Comparison of clinical and radiological outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty in two subtypes of varus ankle osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND

This study compared clinical and radiological outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty between rotation- and translation-type varus ankle osteoarthritis.

METHODS

Forty-four consecutive patients (≥1-year follow-up) were reviewed and classified by medial gutter apposition (22 per group). Outcomes were assessed preoperatively, at 1-year, and final follow-up.

RESULTS

Visual analogue scale improved from 5.7 to 1.9 in the rotation group and from 5.8 to 0.6 in the translation group; AOFAS hindfoot scores improved from 56.9 to 80.4 and from 51.4 to 92.2, respectively (all P < 0.001). The translation group achieved and maintained correction of talar center migration and hindfoot alignment angle, whereas the rotation group showed deterioration in hindfoot alignment angle between 1-year and final follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The translation group achieved more favorable clinical outcomes and maintained stable correction of medial talar translation and hindfoot alignment, whereas the rotation group was associated with recurrent hindfoot varus alignment. Subtype-specific recognition may be clinically useful.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.