Post-fracture, late debridement resection arthroplasty of the ankle.

Seven patients (three male and four female), aged 10 to 45 years (average, 36 years), who suffered fractures at the ankle (three right and four left) from 6 months to 20 years ago (average, 7.6 years), underwent late debridement resection arthroplasty. Follow-up ranged from 3.5 to 7 years (average, 5 years). Six patients improved in range of motion, endurance, and freedom from pain and swelling and were able to engage thereafter in increased activities, including sports. The oldest female (aged 45), because of continual pain 15 months later, had an ankle arthrodesis. No "normal" ankles resulted, but final rating determinations based on range of motion, endurance, swelling, pain, and subjective analyses were: excellent (1), good (3), fair (2), poor (1) (arthrodesis patient). Results of the 5-year follow-ups suggest that this type of surgery in selected cases is a feasible, at least interim, alternative to more radical total ankle arthroplasty or ankle arthrodesis.