Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis after tibial pilon open reduction internal fixation.

Ankle arthrodesis is an essential tool in the foot and ankle surgeon's armamentarium. Despite the evolving technology and ongoing research in ankle arthroplasty, arthrodesis continues to be a proven and safe option for the majority of patients with ankle arthritis refractory to conservative management. Here, the authors present their technique of an arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis specifically in the setting of a previous open-reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for a tibia plafond type fracture. They have found this to be a reliable technique to achieve a solid ankle arthrodesis while minimizing soft-tissue trauma and dissection in an already compromised soft-tissue envelope.