Abstract
Introduction and purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the functional results of ankle arthrodesis as a treatment of posttraumatic sequelae.
Materials and methods: We carried out a retrospective study from the 1st of January 2000 to the 31st of December of 2005 with a total of 55 patients that underwent posttraumatic ankle arthrodesis, with a mean follow-up of 5 years (range: 1–7 years). The mean age of the patients was 40 years (range: 18–61). There were 52 men and 3 women, the right side (40) predominated over the left (15). Seventy-eight percent of trauma sustained was high-energy with a predominance of fracture of the tibial pilon (type C3 fractures on the AO classification). There were 35% open fractures. The predominant type of surgical technique performed used cannulated screws without any iliac crest grafts. The mean time from surgery to discharge was 9 months (range 4–19).
Results: Repeat arthrodesis was necessary in 16% and an infrapatellar amputation was necessary in 1 case. Only 1 patient returned to their workplace without limitations, the rest were discharged to a medical board for sequelae. The use of crutches/insoles and subjective assessment of pain were related to a lateral tibiotalar angle greater than 90° and varus deformity.
Conclusions: Tibiotalar arthrodesis is a useful rescue technique in patients with severe posttraumatic ankle sequelae. It eliminates pain and increases stability but is the cause of a significant loss of function of the lower limb.
The abstracts were prepared by E. Carlos Rodríguez-Merchán, Editor-in-Chief of the Spanish Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (Revista de Ortopedia y Traumatología). Correspondence should be addressed to him at: Sociedad Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, calle Fernández de los Ríos 108, 28015-Madrid, Spain
