Outcomes and Complications of the INFINITY Total Ankle: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Ankle arthroplasty is a viable treatment option for end-stage ankle arthritis and has shown improvements in pain relief, motion, as well as function and gait. Newer generation total ankle prostheses have improved instrumentation and surgical techniques, as well as minimal bone resection on both the tibia and talus. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the short-term clinical success of the INFINITY total ankle, including the common complications and rate of revision with this prosthesis. We performed a systematic review of electronic databases that included reported complications and revisions using this prosthesis. Complications were recorded according to the Glazebrook classification. Six total published studies with clinical outcomes and complications and 432 prostheses were included. The weighted mean follow-up was 24.5 months and weighted mean patient age was 62.3 years. There were 43 (10.0%) total complications—9 low grade, 16 medium grade, and 18 high grade. There were 26 total revision procedures (6.0%). Revisions were mostly performed for deep infection, aseptic loosening, and subsidence. When including deep infections, the overall implant survivorship was 94%. When excluding the 8 deep infections requiring revision, implant survivorship was 96%. The INFINITY has acceptable short-term complication and revision rates. This fourth-generation prosthesis compares to prior reported studies with earlier generation ankle implants in the short term.

Level of Evidence:

IV