Arthrodesis of a Varus Ankle

Combined Transfibular and Anterior Approaches Increase Union Rate and Decrease Non-Weight-Bearing Periods in Ankle Arthrodesis: Combined Approaches in Ankle Arthrodesis

“…Ankle arthrodesis has been commonly used in the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis because of its straightforward procedure and suitability for almost all types of ankle arthritis. Moreover, there is high level of evidence in the literature for the use of ankle arthrodesis in the surgical treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis [1][2][3]. Several approaches have been commonly used for ankle arthrodesis, including the anterior, transfibular, posterior, and arthroscopic approaches [4][5][6].…”

Effectiveness of Ilizarov Ankle Arthrodesis in the Treatment of End‐Stage Varus Ankle Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective Study

“…As malalignment of the talus results in unbalanced stress distribution of the ankle articular surface and further promotes the development of ankle OA, 7 compared with other types of lower extremity OA, ankle OA develops earlier and more rapidly into the end‐stage, which often affects young patients and causes substantial pain and impairment of ankle function 8,9 . End‐stage ankle OA with varus deformity is still a challenging condition to treat 7 . Fundamental surgical correction of varus malalignment plays a crucial role during treatment to eliminate pain and deformity of the degenerated ankle joint and achieve painless mobilization 10 .…”

“…Austrian surgeon, Eduard Albert, described ankle arthrodesis in 1878 when he performed a surgical procedure for the fusion of both knees and ankles in a 14‐year‐old child who had severe palsy of the lower extremities 16 . For almost a century, ankle arthrodesis has been considered the gold standard for surgically treating end‐stage ankle OA because of its wide indications, definite clinical effect, and low revision rate 7,17–19 . Various fixation methods have been developed along with continuous improvements in surgical techniques for ankle arthrodesis.…”

“… 16 For almost a century, ankle arthrodesis has been considered the gold standard for surgically treating end‐stage ankle OA because of its wide indications, definite clinical effect, and low revision rate. 7 , 17 , 18 , 19 Various fixation methods have been developed along with continuous improvements in surgical techniques for ankle arthrodesis. To date, more than 40 techniques have been used for arthrodesis and have shown positive effects, such as open reduction and internal fixation, arthroscopic fusion using screws, external fixation, and/or the application of iliac bone grafts.…”

“… 5 Apart from other degenerative characteristics of ankle OA, such as degeneration of cartilage, subchondral bone sclerosis, and formation of osteophytes, malpositioning of the talus, such as talus medial translation, talar internal rotation along its longitudinal axis, and/or talus varus tilt, is a typical characteristic of a varus ankle. 6 , 7 As malalignment of the talus results in unbalanced stress distribution of the ankle articular surface and further promotes the development of ankle OA, 7 compared with other types of lower extremity OA, ankle OA develops earlier and more rapidly into the end‐stage, which often affects young patients and causes substantial pain and impairment of ankle function. 8 , 9 End‐stage ankle OA with varus deformity is still a challenging condition to treat.…”