Effect of diabetes mellitus on the outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty: is controlled diabetes mellitus a risk factor?

BACKGROUND

It is still uncertain whether diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for poor outcomes and increased complications after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). The objective of this study was to compare clinical outcomes and complication rates of TAA in patients with and without DM.

METHODS

This study enrolled patients with symptomatic end-stage ankle osteoarthritis with a minimum follow-up period of 24 months after TAA. A total of 252 patients (266 ankles) were classified into two groups according to the presence of DM: (1) DM group (59 patients, 67 ankles) and (2) non-DM group (193 patients, 199 ankles). We defined controlled diabetes as (1) HbA1c level < 7.0%, or (2) fasting glucose level < 130 mg/dL with HbA1c level ≥ 7.0% for hospitalization period. Clinical outcomes data (Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score, Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary score, and visual analog scale for pain) were compared preoperatively and at the final follow-up between the two groups. Complications following TAA were also compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

All clinical variables had improved in both groups by the final follow-up (mean follow-up = 77.8 months). There was no significant difference in any clinical variable between the two groups at the final follow-up (P > 0.05). Of the 266 ankles, 73 ankles (19 in the DM group, 54 in the non-DM group) developed periprosthetic osteolysis. Although the DM group showed a higher prevalence of aseptic loosening or subsidence, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.236).

CONCLUSIONS

In the intermediate-term follow-up, TAA in patients with controlled DM showed clinical outcomes and complication rates comparable to patients without DM. Our results suggest that TAA can be done safely in diabetic patients if the DM is controlled in the perioperative period.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III.