title: The outcome of arthroscopic and open surgery ankle arthrodesis: a comparative retrospective study on 107 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the results of arthroscopic guided ankle arthrodesis, and the results of open surgery arthrodesis in two comparable groups of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 58 arthroscopic guided ankle arthrodeses was compared to a group of 49 ankles arthrodeses operated by open technique. The patients and ankles in both groups fulfilled the same criteria of inclusion except that the ankles operated by open technique had a varus/valgus malalignment exceeding 5 degrees. The pre- and postoperative treatment protocols were identical.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients in the arthroscopic group were discharged on average 2.27 days earlier than the patients operated by open technique (p<0.01). Ninety percent of the patients in the arthroscopic group and 57% in the open group showed bony union after 12 weeks (p<0.01). The rate of union after 1 year was 95% in the arthroscopic group and 84% in the open group (n.s.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopic guided ankle arthrodesis represents a safe and cost saving procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark. kibak@tdcadsl.dk
authors.forename: Kristian Kibak
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Linde
authors.forename: Niels Christian
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000601:surgery; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult