Wound complications following total ankle replacement (TAR) potentially lead to devastating conse... more Wound complications following total ankle replacement (TAR) potentially lead to devastating consequences. The aim of this study is to compare the surgical and demographic differences in those with and without wounds which require operative management. We hypothesize that increased tourniquet and surgical time negatively influences wound healing. Methods: We retrospectively identified a consecutive series of 760 primary TARs performed between January 1998 and December 2014 whose data was prospectively collected. We then identified patients who required a secondary surgery to treat wound complications (ie operative debridement, split-thickness skin grafting, soft tissue reconstruction). All patients had operative wound debridement. We then compared demographics, surgical characteristics, and functional scores to see if there were any differences between the two groups. Clinical outcomes including secondary procedures and implant failure rate were recorded. Results: Twenty-seven patients (3.6%) had a total of 50 procedures to treat wound issues. 18 patients had flaps and 13 had splitthickness skin grafts. The mean time to operatively treating the wound was 12.6 weeks after the index TAR. The follow-up time from wound procedure was 28 months. Compared to the control group, patients with major wounds had a significantly longer surgery (215.6 vs. 189.2 min, p=.028) and tourniquet time (150.9 vs. 140 min, p=.0037). The control patients were more likely to have post-traumatic arthritis, whereas those with wound complications were more likely to have osteoarthritis (p=.002). Postoperatively, only the FAOS pain score was worse in patients with wounds (p=.047). There were seven failures in the major wound complication cohort (25.9%), including 2 BKAs. Conclusion: Ankle wounds which require operative management have high failure rates and may result in devastating outcomes. Given our data, we recommend limiting tourniquet time.
Most osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) may be managed successfully with arthroscopic debr... more Most osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) may be managed successfully with arthroscopic debridement in combination with either microfracture or drilling. However, treatment with debridement and microfracture/drilling tends to be less reliable in large OLTs, OLTs associated with loss of the talar shoulder architecture, and OLTs associated with large subchondral cysts. When the talar shoulder is compromised due to a large OLT, then a structural graft may be considered to reconstruct the deficient portion of the talar dome. In this situation, fresh and fresh-frozen allograft tali have been used. Although reports of structural allograft reconstruction for the talar dome are sparse, the limited literature on this subject suggests that successful outcome is feasible. This article focuses on our experience with structural allograft reconstruction for large OLTs.
Background: Tobacco use is a known risk factor for increased perioperative complications and havi... more Background: Tobacco use is a known risk factor for increased perioperative complications and having worse functional outcomes in many orthopedic procedures. To date, no study has elucidated the effect of cigarette smoking on complications or functional outcome scores after total ankle replacement (TAR). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 642 patients who had TAR between June 2007 and February 2014 with a known smoking status. These patients were separated into 3 groups based on their smoking status: 34 current smokers, 249 former smokers, and 359 nonsmokers. Outcome scores and perioperative complications, which included infection, wound complications, revision surgeries, and nonrevision surgeries were compared between the groups. Results: When comparing perioperative complications in the active smokers to the nonsmokers, we found a statistically significant increased risk of wound breakdown (hazard ratio [HR] 3.08, P = .047). Although the active smokers had an increased rate of infection (HR 2.61, P = .392), revision surgery (HR 1.75, P = .470), and nonrevision surgery (HR 1.69, P = .172), these findings were not statistically significant. With regard to outcome scores, all groups demonstrated improvement at 1-and 2-year follow-up compared with their preoperative outcome scores. However, the active smokers had less improvement in their outcome scores than the nonsmokers at 1-and 2-year follow-up. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the outcome scores when comparing the nonsmokers to the former smokers. Conclusion: Active cigarette smokers undergoing TAR had a significantly higher risk of wound complications and worse outcome scores compared with nonsmokers and former smokers. Furthermore, tobacco cessation appeared to reverse the effects of smoking, which allowed TAR to be an effective and safe procedure for providing pain relief and improving function in former smokers as they had perioperative complication rates and outcomes similar to nonsmokers.
The Salto Talaris total ankle replacement is a modern fixed-bearing implant used to treat symptom... more The Salto Talaris total ankle replacement is a modern fixed-bearing implant used to treat symptomatic ankle arthritis with the goals of providing pain relief, restoring mechanical alignment, and allowing motion of the ankle joint. This prosthesis has been used in the United States increasingly over the last 10 years, primarily for older patients with end-stage ankle arthritis but indications are expanding to younger and more active patients. The goal of this study is to report the midterm clinical results of one of the largest cohort of patients in the United States who underwent ankle replacement with this prosthesis. Methods: This is a review of patients with a minimum of 5-year up to 10-year follow-up who were prospectively registered within our institutional database prior to proceeding with total ankle arthroplasty using the Salto Talaris prosthesis. Follow-up examinations were scheduled annually after the one-year postoperative mark to evaluate patients both clinically and radiographically. At each annual assessment, patients rated their current level of pain using the visual analog score (VAS) and reported their functional level using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores, the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health survey. These scores were analyzed to assess differences between their levels preoperatively, one year postoperatively and at their most recent follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were reviewed for component loosening. Criteria for failure was defined as undergoing revision requiring exchange or removal of the metallic components for any reason. Results: We identified 106 patients who had a Salto Talaris total ankle replacement between March 2007 and February 2012. Of these, 72 patients (mean age, 61.9 years) met the requirement for a minimum follow-up of 5 years (range 60 to 115 months, mean 81.1 months). Average outcome in the VAS was 7.1 at one year post-op and 11.7 at last follow-up (preop: 70.0). Significant improvements were seen in the SMFA, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, and the SF-36 from preoperatively to their final follow-up. Survivorship was 97.2% with two patients undergoing revision arthroplasty for aseptic loosening and a third patient scheduled for revision for a chronic wound infection. 14 patients (19%) with midterm follow-up required a total of 17 additional surgical procedures on the ipsilateral ankle or hindfoot. Conclusion: Patients who underwent total ankle arthroplasty with the Salto Talaris prosthesis have continued to show significant improvements in pain and functional outcomes at mid-term follow-up. This has shown to be an effective treatment option with durable results for patients with end-stage ankle arthritis.
Concerns for limited coronal plane stability prompted the manufacturer and designers of the INBON... more Concerns for limited coronal plane stability prompted the manufacturer and designers of the INBONE total ankle arthroplasty system to replace the original saddle-shaped talar component (INBONE I) with a sulcus-shaped talar component (INBONE II). Prior to the availability of the INBONE II talar component, numerous INBONE I total ankle replacements were performed. To our knowledge mid-term outcomes of INBONE I total ankle arthroplasty have not been reported. This study compares the mid-term outcomes of patients with and without preoperative coronal plane deformity who underwent total ankle replacement with the INBONE I prosthesis. In our opinion, the longer-term outcomes of the INBONE I prosthesis are important for patient and surgeon education.
Background: Neutral ankle alignment along with medial and lateral support are paramount to the su... more Background: Neutral ankle alignment along with medial and lateral support are paramount to the success of total ankle replacement (TAR). Fibula, intra-articular medial malleolus, and supramalleolar tibia osteotomies have been described to achieve these goals; however, the literature is scant with outcomes and union rates of these osteotomies performed concomitant to TAR. The purpose of this study was to describe our results. Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients who had a concomitant tibia, fibula, or combined tibia and fibula osteotomy at the same time as TAR. Routine radiographs were used to assess osteotomy union rates and changes in alignment. Outcomes questionnaires were evaluated preoperatively and at most recent follow-up. Twenty-six patients comprising 4% of the total TAR cohort were identified with a mean follow-up of 3.9 years. Results: There were 12 combined tibia and fibula osteotomies, 9 isolated tibia osteotomies, and 5 isolated fibula osteotomies. The union rate for these osteotomies was 92%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Mean coronal alignment improved from 15.2 to 2.1 degrees (P < .001). There was significant improvement in patient-reported outcome scores, including Short Form-36, Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment, and visual analog scale pain. There was 1 failure in the study. Conclusion: These data demonstrate successful use of tibia, fibula, or combined tibia and fibula osteotomies at the same time as TAR in order to gain neutral ankle alignment. The overall union rate was 96% with significant improvement in alignment, pain, and patient-reported outcomes. We believe concomitant osteotomies can be considered a successful adjunctive procedure to TAR.
A number of operative approaches have been described to perform a tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthro... more A number of operative approaches have been described to perform a tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis. Here we present the largest reported series of a posterior Achilles tendon-splitting approach for TTC fusion. With institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of the TTC fusions performed at a single academic institution was carried out. Orthopedic surgeons specializing in foot and ankle surgery performed all procedures. Eligible patients included all those who underwent a TTC fusion via a posterior approach and had at least a 2-year follow-up. Forty-one patients underwent TTC arthrodesis through a posterior Achilles tendon-splitting approach. Mean age at surgery was 56.9±15.0 years. There were 21 female and 20 male patients. Preoperative diagnoses included arthritis (n = 13 patients), failed total ankle arthroplasty (9), avascular necrosis of the talus (9), prior nonunion of the ankle and/or subtalar joint (6), Charcot neuro-arthropathy (2), and stage IV flatfoot deformity (2). In 37 patients (90.2%), a hindfoot intramedullary arthrodesis nail was used, with posterior plate or supplemental screw augmentation in 17 patients. Posterior plate stabilization alone was utilized in 4 cases (9.8%). The fusion rate was 80.4%. Eight patients developed a nonunion of the subtalar, tibiotalar, or both joints. Complications were observed in 17 patients (41.4%). Of these, ankle nonunion (19.5%), tibial stress fracture (17%), postoperative cellulitis and superficial wound breakdown (9.7%), subtalar nonunion (4.8%), and TTC malunion (2.4%) were the most frequently identified. One patient eventually underwent amputation (2.4%). We believe that posterior Achilles tendon-splitting approach for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis was a safe and effective method, with similar union and complications rates to some previously described techniques. We believe the posterior approach is advantageous as it provides simultaneous access to both the ankle and subtalar joints and allows for dissection to occur between angiosomes, which may preserve blood supply to the skin. Level IV, retrospective case series.
Introduction/Purpose: The Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model (CJR) provides bundled p... more Introduction/Purpose: The Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model (CJR) provides bundled payments for in-hospital and 90-day post-discharge care of patients undergoing lower extremity joint replacement including hip, knee, and ankle arthroplasty (THA, TKA, and TAA). Pre-operative risk factors influencing in-hospital and post-discharge costs are, thus, of keen interest. While THA and TKA have been reported to have a 5.3% 90-day readmission rate associated with race, gender, increased BMI, >2 medical comorbidities, increased length of stay, and discharge to inpatient rehab, little is known about factors that influence readmission rates after TAA. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors associated with 90-day readmission after TAA. Methods: 1,048 patients undergoing TAA (ICD-9 81.56 or ICD-10 0SRF/G) at a single academic institution were prospectively enrolled into an ongoing, IRB-approved longitudinal TAR outcome study between 2007 and 2016. Records were retrospectively reviewed to determine patient, operative, and post-operative characteristics including age, gender, race, risk factors of the Charlson-Deyo comorbidity and Elixhauser indices, post-discharge disposition, BMI, length of stay, and ASA score. Pre-operative Elixhauser and Charlson-Deyo comorbidities were recorded using standardized ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Univariate tests of significance (t-tests for continuous inputs and chi-square tests for categorical inputs) were performed to determine the potential relationship between patient characteristics and 90-day readmission using JMP Pro version 13.0.0. The tables display pre-operative cohort-level and outcome-specific patient characteristics as well as the results of significance testing for comorbidities with >1% prevalence.
The number of total ankle replacements being performed each year continues to rise. 9 Better impr... more The number of total ankle replacements being performed each year continues to rise. 9 Better improvements in function and patient satisfaction, significant pain relief, and preserved hindfoot motion have led to this increase, while the rates of ankle arthrodesis remain steady. 9,26-28,33 This annual increase in primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has also led to an increase in the rate of revision TAA. 7,20,36 The salvage procedures for failed total ankle replacement include revision with or without cementing the prosthesis, conversion to arthrodesis, cement arthroplasty, and amputation. 14,22,29 Not satisfied with the traditional treatments for failed TAA including arthrodesis, foot and ankle surgeons have sought and designed revision implants that simplify the handling of large bone voids and unstable joints. 6,25,27 Literature on outcomes of revision ankle arthroplasty surgery is sparse given the rates of revision TAA ranging from 8.4% to 17% reported in larger series with longer term follow-up. 8,10,11,23 The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate clinical results and improvements in patientreported outcomes (PROs) of a cohort of patients who underwent primary TAA and subsequently required revision TAA and had both primary and revision TAA at the host institution. Methods This institutional review board (IRB)-approved, retrospective chart review of prospectively collected data was conducted reviewing all patients who underwent primary 794956F AIXXX10.
Background: Following total ankle replacement (TAR) patients demonstrate improvements in gait. Th... more Background: Following total ankle replacement (TAR) patients demonstrate improvements in gait. The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in gait symmetry from a pre-operative assessment through two years following TAR. Methods: Seventy-eight patients who received a primary TAR and had no contralateral pain were examined. Three-dimensional joint mechanics and ground reaction forces were collected during seven walking trials preoperatively, and 1 and 2-years post-operatively. Data was analyzed using a 2 × 3 repeated measures ANOVA to determine significant differences between limbs and across time points (α = 0.05). Findings: Walking speed improved from pre-operative to each post-operative time point (P b .001; ES = 1.5). Peak dorsiflexion was not changed across time or between sides, however, the dorsiflexion angle at heel strike was increased on the nonsurgical side (P = 0.049; ES = 0.32). Peak plantar flexion moment (P b .001; ES = .80), stance (P b .001; ES = .29) and step time (P b .001; ES = .41) were improved from pre-op to 1 year post-surgery on the surgical side. Step (P b .001; ES = 1.2) and stride length (P b .001; ES = 1.2) demonstrated improvements across all time points, while the weight acceptance (P b .001; ES = .27) and propulsion ground reaction forces (P b .001; ES = .22) showed improvements between pre-op and 1 year post-op. Interpretation: The results of the study indicate that the patients are able to walk faster and demonstrate an improvement in gait symmetry; however, this improvement does not return the patient to a symmetric walking pattern by 2 years post-TAR.
Background: There is limited data evaluating the effect of obesity on outcomes following total an... more Background: There is limited data evaluating the effect of obesity on outcomes following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), especially in adequate sample sizes to detect impacts on patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of obesity on complication rates and PROs. Methods: This was a single-institution, retrospective study of 1093 primary TAA performed between 2001 and 2020. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) into control (BMI = 18.5-29.9; n = 615), obesity class I (BMI = 30.0-34.9; n = 285), and obesity class II (BMI &gt; 35.0; n = 193) groups. Patient information, intraoperative variables, postoperative complications, and PRO measures were compared between groups using univariable statistics. Multivariable Cox regression was performed to assess risk for implant failure. Mean follow-up was 5.6 years (SD: 3.1). Results: Compared to control and class I, class II patients had the lowest mean age ( P = .001), highest mean ASA score ( P &lt; .001), and greatest proportion of female sex ( P &lt; .001) and Black/African American race ( P = .005). There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complications (infection, implant failure, or impingement) across the BMI classes ( P &gt; .05). Preoperatively, class II had lower (worse) mean scores for Foot and Ankle Outcome Score pain and ADL subscales than controls (post hoc pairwise P &lt; .001 for both). At final follow-up, both class II and class I had lower (worse) mean Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (post hoc pairwise P &lt; .001 and P = .030, respectively) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey scores (post hoc pairwise P &lt; .001 and P = .005, respectively) than controls. Conclusion: At midterm follow-up, obesity was not associated with increased rates of complications after TAA. Patients with obesity reported worse musculoskeletal function and overall quality of life after TAA but there was no differential improvement in PROs across BMI classes. To our knowledge, this is the largest single-institution study to date examining the effect of obesity on outcomes after primary TAA. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Background: Several fixed-bearing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) systems are available in the Uni... more Background: Several fixed-bearing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) systems are available in the United States (US). We report on the early clinical results of the largest known US cohort of patients who received a Salto-Talaris total ankle replacement for end-stage ankle arthritis. Methods: We prospectively followed 67 TAA patients with a minimum clinical follow-up of 2 years. Patients completed standardized assessments, including visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Hindfoot score, short form (36) health survey (SF-36), and the short musculoskeletal function assessment (SMFA), along with physical examination, functional assessment, and radiographic evaluation, preoperatively and yearly thereafter through most recent follow-up. Results: Implant survival was 96% using metallic component revision, removal, or impending failure as endpoints, with a mean follow-up of 2.81 years. Three patients developed aseptic loosening, all involving the tibial component. Of these, one underwent revision to another fixed-bearing TAA system, one patient is awaiting revision surgery, and the other patient has remained minimally symptomatic and fully functional without additional surgery. Forty-five patients underwent at least one additional procedure at the time of their index surgery. The most common concurrent procedure performed was a deltoid ligament release (n = 21), followed by removal of previous hardware (n = 16) and gastrocnemius recession (n = 11). Eight patients underwent additional surgery following their index TAA, most commonly debridement for medial and/or lateral impingement (n = 4). Patients demonstrated significant improvement in VAS, AOFAS hindfoot, several SF-36 subscales, SMFA, and functional scores at most recent follow-up (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Early clinical results indicate that the Salto-Talaris fixed-bearing TAA system can provide significant improvement in pain, quality of life, and standard functional measures in patients suffering from end-stage ankle arthritis. The majority of patients underwent at least one concurrent procedure, most commonly to address varus hindfoot deformity, hardware removal, or equinus contracture.
Background. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) use has increased with newer generation implants. Curr... more Background. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) use has increased with newer generation implants. Current reports in the literature regarding complications use data extracted from high-volume centers. The types of complications experienced by lower-volume centers may not be reflected in these reports. The purpose of this study was to determine a comprehensive TAA adverse event profile from a mandatory-reporting regulatory database. Methods. The US Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database was reviewed from 2015 to 2018 to determine reported adverse events for approved implants. Results. Among 408 unique TAA device failures, the most common modes of failure were component loosening (17.9%), intraoperative guide or jig error (15.4%), infection (13.7%), and cyst formation (12.7%). In addition, the percentage distribution of adverse event failure types differed among implants. Conclusion. The MAUDE database is a publicly available method that requires mandatory reporting of approved device adverse events. Using this report, we found general agreement in types of complications reported in the literature, although there were some differences, as well as differences between implants. These data may more accurately reflect a comprehensive profile of TAA complications as data were taken from a database of all device users rather than only high-volume centers.
Background: Metal component failure in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is difficult to treat. Trad... more Background: Metal component failure in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is difficult to treat. Traditionally, conversion to an arthrodesis has been advocated. Revision TAA surgery has become more common with availability of revision implants and refinement of bone-conserving primary implants. The goal of this study was to analyze the clinical results and patientreported outcomes for patients undergoing revision total ankle arthroplasty. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data on 52 patients with a mean age of 63.5 + 9.6 years who had developed loosening or collapse of major metal components following primary TAA. These patients were compared to a case-matched control group of 52 primary TAAs performed at the host institution with a minimum of 2 years' follow-up. Cases of isolated polyethylene exchange, infection, or extra-articular realignment procedures were excluded. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score, Short Form 36 (SF-36), Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA), and pain scores were prospectively collected. Clinical data was collected through review of the electronic medical record to identify reasons for clinical failure, where clinical failure was defined as second revision or conversion to arthrodesis or amputation. Results: The identified causes of failure of primary TAA were aseptic loosening of both components (42%), talar component subsidence/loosening (36%), coronal talar subluxation (12%), tibial loosening (8%), and talar malrotation (2%). Thirty-one patients (59.5%) underwent revision of all components, 20 (38.5%) just the talar and polyethylene components, and one (2%) the tibial and polyethylene components. The average time to revision was 5.5 years + 5.4 with a follow-up of 3.1 years + 1.5 after revision. Eleven (21.2%) revision arthroplasties required further surgery: 6 required conversion to arthrodesis and 5 required second revision TAA. Pain scores, SF-36 scores, SMFA scores, and AOFAS Hindfoot scores all improved after revision surgery but never reached the same degree of improvement seen after primary TAA. Conclusions: Clinical and patient-reported outcomes of revision ankle arthroplasty after metal component failure significantly improved after surgery, although the recovery time was longer. In this series, 21.2% of revision TAAs required a second revision TAA or arthrodesis surgery. Various prostheses performed similarly when used for revision surgery. Revision TAA can offer significant improvements postoperatively.
Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS... more Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model alongside total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). The CJR model is part of a CMS-led effort to curtail rising healthcare costs by rewarding healthcare centers that provide high-quality, efficient care for predictable elective procedures at the lowest cost possible. Participating centers receive a lump-sum payment from Medicare for in-hospital and 90-day postdischarge care based on a predetermined dollar amount. 8 Healthcare systems can optimize their financial reward through reducing in-hospital and 90-day postdischarge expenditures while maintaining quality care. Because this model shifts the monetary risk of both routine and adverse operative and postoperative care to physicians 805746F AIXXX10.
Wound complications following total ankle replacement (TAR) potentially lead to devastating conse... more Wound complications following total ankle replacement (TAR) potentially lead to devastating consequences. The aim of this study is to compare the surgical and demographic differences in those with and without wounds which require operative management. We hypothesize that increased tourniquet and surgical time negatively influences wound healing. Methods: We retrospectively identified a consecutive series of 760 primary TARs performed between January 1998 and December 2014 whose data was prospectively collected. We then identified patients who required a secondary surgery to treat wound complications (ie operative debridement, split-thickness skin grafting, soft tissue reconstruction). All patients had operative wound debridement. We then compared demographics, surgical characteristics, and functional scores to see if there were any differences between the two groups. Clinical outcomes including secondary procedures and implant failure rate were recorded. Results: Twenty-seven patients (3.6%) had a total of 50 procedures to treat wound issues. 18 patients had flaps and 13 had splitthickness skin grafts. The mean time to operatively treating the wound was 12.6 weeks after the index TAR. The follow-up time from wound procedure was 28 months. Compared to the control group, patients with major wounds had a significantly longer surgery (215.6 vs. 189.2 min, p=.028) and tourniquet time (150.9 vs. 140 min, p=.0037). The control patients were more likely to have post-traumatic arthritis, whereas those with wound complications were more likely to have osteoarthritis (p=.002). Postoperatively, only the FAOS pain score was worse in patients with wounds (p=.047). There were seven failures in the major wound complication cohort (25.9%), including 2 BKAs. Conclusion: Ankle wounds which require operative management have high failure rates and may result in devastating outcomes. Given our data, we recommend limiting tourniquet time.
Most osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) may be managed successfully with arthroscopic debr... more Most osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) may be managed successfully with arthroscopic debridement in combination with either microfracture or drilling. However, treatment with debridement and microfracture/drilling tends to be less reliable in large OLTs, OLTs associated with loss of the talar shoulder architecture, and OLTs associated with large subchondral cysts. When the talar shoulder is compromised due to a large OLT, then a structural graft may be considered to reconstruct the deficient portion of the talar dome. In this situation, fresh and fresh-frozen allograft tali have been used. Although reports of structural allograft reconstruction for the talar dome are sparse, the limited literature on this subject suggests that successful outcome is feasible. This article focuses on our experience with structural allograft reconstruction for large OLTs.
Background: Tobacco use is a known risk factor for increased perioperative complications and havi... more Background: Tobacco use is a known risk factor for increased perioperative complications and having worse functional outcomes in many orthopedic procedures. To date, no study has elucidated the effect of cigarette smoking on complications or functional outcome scores after total ankle replacement (TAR). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 642 patients who had TAR between June 2007 and February 2014 with a known smoking status. These patients were separated into 3 groups based on their smoking status: 34 current smokers, 249 former smokers, and 359 nonsmokers. Outcome scores and perioperative complications, which included infection, wound complications, revision surgeries, and nonrevision surgeries were compared between the groups. Results: When comparing perioperative complications in the active smokers to the nonsmokers, we found a statistically significant increased risk of wound breakdown (hazard ratio [HR] 3.08, P = .047). Although the active smokers had an increased rate of infection (HR 2.61, P = .392), revision surgery (HR 1.75, P = .470), and nonrevision surgery (HR 1.69, P = .172), these findings were not statistically significant. With regard to outcome scores, all groups demonstrated improvement at 1-and 2-year follow-up compared with their preoperative outcome scores. However, the active smokers had less improvement in their outcome scores than the nonsmokers at 1-and 2-year follow-up. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the outcome scores when comparing the nonsmokers to the former smokers. Conclusion: Active cigarette smokers undergoing TAR had a significantly higher risk of wound complications and worse outcome scores compared with nonsmokers and former smokers. Furthermore, tobacco cessation appeared to reverse the effects of smoking, which allowed TAR to be an effective and safe procedure for providing pain relief and improving function in former smokers as they had perioperative complication rates and outcomes similar to nonsmokers.
The Salto Talaris total ankle replacement is a modern fixed-bearing implant used to treat symptom... more The Salto Talaris total ankle replacement is a modern fixed-bearing implant used to treat symptomatic ankle arthritis with the goals of providing pain relief, restoring mechanical alignment, and allowing motion of the ankle joint. This prosthesis has been used in the United States increasingly over the last 10 years, primarily for older patients with end-stage ankle arthritis but indications are expanding to younger and more active patients. The goal of this study is to report the midterm clinical results of one of the largest cohort of patients in the United States who underwent ankle replacement with this prosthesis. Methods: This is a review of patients with a minimum of 5-year up to 10-year follow-up who were prospectively registered within our institutional database prior to proceeding with total ankle arthroplasty using the Salto Talaris prosthesis. Follow-up examinations were scheduled annually after the one-year postoperative mark to evaluate patients both clinically and radiographically. At each annual assessment, patients rated their current level of pain using the visual analog score (VAS) and reported their functional level using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores, the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health survey. These scores were analyzed to assess differences between their levels preoperatively, one year postoperatively and at their most recent follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were reviewed for component loosening. Criteria for failure was defined as undergoing revision requiring exchange or removal of the metallic components for any reason. Results: We identified 106 patients who had a Salto Talaris total ankle replacement between March 2007 and February 2012. Of these, 72 patients (mean age, 61.9 years) met the requirement for a minimum follow-up of 5 years (range 60 to 115 months, mean 81.1 months). Average outcome in the VAS was 7.1 at one year post-op and 11.7 at last follow-up (preop: 70.0). Significant improvements were seen in the SMFA, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, and the SF-36 from preoperatively to their final follow-up. Survivorship was 97.2% with two patients undergoing revision arthroplasty for aseptic loosening and a third patient scheduled for revision for a chronic wound infection. 14 patients (19%) with midterm follow-up required a total of 17 additional surgical procedures on the ipsilateral ankle or hindfoot. Conclusion: Patients who underwent total ankle arthroplasty with the Salto Talaris prosthesis have continued to show significant improvements in pain and functional outcomes at mid-term follow-up. This has shown to be an effective treatment option with durable results for patients with end-stage ankle arthritis.
Concerns for limited coronal plane stability prompted the manufacturer and designers of the INBON... more Concerns for limited coronal plane stability prompted the manufacturer and designers of the INBONE total ankle arthroplasty system to replace the original saddle-shaped talar component (INBONE I) with a sulcus-shaped talar component (INBONE II). Prior to the availability of the INBONE II talar component, numerous INBONE I total ankle replacements were performed. To our knowledge mid-term outcomes of INBONE I total ankle arthroplasty have not been reported. This study compares the mid-term outcomes of patients with and without preoperative coronal plane deformity who underwent total ankle replacement with the INBONE I prosthesis. In our opinion, the longer-term outcomes of the INBONE I prosthesis are important for patient and surgeon education.
Background: Neutral ankle alignment along with medial and lateral support are paramount to the su... more Background: Neutral ankle alignment along with medial and lateral support are paramount to the success of total ankle replacement (TAR). Fibula, intra-articular medial malleolus, and supramalleolar tibia osteotomies have been described to achieve these goals; however, the literature is scant with outcomes and union rates of these osteotomies performed concomitant to TAR. The purpose of this study was to describe our results. Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients who had a concomitant tibia, fibula, or combined tibia and fibula osteotomy at the same time as TAR. Routine radiographs were used to assess osteotomy union rates and changes in alignment. Outcomes questionnaires were evaluated preoperatively and at most recent follow-up. Twenty-six patients comprising 4% of the total TAR cohort were identified with a mean follow-up of 3.9 years. Results: There were 12 combined tibia and fibula osteotomies, 9 isolated tibia osteotomies, and 5 isolated fibula osteotomies. The union rate for these osteotomies was 92%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Mean coronal alignment improved from 15.2 to 2.1 degrees (P < .001). There was significant improvement in patient-reported outcome scores, including Short Form-36, Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment, and visual analog scale pain. There was 1 failure in the study. Conclusion: These data demonstrate successful use of tibia, fibula, or combined tibia and fibula osteotomies at the same time as TAR in order to gain neutral ankle alignment. The overall union rate was 96% with significant improvement in alignment, pain, and patient-reported outcomes. We believe concomitant osteotomies can be considered a successful adjunctive procedure to TAR.
A number of operative approaches have been described to perform a tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthro... more A number of operative approaches have been described to perform a tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis. Here we present the largest reported series of a posterior Achilles tendon-splitting approach for TTC fusion. With institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of the TTC fusions performed at a single academic institution was carried out. Orthopedic surgeons specializing in foot and ankle surgery performed all procedures. Eligible patients included all those who underwent a TTC fusion via a posterior approach and had at least a 2-year follow-up. Forty-one patients underwent TTC arthrodesis through a posterior Achilles tendon-splitting approach. Mean age at surgery was 56.9±15.0 years. There were 21 female and 20 male patients. Preoperative diagnoses included arthritis (n = 13 patients), failed total ankle arthroplasty (9), avascular necrosis of the talus (9), prior nonunion of the ankle and/or subtalar joint (6), Charcot neuro-arthropathy (2), and stage IV flatfoot deformity (2). In 37 patients (90.2%), a hindfoot intramedullary arthrodesis nail was used, with posterior plate or supplemental screw augmentation in 17 patients. Posterior plate stabilization alone was utilized in 4 cases (9.8%). The fusion rate was 80.4%. Eight patients developed a nonunion of the subtalar, tibiotalar, or both joints. Complications were observed in 17 patients (41.4%). Of these, ankle nonunion (19.5%), tibial stress fracture (17%), postoperative cellulitis and superficial wound breakdown (9.7%), subtalar nonunion (4.8%), and TTC malunion (2.4%) were the most frequently identified. One patient eventually underwent amputation (2.4%). We believe that posterior Achilles tendon-splitting approach for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis was a safe and effective method, with similar union and complications rates to some previously described techniques. We believe the posterior approach is advantageous as it provides simultaneous access to both the ankle and subtalar joints and allows for dissection to occur between angiosomes, which may preserve blood supply to the skin. Level IV, retrospective case series.
Introduction/Purpose: The Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model (CJR) provides bundled p... more Introduction/Purpose: The Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model (CJR) provides bundled payments for in-hospital and 90-day post-discharge care of patients undergoing lower extremity joint replacement including hip, knee, and ankle arthroplasty (THA, TKA, and TAA). Pre-operative risk factors influencing in-hospital and post-discharge costs are, thus, of keen interest. While THA and TKA have been reported to have a 5.3% 90-day readmission rate associated with race, gender, increased BMI, >2 medical comorbidities, increased length of stay, and discharge to inpatient rehab, little is known about factors that influence readmission rates after TAA. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors associated with 90-day readmission after TAA. Methods: 1,048 patients undergoing TAA (ICD-9 81.56 or ICD-10 0SRF/G) at a single academic institution were prospectively enrolled into an ongoing, IRB-approved longitudinal TAR outcome study between 2007 and 2016. Records were retrospectively reviewed to determine patient, operative, and post-operative characteristics including age, gender, race, risk factors of the Charlson-Deyo comorbidity and Elixhauser indices, post-discharge disposition, BMI, length of stay, and ASA score. Pre-operative Elixhauser and Charlson-Deyo comorbidities were recorded using standardized ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Univariate tests of significance (t-tests for continuous inputs and chi-square tests for categorical inputs) were performed to determine the potential relationship between patient characteristics and 90-day readmission using JMP Pro version 13.0.0. The tables display pre-operative cohort-level and outcome-specific patient characteristics as well as the results of significance testing for comorbidities with >1% prevalence.
The number of total ankle replacements being performed each year continues to rise. 9 Better impr... more The number of total ankle replacements being performed each year continues to rise. 9 Better improvements in function and patient satisfaction, significant pain relief, and preserved hindfoot motion have led to this increase, while the rates of ankle arthrodesis remain steady. 9,26-28,33 This annual increase in primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has also led to an increase in the rate of revision TAA. 7,20,36 The salvage procedures for failed total ankle replacement include revision with or without cementing the prosthesis, conversion to arthrodesis, cement arthroplasty, and amputation. 14,22,29 Not satisfied with the traditional treatments for failed TAA including arthrodesis, foot and ankle surgeons have sought and designed revision implants that simplify the handling of large bone voids and unstable joints. 6,25,27 Literature on outcomes of revision ankle arthroplasty surgery is sparse given the rates of revision TAA ranging from 8.4% to 17% reported in larger series with longer term follow-up. 8,10,11,23 The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate clinical results and improvements in patientreported outcomes (PROs) of a cohort of patients who underwent primary TAA and subsequently required revision TAA and had both primary and revision TAA at the host institution. Methods This institutional review board (IRB)-approved, retrospective chart review of prospectively collected data was conducted reviewing all patients who underwent primary 794956F AIXXX10.
Background: Following total ankle replacement (TAR) patients demonstrate improvements in gait. Th... more Background: Following total ankle replacement (TAR) patients demonstrate improvements in gait. The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in gait symmetry from a pre-operative assessment through two years following TAR. Methods: Seventy-eight patients who received a primary TAR and had no contralateral pain were examined. Three-dimensional joint mechanics and ground reaction forces were collected during seven walking trials preoperatively, and 1 and 2-years post-operatively. Data was analyzed using a 2 × 3 repeated measures ANOVA to determine significant differences between limbs and across time points (α = 0.05). Findings: Walking speed improved from pre-operative to each post-operative time point (P b .001; ES = 1.5). Peak dorsiflexion was not changed across time or between sides, however, the dorsiflexion angle at heel strike was increased on the nonsurgical side (P = 0.049; ES = 0.32). Peak plantar flexion moment (P b .001; ES = .80), stance (P b .001; ES = .29) and step time (P b .001; ES = .41) were improved from pre-op to 1 year post-surgery on the surgical side. Step (P b .001; ES = 1.2) and stride length (P b .001; ES = 1.2) demonstrated improvements across all time points, while the weight acceptance (P b .001; ES = .27) and propulsion ground reaction forces (P b .001; ES = .22) showed improvements between pre-op and 1 year post-op. Interpretation: The results of the study indicate that the patients are able to walk faster and demonstrate an improvement in gait symmetry; however, this improvement does not return the patient to a symmetric walking pattern by 2 years post-TAR.
Background: There is limited data evaluating the effect of obesity on outcomes following total an... more Background: There is limited data evaluating the effect of obesity on outcomes following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), especially in adequate sample sizes to detect impacts on patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of obesity on complication rates and PROs. Methods: This was a single-institution, retrospective study of 1093 primary TAA performed between 2001 and 2020. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) into control (BMI = 18.5-29.9; n = 615), obesity class I (BMI = 30.0-34.9; n = 285), and obesity class II (BMI &gt; 35.0; n = 193) groups. Patient information, intraoperative variables, postoperative complications, and PRO measures were compared between groups using univariable statistics. Multivariable Cox regression was performed to assess risk for implant failure. Mean follow-up was 5.6 years (SD: 3.1). Results: Compared to control and class I, class II patients had the lowest mean age ( P = .001), highest mean ASA score ( P &lt; .001), and greatest proportion of female sex ( P &lt; .001) and Black/African American race ( P = .005). There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complications (infection, implant failure, or impingement) across the BMI classes ( P &gt; .05). Preoperatively, class II had lower (worse) mean scores for Foot and Ankle Outcome Score pain and ADL subscales than controls (post hoc pairwise P &lt; .001 for both). At final follow-up, both class II and class I had lower (worse) mean Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (post hoc pairwise P &lt; .001 and P = .030, respectively) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey scores (post hoc pairwise P &lt; .001 and P = .005, respectively) than controls. Conclusion: At midterm follow-up, obesity was not associated with increased rates of complications after TAA. Patients with obesity reported worse musculoskeletal function and overall quality of life after TAA but there was no differential improvement in PROs across BMI classes. To our knowledge, this is the largest single-institution study to date examining the effect of obesity on outcomes after primary TAA. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Background: Several fixed-bearing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) systems are available in the Uni... more Background: Several fixed-bearing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) systems are available in the United States (US). We report on the early clinical results of the largest known US cohort of patients who received a Salto-Talaris total ankle replacement for end-stage ankle arthritis. Methods: We prospectively followed 67 TAA patients with a minimum clinical follow-up of 2 years. Patients completed standardized assessments, including visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Hindfoot score, short form (36) health survey (SF-36), and the short musculoskeletal function assessment (SMFA), along with physical examination, functional assessment, and radiographic evaluation, preoperatively and yearly thereafter through most recent follow-up. Results: Implant survival was 96% using metallic component revision, removal, or impending failure as endpoints, with a mean follow-up of 2.81 years. Three patients developed aseptic loosening, all involving the tibial component. Of these, one underwent revision to another fixed-bearing TAA system, one patient is awaiting revision surgery, and the other patient has remained minimally symptomatic and fully functional without additional surgery. Forty-five patients underwent at least one additional procedure at the time of their index surgery. The most common concurrent procedure performed was a deltoid ligament release (n = 21), followed by removal of previous hardware (n = 16) and gastrocnemius recession (n = 11). Eight patients underwent additional surgery following their index TAA, most commonly debridement for medial and/or lateral impingement (n = 4). Patients demonstrated significant improvement in VAS, AOFAS hindfoot, several SF-36 subscales, SMFA, and functional scores at most recent follow-up (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Early clinical results indicate that the Salto-Talaris fixed-bearing TAA system can provide significant improvement in pain, quality of life, and standard functional measures in patients suffering from end-stage ankle arthritis. The majority of patients underwent at least one concurrent procedure, most commonly to address varus hindfoot deformity, hardware removal, or equinus contracture.
Background. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) use has increased with newer generation implants. Curr... more Background. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) use has increased with newer generation implants. Current reports in the literature regarding complications use data extracted from high-volume centers. The types of complications experienced by lower-volume centers may not be reflected in these reports. The purpose of this study was to determine a comprehensive TAA adverse event profile from a mandatory-reporting regulatory database. Methods. The US Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database was reviewed from 2015 to 2018 to determine reported adverse events for approved implants. Results. Among 408 unique TAA device failures, the most common modes of failure were component loosening (17.9%), intraoperative guide or jig error (15.4%), infection (13.7%), and cyst formation (12.7%). In addition, the percentage distribution of adverse event failure types differed among implants. Conclusion. The MAUDE database is a publicly available method that requires mandatory reporting of approved device adverse events. Using this report, we found general agreement in types of complications reported in the literature, although there were some differences, as well as differences between implants. These data may more accurately reflect a comprehensive profile of TAA complications as data were taken from a database of all device users rather than only high-volume centers.
Background: Metal component failure in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is difficult to treat. Trad... more Background: Metal component failure in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is difficult to treat. Traditionally, conversion to an arthrodesis has been advocated. Revision TAA surgery has become more common with availability of revision implants and refinement of bone-conserving primary implants. The goal of this study was to analyze the clinical results and patientreported outcomes for patients undergoing revision total ankle arthroplasty. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data on 52 patients with a mean age of 63.5 + 9.6 years who had developed loosening or collapse of major metal components following primary TAA. These patients were compared to a case-matched control group of 52 primary TAAs performed at the host institution with a minimum of 2 years' follow-up. Cases of isolated polyethylene exchange, infection, or extra-articular realignment procedures were excluded. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score, Short Form 36 (SF-36), Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA), and pain scores were prospectively collected. Clinical data was collected through review of the electronic medical record to identify reasons for clinical failure, where clinical failure was defined as second revision or conversion to arthrodesis or amputation. Results: The identified causes of failure of primary TAA were aseptic loosening of both components (42%), talar component subsidence/loosening (36%), coronal talar subluxation (12%), tibial loosening (8%), and talar malrotation (2%). Thirty-one patients (59.5%) underwent revision of all components, 20 (38.5%) just the talar and polyethylene components, and one (2%) the tibial and polyethylene components. The average time to revision was 5.5 years + 5.4 with a follow-up of 3.1 years + 1.5 after revision. Eleven (21.2%) revision arthroplasties required further surgery: 6 required conversion to arthrodesis and 5 required second revision TAA. Pain scores, SF-36 scores, SMFA scores, and AOFAS Hindfoot scores all improved after revision surgery but never reached the same degree of improvement seen after primary TAA. Conclusions: Clinical and patient-reported outcomes of revision ankle arthroplasty after metal component failure significantly improved after surgery, although the recovery time was longer. In this series, 21.2% of revision TAAs required a second revision TAA or arthrodesis surgery. Various prostheses performed similarly when used for revision surgery. Revision TAA can offer significant improvements postoperatively.
Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS... more Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model alongside total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). The CJR model is part of a CMS-led effort to curtail rising healthcare costs by rewarding healthcare centers that provide high-quality, efficient care for predictable elective procedures at the lowest cost possible. Participating centers receive a lump-sum payment from Medicare for in-hospital and 90-day postdischarge care based on a predetermined dollar amount. 8 Healthcare systems can optimize their financial reward through reducing in-hospital and 90-day postdischarge expenditures while maintaining quality care. Because this model shifts the monetary risk of both routine and adverse operative and postoperative care to physicians 805746F AIXXX10.
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Papers by James Deorio