Investigating the Relationship Between Ankle Arthrodesis and Adjacent-Joint Arthritis in the Hindfoot

Abstract

There is no true consensus in the literature as to the effects of ankle arthrodesis on biomechanics or whether ankle arthrodesis leads to adjacent-joint arthritis. Similarly, a correlation between postoperative imaging findings and clinical presentation in this cohort of patients has not been conclusively demonstrated.

Hindfoot fusion in haemophilic arthropathy: 6‐year mean follow‐up of 41 procedures performed in 28 adult patients

“…A recent systematic review by Ling et al . of gait‐analysis studies, biomechanical studies and clinical studies has not concluded definitively whether there is any clear correlation between ankle arthrodesis and adjacent‐joint degeneration .…”

“…They concluded that patients who required arthrodesis of the ankle joint often had changes in the mid and hindfoot, particularly the subtalar joint before ankle arthrodesis had been performed [45]. A recent systematic review by Ling et al of gait-analysis studies, biomechanical studies and clinical studies has not concluded definitively whether there is any clear correlation between ankle arthrodesis and adjacent-joint degeneration [46].…”

Clinical and Radiological Mid- to Long-term Outcomes Following Ankle Fusion

“…Nevertheless, Ebalard et al reported that 84% of patients complained of pain after a minimum follow-up of 10 years (13). In other studies, the prevalence of osteoarthrosis ranged from 24-100% in the subtalar joint and from 18-77% in the Chopart joints (14).…”

Ankle arthrodesis: A systematic approach and review of the literature

“…A recent systematic review by Ling et al[86] investigated the relationship between ankle arthrodesis and adjacent-joint arthritis and demonstrated that there was insufficient evidence to support either that ankle arthrodesis caused adjacent-joint arthritis or that pre-existing joint arthritis could have already existed in those cohort of patients. As the current postulation include that there may be inherent pre-existing adjacent joint arthritis in the majority of patients requiring fusion, no clear consensus can be made on whether ankle arthrodesis can cause or predispose to hindfoot arthritis.…”