Percutaneous cannulated screw fixation with subtalar fusion for treatment of post-traumatic subtalar arthritis under arthroscope / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical outcome of arthroscopic percutaneous cannulated screw fixation with subtalar fusion in the treatment of post-traumatic subtalar arthritis. Methods The study involved 12 patients (five males and seven females) with severe post-traumatic subtalar arthritis admitted to our hospital from April 2006 to December 2009. The patients were at age range of 28-68 years ( mean 45.6 years). All patients had the history of conservative treatment but failed in pain alleviation.Then, the percutaneous cannulated screw fixation plus subtalar fusion was selected. The ande and hind foot of all patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scoring system. Imaging assessment was carried out by X-ray examination.Results The patients were followed up for mean 21.2 months (range 6-48 months), which showed thatthe mean AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale was increased from (54.67 ± 5.28 ) points (range 43-61 points)preoperatively to (89.17 ±3.56) points (range 78-95 points) at final follow-up, with excellence rate of 93%. Eleven patients got good fusion with the mean time of 12.4 weeks (range 9-15 weeks). Only one patient had nonunion, with the pain in the lateral malleolus. The subtalar joint of the patient got union after plaster immobilization for three months, which was proved by X-ray examination. Conclusions The arthroscopic percutaneous cannulated screw fixation and subtalar fusion can acquire good clinical outcomes and hence is a recommended procedure for post-traumatic subtalar arthritis.