title: Minimally invasive distraction technique for prone posterior ankle and subtalar arthroscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prone ankle and subtalar arthroscopy is challenging in part due to the limited working space in these joints.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients undergoing prone posterior arthroscopy with a novel skeletal traction method were reviewed and the technique detailed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No complications were observed in 14 patients treated with a minimally invasive skeletal traction technique for prone ankle and subtalar arthroscopy and 38 patients treated with the same traction device during supine ankle arthroscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive skeletal traction can be used safely for prone posterior ankle and subtalar arthroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah Orthopaedic Center, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA. timothy.beals@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Beals
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Junko
authors.forename: Annunziato
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amendola
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nickisch
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Saltzman
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D056888:Patient Positioning; D016684:Prone Position; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013380:Subtalar Joint; D014143:Traction / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome