Retrograde intramedullary nail entry point for tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis: a review of anatomical studies.

PURPOSE: Tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis (TTCA) is considered a safe and valuable option for end-stage tibiotalar and subtalar arthritis, and usually is performed with a retrograde intramedullary nail. Although the good results reported, potential complications may be related to retrograde nail entry point. Aim of this systematic review is to analyze in cadaveric studies the risk of iatrogenic injuries related to different entry points and different retrograde intramedullary nail design when performing TTCA.

METHODS

According to PRISMA, a systematic review of the literature was performed on PubMed, EMBASE and SCOPUS databases. A subgroup analysis comparing different entry point location (anatomical or fluoroscopic guided) and different nail design (straight vs. valgus curved nails) was performed.

RESULTS

Five studies were included, for a total of 40 specimens. Superiority of anatomical landmark-guided entry points was observed. Different nail designs did not seem to influence nor iatrogenic injuries neither hindfoot alignment.

CONCLUSION

Retrograde intramedullary nail entry point should be placed in the lateral half of the hindfoot in order to minimize the risk of iatrogenic injuries.