J Korean Foot Ankle Soc.  2022 Sep;26(3):118-122. 10.14193/jkfas.2022.26.3.118.

Total Ankle Arthroplasty Management and Rehabilitation

• Lee KB

• KMID: 2533193
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14193/jkfas.2022.26.3.118

Abstract

Although total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has increased considerably in the past ten years, reflecting improvements in implant design and survivorship, the clinical outcomes have been less satisfactory than total hip or total knee arthroplasties. Several issues under debate include postoperative management and rehabilitation in TAA. Especially, there is no consensus or evidence for the most appropriate postoperative management and rehabilitation for patients undergoing TAA. This study was therefore undertaken to suggest appropriate postoperative management and rehabilitation in TAA, after reviewing published articles and focusing on the following topics: prehabilitation, hospital stay, immobilization type and duration, weight-bearing management, pharmacological treatment, and adopted rehabilitation protocols. In previous studies, the postoperative management and rehabilitation proposed depended on the surgeon’s preference, the patient's characteristics, and the associated surgical procedures performed after TAA. Nonetheless, our research indicates the best approach is to include a prehabilitation program, immobilization in the early postoperative stage (2~4 weeks), range of motion exercise with partial weight-bearing ambulation, followed by full weight-bearing ambulation after six weeks. Further studies are required to develop a standardized rehabilitation protocol and improve the overall quality of care after TAA.

Keyword

Arthroplasty; Ankle; Rehabilitation

Figure

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  Figure 1 Postoperative management with ankle brace and icing, leg elevation in early postoperative stage.

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