In a retrospective study we compared 32 HINTEGRA total ankle replacements (TARs) and 35 Mobility TARs performed between July 2005 and May 2010, with a minimum follow-up of two years. The mean follow-up for the HINTEGRA group was 53 months (24 to 76) and for the Mobility group was 34 months (24 to 45). All procedures were performed by a single surgeon. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the mean AOFAS score, visual analogue score for pain or range of movement of the ankle at the latest follow-up. Most radiological measurements did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the most common grade of heterotopic ossification (HO) was grade 3 in the HINTEGRA group (10 of 13 TARs, 76.9%) and grade 2 in the Mobility group (four of seven TARs, 57.1%) (p = 0.025). Although HO was more frequent in the HINTEGRA group (40.6%) than in the Mobility group (20.0%), this was not statistically significant (p = 0.065).The difference in peri-operative complications between the two groups was not significant, but intra-operative medial malleolar fractures occurred in four (11.4%) in the Mobility group; four (12.5%) in the HINTEGRA group and one TAR (2.9%) in the Mobility group failed (p = 0.185). Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1075–82

Introduction. We report the functional outcome and survivorship of the Hintegra Total Ankle Replacement (TAR), in consecutive cases by multiple surgeons in a single UK institution. Between 2010–2014 the Hintegra TAR held 7.1% UK market share and surgeons should be aware of failure mechanisms. Methods. We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected data for 70 consecutive Hintegra TAR cases in a single institution between 2010–2014. Data collected included patient demographics, complications, reoperations, patient reported outcome measures (PROMS: AOS, MOX-FQ, pain VAS) and patient satisfaction. Results. The 70 patients (54 male/ 16 female) had an average age of 69 (range 48–84 years). Mean follow up was 76 months (range 60–04), 10 patients died during the follow up. Implant survivorship was 81.4% at most recent follow up. The commonest radiographic finding was periprosthetic cysts (n=28, 40%), size range (7–40mm), location of cysts: isolated talus (n=14), isolated tibia (n=6), mixed (n=8). 10 failed TARs were revised to Inbone TAR at a mean of 48 months (range 9–69). 3 Failed TARs were revised to arthrodesis (2 tibiotalar fusions, 1 hindfoot nail). 11 patients required reoperation with implant retention: 8 periprosthetic cyst debridement and grafting at a mean of 61 months (range 27–91), 1 lateral gutter debridement and 1 periprosthetic fracture ORIF. PROMS data was available for all patients. Overall patients showed marked improvement in functional outcome scores between pre-operative and final follow up questionnaires. Mean pre-op AOS: 62, MOX-FQ: 68 and pain VAS: 67.5 with mean final follow up scores of: AOS: 35, MOX-FQ: 36 and pain VAS: 30. Conclusion. Our experience demonstrates improved PROMS following ankle arthroplasty for patients with a mean follow up of 6.4 years. Implant survivorship is similar to other TAR studies. We have identified a high incidence of periprosthetic cysts and would recommend ongoing surveillance of these patients

Aims: The aim of this study was to clinically and radiologically assess the outcome of the HINTEGRA total ankle prosthesis. The HINTEGRA implant is an uncemented (hydroxyapatite-coated) prosthesis of anatomical, multiaxial, congruent and unconstrained design. Methods: All of the consecutive 19 patients who got a HINTEGRA total ankle replacement between June 2000 and June 2001 were assessed. Pre- and postoperative functional and clinical assessment was carried out using a questionnaire, range of motion and Kofoed score which assigns 50 points for pain, 30 for function and 20 for range of motion, giving a maximum of 100. Results: 19 patients (6 female, 13 male), mean age 55,3 years (21–82 years), mean followup 14,3 months (10–21 months). The general satisfaction at subjective evaluation was 27,3/100 preoperatively and 80/100 postoperatively. The mean Kofoed score was 26,3 preoperatively and 78,4 postoperatively. The mean range of motion from maximum extension to maximum ßexion was 16,4¡ preoperatively and 29,1¡ postoperatively. None of the replacements showed any progressive radiolucency, although in 3 patients there was a small area (< 2mm) of radiolucency between the tibial component and bone. Conclusions: Our results with the uncemented HINTEGRA, anatomical shaped threecomponent total ankle replacement, are satisfactory and encouraging. Total ankle replacement is a useful alternative to ankle arthrodesis with pain relief and preservation of joint motion and stability

The purpose of this study was to obtain anatomical measurements of the distal tibia and talus of Korean ankles and to evaluate, based on those measurements, the compatibility of the HINTEGRA prostheses in the context of total ankle replacement (TAR). We measured the length, width, height, and angles of the distal tibia and talus of 51 cadavers and compared these measurements with the corresponding dimensions of the HINTEGRA prostheses. The male ankles were larger than the female ones as was expected, but their overall shapes did not differ, which fact validates use of the prostheses irrespective of patients' sex. The dimensions of the talus itself did not differ significantly from those previously reported for American whites and blacks and South African whites. This might suggest a possibility that the HINTEGRA prostheses, being used in these countries, would be compatible to Korean ankles, too. In fact, the length range of the talar components was generally compatible with those derived from cadaveric measurements of the trochlea. However, the widths of the tibial and talar components were not completely compatible to Korean ankles. Above all, the length of the large-sized tibial components was much longer than the largest ankles, which would confine the choice of prosthesis mainly to small-sized ones for arthroplasty in Korea. Even though these prostheses are currently used, some modifications are needed to extend their usability in Korea, such as shortening and width/length ratio adjustment of the tibial component, and of the talar component accordingly

After catastrophic failure of first generation, joint replacement as treatment option for ankle osteoarthritis is undergoing a revival with improved second generation designs. Short to mid-term results reportedly equal those of ankle arthrodesis in terms of complications and revision, but preserving joint motion and protecting neighbouring midfoot joints from overuse and consecutive osteoarthritis. However, most reports derive from developers centres excluding the learning curve. We present clinical results and subjective outcome of an initial patient series undergoing ankle replacement in an independent centre. From January 2004 to January 2008 a Hintegra. ®. prosthesis was implanted in 39 consecutive patients (41 ankles), average age 60.7 years (range 36.6–85.0), 13 males and 25 females. Repeated clinical follow up was done for an average of 2.2 years (range 0.5–4.3). All patients whose operation had been more than 0.7 years before were sent the FAOS (Foot and Ankle Outcome Score) in order to record the subjective outcome. Pre-operative diagnoses were posttraumatic osteoarthritis in 26 cases (63.4%), primary osteoarthritis in 9 cases (22%) and rheumatoid arthritis in 6 cases (14.6%). Clinical examination did not show significant improvement of mean range of motion, dorsiflexion and plantarflexion compared with the preoperative status. The change in motion highly correlated with the preoperative mobility (r=0,8; p< 0.001): patients with the largest preoperative range of motion were the ones to lose most mobility, whereas patients with low preoperative motion gained mobility. About 60% of the patients achieved 25° to 30° total range of motion regardless of their preoperative mobility. Early postoperative complications occurred in 14 patients (34.1%). In all five subclasses of the FAOS a significant improvement was achieved within the observation period. Reduction of pain had the greatest impact on the improvement of quality of life, whereas change in mobility did not have any influence. Joint replacement is a valuable treatment option for ankle osteoarthritis. There are however a series of early complications and restrictions of subjective outcome a surgeon has to be aware of when selecting an individual patient for ankle replacement. Further studies are needed to detect in which cases arthrodesis or prosthesis is preferable

Background: The purpose of the present study was to report the perioperative complications that occurred among the initial 50 consecutive cases of HINTEGRA total ankle replacement. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 50 cases composed of 30 men and 18 women of average age 57 years. Perioperative complications were used to compare the first 25 cases (Group A) with the subsequent 25 (Group B). Results: Perioperative complications occurred in 15 cases (60%) in Group A but in only five (20%) in Group B. No major wound complications requiring a soft-tissue coverage procedure were encountered. Minor wound complications occurred in three cases in each group, and resolved with skin grafting or topical dressing changes. One deep infection occurred in Group A, which required implant removal and antibiotic impregnated spacer prior to revision TAR. Four patients sustained intraoperative malleolus fractures in Group A, but only one in Group B. Coronal malposition of the tibial component occurred in three cases in Group A and in two in Group B. Sagittally increased slope of the tibial component occurred in two cases in only Group B and sagittal malposition of the talar component occurred in two cases in only Group A. There were 7 instances of anterior translation of the talar component with respect to the tibial component; four in Group A and three in Group B. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that TAR has a steep learning curve. Moreover, knowledge of the perioperative complications of TAR may reduce the incidence of potential complications

Aims

The purpose of this study was to determine the functional outcome and implant survivorship of mobile-bearing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) performed by a single surgeon.

Background. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) with the use of third generation implants has demonstrated favorable clinical results and improved survival. However, few studies have compared the different types of implants. The purpose of this study was to perform a retrospective evaluation of patient outcomes and complications by comparing TAA procedures performed with HINTEGRA versus MOBILITY systems. Methods. Fifty-two consecutively enrolled patients (28 men and 24 women; mean age 64.8 years) underwent TAA using HINTEGRA (21 ankles) or MOBILITY (33 ankles) between September 2004 and July 2012. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores were determined at each follow-up visit. The radiographs were reviewed to assess component positioning, radiolucency, heterotopic ossification and other factors. Results. The mean follow-up period was 28.3 months in the HINTEGRA group and 32.5 months in the MOBILITY group. VAS decreased from 8.3 to 2.0 for the HINTEGRA group and from 7.9 to 2.7 for the MOBILITY group. The AOFAS score increased from 43.8 to 87.3 for the HINTEGRA group and from 46.6 to 83.7 for the MOBILITY group. Intra- and postoperative malleolar fractures were not noted in the HINTEGRA group, whereas 5 ankles (15.2%) in the MOBILITY group sustained this injury (P=.144). Ankle impingement syndrome was noted in 8 ankles (38.1%) in the HINTEGRA group and 3 (9.1%) in the MOBILITY group (P=.015). However, no significant differences in postoperative osteolysis and neuralgia were noted between the groups. Conclusions. HINTEGRA and MOBILITY implants both exhibited favorable clinical outcome without significant differences. However, in terms of complications, ankle impingement syndrome was significantly more common in the HINTEGRA group, while intraoperative malleolar fracture was observed in only the MOBILITY group

Aims. To assess the effect of age on clinical outcome and revision rates in patients who underwent total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. A consecutive series of 811 ankles (789 patients) that underwent TAA between May 2003 and December 2013 were enrolled. The influence of age on clinical outcome, including the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score, and pain according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) was assessed. In addition, the risk for revision surgery that includes soft tissue procedures, periarticular arthrodeses/osteotomies, ankle joint debridement, and/or inlay exchange (defined as minor revision), as well as the risk for revision surgery necessitating the exchange of any of the metallic components or removal of implant followed by ankle/hindfoot fusion (defined as major revision) was calculated. Results. A significant improvement in the AOFAS hindfoot score and pain relief between the preoperative assessment and the last follow-up was evident. Age had a positive effect on pain relief. The risk for a minor or major revision was 28.7 % at the mean follow-up of 5.4 years and 11.0 % at a mean follow-up of 6.9 years respectively. The hazard of revision was not affected by age. Conclusion. The clinical outcome, as well as the probability for revision surgery following TAA, is comparable between younger and older patients. The overall revision rate of the Hintegra total ankle is comparable with other three component designs. TAA should no longer be reserved for low demand elderly patients, but should also be recognized as a viable option for active patients of younger age. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(7):925–932

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in sagittal tibiotalar alignment after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for osteoarthritis and to investigate factors affecting the restoration of alignment. . This retrospective study included 119 patients (120 ankles) who underwent three component TAA using the Hintegra prosthesis. A total of 63 ankles had anterior displacement of the talus before surgery (group A), 49 had alignment in the normal range (group B), and eight had posterior displacement of the talus (group C). Ankles in group A were further sub-divided into those in whom normal alignment was restored following TAA (41 ankles) and those with persistent displacement (22 ankles). Radiographic and clinical results were assessed. Pre-operatively, the alignment in group A was significantly more varus than that in group B, and the posterior slope of the tibial plafond was greater (p < 0.01 in both cases). The posterior slope of the tibial component was strongly associated with restoration of alignment: ankles in which the alignment was restored had significantly less posterior slope (p < 0.001). . An anteriorly translated talus was restored to a normal position after TAA in most patients. We suggest that surgeons performing TAA using the Hintegra prosthesis should aim to insert the tibial component at close to 90° relative to the axis of the tibia, hence reducing posterior soft-tissue tension and allowing restoration of normal tibiotalar alignment following surgery. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:1525–32

History and Background: The HINTEGRA. ®. Total Ankle Prosthesis was designed in 2000 by Dr. B. Hintermann (Basel, Switzerland); Dr. G. Dereymaeker (Pellenberg, Belgium); Dr. R. Viladot (Barcelona/Spain); and Dr. P. Diebold (Maxeville, France), and is manufactured by Newdeal SA in Lyon, France. Design Features: The HINTEGRA. ®. Total Ankle Prosthesis is a non-constrained, three-component system that provides inversion/eversion stability. Axial rotation and normal flexion/extension mobility are provided by a mobile bearing element. Limits of motion are dependent on natural soft-tissue constraints: no mechanical prosthetic motion constraints are imposed for any ankle movement with this device. The HINTEGRA. ®. ankle uses all available bone surface for support. The anatomically shaped, flat tibial and talar components essentially resurface the tibia and talar dome, respectively, and wings hemiprosthetically replace degenerate medial and lateral facets (a potential source of pain and impingement). No more than 2 to 3 mm of bone removal on each side of the joint is necessary to insert the tibial and talar components. On the tibial side, most importantly, the bony architecture remains intact, and in particular, the anterior cortex is preserved. Perfect apposition with the hard subchondral bone is achieved by the flat resection of the bone and the flat surface of the component. Primary stability for coronal plane motion is provided by two screws inserted into the anterior shield, in the upper part of oval holes so that the settling process of the component is not hindered by axial loading. On the talar side, additional anterior support is provided by a shield, and pressfit is provided by the slightly curved wings. Two pegs facilitate the insertion of the talar component and provide additional stability, particularly against anterior-posterior translation. Another advantage of this concept is the instrumentation that allows reliable implantation of components. Technique: The prosthesis is implanted through an anterior approach. In the case of malalignment, ligamentous instability, and concomitant osteoarthrosis of the distal joints, additional surgeries are considered before prosthetic implantation. Complications: In the beginning, a major concern was the positioning of the talar component, which tended to slide too posteriorly while impacting and press fitting. With the addition of two talar pegs, the current design may resist such translational forces during press fitting. There is evidence that positioning of the talar component too posteriorly may cause pain and limit dorsiflexion of the foot (probably because the posterior aspects of the deltoid ligament are over-tensioned), thereby the intrinsic forces are also increased which may cause unacceptable high shear forces at the bone-implant interface and/or component instability. In all but one of the seven revised talar components (out of the author’s first 400 cases), the component was positioned too posteriorly. There is a potential risk for dislocation of the meniscal component either laterally or medially as long as no appropriate alignment and/or ligament balancing have been achieved during surgery. The author encountered this problem only in two of the first twenty cases; thereafter, no such complications occurred probably because of better understanding alignment and balancing the ankle. A potential concern in uncemented resurfacing prostheses is the use of screws that may create stress shielding. The HINTEGRA. ®. ankle, however, uses oval holes on the tibial side so that some settling of the component during osteointegration is possible. As screw fixation is located eccentric to the load transfer area, the potential for stress shielding is in addition minimized. Salvage of Complications: Special revision implants are available for salvage of failed components. On tibial side, components with a thicker plateau may serve to replace loosed bone stock and to get firm bony support more proximally, thereby preserving the original joint line (that means, the ankle ligaments are supposed to be properly used for stabilizing and guidance of the joint). On talar side, components with a flat undersurface allow flat resection of the talus, thus providing a wide area of bone support to the revision component. Results: Between 05/2000 and 12/2006, 340 primary TAA were performed in 322 patients (females, 165; males, 157, age 57.3 ± 13.4 years). Underlying diagnosis was posttraumatic osteoarthritis in 272 ankles, primary osteoarthritis in 26 ankles and inflammatory arthritis in 42 ankles. All patients were clinically and radiologically assessed after 6.2 (1.1–7.5) years, and survivorship analysis was calculated. Revision of a metallic implant or conversion into ankle arthrodesis was taken as the endpoint. The AOFAS Hindfoot Score improved from 42.1 (14–61) points preoperatively to 78.6 (44–100) points at follow-up. 205 ankles (60.5%) were completely pain free. The average range of motion was clinically 32.2° (range, 15° to 55°), and under fluoroscopy (that is, true ankle motion) 30.4° (range, 7° to 62°). Four ankles were revised to TAA (component loosening, 3; pain, 1), and 2 ankles (component loosening and recurrent misalignment, 1; pain, 1) were revised to ankle arthrodesis. Overall survivorship at 6 years was 98.2%, being 97.9% for the talar component and 98.8% for the tibial component. Four ankles (1.2%) were successfully revised, and the obtained result at latest follow-up did not differ from those ankles without complications. Whereas, 2 ankles (0.6%) were revised to ankle arthrodesis. In another series of 37 patients (37 ankles: STAR, 26 ankles; HINTEGRA, 3 ankles; AGILITY, 3 ankles, Büchel-Pappas, 2 ankles; MOBILITY, 2 ankles; SALTO, 1 ankle) with failed total ankle arthroplasty, revision arthroplasty was performed with the HINTEGRA. ®. ankle. All but one surgery were successful. At a mean follow-up of 3.6 (1.2–6.4) years, 29 patients (78.4%) were satisfied with the obtained result. The AOFAS Hindfoot Score improved from 39.2 (23–58) points pre-operatively to 72.8 (54–95) points. All but on implants were radiographically stable; in one case, the tibial component showed, at one year, still a radioluscency which may be considered as loosening. As the patient is completely pain free, no revision surgery was done. In another series of 29 patients (30 ankles), a painful ankle fusion was taken down and ankle arthroplasty was performed with the HINTEGRA. ®. ankle. All surgeries were successful. At a mean follow-up of 3.4 (2–7.6) years, 24 patients (80%) were satisfied with the obtained result. The AOFAS Hindfoot Score improved from 34.1 (18–47) points preoperatively to 69.4 (48–90) points. The obtained motion for dorsi-/plantar flexion was clinically 23.5° (10°–40°) [52.6% of contra lateral ankle), and radiographically (“true ankle motion”) 24.5°(8°–24°) [54.4% of contra lateral ankle]. The author’s overall experience: more than 750 replacements with the HINTEGRA. ®. ankle in the last 8 years. The learning curve was rather long as some adjustments had to be performed, and there was need of some time to understand “ligament balancing” in ankle replacement in more detail. However, since then, an extremely high satisfaction rate was obtained, and most patients are doing very well. The revision rate has also turned down to < 2% despite, with increased experience, more complex cases may have been considered for ankle replacement. Conclusion: Obviously, TAA using a current anatomic design of 3-component prosthesis (HINTEGRA) have evolved to a safe procedure with reliable results at mid- to long-term. These encouraging results support our belief that TAA has become a viable alternative to ankle arthrodesis even for younger patients and more difficult conditions, as often the case in posttraumatic osteoarthritis

The purpose of this study was to review the total ankle arthroplasties performed in consecutive series of 78 ankles and to determine the short-term results in cases with over 12 months follow-up. Preoperative diagnoses were post-traumatic osteoarthritis in 40 ankles (51.3%), primary osteoarthritis in 32 ankles (41.0%), and systemic arthritis in six ankles (7.7%). HINTEGRA. ®. (Newdeal SA, Lyon, France) total ankle system was used in all cases. Fifty-five total ankle arthroplasties including four revision cases, followed up for over 12 months (range, 13~49 months) were included in this study. Ankles were divided into three groups according to the coronal plane deformity in preoperative standing ankle AP radiograph; Varus (≥10°; 20 ankles (39.2%)), neutral (< 10° varus or valgus; 25 ankles (49%)), and valgus (≥10° valgus; 6 ankles (11.8%)). Various additional surgeries were performed simultaneously with the arthroplasty to correct the deformities; deltoid ligament release (25 cases), posterior tibialis tendon lengthening (2 cases), peroneus longus tendon transfer to brevis (5 cases), lateral ankle reconstruction with modified Broström procedure (4 cases), lateral closed-wedge calcaneal osteotomy (3 cases), percutaneous heel cord lengthening (19 cases), and gastrocnemius recession (1 case). In one patient with severe valgus deformity, staged total ankle arthroplasty was conducted after primary triple arthrodesis. Preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, range of motion (ROM), as well as patient’s satisfaction and willingness to receive the operation again were evaluated The results were compared among the three groups. Serial radiographs were reviewed for any radiological changes. AOFAS score has improved from 54.3 ± 11.4 pre-operatively to 79.2 ± 11.4 at last follow-up. VAS has decreased from 6.8 ± 1.6 to 3.2 ± 1.6. Mean improvement in ROM was 15.6 ± 16.2 degrees. Forty-eight cases (873%) were satisfied with excellent or good results and 49 cases (89.1 %) were willing to receive the operation again. No significant differences in the postoperative VAS (p=0.14), AOFAS score (p=0.79), and ROM (p=0.06) were found among the three groups. Hetero-topic ossifications were observed in 12 cases (23.5%) and periosteal reactions proximal to medial malleolus occurred in four cases (7.8%). Perioperative complications include one intraoperative medial malleolus fracture which was successfully managed with two cannulated-screws, and one medial malleolar stress fracture at six weeks after surgery which has healed spontaneously. One case with osteolysis around tibial screws was managed with bone graft. One case with deep fungal infection was converted to arthrodesis after infection control. Four ankles had to be revised including three cases of polyethylene bearing change due to dislocation, and one case of tibial component and bearing change due to loosening. The patient with revised tibial component was converted to arthrodesis due to recurred loosening. The Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival rate was 90.9% at 12 months and 87.8% at 49 months postoperatively. The short term clinical results of HINTEGRA ankles showed favorable results. No significant differences were observed among different groups of coronal plane deformities when adequate additional surgeries were performed simultaneously. Long term follow-up study is required

Aims

Despite the increasing numbers of ankle arthroplasties, there are limited studies on their survival and comparisons between different implants. The primary aim of this study was to determine the failure rates of primary ankle arthroplasties commonly used in the UK.

Aims

Revision rates for ankle arthroplasties are higher than hip or knee arthroplasties. When a total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) fails, it can either undergo revision to another ankle replacement, revision of the TAA to ankle arthrodesis (fusion), or amputation. Currently there is a paucity of literature on the outcomes of these revisions. The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the outcomes of revision TAA with respect to surgery type, functional outcomes, and reoperations.

Aims

Implant failure has become more common as the number of primary total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs) performed has increased. Although revision arthroplasty has gained attention for functional preservation, the long-term results remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes of revision TAA using a mobile-bearing prosthesis in a considerably large cohort; the risk factors for failure were also determined.

The June 2024 Foot & Ankle Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: First MTPJ fusion in young versus old patients; Minimally invasive calcaneum Zadek osteotomy and the effect of sequential burr passes; Comparison between Achilles tendon reinsertion and dorsal closing wedge calcaneal osteotomy for the treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy; Revision ankle arthroplasty – is it worthwhile?; Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis or below-knee amputation – salvage or sacrifice?; Fusion or replacement for hallux rigidus?.

As an alternative to ankle replacement, ankle arthrodesis remains a mainstay in the treatment of end-stage arthritis. Arthroscopic techniques for ankle arthrodesis have more recently been developed, although there has been limited research exploring the cost of arthroscopic (AAA) versus open ankle arthrodesis (OAA), and comparing ankle fusions to replacement (TAA). We hypothesise that resource use after AAA will be lower than that after OAA, and both will be lower than TAA. We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database. The COFAS database was used to identify patients with >2 years of follow up who have undergone AAA, OAA or Hintegra TAA at St Paul's Hospital between 2003–2010. Ninety patients with TAA, 52 with AAA and 56 with OAA met our inclusion criteria. The following data were documented: patient demographics (age, gender, presence of diabetes, inflammatory arthritis or any smoking history), factors related to the index surgery (type of surgery, OR time, length of stay) and factors relating to the post-operative course (number of post-operative clinic visits, OR time for re-operations, length of stay for additional hospital admissions). In terms of the index surgery, AAA required less initial OR time compared to either OAA or TAA. Initial length of hospital stay was significantly longer for both TAA and OAA, compared to AAA. Patients attended more follow-up visits after TAA or OAA compared to after AAA. In terms of additional OR time required, no significant differences were found among the groups. The most common reason for re-operation was infection or wound breakdown (38% of re-operations), followed by removal of hardware (15%). TAA also required significantly more additional days in hospital compared to either OAA or AAA. For all significant comparisons, p < 0.05. For each primary TAA, on average an additional one hour of surgery, three days in hospital and seven clinic visits were required on top of the cost factored for the primary arthroplasty. For each primary AAA, an additional four clinic visits, 23 minutes of revision surgery and one day in hospital were required. For each primary OAA, an average additional five clinic visits, three minutes of OR time, and 0.2 days of additional hospital stay occurred during follow up. Using several measures of resource use, we find that arthroscopic ankle fusions compare favourably to both ankle replacements and open ankle fusions. We also show that resource utilisation measurements can be a useful surrogate for complications, and that resource utilisation can demonstrate the practical implications of complications for patients, surgeons and health care resources

End-stage ankle arthritis (ESAA) is a debilitating disease that does not affect all individuals equally. Gender differences have been identified in patients with end-stage hip and knee arthritis and have stimulated research to explain these findings. The present study was undertaken to examine if gender has a significant effect on pre-operative disability and post-operative outcomes in patients with ESAA. Patients undergoing ankle arthrodesis (AA) or total ankle replacement (TAR) with minimum 2-year follow-up were identified in the Canadian Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society prospective ankle reconstruction database. Demographic data, revision data, patient satisfaction questionnaires, and outcome data using the Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) and Short-form 36 (SF-36) health survey were collected. TAR: 384 patients were included, with 198 females and 186 males. Patient BMI, comorbidities, and duration of follow-up were similar between groups. Males were slightly older at the time of surgery (65.1 vs 62.4 years, p=0.01)). The most common etiology was post-traumatic arthritis for both genders, however females had a higher rate of rheumatoid arthritis (17% vs 5%, p=0.001). Implant types included STAR, Hintegra, and Mobility, and were similar between groups. Preoperatively females had higher rates of pain and disability, demonstrated by lower SF-36 physical component scores (PCS) (31.0 vs 34.5, p<0.001), and higher AOS pain (54.7 vs 51.1, p=0.05) and AOS disability scores (66.5 vs 59.6, p<0.001). Postoperatively, both groups had significant improvement in PCS, AOS pain, and AOS disability scores. Females, however, continued to demonstrate lower PCS scores (38.3 vs 41.9, p<0.001) and higher AOS disability (31.0 vs 25.8, p=0.02) than males. Regression analysis found that preoperative PCS, gender, age, and arthritis etiology all had a significant impact on postoperative PCS scores, with preoperative PCS scores having the largest impact. Preoperative AOS pain and disability scores had the largest impact on postoperative AOS pain and disability scores, respectively. Gender had no significant impact on AOS pain and disability scores postoperatively. Patient satisfaction was similar between males and females postoperatively. Secondary surgery was performed in 13.6% of females and 16.1% of males. Five males and five females underwent revision to arthrodesis. In patients with ESAA, females tend to have higher pre-operative levels of pain and disability compared to males, which persists post-operatively. This is consistent with the hip and knee arthroplasty literature. This finding may be due to females undergoing surgery at more advanced disease states, arthritis etiology, referral bias, or treatment bias. Both males and females have significant and similar degrees of improvement in pain and disability scores after TAR, and reoperation rates and patient satisfaction rates are similar despite the apparent disparity in outcomes

Aims

When a total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) fails, it can be converted to a fusion or a revision arthroplasty. Despite the increasing numbers of TAAs being undertaken, there is little information in the literature about the management of patients undergoing fusion following a failed TAA. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the survival of fusions following a failed TAA using a large dataset from the National Joint Registry (NJR).