Technique and short-term results of ankle arthrodesis using anterior plating.

Mohamedean, Aly; Said, Hatem; El-Sharkawi, Mohammad; El-Adly, Wael; Said, Galal

Clinical and biomechanical trials have shown that rigid internal fixation during ankle arthrodesis leads to increased rates of union and is associated with a reduced infection rate, union time, discomfort and earlier mobilisation compared with other methods. We describe our technique of ankle arthrodesis using anterior plating with a narrow dynamic compression plate (DCP). Between 2004 and 2007, 29 patients with a mean age of 24.4 years (range 18–42) had ankle arthrodesis using an anteriorly placed narrow DCP. Twenty-two patients were post-traumatic and seven were paralytic (five after spine fracture and two after common peroneal nerve injury). Follow-up was between 12 and 18 months (average 14 months). A rate of fusion of 100% was achieved at an average of 12.2 weeks. According to the Mazur ankle score, 65.5% had excellent, 20.7% good and 13.8% fair results. Ankle arthrodesis using an anteriorly placed narrow DCP is a good method to achieve ankle fusion in many types of ankle arthropathies.

ARTHRODESIS; OPERATIVE surgery; FOLLOW-up studies (Medicine); JOINT diseases; JOINT surgery; BIOMECHANICS; PERONEAL nerve surgery; MEDICAL statistics

International Orthopaedics, 2010, Vol 34, Issue 6, p833

0341-2695

Academic Journal

10.1007/s00264-009-0872-4