Case Review of Tibiotalocalcaneal Arthrodesis with Distal Femoral Locking Plate Through a Lateral Approach.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Herein, we present a case series of tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis (TTCA) with a distal femoral locking plate and describe the short-term clinical and radiographic results of the procedure. METHODS: We performed a case review of four patients with hindfoot and ankle pathology who had been treated with a TTCA using a distal femoral locking plate (Depuy Synthes, Zimmer Biomet) by a single surgeon (H.A.H.) from January 2018 to December 2020. RESULTS: At final follow-up, there was a 75% complication rate (3/4) with two developing a nonunion of the ankle joint and one developing a postoperative wound and surgical site infection. CONCLUSIONS: Lateral locking plate fixation with a distal femoral locking plate system may be an alternative fixation option for tibiotalocalcaneal fusions in complex patients. However, a larger sample size with longer term follow-up is needed to make any significant recommendations on the use of this plating system.