Conversion of failed ankle arthroplasty to an arthrodesis. Technique using an arthrodesis nail and a cage filled with morsellized bone graft.
Arthrodesis of the ankle joint after a failed ankle prosthesis is most often demanding because of bone loss. The bone loss is also responsible for limb length discrepancy. Intramedullary nail fixation has been described to be successful for arthrodesis of the arthritic ankle joint. We report the use of the nail technique in combination with a morsellized bone graft in and around a cage to convert failed ankle prosthesis with bone loss into an arthrodesis. The advantages which were strived for include developing a more practical operative method with lower morbidity (no autograft), early mobilization and weight-bearing provided by the stability of the internal fixation and restoration of limb length.
Bullens
Pieter
P
Department of Orthopaedic surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre and Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. PBullens@hotmail.com
de Waal Malefijt
Maarten
M
Louwerens
Jan Willem
JW
D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001858:Bone Nails; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D017211:Treatment Failure