Painful Osteophytes, Ectopic Bone, and Pain in the Malleolar Gutters Following Total Ankle Replacement: Management and Strategies.

The development of osteophytes, ectopic bone, or malleolar impingement following total ankle replacement represents common complications that will frequently lead to secondary procedures to relieve painful impingement. Many studies have been conducted to discover the cause of these postoperative impingement syndromes; however, there is a paucity of literature with regard to the prevention, diagnosis, and management of these conditions. The authors discuss the potential causes of formation of osteophytes and ectopic bone formation, as well as malleolar impingement syndromes following primary total ankle replacement with focus placed on diagnosis and management of these complications.