TY - JOUR
T1 - Does a fibula-sparing approach improve outcomes in tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis?
AU - Wu, Mark
AU - Scott, Daniel
AU - Abar, Bijan
AU - Schiff, Adam
AU - Pellegrini, Manuel
AU - Nunley, James A.
AU - Adams, Samuel Bruce
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 European Foot and Ankle Society
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - Background: Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis is considered a salvage procedure for either complex deformity or arthritis about the hindfoot, and can be performed via fibula-resection (FR) or fibula-sparing (FS) approaches. The primary aim of this study was to investigate differences in outcomes in FR versus FS TTC arthrodeses. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study reviewing outcomes of TTC arthrodesis at a single institution. Patients who underwent a TTC arthrodesis from 2005 to 2017 and had minimum two-year follow-up were included. Preoperative diagnosis, pre- and post-operative radiographic coronal alignment, fixation methods, and complications were compared between groups. Results: 107 patients (110 ankles) underwent TTC arthrodesis, with a mean age of 57.0 years (sd, 14.0 years). The mean clinical follow-up was 50.7 months (range, 24–146) and mean radiographic follow-up was 45.8 months (range, 6–146 months). Pre-operative diagnoses included arthritis (N = 40), prior non-union (N = 21), Charcot neuro-arthropathy (N = 15), failed total ankle arthroplasty (N = 15) and avascular necrosis of the talus (N = 19). Sixty-nine ankles comprised the FS group and 41 comprised the FR group. There was no significant difference in the non-union rate between groups (29% FR vs 38% FS, p = 0.37), complication rate (59% FR vs 64% FS, p = 0.59), or post-operative coronal standing radiographic alignment (89.6 degrees FR, 90.5 degrees FS, p = 0.26). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated a pre-operative diagnosis of failed TAA was associated with post-operative nonunion (OR:3.41,CI:1.13–11.04,p = 0.03). Pre-operative indication for TTC arthrodesis of arthritis alone was associated with a decreased risk of non-union (OR:0.27,CI:0.11–0.62,p = 0.002). Conclusion: TTC arthrodesis is a successful surgical option for complex hindfoot deformity, arthritis, and limb salvage regardless of surgical approach. We did not detect a difference in the union rate, incidence of complications, or coronal plane radiographic alignment in fibula-sparing versus fibula-resection constructs. Patients with a pre-operative indication for surgery of arthritis may be at decreased risk of developing non-union.
AB - Background: Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis is considered a salvage procedure for either complex deformity or arthritis about the hindfoot, and can be performed via fibula-resection (FR) or fibula-sparing (FS) approaches. The primary aim of this study was to investigate differences in outcomes in FR versus FS TTC arthrodeses. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study reviewing outcomes of TTC arthrodesis at a single institution. Patients who underwent a TTC arthrodesis from 2005 to 2017 and had minimum two-year follow-up were included. Preoperative diagnosis, pre- and post-operative radiographic coronal alignment, fixation methods, and complications were compared between groups. Results: 107 patients (110 ankles) underwent TTC arthrodesis, with a mean age of 57.0 years (sd, 14.0 years). The mean clinical follow-up was 50.7 months (range, 24–146) and mean radiographic follow-up was 45.8 months (range, 6–146 months). Pre-operative diagnoses included arthritis (N = 40), prior non-union (N = 21), Charcot neuro-arthropathy (N = 15), failed total ankle arthroplasty (N = 15) and avascular necrosis of the talus (N = 19). Sixty-nine ankles comprised the FS group and 41 comprised the FR group. There was no significant difference in the non-union rate between groups (29% FR vs 38% FS, p = 0.37), complication rate (59% FR vs 64% FS, p = 0.59), or post-operative coronal standing radiographic alignment (89.6 degrees FR, 90.5 degrees FS, p = 0.26). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated a pre-operative diagnosis of failed TAA was associated with post-operative nonunion (OR:3.41,CI:1.13–11.04,p = 0.03). Pre-operative indication for TTC arthrodesis of arthritis alone was associated with a decreased risk of non-union (OR:0.27,CI:0.11–0.62,p = 0.002). Conclusion: TTC arthrodesis is a successful surgical option for complex hindfoot deformity, arthritis, and limb salvage regardless of surgical approach. We did not detect a difference in the union rate, incidence of complications, or coronal plane radiographic alignment in fibula-sparing versus fibula-resection constructs. Patients with a pre-operative indication for surgery of arthritis may be at decreased risk of developing non-union.
KW - Arthritis
KW - TTC fusion
KW - Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85143119907&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.fas.2022.11.001
DO - 10.1016/j.fas.2022.11.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 36424297
AN - SCOPUS:85143119907
SN - 1268-7731
VL - 29
SP - 90
EP - 96
JO - Foot and Ankle Surgery
JF - Foot and Ankle Surgery
IS - 1
ER -