title: [Fixation or screws in arthrodeses of the upper ankle joint. A retrospective comparison of 76 patients].
abstract: In a retrospective study, the results of 76 patients treated by different methods for arthrodesis of the ankle joint were compared. With external-compression clamps, solid fusion was achieved in 48 patients after an average of 4.5 months, with lag-screw fixation in 25 patients after 3 months. The nonunion rate was only 4% in the group with external clamps, the followup time was 2 years (maximum 6 years, minimum 6 months). Eighty percent of the patients reported pain relief, 58% in the lag-screw reported being free of symptoms, 23% as did of the external-clamps group. Most of the complications after external fixation were related to pin-site infections (48%). Infection, instability and inability to undergo physiotherapy were the main problems after clamps. Arthrodesis with lag screws provides optimal biomechanical fixation, with early functional treatment and a fusion within 3 months. Compared to external clamps arthrodesis, the lag-screw group had fewer problems with skin and bone healing and could be discharged earlier.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breitfuss
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muhr
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mönnig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000601:surgery; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology
vernacular_title: Fixateur oder Schraube bei Arthrodesen am oberen Sprunggelenk. Ein retrospektiver Vergleich bei 76 Patienten.