title: Total ankle replacement for rheumatoid arthritis of the ankle.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that may affect multiple joints, both small and large, and leads to numerous complications. The standard surgical treatment for a rheumatoid arthritic ankle has been an arthrodesis. The ideal candidate for an ankle replacement in a rheumatoid patient is one who is moderately active, has a well-aligned ankle and heel, and a fair range of motion in the ankle joint. Good surgical technique and correction of any hindfoot deformity will result in satisfactory alignment of the ankle with regard to the mechanical axis, and this will lead to increased prosthetic longevity.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologie, Hôpital La Tour, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sean Y C
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Ng Y C
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Sean
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Crevoisier
authors.forename: Crevoisier
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Assal
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D058737:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Ankle / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage; D011475:Prosthesis Failure