Arthroscopically assisted ankle fusion in patients with end-stage tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of arthroscopically assisted ankle fusion in patients with end-stage tuberculosis.


METHODS
Ten patients, all with end-stage tuberculosis, were operated on by arthroscopically assisted ankle fusion, and a half-ring sulcated external fixator was used. Partial weight-bearing was started on the fourth day. The clinical results were assessed with the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score. Ankle fusion was proved by radiographs.


RESULTS
At the mean follow-up of 23 months, all fusions were healed; the mean time to radiologic healing was 14.5 weeks. The final American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score was 66 points.


CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopically assisted debridement and ankle arthrodesis with an external fixator provided a very satisfactory rate of ankle fusion in 10 patients who had no recurrences or other complications.


METHODS
Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Tang
Kang-lai
KL
Centre for Joint Surgery, Orthopaedics Department, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. tangkanglai@hotmail.com
Li
Qi-hong
QH
Chen
Guang-xin
GX
Guo
Lin
L
Dai
Gang
G
Yang
Liu
L
D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle; D001174:Arthrodesis; D001182:Arthroscopy; D003646:Debridement; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014394:Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / Q000601:surgery*