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

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of Ilizarov ankle arthrodesis in the treatment of end-stage varus ankle osteoarthritis (OA).Methods: This was a retrospective study of 63 patients with varus ankle OA who underwent Ilizarov ankle arthrodesis between June 2013 and December 2018. There were 24 males and 39 females with an average age of 56.57 AE 4.45 years (range, 47-64 years). Thirty-six cases were affected on the left side, and 27 were affected on the right side. The patients' mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.18 AE 2.93 kg/m 2 . According to the modified Takakura staging criteria, there were 18 cases of stage 3b (28.57%) and 45 cases of stage 4 (71.43%). Nine patients were primary (14.29%), 48 were traumatic (76.19%), and six were caused by rheumatoid OA (9.52%). Functional assessments were performed according to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS), and visual analogue scale (VAS). The tibial anterior surface angle (TAS), coronal plane tibial-talar angle (CPT), talar tilt angle (TT), deformity angle (DA), and tibial lateral surface angle (TLS) were assessed on X-ray films. Results:The average operation time was 147.84 AE 13.67 min (range, 135-168 min). The average follow-up time was 34.24 AE 8.72 months (range, 24-61 months). Bony fusion was achieved in all ankles, and the fusion time was 12.43 AE 1.99 weeks on average. The average AOFAS score at the final follow-up increased from 42.14 AE 8.66 to 80.90 AE 6.80. The average VAS score and AOS pain and disability scores at the final follow-up decreased from 7.29

An Assessment of Ankle Function, Oxidative Damage, and Inflammatory Factor Levels in Minimally Invasive Ankle Joint Fusion Surgery for the Treatment of Traumatic Ankle Osteoarthritis

“…This disrupts the equilibrium of load dispersion within the joint, leading to prolonged exposure to such conditions, resulting in surface erosion and eventual cartilage necrosis. Consequently, the stability of the ankle joint diminishes substantially, culminating in persistent pain, muscular spasms, and constrained mobility in advanced stages (Li et al, 2022a).…”