title: Outcomes after standardized screw fixation technique of ankle arthrodesis.
abstract: Several methods of obtaining ankle fusion have been described, with numerous studies reporting on patient populations with varied diagnoses and various methods of fixation. This has led to outcome analyses that are difficult to interpret. Our hypothesis is that using a standard method of fusion, without the aid of allograft, a solid ankle fusion can be achieved in patients with end-stage ankle arthritis, and that this outcome can be reflected in standardized outcome tools. Forty-one consecutive ankle fusions in 40 patients were included in our study, with a minimum followup of 3 years. All patients had an ankle arthrodesis using two parallel retrograde 7.3-mm screws and local fibular graft. All but two patients obtained a solid talocrural union (95%), with a mean postoperative improvement in the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score of 23 points. Results of our study showed that a simple technique based on sound mechanical and biologic principles can yield excellent outcomes for patients.
authors.affiliation: Foot and Ankle Department, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021, USA. kennedyj@hss.edu
authors.forename: John Garrett
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Christopher William
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hodgkins
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.forename: Walther Hartmuth
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Bohne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome