title: Technique and short-term results of ankle arthrodesis using anterior plating.
abstract: Clinical and biomechanical trials have shown that rigid internal fixation during ankle arthrodesis leads to increased rates of union and is associated with a reduced infection rate, union time, discomfort and earlier mobilisation compared with other methods. We describe our technique of ankle arthrodesis using anterior plating with a narrow dynamic compression plate (DCP). Between 2004 and 2007, 29 patients with a mean age of 24.4 years (range 18-42) had ankle arthrodesis using an anteriorly placed narrow DCP. Twenty-two patients were post-traumatic and seven were paralytic (five after spine fracture and two after common peroneal nerve injury). Follow-up was between 12 and 18 months (average 14 months). A rate of fusion of 100% was achieved at an average of 12.2 weeks. According to the Mazur ankle score, 65.5% had excellent, 20.7% good and 13.8% fair results. Ankle arthrodesis using an anteriorly placed narrow DCP is a good method to achieve ankle fusion in many types of ankle arthropathies.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Aly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohamedean
authors.forename: Hatem G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Sharkawi
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: El-Adly
authors.forename: Galal Z
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Said
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function; D055815:Young Adult