Aims

We report the medium-term outcomes of a consecutive series of 118 Zenith total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs) from a single, non-designer centre.

Aims

This is a multicentre, non-inventor, prospective observational study of 503 INFINITY fixed bearing total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs). We report our early experience, complications, and radiological and functional outcomes.

Introduction:. We present the early results of 220 Rebalance Total Ankle Replacements performed in 6 centres in 4 different countries. Methods:. The Rebalance Total Ankle Replacement is a new 3 component uncemented mobile bearing prosthesis with a surface coating of ‘bonemaster’ and an ‘e’ poly bearing. The prosthesis was released in a limited way in May 2011. Since then 220 replacements have been implanted in 218 patients in 6 centres in 4 different countries (UK, Sweden, Canada, Czech Republic). All the x-rays and case notes were reviewed.63 prostheses have a minimum follow up of 2 years. Outcome measures included revision of the prosthesis, and the incidence of progressive and non-progesssive radiolucent lines around the prosthesis. Results:. 7 patients underwent revision or are awaiting revision of their prosthesis. Reasons for revision included loosening(2), infection(1), malposition(2), periprosthetic fracture(1), impingement(1). 9 patients had non-progressive radiolucent lines and 2 patients had progressive radiolucent lines. 1 patient with progressive radiolucent lines is waiting revision for suspected infection. 8 patients suffered fractures to the lateral malleolus and 4 to the medial malleolus. There were no cases of balloon osteolysis. 29 patients had pre-op AOFAS scores= 41(12–67). 21 had 1 year post-op AOFAS scores= 73.5(26–100). 12 had 2 year AOFAS scores= 75.5(50–100). Conclusion:. The early results are encouraging and we believe support its wider use

Introduction:. The Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR) is a three-component, uncemented implant in widespread use throughout Europe. STAR has achieved encouraging results with short and medium term outcome. We present the long term (13–19 year) results of a consecutive series of 200 STAR ankles. Methods:. Between November 1993 and February 2000, a total of 200 consecutive STARs were carried out in 184 patients. Patients were followed up both clinically and radiologically, until death or failure, with time to decision to revision or fusion as the endpoint. Pain and function were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score. Results:. Of the 200 STARs, 109 (105 patients) were alive at latest review. 12 STARs (11 patients) were lost to follow-up, leaving 97 ankles for clinical review. Of these, 76 ankles were surviving and 21 ankles had failed [13 underwent arthrodesis, 4 had an exchange of poly insert, and 4 had a revision TAR], with mean time to failure 82 months (2–156 months). For the 91 ankles in 79 patients who died during the study, 8 had failed [6 underwent revision TAR and 2 had an arthrodesis]. The implant survival at 15 years with endpoint of revision for any reason was 76.9% [95% CI 66.4 to 87.3]. The mean AOFAS score was 72 [20 to 96]. The mean annual failure rate was 1.5%, which was steady across the study period. Conclusion:. The 15 year survivorship for the STAR prosthesis was 76.9%, which provides a benchmark for other later design ankle prostheses. We found no drop off in failure rate or function over the study period

Aims

We report the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of a consecutive series of 200 total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs, 184 patients) at a single centre using the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR) implants.

We performed a retrospective review of a consecutive series of 178 Mobility total ankle replacements (TARs) performed by three surgeons between January 2004 and June 2009, and analysed radiological parameters and clinical outcomes in a subgroup of 129 patients. The mean follow-up was 4 years (2 to 6.3). A total of ten revision procedures (5.6%) were undertaken. The mean Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) pain score was 17 (0 to 88) and 86% of patients were clinically improved at follow-up. However, 18 patients (18 TARs, 14%) had a poor outcome with an AOS pain score of > 30. A worse outcome was associated with a pre-operative diagnosis of post-traumatic degenerative arthritis. However, no pre- or post-operative radiological parameters were significantly associated with a poor outcome. Of the patients with persistent pain, eight had predominantly medial-sided pain. Thirty TARs (29%) had a radiolucency in at least one zone.

The outcome of the Mobility TAR at a mean of four years is satisfactory in > 85% of patients. However, there is a significant incidence of persistent pain, particularly on the medial side, for which we were unable to establish a cause.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1366–71.

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.

We describe the early results of a prospective study of 100 total ankle replacements (96 patients) at a single centre using the Mobility Total Ankle Replacement. At final review, six patients had died and five ankles (5%) had been revised, two by fusion and three by exchange of components. All remaining patients were reviewed at a minimum of three years. The mean follow-up was 43 months (4 to 63). The three-year survival was 97% (95% confidence interval (CI) 91 to 99). The four-year survival was 93.6% (95% CI 84.7 to 97.4). The portion of bony interface that was visible on plain radiograph was divided into 15 zones and a radiolucent line or osteolytic cavity was seen in one zone in 14 ankles. It was not seen in more than one zone. In five ankles it was > 10 mm in width.

This study suggests that the early outcome of ankle replacement is comparable to that of other total joint replacements.

The Bologna–Oxford (BOX) total ankle replacement (TAR) was developed with the aim of achieving satisfactory pain-free movement of the ankle. To date, only one single multicentre study has reported its clinical results. The aim of this study was to conduct an independent review of its mid-term results.

We retrospectively reviewed a total of 60 prospectively followed patients in whom 62 BOX TARs had been implanted between 2004 and 2008. We used the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score to assess the clinical results. Standardised radiographs taken at the time of final follow-up were analysed by two observers. The overall survival was 91.9% at a mean follow-up of 42.5 months (24 to 71). The mean AOFAS score had improved from 35.1 points (sd 16.6; 4 to 73) pre-operatively to 78.0 (sd 10.7; 57 to 100) at final follow-up (p < 0.01). Tibial radiolucencies < 2 mm in width were seen around 16 TARs. Talar radiolucencies < 2 mm were seen around four TARs. A total of 47 patients (78.3%) were very satisfied or satisfied with the outcome. Five patients required revision for functional limitation or continuing pain.

Between 2002 and 2008, 130 consecutive ankles were replaced with an hydroxyapatite (HA) and titanium-HA-coated Ankle Evolutive System total ankle prosthesis. Plain radiographs were analysed by two independent observers. Osteolytic lesions were classified by their size and location, with cavities > 10 mm in diameter considered to be ‘marked’. CT scanning was undertaken in all patients with marked osteolysis seen on the plain radiographs.

Osteolytic lesions were seen on the plain films in 48 (37%) and marked lesions in 27 (21%) ankles. The risk for osteolysis was found to be 3.1 (95% confidence interval 1.6 to 5.9) times higher with implants with Ti-HA porous coating.

Care should be taken with ankle arthroplasty until more is known about the reasons for these severe osteolyses.

We describe the results of a randomised, prospective study of 200 ankle replacements carried out between March 2000 and July 2003 at a single centre to compare the Buechel-Pappas (BP) and the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR) implant with a minimum follow-up of 36 months. The two prostheses were similar in design consisting of three components with a meniscal polyethylene bearing which was highly congruent on its planar tibial surface and on its curved talar surface. However, the designs were markedly different with respect to the geometry of the articular surface of the talus and its overall shape.

A total of 16 ankles (18%) was revised, of which 12 were from the BP group and four of the STAR group. The six-year survivorship of the BP design was 79% (95% confidence interval (CI) 63.4 to 88.5 and of the STAR 95% (95% CI 87.2 to 98.1). The difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.09). However, varus or valgus deformity before surgery did have a significant effect) (p = 0.02) on survivorship in both groups, with the likelihood of revision being directly proportional to the size of the angular deformity. Our findings support previous studies which suggested that total ankle replacement should be undertaken with extreme caution in the presence of marked varus or valgus deformity.