title: Ankle arthrodesis in rheumatoid arthritis. 30 cases followed for 5 years.
abstract: We have reviewed the results of 30 ankle arthrodeses performed on 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This procedure was associated with a high morbidity, with wound breakdown and infection occurring in 12 cases. Eighteen ankles had fused, six had pain-free fibrous union, and six required further surgery for nonunion. Clinical evaluation, at an average follow-up of 5 years, was based on a modified ankle-grading system with good or excellent results in 14, fair results in nine, and poor in two. Only 4 patients had some residual pain in the ankle, and so, despite the high complication rate, arthrodesis is an effective method of treating the painful, rheumatoid ankle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Great Britain.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Pinder
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection