Short-Term Complications and Outcomes of the Cadence Total Ankle Arthroplasty

Outcomes of Total Ankle Replacement

Total ankle replacement (TAR) is an effective operative treatment of end-stage ankle osteoarthritis (OA) in the appropriate patient, conferring improved kinematic function, decreased stress across adjacent joints, and offering equivalent pain relief in comparison to ankle arthrodesis (AA). It is important to consider patient age, weight, coronal tibiotalar deformity, joint line height, and adjacent joint OA to maximize clinical and patient outcomes. Both mobile-bearing and fixed-bearing implants have demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes, marked improvement in patient-reported outcomes, and good survivorship; however, implant survivorship decreases with longer term follow-up, necessitating constant improvement of primary and revision TAR options.

Revision Total Ankle Arthroplasty Using the INBONE II System

BACKGROUND

The utilization of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for managing severe ankle osteoarthritis has become increasingly common, leading to a higher occurrence of revision TAA procedures because of failure of primary TAA. This study aims to examine the clinical results associated with revision TAA using the INBONE II system. Given the growing number of TAA revision procedures and a focus on motion-preserving salvage options, we evaluated our early experience with revision TAA.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on a group of 60 presumed noninfected patients who underwent revision TAA with the INBONE II system. Detailed information was collected on patient demographics, implant characteristics, concurrent procedures, and complications. The implant survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

The study revealed high complication rates but generally fair clinical outcomes for revision TAA using the INBONE II system. Complications were observed in 22 patients (36.7%), including persistent pain (n = 6), nerve injury/impingement (n = 5), infection (n = 3), fracture (n = 3), implant failure (n = 3), impaired wound healing (n = 2), and osteolysis (n = 3). The 3-year survivorship rate from reoperation was 92.0% (82.7%-100.0%) whereas the 3-year survivorship rate from major complications was 90.4% (80.8%-100.0%).

CONCLUSION

We report high complication rates but generally fair clinical results for revision TAA utilizing the INBONE II system.

Staged vs concurrent hardware removal in total ankle arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

Ankle osteoarthritis is more commonly posttraumatic. Consequently, dealing with hardware removal is quite frequent when performing a total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes regarding either a staged or concurrent hardware removal when performing TAA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

275 consecutive patients with TAA previously treated with internal fixation were retrospectively reviewed. Finally, 57 patients were enrolled based on exclusion criteria, and were differentiated into two groups considering the timing of hardware removal (staged-group A vs concurrent-group B) to compare: neurovascular and wound complications, time to recover full weight bearing, scar-tissue esthetic, and surgical time. Moreover, a subgroup comparison considering the surgical approach (single approach, minor additional approach, major additional approach) was performed between the group A and group B.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference other that longer surgical time (p < 0.05) was observed between group A and group B. When considering surgical approach subgroups, statistically significant higher surgical wound complications and revision rate were reported in group B (concurrent) major additional approach subgroup, and a statistically significant shorter time to full weight bearing was reported in group A (staged) major additional approach subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

When performing TAA requiring hardware removal, no clear superiority of staged over concurrent hardware removal was observed. However, when considering a subgroup of patients requiring a separate major incision, a staged approach has shown reduced surgical time, less risk of wound complications, and shorter recovery to full weight bearing.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Current Trends in Total Ankle Replacement

Ankle arthritis can result in significant pain and restriction in range of motion. Total ankle replacement (TAR) is a motion-preserving surgical option used as an alternative to total ankle arthrodesis to treat end-stage ankle arthritis. There are several generations of TAR techniques based on component design, implant material, and surgical technique. With more recent TAR implants, an attempt is made to minimize bone resection and mirror the native anatomy. There are more than 20 implant devices currently available. Implant survivorship varies among prosthesis types and generations, with improved outcomes reported with use of the more recent third- and fourth-generation ankle implants. Pre- and postoperative assessments of TAR are primarily performed by using weight-bearing radiography, with weight-bearing CT emerging as an additional imaging tool. Preoperative assessments include those of the tibiotalar angle, offset, and adjacent areas of arthritis requiring additional surgical procedures. US, nuclear medicine studies, and MRI can be used to troubleshoot complications. Effective radiologic assessment requires an understanding of the component design and corresponding normal perioperative imaging features of ankle implants, as well as recognition of common and device-specific complications. General complications seen at radiography include aseptic loosening, osteolysis, hardware subsidence, periprosthetic fracture, infection, gutter impingement, heterotopic ossification, and syndesmotic nonunion. The authors review several recent generations of TAR implants commonly used in the United States, normal pre- and postoperative imaging assessment, and imaging complications of TAR. Indications for advanced imaging of TAR are also reviewed. ©RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. Test Your Knowledge questions for this article are available through the Online Learning Center.

Two to Five-Year Outcomes of Total Ankle Arthroplasty with the Infinity Fixed-Bearing Implant: A Concise Follow-up of a Previous Report

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Outcomes of Total Ankle Arthroplasty in Postfracture Ankle Arthritis

BACKGROUND

Ankle arthritis that develops after fracture accounts for a significant portion of ankle arthritis necessitating total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). It remains unknown whether TAA in postfracture patients produces equivalent outcomes to those without fracture history. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the medium-term outcomes of TAA in postfracture ankle arthritis compared to those without fracture history.

METHODS

This study reviewed 178 ankles from 171 consecutive patients who underwent TAA in our institution between 2007 and 2017 and completed a minimum 5-year follow-up. Four different TAA systems were utilized by 6 surgeons. Based on fracture history, patients were divided into 2 groups: the postfracture group (n = 63; median age 65.7 years; median follow-up 5.9 years) and the nonfracture group (n = 115; median age 64.4 years; median follow-up 6.2 years). Types and rates of complications including revision and reoperation were compared. Minimum 5-year Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and postoperative improvement were investigated. A subgroup analysis was performed to determine whether outcomes differ between intraarticular fracture patients (n = 43) and extraarticular fracture patients (n = 20).

RESULTS

Both groups exhibited comparable postoperative improvement and final FAOS scores. The postfracture group had a significantly higher reoperation rate than the nonfracture group (20 of 63, 31.7%, vs 17 of 115, 14.8%; P = .011), with gutter impingement being the most common cause. There were 3 revisions in each group. In the subgroup analysis, we found no evidence of statistical difference between the intraarticular fracture group and the extraarticular fracture group in terms of FAOS scores, revision, and reoperation rates.

CONCLUSION

In this single-center, retrospective comparative study, we found total ankle arthroplasty in patients with a history of fractures around the ankle joint had no evidence of statistical difference in patient-reported outcomes and implant survivorship but led to a higher rate of nonrevision reoperation following surgery. In the much smaller subset of patients with previous fracture, we did not find that those with a history of intraarticular fracture had inferior outcomes after TAA when compared to those with a history of extraarticular fracture.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, case-control study.

Return to sports after total ankle arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

Technological developments and implants newer generation allowed to expand the indications for total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) with aim to maintain active lifestyles. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined chance of return to sport, achievable activity level, the type of patients and the sport type after TAA.

Methods

A literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases was performed. Meta-analysis was performed if the same outcomes scores were reported at least by 4 studies. PRISMA guidelines were used. Risk of bias was assessed through the MINORS criteria. Included studies reported data and outcomes related to sport in patients undergoing TAA.

Result

Initial search results yielded 483 articles; 11 articles were included in the review process. The chance to return to sport increases after TAA, achieving a mean sport participation rate of 61.9% postoperatively. Until to 92% of patients was able to return to their preoperative level of activity. Meta-analysis showed a significant postoperative improvement in the most represented outcomes scores. Especially, young, male, with lower BMI, and affected by non-inflammatory osteoarthritis were those who returned to sport reporting significantly better outcomes scores. The most frequent postoperative sports included cycling, swimming, hiking and gymnastic. Only few patients practiced impact sport.

Conclusions

Current literature does not allow to advise TAA for young and active patient who want to play sports after surgery. Selected patients undergoing TAA can return to sport after surgery, and the most approachable activities are low demanding sport. However, no strong evidence is available to support these findings. Further prospective randomized studies are necessary to establish more accurate expectations concerning sport activity after TAA implantation.

Level of evidence

Level II, systematic review.

Early outcomes of the Exactech Vantage fixed-bearing total ankle replacement

Aims

The Vantage Total Ankle System is a fourth-generation low-profile fixed-bearing implant that has been available since 2016. We aimed to describe our early experience with this implant.

Methods

This is a single-centre retrospective review of patients who underwent primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) with a Vantage implant between November 2017 and February 2020, with a minimum of two years' follow-up. Four surgeons contributed patients. The primary outcome was reoperation and revision rate of the Vantage implant at two years. Secondary outcomes included radiological alignment, peri-implant complications, and pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcomes.

Results

There were 168 patients (171 ankles) included with a mean follow-up of 2.81 years (2 to 4.6) and mean age of 63.0 years (SD 9.4). Of the ten ankles with implant failure (5.8%), six had loosening of the tibial component. In the remaining four failed implants, one was due to periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), one was due to loosening of the talar component, and two were due to loosening of both the tibial and talar components. Seven patients underwent reoperation: irrigation and debridement for superficial infection (n = 4); bone grafting for cysts (n = 2); and open reduction internal fixation (n = 1). Asymptomatic peri-implant lucency/subsidence occurred in 20.1% of ankles, with the majority involving the tibial component (n = 25). There were statistically significant improvements in PROMs in all domains.

Conclusion

Short-term results of this implant demonstrate early survival comparable to the reported survivorship of similar low-profile, non-stemmed implants. Radiological lucency occurred more commonly at the tibial component, and revisions occurred primarily due to loosening of the tibial component. Further research is needed to evaluate longer-term survivorship.

Early-Term Results of the Cadence Total Ankle Prosthesis: An European Noninventor Study

BACKGROUND

Although considerable literature can be found on the outcome of total ankle replacement (TAR), only a few studies have reported the results of the fixed-bearing Cadence prosthesis. This noninventor study reports a consecutive series of 60 Cadence TAR systems with a mean of 2.9 years' follow-up, focusing on clinical and radiographic outcomes and early complications. This study is the first to assess true postoperative radiographic ankle prosthesis range of motion (ROM) and to report an unanticipated serious adverse device effect.

METHODS

Sixty patients who underwent primary TAR with the Cadence prosthesis between July 2016 and July 2019 were clinically and radiographically evaluated preoperatively and at last follow-up after the procedure. Revisions, additional procedures, implant failure, and complications were reported according to the classifications of Vander Griend and Glazebrook. Radiographic outcomes included radiographic TAR ROM, bone-implant interface, and alignment parameters.

RESULTS

The survival rate of the prosthesis was 98.3%. The mean radiographic ankle ROM at the last follow-up was 24 degrees (9 degrees of dorsiflexion and 15 degrees of plantarflexion). The coronal and sagittal alignment of TAR was 90.8 degrees and 3.9 degrees, respectively. Bone-implant interface analysis revealed osteolysis in 9 ankles (15%) and radiolucent lines in 33 ankles (55%) occurring at both component interfaces. Intraoperative complications were 3 periprosthetic malleolar fractures (5%). Five talar implant fractures (implant failure of 8.3%) were observed, and 1 unexplained persistent pain that required a conversion from TAR to a tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis.

CONCLUSION

Clinical, radiograph ROM, implant position outcomes, and survival rate at an early-term follow-up of 2.9 years were similar to those reported in recent Cadence studies. However, this study reports 5 unanticipated talar implant fractures and a high rate of posterior radiolucent lines.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, retrospective case series.

Early Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes of a Novel, Fixed-Bearing Fourth-Generation Total Ankle Replacement System

BACKGROUND

The Cadence Total Ankle System is a 2-component, fixed-bearing fourth-generation total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) system that was introduced for clinical use in 2016. The purpose of this study was to report non-inventor, non-industry funded survivorship, radiographic and clinical outcomes, and early complications following use of this implant at a minimum of 2 years.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study included patients who underwent TAA by 2 surgeons with this novel fixed-bearing system between January 2017 and September 2018. Forty-eight patients were evaluated at an average of 33.6 months. Radiographic outcomes included preoperative and postoperative tibiotalar angle on anteroposterior radiographs of the ankle, sagittal tibial angle (STA) on lateral radiographs of the ankle, and periprosthetic lucency formation and location. Revision and reoperation data were collected, and patient-reported outcomes were assessed using Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Subgroup analysis assessed associations between preoperative deformity, postoperative implant alignment, PROMIS scores, and periprosthetic lucency formation.

RESULTS

Survivorship of implant was 93.7%, with 3 revisions, 1 due to infection and 2 due to loosening of the implant (1 tibial and 1 talar component). Three patients had reoperations (6.3%): 2 for superficial infection and 1 for gutter debridement due to medial gutter impingement. Fifteen patients (35.8%) developed periprosthetic lucencies, all on the tibial side. PROMIS scores improved after surgery in all domains except Depression. Patients with significant postoperative periprosthetic lucency had worse postoperative PROMIS Physical function scores than patients without lucency (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated excellent minimum 2-year clinical and radiographic outcomes and low revision and reoperation rates of this new fourth-generation TAA system. Future studies with longer follow-up, especially on patients with periprosthetic lucency, are necessary to investigate the long-term complications and understand the long-term functional and radiographic outcomes of this implant.

Outcomes of trabecular metal total ankle replacement: a longitudinal observational cohort study of 239 consecutive cases from the Swedish Ankle Registry

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Information on outcomes after some modern total ankle replacement (TAR) designs is scarce. We therefore examined outcomes after trabecular metal (TM) TAR in Sweden by use of data from the national registry.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

On December 31, 2020, 239 primary TM TARs had been reported to the Swedish Ankle Registry. We analyzed prosthesis survival probability, using exchange or permanent extraction of components as endpoint for 239 protheses with mean follow-up of 2.2 years (0.1-6.6), risk of revision, as well as patient-reported outcome measures (SEFAS/EQ-5D/EQ-VAS) and satisfaction with surgery.

RESULTS

7/239 prostheses (3%) had been revised by December 31, 2020. We found an overall prosthesis survival probability of 95% (95% CI 89-98) after 3 years. 2 years after surgery 81% of the answering patients were satisfied or very satisfied with surgery and patients reported median SEFAS 36 (max 48), EQ-5D 0.90 (max 1), and EQ-VAS 80 (max 100).

INTERPRETATION

We found short- to mid-term outcomes after TM TAR to be at least as good as after other TAR designs regarding prosthesis survival and patient-reported satisfaction.