title: TOTAL ANKLE ARTHROPLASTY: BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE WITH THE HINTEGRA PROSTHESIS.
abstract: Ankle arthrosis is becoming more and more common. The search for solutions that preserve joint function has led to a new generation of prosthesis with three components and more degrees of freedom. This paper presents the results achieved for ten patients treated with the HINTEGRA Prosthesis (Integra, New Deal), through collaborative action between the Foot and Ankle Groups of the Orthopedics and Traumatology divisions of Escola Paulista de Medicina, Unifesp, and the School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (USP). The ten patients (six women and four men, aged between 29 and 66 years), underwent a surgical procedure consisting of Hintermann's technique, between January and June 2005. They were evaluated at prearranged intervals, and the data were subjected to statistical analysis. The surgery led to a significant improvement in ankle mobility. Radiological evaluation showed no signs of loosening or failure in the prosthetic components in any of the patients studied. Although the complication rate in our sample was high, it was equivalent to the rates found by other authors, and directly represents the learning curve associate with this kind of procedure. Four years after the procedure, it was found that the patients pain levels had significantly decreased, and that their functional patterns had significantly improved, with AOFAS and Hintermann scores indicating results that were excellent for 20%, good for 70% and poor for 10%. Treatment of ankle arthritis by means of total arthroplasty using the HINTEGRA prosthesis was capable of providing good results over an average observation period of four years.
authors.affiliation: Full Associate Professor of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Unifesp. Head of the Foot Medicine and Surgery Sector of Unifesp.
authors.forename: Caio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nery
authors.affiliation: PhD. Professor in the School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo. Head of the Foot and Ankle Group of the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP.
authors.forename: Túlio Diniz
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: MSc in Orthopedics from Escola Paulista de Medicina, Unifesp. Member of the Foot Medicine and Surgery Sector of Unifesp.
authors.forename: Cibele
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Réssio
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist at Hospital Novo Mundo, Curitiba, PR. Titular Member of SBOT and the Brazilian Foot and Ankle Association.
authors.forename: Mauro Luiz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP.
authors.forename: Alexandre Leme de
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Godoy Santos
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP.
authors.forename: Rafael Trevisan
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ortiz
keywords: Ankle joint; Arthrodesis; Arthroplasty; Osteoarthritis; Prostheses and implants