The meeting at Bury St Edmunds, 1214

Ankle Arthrodesis Using Anatomically Contoured Anterior Plate

“…1,4 Screw fixation alone, which is suitable for low-risk patients with minimal deformity and adequate bone stock, was reported with favorable clinical union rates ranging from 93% to 100%. 6,13 However, Dohm et al reported an unacceptable nonunion rate of 40% with this fusion technique. 5 Moreover, biomechanical evidence reported by Thordarson et al 22,23 suggested that screw fixation is not reliable in patients with osteopenic bone, which is common in posttraumatic arthritis and failed arthrodesis.…”

“…7,12 A popular internal fixation method of ankle fusion is partially threaded cancellous screws. 6,13 However, patients with a posttraumatic bone defect and/or poor bone quality after a long period of immobilization can require more rigid fixation. Dorsiflexion is the major stressor imparted to the fused ankle during normal gait, 18 therefore it can be rationalized that an anterior plate can provide more rigid fixation at the fusion gap.…”

Technique Tip: A Simple Method for Ankle Arthrodesis Using Solid Screws

“…Fixation is obtained by three solid 16-mm partially threaded 6.5-mm screws: medial, lateral and posterior. 3 The talus is appropriately positioned under the tibial plafond. 4 The articular surface of the tibial plafond is divided into 4 quadrants ( Figure 1).…”

“…Ankle arthrodesis with internal screw fixation is biomechanically sound with proven results 3,6 and fewer complications than other techniques. 5 Solid screw use has been criticized as technically challenging, dissuading many surgeons despite considerable cost savings.…”

Radiographic Analysis of Wedge Allograft Correction of Angular Malalignment in Ankle Fusion

“…4 Since the first description of ankle arthrodesis in 1879, more than 30 techniques have been reported to achieve rates of successful fusion ranging from 80% to 100%. 1,5,7,8,10,11,15 One such technique is the use of interposition bone graft to correct coronal and sagittal malalignment. Use of allograft bone in foot and ankle surgery is an accepted practice in many reconstructive scenarios.…”