by Narayana B.S. Gowda, D Ortho, DNB Ortho, MNAMS1 
, Mohan J. Kumar, MS Ortho2
The Foot and Ankle Online Journal 5 (2): 1
Ankle arthrodesis is commonly considered to be the standard operative treatment for end stage ankle arthritis. The purpose of this study was to perform a clinical and radiographic review to determine functional outcome for a group of patients in whom an ankle arthrodesis had been performed using Charnley’s compression device. A functional assessment of fifteen patients after ankle arthrodesis for post traumatic arthritis was carried out by means of an extensive clinical evaluation after an average follow up of 2 years and 8 months.
Key words: Ankle arthrodesis, ankle arthritis, Charnley’s compression device, secondary arthritis ankle.
Accepted: January, 2012
Published: February, 2012
ISSN 1941-6806
doi: 10.3827/faoj.2012.0502.0001
Ankle arthrodesis is considered by many to be the standard operative treatment for end stage ankle arthritis. [1] A patient with ankle arthritis and deformity can experience severe pain and functional disability. Treatment options include the use of walking aids, orthotic devices, intra-articular steroids, open rather than arthroscopic debridement, periarticular osteotomy, and arthroplasty, all of which have provided inconsistent relief. Ankle arthrodesis has been accepted by many as yielding good long term clinical results. [2]
Since 1879, when Albert first described arthrodesis of the ankle [8], more than thirty different techniques have been described. The open technique with compression and internal fixation is still widely used for ankle arthrodesis with major deformity. [9] Ankle arthrodesis is an alternative for cases with intact subtalar joint. [10] This study presents intermediate term follow up functional outcome of patients with ankle arthrodesis performed using Charnley’s compression device.
Materials and methods
We reviewed fifteen patients, 10 males and 5 females, who had undergone ankle arthrodesis between January 2006 to December 2009 at the People’s Education Society (PES) Medical College and Research Center, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), India (6 cases of post traumatic AVN talus (Fig. 1), 4 cases malunited bimalleolar fracture, 3 cases of distal tibial plafond fractures, 2 cases of medial malleoli non-union). All the fifteen patients who had secondary ankle arthritis have undergone open ankle fusion with anterolateral approach (Fig. 2) in supine position under tourniquet control and spinal anaesthesia.
Figure 1 Preoperative radiograph right ankle showing arthritic changes secondary to non union talar neck fracture.
Figure 2 Intraoperative photo showing anterolateral approach to ankle.
Compression was achieved using Charnley’s compression device and a calcaneotibial Steinman pin was applied to maintain the alignment and to increase the stability of fixation (Figs. 3 and 4). Suction drain was removed after 48 hours and the patient was made ambulant with non weight on operated site. All the patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically at 6 weeks and tibiocalcaneal Steinman pin was removed and the patients were allowed to bear weight as tolerated. All the fixators were removed after 12 weeks once the arthrodesis site was united radiologically. We had 3 cases of cellulitis of ankle and foot which was treated successfully with antibiotics, and 5 cases of superficial pin tract infection which were healed completely after fixator removal. None of these pin tract infections caused osteomyelitis. The mean age at the time of surgery was 40.52 years (24 – 56 years) and the time interval between the date of fusion and date of follow up examination ranged from 1 year to 5 years and 7 months, the average being 2 years 8 months.
Figure 3 Immediate post operative radiograph showing Charnley’s compression device.
Figure 4 Clinical photo showing Charnley’s compression device.
Clinical Evaluation
The clinical evaluation was based on a personal interview and physical examination. The patients were questioned as to their pain during daily activities such as running or walking on the level ground and going up and down the hills and stairs. A complete orthopaedic examination evaluated stance, gait, limb length discrepancy, circumference, range of motion of the knees, ankles, and subtalar joints; neurovascular status muscle strength and presence or absence of tenderness and swelling. Special attention was directed to the position of the fused ankle and the motion of the subtalar and mid tarsal joints. Any valgus or varus deformities of the heel and the presence of the callosities were also determined. The contralateral extremity was used as a control. Ankle anterior posterior and lateral radiographs were taken to assess the fusion and position of the arthrodesis (Fig. 5).
Figure 5 Two year follow up radiographs shows solid union at the arthrodesis site.
To quantitate the results of the clinical examination the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scale was used. The main emphasis of this system was on pain and the functional activities. A normal person would score 100 points. Because of lack of ankle motion, the maximum score that the patient with an ankle fusion could have was 92, since they could not earn the 8 points given for the full range of motion.
A score of 80 to 92 was considered an excellent result: 70 to 79, a good result; 60 to 69, a fair result; and score less than 60 was considered a poor result.
Results
All patients studied had a solidly fused ankle and had no complications related to the surgery (Fig 6). They were all improved as a result of ankle fusion and returned to their pre injury activities. Wearing shoes with appropriate heels, all the patients could walk on level ground without support. All the patients stated that they could walk up and down the stairs without much difficulty. Limb length discrepancies were insignificant (0.5 to 1.5 cm) except in one patient who had 2.5 cm secondarily due to distal tibial plafond fracture. The radiographs showed that 6 cases showed some evidence of degenerative changes in the subtalar joints which did not correlate with the symptoms.
Figure 6 Two year follow up clinical photo of right ankle arthrodesis showing very litte difference compared to left normal side.
Scoring the patients with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scale, we found that eleven of the 15 had excellent results; two good; and two fair results. All of them could walk with relatively good velocity and with a consistently rhythmic gait.
Discussion
The patients with solid ankle fusion in this study functioned very well during the activities of normal daily living. All of them could walk on the level ground without pain. The fusion had permitted them to return to their former occupations and recreational activities. On this basis all the patients could be classified as having very satisfactory results.
Based on the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scale, these patients had appreciable limitations when walking barefoot but only mild to moderate limitations when wearing proper footwear. Patients were assessed not only under normal conditions but also under stressful conditions such as walking long distances, climbing up and down the stairs, and running. Six of the 15 could not run. Three had some minor discomfort after walking long distance.
When good surgical technique is used in carefully selected patients, ankle arthrodesis can be a reliable procedure for the relief of functionally disabling ankle arthritis, deformity, and pain. [9] As a fused ankle provides a painless ankle joint with limited functional disability, ankle arthrodesis is still the treatment of choice for most disabling ankle arthritis. [10]
Charnley’s compression devise is still a simple, cost effective and excellent external fixator which can be used easily by every orthopaedic surgeon. After removal of the fixator, there is no indication for additional surgery to remove the implant compared to internal fixation. There are no hardware problems as all the hardware was removed. The high level of satisfaction in this group of patients reinforces the view that open arthrodesis using Charnley’s compression device, as opposed to ankle replacement or arthroscopic arthrodesis, continues to be the treatment of choice when there is severe varus or valgus deformity associated with the arthritis. [11] Although ankle arthrodesis may provide good early relief of pain, it is associated with premature deterioration of other joints of the foot and eventual arthritis, pain, and dysfunction. [12-13] In studies ranging in size from 12 to 101 patients, rates of successful primary ankle fusion of 80% to 100% have been reported earlier. [14-18] However an average follow up time of 2 years and 8 months is relatively short to comment on the future secondary osteoarthritic changes in the subtalar and mid foot joints.
To be considered as an alternative preferable to arthrodesis, a total ankle replacement should give better results than those presented here, without other disadvantages. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and involvement of ankle may not meet the criteria for an ankle arthrodesis may be because they have involvement not only of the ankle but also of the small joints of the foot, so that these joints cannot compensate for the fused ankle. Therefore, patients with rheumatoid arthritis may be better candidates for the total ankle replacement. [19]
Conclusion
Subjectively and objectively, the patients with ankle fusion function quite well in activities of daily living provided that, they have enough compensatory motion in the Chopart’s and Lisfranc joints of the foot, the other ankle has a normal range of motion, they wear footwear with appropriate height. On the basis of these results, patients should be counseled that an ankle fusion will help to relieve pain and to improve overall function; however, it is a salvage procedure that will cause persistent alterations in gait with a potential for deterioration due to the development of ipsilateral hindfoot arthritis. Charnley’s compression device can still be considered as the fixator of choice compared to other modalities available with respect to cost, simplicity and good outcome.
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Address correspondence to: Asst Professor, Dept of Orthopaedics, PES Medical College, Kuppam, Chittore dist, Andra Pradesh, India, 517425. Email: drnarayan999@yahoo.com, Mob: 00 91 7702990696
1 Asst. Professor, Dept. of Orthopaedics, PES Medical College, Kuppam, Chittore dist., Andra Pradesh, India, 517425.
2 Asst. Professor, Dept. of Orthopaedics, PES Medical College, Kuppam, Chittore dist., Andra Pradesh, India, 517425.
© The Foot and Ankle Online Journal, 2012
