Blair Tibiotalar Arhrodesis of the Ankle

Lim, Young; Choi, Soo He; Kim, Brung Jik

Abstract

Blar tibiotalar arthrodesls is a procedure that fuses the distal tibia to the talar neck in situation which the body of the talus has been lost or is osteonecrotlc. This method allows nearly normal appearance of the foot with little shortening of the extremity and permits some flexion-extension motion of the foot on the leg. From May, 1988 to December, 1992, 5 patients 6 cases of Blair tiblotalar arthrodesis were carried out at Department of Orthopedic Surgery of Seoul Paik Hospital. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Among 6 cases of arthrodesis, Hawkins type III were 3 cases, open, comminuted Hawkins type III were 2 cases, open, comminuted Hawkins type II was 1 case. 2. The average duration of immobilization after ankle arthrodesls was 11.3 weeks. 3. Bony union was obtained in all cases and the average union period was 15 weeks. 4. Clinical results were evaluated according to Lances criteria with average follow up period of 24.2 months. Excellent results were 2 cases, Good results were 4 cases.