Wesley W Flint 1Christopher B Hirose 2Michael J Coughlin 2

Affiliations

  • 1Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgery Fellow, Coughlin Clinic, Saint Alphonsus Medical Group, Boise, ID. Electronic address: wesley.flint@gmail.com.
  • 2Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeon, Coughlin Clinic, Saint Alphonsus Medical Group, Boise, ID.

PMID: 28117257

DOI: 10.1053/j.jfas.2016.10.019

Abstract

Ankle arthrodesis is currently the reference standard treatment for end-stage tibiotalar arthrosis. The fusion rates have varied in the published data from 59% to 100%. We reviewed 60 cases of consecutive anterior ankle arthrodesis using an anterior dual locked plating construct with respect to the fusion rate, time to fusion, pain relief, and complications. The patients were followed up for a mean of 1.1 years (range 16 weeks to 4 years). We found that our fusion rate was 97% for ankles not requiring structural allograft. The mean interval to fusion was 11.7 weeks, excluding those with a structural allograft. The mean visual analog scale pain scores decreased from 7 preoperatively to 2 at the final follow-up visit. Anterior ankle arthrodesis with dual locked plating provides excellent results with respect to the fusion rate with a low complication rate.

Keywords: ankle arthrodesis; ankle fusion; locked plating; tibiotalar arthrodesis; tibiotalar fusion.