Ankle Arthrodesis: A Clinical Review

Ahn, Jae In; Kang, Koon Soon; Oh, Hak Yoon; Rah, Jung Ho

Abstract

Injuries to the ankle or various disease in ankle are one of the most common musculoskeletal problem. The ankle is amazingly tolerant to at least minor anatomic disruption. But in situation of severed ankle it is the anxious problem to solve the pain, disability and so on. Since past time, ankle fusion can solve the pain problem, and there is little disabiiity from walking on standard surfaces, comparing the ankle arthroplasty. So we analyse 48 cases of the ankle fusion at Wonju Christian Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine for ten years. The results are summerized as follows: l. Applying method for fusion are distraction-compression bone graft arthrodesis, Charnley compression method, extraarticular arthrodesis, anterior sliding graft-21, 16, 2 and 9 cases respectively. 2. Post-operative complications are wound infection, loss of position of grafted bone, skin necrosis, fracture of the grafted bone and phlebitis - 6, 5, 4, 2 and 5 cases respectively. 3. Post-operative immobilization time take at least eight weeks and the time consuming for solid union is about seventeen weeks. 4. A comparison of the range of dorsifiexion and plantarflexion in 31 patients under the age of fifty and seventeen patients over his age. Both the normal and fused sides are measured. There is no significant difference in the two groups. 5. Radiological evidence of osteoarthritis in the tarsal joints is not a universal feature of the patients examined. 6. In our cases, posterior or anterior displacement of the talus in arthrodesis of talocrural joints is rarely performed. Its range of good results is ±5mm. 7. Talocrural angle in fused ankle is most significant problem. The position after fusion is analysed in the 25 ankles in which the gait is classified as perfect. Those who are right angle (16 cases: 64%) or in slight equinus position (5 cases: 20%) are clinically well.