Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis.

Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis provides the foot and ankle surgeon with an alternative to traditional open techniques. Advancements in arthroscopic techniques and instrumentation have made the procedure easier to perform. Advantages include faster rates of union, decreased complications, reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, minimal loss of length of the lower limb, and minimal clinical deformity or shapechanges to the ankle. This article reviews the literature on the subject and discusses the procedure's indications and contraindications, and surgical technique. It concludes that while total ankle replacement continues to grow in popularity, arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis is a viable alternative for management of the end-stage arthritic ankle.