Medial impingement after ankle replacement

Ankle replacements appear to offer a good alternative to fusion for most arthritic conditions. Use of mobile bearings has significantly improved results of ankle replacement. Ankle replacements still have a significant minor-complication rate which does not seem to affect the long-term outcome. Medial impingement as a complication has been reported with popular designs. We reviewed the senior author's first five years of Buechel-Pappas ankle replacements looking at AOFAS scores, VAS scores, patient satisfaction, learning curve of the surgeon and complications. Eight patients out of a total of 34 reported symptoms of medial impingement at follow-up. Four patients underwent revision surgery for this. Ankle replacements have a significant proportion of minor complications, one of which is medial impingement. Whether this is due to implant design, residual arthritis in medial recess or soft-tissue pathology is uncertain but revision surgery may be required.     

踝关节病的人工踝关节置换

[目的]探讨人工踝关节置换治疗踝关节病的疗效。[方法]对1999~2004年1月的18例患者包括骨性踝关节炎6例,创伤性踝关节炎9例,局限性距骨缺血坏死2例,踝关节融合后1例,均采用L ink STAR假体3构件套进行人工踝关节置换。18例中,男13例,女5例;平均年龄47.7岁(38~67)。[结果]随访平均3 a 9个月(1~5 a)。按Kofoed评价系统观察疗效,优(85~100)16例,良(75~84)2例,无可(70~74)和差(<70)。患足背屈平均8°(范围6°~12°),跖屈12°(范围8°~16°),背屈和跖屈平均16°(11°~23°)。并发症有切口皮缘坏死2例,无足内、外翻和影像学松动。[结论]人工踝关节置换是治疗和替代踝关节多种疾患疼痛和需要融合的良好方法。     

Complications of total ankle replacement

Total ankle arthroplasty with second-generation prostheses is gaining popularity. Complications do and will occur with this group of replacements, just as they do with all other arthroplasties, whether at the knee, hip, elbow, shoulder, or wrist. Even if the complications are understood and the preventative measures or solutions are well thought out, there is occasionally no clear-cut answer to the problem. Although there are many obstacles to a successful outcome, most of the complications reported here are preventable with good patient selection and technique or at least treatable once they occur.     

Complications of total ankle replacement

Total ankle arthroplasty is emerging as a viable treatment for patients with symptomatic tibiotalar arthritis who have not responded to nonoperative treatment. First generation ankle replacement prostheses had significant complications, leading many orthopaedic surgeons to abandon their use. Second generation designs have attempted to address some of these problems with innovative new designs. Ankle arthritis differs from other forms of degenerative arthritis in that the majority is posttraumatic in origin, and occurs in a younger age group. Correction of alignment is complicated by deformity of the foot distal to the ankle. Published results of second generation ankle replacement systems are limited, and the understanding of them is necessarily anecdotal. In the current study, complications of current second generation total ankle arthroplasty are divided into preoperative or patient selection problems, complications related to prosthetic design, intraoperative, and postoperative complications. Solutions, or the controversies surrounding those complications that have no obvious solution, will be discussed when appropriate. Total ankle arthroplasty with these second generation prostheses is gaining increasing popularity. The surgeon contemplating total ankle arthroplasty should have an understanding of anatomy and lower extremity biomechanics, and a thorough knowledge of the total ankle system he or she decided to use.     

Perspective on total ankle replacement

Total ankle arthroplasty has become a viable alternative to ankle arthrodesis. Modern implant designs involve a syndesmosis fusion and resurfacing of the medial and lateral recesses of the ankle joint or the use of a three-component, mobile bearing implant. In limited clinical series, the early results of both these prosthetic design approaches are encouraging. In selected patients, ankle arthroplasty is an effective approach to relieving pain and improving function. Selected patients can be offered a total ankle replacement as an alternative option to arthrodesis in the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis. Further development of prosthetic designs, which minimize bone resection and restore normal ankle motion, is needed.     

Short-term and mid-term outcome of total ankle replacement in haemophilic patients

BackgroundAnkle arthropathy is very frequent in haemophilic patients. Prostheses are valuable alternatives to arthrodesis in non-haemophilic patients. We report the experience of a single centre in France on the use of prostheses in haemophilic patients.MethodsRetrospective study of 21 patients with haemarthropathy who underwent ankle arthroplasty (32 ankles), with additional surgery, if needed, from July 2002 to September 2009 (mean follow-up 4.4 ± 1.7 years). The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle–hindfoot scale was used to evaluate pain, function, ankle mobility and alignment.ResultsThe overall AOFAS score improved from 40.2 ± 19.4 (pre-surgery) to 85.3 ± 11.4 (post-surgery). The function score increased from 23.6 ± 7.7 to 35.9 ± 6.7 and dorsiflexion from 0.3° ± 5.0° to 10.3° ± 4.4°. Two patients underwent further ankle arthrodesis. On X-ray, both tibial and talar components were stable and correctly placed in all ankles. Alignment was good.ConclusionAnkle arthroplasty is a promising alternative to arthrodesis in haemophilic patients.     

全踝关节置换术的研究进

全踝关节置换术是治疗终末期踝关节炎的一项可行性手术方案。失败的早期假体设计使得这一技术被放弃,然而,随着近年来假体设计的完善和医疗技术的提高,全踝关节置换术取得了极大进展,其适应人群的范围也有所拓展。研究表明全踝关节置换术的中长期临床效果令人满意,其前景值得期待。与踝关节融合术相比,这一技术本身的优点显着,即保留或改善关节功能、较好步态活动以及避免邻近关节退变。随着进一步的发展,全踝关节置换术必将取代踝关节融合术成为治疗终末期踝关节炎的金标准。但就其发展现状而言,仍有许多问题尚需解决,包括：经济花费高、生存率低、翻修率高等。     

Arthrodesis after failed total ankle replacement

We present a series of 16 patients treated between 1993 and 2006 who had a failed total ankle replacement converted to an arthrodesis using bone grafting with internal fixation. We used tricortical autograft from the iliac crest to preserve the height of the ankle, the malleoli and the subtalar joint. A successful arthrodesis was achieved at a mean of three months (1.5 to 4.5) in all patients except one, with rheumatoid arthritis and severe bone loss, who developed a nonunion and required further fixation with an intramedullary nail at one year after surgery, before obtaining satisfactory fusion. The post-operative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score improved to a mean of 70 (41 to 87) with good patient satisfaction. From this series and an extensive review of the literature we have found that rates of fusion after failed total ankle replacement in patients with degenerative arthritis are high. We recommend our method of arthrodesis in this group of patients. A higher rate of nonunion is associated with rheumatoid arthritis which should be treated differently.     

人工踝关节置换的X线评价

[目的]研究人工踝关节置换前后的X线片评价。[方法]提出术前和术后的踝关节正侧位片的X线片评价要点进行分析,根据X线影像确定术前的切骨部位、植骨和固定方法,明确了假体的正确位置和位置异常可能导致的并发症。如踝关节不稳定、半脱位、胫骨基板倾斜、边缘载荷和影像学松动等。[结果]43例随访2年~8年4个月,平均5年5个月。踝关节功能采用Kofoed评价标准和作者评价方法进行分析,优(85~100)32例,良(75~84)9例,差(60~74)2例,无失败(<60)。踝关节功能状况:足背伸6°~16°,跖屈8°~28°,足背伸和跖屈的活动范围14°~38°,平均21.4°。并发症有切口缘皮肤坏死3踝,术中内外踝骨折1踝。无足内翻、足外翻和假体影像学松动病例。[结论]采用正确的X线评价,是提高人工踝关节置换质量,防范和及早发现并发症的重要措施。     

Long-term results of total ankle replacement

The results are reported of 19 total ankle replacements in 18 patients with rheumatoid or other inflammatory arthritis. After a mean follow-up period of 54.4 months (minimum, 24 months), three arthroplasties had failed, all because of loosening. Although all of the remaining patients were improved in terms of pain and function, there was radiographic evidence of loosening in a further eight patients. Indications for the operation are discussed.     

Treatment of ankle osteoarthritis: arthrodesis versus total ankle replacement

While ankle arthrodesis has remained the gold standard treatment for symptomatic primary, secondary, and posttraumatic ankle arthritis, more recently, total ankle replacement (TAR) has seen considerable improvement in terms of biomechanics, function, and complication rates. However, while in the long-term degeneration of the adjacent joints is almost always found on radiographs after ankle arthrodesis, the longevity of TAR is still insufficient and does not match that of total knee and hip joints. The current review article focuses on the treatment of ankle arthritis by means of arthrodesis and TAR.     

Takedown of ankle fusion and conversion to total ankle replacement

The painful ankle arthrodesis is an unsolved clinical problem. In many cases, transtibial amputation may be the best option for functional recovery. Recent reports of early success with second generation ankle implants show takedown of the problematic ankle fusion and conversion to total ankle arthroplasty may be an alternative to amputation. This study is a retrospective review of 23 ankles in 22 patients scheduled to have this procedure. Four patients were lost to followup, leaving 19 ankles in 18 patients at an average followup of 39 months. Three patients chose to have an amputation because of continued pain. In the remaining 16 ankles, the mean AOFAS ankle-hind foot outcome score improved from 42-68. Patients who had a clear source of pain with the ankle arthrodesis (such as subtalar arthrosis) had a better result than patients without a clear source of pain. All the patients who had the lateral malleolus resected during previous arthrodesis had complicated courses after arthroplasty. For patients with a definable source of pain and who have not had previous malleolar resection, conversion of a failed ankle arthrodesis to total ankle arthroplasty may be a viable alternative to amputation.     

全踝关节置换假体设计的研究进展

全踝关节假体至今经历了50余年,已从第一代发展到了第三代。近年来,随着假体设计和假体材料的改进以及截骨定位导板的应用,假体稳定性更好,置入更加精确,使得全踝关节置换的适应证近年来也在逐步扩大。本文对人工全踝关节假体设计的研究进展进行了综述。     

人工踝关节置换74例并发症防范

[目的]探讨人工踝关节置换的并发症防范.[方法]自1998年10月～2011年12月,人工踝关节置换治疗踝关节损伤性关节炎、类风湿性关节炎74例(其中伴距骨体顶部局限性坏死2例和胫骨骨折并小腿筋膜间室综合征广泛肌切除后距下关节融合1例).男49例,女25例;平均56.8岁(28～68岁).[结果]本组74例获平均8年10个月随访(2年10月～13年8月).术前、术后踝关节功能采用Kofoed评价法和步态分析,术前踝关节功能63分(61～74分)13例,47分(30～60分)43例,16分(0～29分)18例.术后效果优(85～100分)39例,良(75～84分)32例,可(60 ～74分)2例,差(59分以下)1例.优良率95.9％.术前、术后疗效按Kofoed评价以统计学分析,P＜0.01具有显著意义.术前步态49例均为跛行步态(负重相＞55％);术后正常步态(15％～45％周期内)24例,轻微跛行(站立相45％ ～55％)22例,跛行(负重相＞55％)3例.术前、术后步态分析两组数据的统计学分析P＜0.01,有统计学显著意义.X线检查显示植骨部与假体间固定良好,植骨成活.[结论]规范施术、植骨和早期负重等,是防范并发症的重要环节.     

Ankle arthrodesis for failed total ankle replacement

Between 1999 and 2005, 23 failed total ankle replacements were converted to arthrodeses. Three surgical techniques were used: tibiotalar arthrodesis with screw fixation, tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with screw fixation, and tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with an intramedullary nail. As experience was gained, the benefits and problems became apparent. Successful bony union was seen in 17 of the 23 ankles. The complication rate was higher in ankles where the loosening had caused extensive destruction of the body of the talus, usually in rheumatoid arthritis. In this situation we recommend tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with an intramedullary nail. This technique can also be used when there is severe arthritic change in the subtalar joint. Arthrodesis of the tibiotalar joint alone using compression screws was generally possible in osteoarthritis because the destruction of the body of the talus was less extensive. Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis fusion with compression screws has not been successful in our experience.     

全踝关节置换的初步报告

目的介绍采用STAR活动负重型假体进行踝关节置换治疗终末期踝关节炎的方法，探讨其近期疗效。方法1999年10月～2003年2月．其施行STAR活动负重型踝关节置换术13例，男8例．女5例；年龄58～69岁．平均63．4岁；剖伤性关节炎6倒．骨性关节炎3例．大骨节病2例．类风湿性关节炎2例；病程8～42个月。按Kofoed踝关节评分系统分别对术前、术后患者疼痛程度、踝关节功能、踝关节活动度进行综合评分。结果随访资料完备者8例，随访时间6～38个月，平均16个月。该8例患者术前踝关节评分：6～49，平均29分；术后躁关节评分：56～99分．平均82分。术前踝关节疼痛评分：0～15分，平均7分；术后踝关节疼痛评分：35～50分．平均48分。1例患者术中发生内踝骨折，采用克氏针内固定后未影响假体稳定性，1例患者术中发生外踝骨折而改行踝关节融合术，术后1例患者伤口延迟愈合。随访时摄X线片均未见假体松动或下沉。结论STAR活动负重型踝关节置换术可有效缓解踝关节疼痛，改善踝关节活动度，并矫正踝关节畸形．是治疗终末期踝关节病变的有效手段。     

Ankle arthrodesis after failed total ankle replacement

Despite recent anatomical and biomechanical improvements the longevity of current total ankle replacements remains limited. Once total ankle replacement has failed conversion into ankle arthrodesis provides a viable option and should therefore be considered. However, due to the massive bone loss, precarious soft tissues and in order to preserve leg length, this kind of surgical treatment is considered to be technically demanding with potential impairment of the quality of life and decreased global foot and ankle function as well. The present article focuses on salvage ankle arthrodesis after failed total ankle replacement and seeks to provide a usable treatment algorithm.