osteochondral plugs were united with the surrounding bone. At one year and three months after surgery, the pain in the tibiotalar and subtalar joints had completely disappeared. Plain radiographs revealed that bone union of the tibiotalar joint and joint space of the subtalar joint was maintained. Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) hindfoot scale improved from 53 points to 84 points at the final follow-up. Reconstruction of the subtalar joint using osteochondral autologous transplantation is a useful technique for failure cases with nonunion of the tibiotalar and subtalar joints after TTCA.

Does Demineralized Bone Matrix Affect the Nonunion Rate in Arthroscopic Ankle Arthrodesis?

Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) has been shown to have positive effects on union rates in many orthopedic subspecialties; however, minimal evidence exists about bone graft substitutes in foot and ankle surgery. The purpose of this study is to compare nonunion rates in arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis in patients receiving DBM with those without. We hypothesized DBM to be associated with a decreased risk of nonunion. This retrospective review includes 516 consecutive ankle arthrodesis cases from March 2002 to May 2016. Of these, 58 ankles (56 patients) that underwent primary arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis met the inclusion criteria, and 31 of these ankles received DBM, while 27 did not. Nonunion was assessed by clinical examination and routine postoperative radiographs. If nonunion was suspected, a computed tomography (CT) scan was performed. The primary outcome measure was nonunion rate. Secondary outcome measures included wound complications, return to operating room (OR), and rate of postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). From the study cases, 58 were available for final follow-up. The average age was 55.9 years (±17.4), and mean follow-up was 43.0 months (range 6.3–119.4). There was no difference in nonunion rate in patients who received DBM (4/31, 12.9%) versus those who did not (4/27, 14.8%) (p = 0.83). Similarly, when comparing the two groups, there were no statistically significant differences in superficial wound complications (6.5% vs. 3.7%, p = 1.0) or rate of return to OR (29% or 0.037/person-years vs. 37% or 0.099/person-years; p = 0.20). No major complications including deep wound infections, DVTs, or PEs occurred. This is the largest study to directly compare nonunion rates and complications for patients receiving DBM versus those who did not in primary arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis. No significant association was found between DBM usage and risk of nonunion, wound complications, return to OR, or postoperative DVT or PE development.