Abstract
Introduction
Total ankle replacement (TAR) surgery remains a reasonable alternative to arthrodesis in a select group of patients with end stage ankle joint arthritis. We describe the early results of a prospective study of the first 50 Zenith total ankle replacements performed by a single surgeon (SKG).
Methods
Demographic details, Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for pain (0, no pain; 10, worst possible pain), AOFAS scores, ‘would have surgery again’ and satisfaction levels were collated, pre-operatively and at their most recent outpatient review. Any post-operative complications were noted. Radiographs were also assessed for evidence of loosening, progressive osteolysis, subsidence and overall alignment of the implant.
Results
One patient died at 25 months following surgery from unrelated causes. No patients have been lost to follow up. A review of 50 patients (35 males, 15 females; mean age 65 years, range 44–88 years) with a mean follow up of 30 months (range 11–48) included 48 patients with osteoarthritis and two patients with rheumatoid arthritis. There was one medial malleolar fracture at the time of surgery which required fixation and one fracture of the lateral malleolus which was picked up at the six week review. At their latest review the VAS and AOFAS score had improved significantly and 46 patients were satisfied and 4 patients unsatisfied with the outcome of surgery.
One patient has cyst formation around the tibial component but is pain free with a stable implant and does not wish further intervention. The components were satisfactorily aligned in the vast majority of patients.
Conclusion
This non-inventor series of the Zenith TAR has shown excellent results in the short term. We feel that the instrumentation allows for more reproducible cuts which appear to be technically easier than with some other designs. However, studies looking at long term results will be necessary.
