RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Research on outcomes after ankle fusion focuses on basic activities of daily living, fusion rates, and gait parameters. Little has been reported on the patient's perspective after surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the change in patient reported physical function and pain interference after ankle fusion surgery to guide patient expectations and improve provider communication. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected patient reported outcome measurement information system (PROMIS) data in 88 ankle arthrodesis procedures performed from May 2015 to March 2018. The PROMIS Physical function (PF) and pain interference (PI) measures were collected as routine care. Linear mixed models were used to assess differences at each follow-up point for PF and PI. Preoperative to last follow-up in the 120-365 day interval was assessed using analysis of variance. Outcomes included T-scores, z-scores, and PROMIS-Preference (PROPr) utility scores for PF and PI and the percentage of patients improving by at least 4 T-score points. RESULTS: The linear mixed model analysis for PF after the 120-149 days, and for PI, after 90-119 days, indicated recovery plateaued at 39-40 for PF and 57-59 for PI T-scores. The change in the PI T-score was the greatest with a mean T-score improvement of - 5.4 (95% CI - 7.7 to - 3.1). The proportion of patients improving more than 4 points was 66.2% for either PF or PI or both. The change in utility T-scores for both PF (0.06, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.11) and PI (0.15, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.20) was significantly improved, however, only PI approached clinical significance. CONCLUSION: Average patients undergoing ankle fusion experience clinically meaningful improvement in pain more so than physical function. Average patient recovery showed progressive improvement in pain and function until the four-month postoperative time point. Traditional dogma states that recovery after an ankle fusion maximizes at a year, however based on the findings in this study, 4 months is a more accurate marker of recovery. A decline in function or an increase in pain after 4 months from surgery may help to predict nonunion and other complications after ankle arthrodesis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective single cohort study.
RESUMO
Midfoot arthritis is a common cause of significant pain and disability. Although the medial tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints provide < 7 degrees of sagittal plane motion, the more mobile lateral fourth and fifth TMT joints provide balance and accommodation on uneven ground. These small constrained TMT joints also provide stability and translate the forward propulsion motion of the hindfoot and ankle joint to the forefoot metatarsophalangeal joints from heel rise to toe-off. Posttraumatic degeneration is the primary cause of midfoot arthritis, although primary degeneration and inflammatory conditions can also affect this area. The result is a painful midfoot that can no longer effectively transmit load from the hindfoot to the forefoot. Shoe modifications and orthotic inserts are the mainstay of nonsurgical management. Successful management of midfoot arthritis with orthoses is predicated on achieving adequate joint stabilization while still allowing function. Surgical intervention typically involves arthrodesis of the medial midfoot, although the best treatment of the more mobile lateral column is a subject of debate.
