Abstract
Aims: This study reports the mid-term results of a prospective series of 200 ankle replacements using the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR). 105 patients were more than five years since surgery.
Method: 200 patients; 85 male, 115 female; mean age 60 years (18–83) underwent primary replacement. The mean follow-up was 54 months (4–110). The diagnosis was inflammatory joint disease (IJD) for 119 patients and osteoarthritis (OA) for 81.
Results: 144 patients had a good outcome and uncomplicated recovery. A further 18 patients had a complication, which resolved with non-operative treatment (three prolonged wound healing, 15 malleolar fractures, either at surgery or at a later date). A further eight patients were clinically satisfactory but the x-rays showed adverse features (five aseptic loosening and three recurrent deformity). Five patients have a poor outcome due to persistent pain and stiffness but have not required further surgery. A further nine patients had a complication necessitating surgery (three calcaneal osteotomy and lateral ligament reconstruction, one tibial osteotomy to improve alignment, one autogenous bone graft for osteolysis, one for late medial malleolar fracture, one split skin graft for delayed healing, two for removal of heterotopic bone). At two years the AOFAS score for pain improved from 0 to 35 (maximum 40) and the functional score from 28 to 35 (maximum 60). There were 16 total failures that required fusion (11) or revision (five). The causes were nine aseptic loosening, three recurrent deformity, two fracture malleolus, one deep infection, one persistent pain. The cumulative five-year survival rate was 89% (95% CI 81% to 96%), with time to decision to revision or fusion as the endpoint.
Conclusions: There was no difference in survival between ankle replacement for OA or IJD. Ten out of the 16 failures occurred early (< two years), which we attribute to technical error or attempting replacement of ankles with severe deformity. The failure rate after two years is approximately 1% per annum.
These abstracts were prepared by Editorial Secretary, George Sikorski. Correspondence should be addressed to Australian Orthopaedic Association, Ground Floor, The William Bland Centre, 229 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
At least one of the authors is receiving or has received material benefits or support from a commercial source.
