Objectives

Overlap between the distal tibia and fibula has always been quoted to be positive. If the value is not positive then an injury to the syndesmosis is thought to exist. Our null hypothesis is that it is a normal variant in the adult population.

Tibiotalar fusion is considered to be the standard treatment for end-stage post-traumatic arthritis of the ankle. We report a retrospective, objective long-term study of the quality of life of 17 patients with 18 arthrodeses of the ankle, over a period of more than 20 years. We looked particularly for correlation between clinical and radiological signs of osteoarthritis in adjoining joints. At serial physical examinations, clinical grades were awarded according to the Olerud Molander Ankle (OMA) score. Any degree of degenerative change in the adjoining joints was recorded on standing radiographs. Patients filled out a SF-36 Health Survey form. Subjectively, 50% of patients were not handicapped in the performance of daily activities and 44% were in the same job as at the time of injury. At follow-up the mean OMA score was 59.4 points, the visual analogue scale was 1.99 and the radiological score was 2.7. The SF-36 for physical function, emotional disturbance and bodily pain revealed significant deficits. There was a significant correlation between the OMA and the radiological score (p = 0.05), and between the clinical and the SF-36 score (p = 0.01), but no significant correlation between the radiological score and the SF-36 score. Arthrodesis of the ankle leads to deficits in the functional outcome, to limitations in the activities of daily living and to radiological changes in the adjoining joints. The clinical outcome score correlates closely with the SF-36 score

We have treated osteochondral lesions of the talus using cortical bone pegs. We examined 27 ankles (27 patients) after a mean follow-up of 7.0 years (2 to 18.8). The mean age of the patients was 27.8 years (12 to 62). An unstable osteochondral fragment or osteosclerotic changes in the bed of the talus were regarded as indications for the procedure. The clinical results were good in 24 ankles (89%) and fair in three (11%); none had a poor result. There was also radiological improvement in 24 ankles. Repair of the articular surface and stability of the lesion can be achieved even in unstable chronic lesions

Between 1993 and 2000 we implanted 200 cementless, mobile-bearing STAR total ankle replacements. None was lost to follow-up for reasons other than the death of a patient. The mean follow-up was for 46 months (24 to 101). A complication requiring further surgery developed in eight ankles and 14 were revised or fused. The cumulative survival rate at five years was 92.7% (95% CI 86.6 to 98.8) with time to decision to revision or fusion as an endpoint. The most frequent complications were delayed wound healing and fracture of a malleolus. These became less common with experience of the operation. The radiological appearance of the interface of the tibial implant was significantly related to its operative fit and to the type of bioactive coating

We assessed 46 Syme’s amputees attending our prosthetic clinics in terms of the clinical and radiological condition of their stumps, their level of function and problems with the prosthesis. Twenty-five were compared with a matching group of 25 transtibial amputees in regard to activity, function and prosthetic behaviour. Function was similar in the two groups, but Syme’s amputees had a higher incidence of prosthetic failure. Overall, Syme’s amputees were pleased with their prostheses and their function. Childhood amputations were associated with fewer long-term problems in terms of function and stump problems. Syme’s amputation is indicated for congenital foot deformities, fibular hemimelia and severe injury to the foot as long as the heel pad remains viable