A Review of Ankle Arthrodesis: Predisposing Factors to Nonunion

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review 15 years of experience with ankle fusions, specifically addressing the underlying etiology of ankle pathology, incidence of nonunion, and associated predisposing conditions that can lead to nonunion. Seventy-eight ankle fusions, performed between 1975 and 1990, were reviewed for this study. The average follow-up was 4 years. Patients with nonunion were evaluated separately to look at the predisposing factors that may have lead to nonunion. Factors associated with nonunion included fracture type, evidence of avascular necrosis, infection, major medical problems, and open injuries. Factors that were not associated with nonunion included age, past history of subtalar or triple arthrodesis, and technique.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Charnley

: Compression arthrodesis of the ankle and shoulder. J. Bone Joint Surg., 33B:180–191, 1951.

2. Hagen

R.J.

: Ankle arthrodesis, problems and pitfalls. C. O. R. R., 202:152–162, 1986.

3. Hansen

: Ankle fusion [Instructional Course]. Annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, February 4–9, 1988, Atlanta, GA.

4. Holt

Hansen

Mayo

Sangeorzan

: Ankle arthrodesis using internal screw fixation. C. O. R. R., 289:21–28, 1991.

5. Kenzora

Simmons

Burgiss

Edwards

: External fixation arthrodesis of the ankle joint following trauma. Foot Ankle, 7:49–61, 1987.

6. Kitaoka

: Review of ankle fusions [Abstract]. Annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, July 15–19, 1992, Napa, CA.

7. Lance

Paval

Fries

Larsen

Patterson

: Arthrodesis of the ankle joint: a follow-up study. C. O. R. R., 142: 146–158, 1979.

8. Marcus

R.E.

Balourdas

G.M.

Heiple

K.G.

: Ankle arthrodesis by chevron fusion with internal fixation and bone grafting. J. Bone Joint Surg., 65A:833–838, 1983.

9. Morgan

Henke

Bailey

Kaufer

: Long-term results of tibiotalar arthrodesis. J. Bone Joint Surg., 67A:546–549, 1985.

10.

10. Morrey

B.F.

Wiedeman

G.P.

: Complications and long term results of ankle arthrodesis following trauma. J. Bone Joint Surg., 62A:777–784, 1980.

11.

11. Ratliff

A.H.C.

: Compression arthrodesis of the ankle. J. Bone Joint Surg., 41B:524–534, 1959.

12.

12. Ross

Matta

: Internal compression arthrodesis of the ankle. C. O. R. R., 199:54–60, 1985.

13.

13. Scranton

: Use of internal compression in arthrodesis of the ankle. J. Bone Joint Surg., 67A:550–5555, 1985.

14.

14. Stewart

M.J.

Beeler

T.C.

McConnell

J.C.

: Compression arthrodesis of the ankle. J. Bone Joint Surg., 65A:219–225, 1983.

15.

15. White

A.A.

: A precision posterior ankle fusion. C. O. R. R., 98: 239–249, 1974.

16.

16. Wilson

: Arthrodesis of the ankle. J. Bone Joint Surg., 51A: 775–777, 1969.

17.

Chuinard

E.G.

Peterson

R.E.

: Distraction-compression bone-graft arthrodesis of the ankle. J. Bone Joint Surg., 45A:481–490, 1963.

18.

Helm

: The results of ankle arthrodesis. J. Bone Joint Surg., 72B:141–143, 1990.

19.

Lynch

Bourne

Rorabeck : The long-term results of ankle arthrodesis. J. Bone Joint Surg., 70B:113–116, 1988.

20.

Newman

: Ankle fusion with the Hoffman external fixation device. Foot Ankle, 1:102–109, 1980.

21.

Yassine

: Ankle arthrodeses with spoon plate. Surg. Rounds Orthop., July 15–22, 1986.