title: Ankle arthrodesis in rheumatoid arthritis using an intramedullary nail with fins.
abstract: We describe an intramedullary nail with fin-like longitudinal ridges that we have developed for arthrodesis of the ankle in rheumatoid arthritis. Four fins with sharp tips were attached to the distal part of a cylindrical nail to stabilize the tibiotalar and subtalar joints. We used this nail in 15 feet of 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were followed for an average of 34.9 months. Postsurgery, 13 patients were allowed to bear weight immediately, as tolerated, without immobilization. By 3 weeks, these patients were able to bear weight fully. Solid fusion of the ankle joint in an acceptable position and good clinical results were obtained in all patients. The only complications were two cases of delayed wound-healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Disease, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujimori
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koiwa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shiga
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagashima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016474:Weight-Bearing