title: Anterior ankle arthrodesis with cross-screw fixation. A dowel graft method used in 20 cases.
abstract: We report a new method of ankle arthrodesis which combines an anterior approach with a dowel technique of bone grafting and screw fixation. In 20 ankles of 20 patients, ten with osteoarthritis, eight with rheumatoid arthritis and two others, we achieved 19 solid bony fusions and one painless fibrous ankylosis. The average time to union was 12.5 weeks. Patient satisfaction was high and the functional results were as good as for other reported methods, with fewer complications.
authors.affiliation: Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, England.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Stranks
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cecil
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Jeffery
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography