ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Ankle arthroplasty is increasingly being used to treat end-stage ankle osteoarthritis. METHODS: Between January 2005 and January 2011, 159 patients have been included in an ongoing prospective multicentric study analysing the results of total ankle arthroplasty in Portugal and Spain. 119 patients (119 replacements) were available for review and were evaluated for range of motion (ROM), clinical status (American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score), complications and survivorship rate. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 39 months. A total of 17 complications were reported, with 7 leading to subsequent surgery (94.1% survivorship rate). Of these, there were two infections (98.3% survivorship rate), two painful subtalar arthritis, one instability, one malalignment and one tibial bone cyst. Complications not requiring further surgery were 6 intra-operative malleolar fractures and 4 cases of skin necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate patient selection and a thorough knowledge of the surgical technique are mandatory to reduce the number of complications and increase ankle arthroplasty survivorship.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Ankle , Intraoperative Complications , Postoperative Complications , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Arthritis/surgery , Bone Cysts/etiology , Bone Cysts/surgery , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Fractures, Bone/etiology , Fractures, Bone/surgery , Humans , Joint Instability/etiology , Joint Instability/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Necrosis/etiology , Portugal , Prospective Studies , Prosthesis-Related Infections/etiology , Prosthesis-Related Infections/surgery , Range of Motion, Articular , Skin/pathology , Spain , Subtalar Joint/surgery , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: High physical demand and young age are currently considered contraindications for total ankle replacement. This study aimed to compare its results between patients under the age of 50 and those aged 50 or older. METHODS: 103 patients derived from an ongoing prospective multicentric study with a mean follow-up of 41 (range, 24-72) months were included in this study. Clinical status (AOFAS score), range of motion (ROM), complication and survivorship rates were compared between <50 and ≥50 patients. RESULTS: ROM and AOFAS score were significantly higher, as were their increases relatively to pre-operative values in patients <50. Complication and survivorship rates were comparable between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: At medium-term, ankle replacement is at least as effective in patients under the age of 50 as in those with aged 50 or older. Long-term results will allow to assess whether surgical indications for should be revised.
