Arthroscopic tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis in neurological pathologies: outcomes after at least one year of follow up.

The main complications of open tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis are wound healing disorders and nonunion. Our hypothesis was that arthroscopy and interlocking intramedullary nailing decrease these complications. We retrospectively reviewed six patients (mean age: 58 years; mean preoperative Kitaoka score: 51/100) having undergone arthroscopic tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with retrograde intramedullary nailing between January and November 2011 for equinus deformity of the hindfoot and subtalar instability of neurological origin. Postoperative pain disappeared completely in four cases, one patient presented some pain associated with projection of the proximal locking screw head under the skin and the remaining patient presented fibular tendinitis that resolved after infiltration of anti-inflammatory drugs. The mean postoperative Kitaoka score was 64/100. None of the patients presented any wound healing complications or nonunion. The observed incidence of wound complications and bone consolidation disorders after tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis was lower than the ones reported for open tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis. Level of clinical evidence IV: retrospective case series.