title: Advances in intramedullary nail fixation in foot and ankle surgery.
abstract: Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis for the treatment of complex foot and ankle deformities are extremely challenging cases. Technological advances in intramedullary nail fixation have improved the biomechanical properties of available fixation constructs in recent years. Nails designed specifically to accommodate hindfoot anatomy, advancement in the understanding of optimal screw orientation, fixed angle technology, the availability of spiral blade screws, and features designed to achieve compression across the arthrodesis site have provided the foot and ankle surgeon with a greater armamentarium for performing tibiotalocalneal arthrodesis. Although advances may help to improve clinical results, small sample sizes and the low-level evidence of study designs limit the evaluation of how these advances affect clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center, Roesch-Taylor Medical Building, 2100 Jane Street, Suite 7100 North, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA. woodsjb@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Jason B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000639:trends; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013640:Tarsal Joints / Q000601:surgery