title: Midterm results of posterior arthroscopic ankle fusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The presented study was performed to evaluate the midterm clinical and radiological results and complication rates of the first 40 patients with an ankle fusion through a posterior arthroscopic approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty consecutive patients with end-stage post-traumatic ankle osteoarthritis were treated with posterior arthroscopic ankle fusion. All patients were assessed clinically as well as radiologically with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and Foot Function Index (FFI) were used to assess clinical improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical fusion was achieved in 40 patients within 3 months (100%), and radiological fusion was achieved in 40 patients at 12 months. Two screw mal-placements occurred. Both complications were solved following revision surgery. A significant improvement was noted for both the FAAM [median 38 (range 17-56) to 63 (range 9-84)] and FFI scores [median 66 (range 31-89) to 32 (range 11-98)] for all 40 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The posterior arthroscopic ankle fusion is an effective and safe treatment option for end-stage post-traumatic ankle osteoarthritis at midterm follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study, Level IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.a.deleeuw@amc.nl.|Academic Center for Evidence Based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.a.deleeuw@amc.nl.|Amsterdam Collaboration for Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.a.deleeuw@amc.nl.
authors.forename: Peter A J
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: de Leeuw
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zuyderland, Sittard, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roel P M
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hendrickx
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Academic Center for Evidence Based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Amsterdam Collaboration for Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C Niek
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Academic Center for Evidence Based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Amsterdam Collaboration for Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sjoerd S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Stufkens
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Academic Center for Evidence Based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Amsterdam Collaboration for Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gino M M J
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kerkhoffs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000842:Ankle; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005528:Foot / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000068958:Return to Sport; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ankle; Arthroscopy; Fusion; Hindfoot endoscopy; Osteoarthritis