Regardless of the method ological limitations it can be concluded that both interventions show clinical improvement and in line with current literature neither procedure is superior to the other
Background While arthrodesis is the st and ard treatment of a severely arthritic ankle joint , total ankle arthroplasty has become a popular alternative .
This review provides clinical outcomes and complications of both interventions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis .
Outcome After Single Technique Ankle Arthrodesis in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
The established treatment for severe rheumatoid arthritis in the ankle is arthrodesis . Numerous reports in the literature describe outcomes in patients with degenerative and posttraumatic arthrosis and rheumatoid disease . This has led to results that are difficult to interpret . In addition , in the few studies that have evaluated patients with rheumatoid disease many techniques of arthrodesis are reported , further confounding assessment of one fusion method . One technique of 20 ankle fusions in patients with rheumatoid disease was evaluated . A modified Wagner arthrodesis was used through a transfibular approach using parallel compression screws . The scoring systems of Mazur et al , Moran et al , and the Short-Form-36 were used to evaluate the outcome . The mean time to followup was 3 years 10 months . Eighteen of 20 fusions obtained a solid talocrural union ( 90 % ) . No correlation was found between the scores of Mazur et al and Moran et al. Correlation was achieved between the scores for the Short Form-36 and Moran et al. The modified Wagner ankle arthrodesis is a simple , reliable , reproducible technique with a 90 % union rate . The value of the technique has been confirmed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by evaluating the outcome using a scoring system that is vali date d and relevant to this population
Regardless of the method ological limitations it can be concluded that both interventions show clinical improvement and in line with current literature neither procedure is superior to the other
Background While arthrodesis is the st and ard treatment of a severely arthritic ankle joint , total ankle arthroplasty has become a popular alternative .
This review provides clinical outcomes and complications of both interventions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis .