title: Tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis with posterior blade plate in diabetic neuroarthropthy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To prevent amputation, achieving successfull ankle artrodesis in diabetic Charcot arthropaty patients is very important. As a salvage procedure, we have used a 95-degree-angled blade plate via a posterior approach to achieve tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2006 and 2008, four diabetic patients with hindfoot Charcot arthropathy underwent talectomy and tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis with an AO 95-degree-angled blade plate via a posterior approach. Two of the patients were male and two were female. The average age was 63 (range, 53 to 70) years. The mean duration of diabetes was 9 (range, 5 to 20) years. All the patients were on hemodialysis. Three of four patients had undergone previous surgeries. The average followup period was 24 (range, 12 to 35) months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical and radiographic fusion was present by 5 (range, 3 to 6) months in three of four patients. In the other patient, a stable fibrous ankylosis was achieved. Clinical outcomes were excellent in three patients, and good in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The performance of tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis with the use of blade plate with a posterior approach was a safe and successful surgical method for the treatment of Charcot ankle.
authors.affiliation: Baskent University, Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Adana Education and Research Hospital, Dadaloglu Mah, 39 SK, No 6, Yüregir, Adana, Turkey. cinarbm@gmail.com
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cinar
authors.forename: Alihan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Derincek
authors.forename: Sercan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akpinar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001177:Arthropathy, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001860:Bone Plates; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000601:surgery*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013628:Talus / Q000601:surgery; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*