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Background: This retrospective cohort study compared short-term complication rates following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), alone or with concomitant procedures. Secondary independent risk factors were also examined as they related to postoperative outcomes. Methods: The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried using Current Procedural Terminology ( CPT ) codes to identify patients who underwent TAA (27702) between 2010 to 2021. Patients were divided into cohorts based on the presence or absence of ancillary procedures. Propensity score matching was employed to account for demographic differences, and statistical analyses were performed to compare short-term complication rates between matched cohorts. Results: A total of 2225 patients were identified, with 1432 (64.4%) receiving TAA alone and 793 (35.6%) with ancillary procedure(s). After matching, 793 patients were included in each cohort. The ancillary cohort had longer operative times ( P

Background: The incidence of primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is rising, with a corresponding increase in revision surgeries. Despite this, research on risk factors for revision TAA following primary TAA remains limited. Radiographic soft tissue thickness has been explored as a potential predictor for outcomes in hip, knee, and shoulder arthroplasty, but its role in TAA has not been assessed. This study aimed to assess the predictive value of radiographic soft tissue thickness for identifying patients at risk of requiring revision surgery following primary TAA. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 323 patients who underwent primary TAA between 2003 and 2019. Radiographic measurements of soft tissue thickness were obtained from preoperative radiographs. Two novel radiographic measures of soft tissue thickness were developed and assessed (tibial tissue thickness and talus tissue thickness). Clinical variables including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, diabetes, smoking status, primary diagnosis, and implant type were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictive value of soft tissue thickness and BMI for revision TAA. Results: The rate of revision surgery was 4.3% (14 of 323 patients). Patients requiring revision had significantly greater tibial tissue (3.54 vs 2.48 cm; P = .02) and talus tissue (2.79 vs 2.42 cm; P = .02) thickness compared with those not requiring revision. Both the tibial tissue thickness (odds ratio 1.16 [1.12-1.20]; P

Abstract Background Pedicle screw loosening and breakage are common causes of revision surgery after lumbar fusion. Thus, there remains a continued need for supplemental fixation options that offer immediate stability without the associated failure modes. This finite element analysis compared the biomechanical properties of a novel cortico-pedicular posterior fixation (CPPF) device with those of a conventional pedicle screw system (PSS). Methods The CPPF device is a polyetheretherketone strap providing circumferential cortical fixation for lumbar fusion procedures via an arcuate tunnel. Using a validated finite element model, we compared the stability and load transfer characteristics of CPPF to intact conditions under a 415 N follower load and PSS conditions under a 222 N preload. Depending on the instrumented levels, two different interbody devices were used: a lateral lumbar interbody device at L4–5 or an anterior lumbar interbody device at L5-S1. Primary outcomes included range of motion of the functional spinal units and anterior load transfer, defined as the total load through the disk and interbody device after functional motion and follower load application. Results Across all combinations of interbody devices and lumbar levels evaluated, CPPF consistently demonstrated significant reductions in flexion (ranging from 90 to 98%), extension (ranging from 88 to 94%), lateral bending (ranging from 75 to 80%), and torsion (ranging from 77 to 86%) compared to the intact spine. Stability provided by the CPPF device was comparable to PSS in all simulations (range of motion within 0.5 degrees for flexion–extension, 0.6 degrees for lateral bending, and 0.5 degrees for torsion). The total anterior load transfer was higher with CPPF versus PSS, with differences across all tested conditions ranging from 128 to 258 N during flexion, 89–323 N during extension, 135–377 N during lateral bending, 95–258 N during torsion, and 82–250 N during standing. Conclusion Under the modeled conditions, cortico-pedicular fixation for supplementing anterior or lateral interbody devices between L4 and S1 resulted in comparable stability based on range of motion measures and less anterior column stress shielding based on total anterior load transfer measures compared to PSS. Clinical studies are needed to confirm these finite element analysis findings.

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Although many patients with postraumatic ankle arthritis are of a younger age, studies evaluating the impact of age on outcomes of primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) reveal heterogenous results. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of age on complication rates and patient reported outcomes after TAA. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 1,185 primary TAA divided into 3 age cohorts (Age < 55, n=219; Age55-70, n=688; Age>70, n=278). Patient demographics, intraoperative variables, postoperative complications, and patient reported outcome measures were compared among groups using univariable analyses. Multivariable Cox regression was performed to assess risk for implant failure by age group. Mean follow-up was 5.7 years. Results: Compared to Age55-70 and Age>70 groups, Age < 55 patients had the lowest mean ASA score (2.2 vs 2.4 vs 2.5; p< 0.001) and highest rates of all complications (33.8% vs 23.1% vs 19.8%; p=0.001), implant failure (9.1% vs 6.0% vs 3.2%; p=0.022), and component removal (5.0% vs 2.8% vs 1.1%; p=0.030). Univariable and multivariable cox regression analysis revealed decreased risk for implant failure for Age>70 compared to Age < 55 patients (HR: 0.43 [95%CI: 0.19-0.94], p=0.034; and HR: 0.42 [95%CI: 0.18-0.95], p=0.038, respectively). Across the AOFAS Hindfoot and all FAOS subscales, Age < 55 group reported the lowest (worst) mean pre and postoperative scores (p < 0.001). The age < 55 group had the highest mean VAS score at final follow-up (22 vs 14 vs 14; p< 0.001). Conclusion: Studies involving large sample sizes with mid-to long-term follow up are critical to reveal age-related impacts on outcomes after TAA. Younger patients had higher rates of complications and implant failure and fared worse on patient reported outcome measures in the largest single-institution series to date evaluating the effect of age on outcomes in TAA.

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Other Introduction/Purpose: Utilization rates of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) have greatly increased in recent years. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing TAA, conflicting data have been reported regarding risk of complications and patient reported outcome (PRO) improvement when compared to patients with osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study is to compare complication rates and PROs of patients with RA to patients with osteoarthritis and posttraumatic arthritis. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 1,071 primary TAA performed at a single institution between 2001 and 2020. Minimum follow-up was two years. Patients were stratified by indication for TAA (osteoarthritis, n=372; posttraumatic arthritis, n=642; RA, n=57). Patient demographics, intraoperative variables, postoperative complications, and PRO measures were compared between groups using univariable statistics. Multivariable Cox regression was performed to assess risk for implant failure. Mean follow-up was 5.6 years (SD: 3.1). Results: Compared to the osteoarthritis and posttraumatic arthritis groups, the RA cohort had the lowest mean age (p < 0.001), lowest percentage of males (p < 0.001), and highest ASA score (p < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed no statistically significant difference for infection rates among groups (p=1.0). The RA cohort had the highest rate of heterotopic ossification postoperatively (2/57, 3.5%, p< 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis showed no increased risk of implant failure for the RA cohort (p=0.23). For the SMFA, SF-36, AOFAS-hindfoot, FAOS-symptoms, and FAOS-ADL the RA group reported the worst scores at final follow-up (p < 0.001). However, the RA cohort demonstrated the largest improvements from preoperative to postoperative scores on the FADI, SF-36, and the symptoms and ADL subscales of the FAOS (p=0.04, 0.01, 0.03, 0.03). Conclusion: In the largest single institution study to date, patients with RA had the worst PRO scores compared to the osteoarthritis and posttraumatic arthritis groups. However, they experienced significantly higher improvements in functional outcomes from their preoperative baseline. Large patient samples with mid- to long-term follow up such as a presented in this series are imperative to fully understand the risk-benefit of TAA in various patient cohorts.

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: The Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR) is a widely used ankle prosthesis, but mid- to long-term follow up remains limited. In thirteen different studies involving 939 STAR total ankle prostheses, the average duration of follow- up for recipients was 3.9 years. Thus, we sought to evaluate the STAR at the mid- to long-term interval with regards to survivorship, complications, and patient reported outcomes (PROs) in one of the largest series with the longest-term follow up to date. Methods: All patients managed with a primary STAR prosthesis at our institution from March 2002 through January 2017 were included in the analysis. Demographic characteristics including gender, race, age, diabetes status, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score, and surgery time were summarized. The cumulative incidence of implant failure was at 5 years and the last recorded time to event (8 years) were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Paired t- tests were used to compare pre-operative and 5 year post-operative (±1 year) for PROs including Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA), Short-form-36 (SF-36), and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot subscales. Additionally, intra- and post-operative complications were recorded. All statistical analysis were conducted in SAS 9.4 (Cary, NC). Statistical significance was assessed at α = 0.05. Results: 247 patients with a unilateral STAR procedure were included in this analysis. Demographics are listed in Table 1. The average number of years of follow-up was 5.71 ± 4.07 years. The cumulative incidence of implant failure at 5 years was 7.7% (95% CI 4.3%-12.5%). The last failure event occurred at 8 years post-implant. The cumulative incidence of implant failure at 8 years was 11.1% (95% CI 6.3%-17.3%) (Table 2, Figure 1). The most common post-operative complications were impingement (N = 39, 15.8%), ankle pain (N = 22, 8.9%), and implant failure (N = 16, 6.5%) (Table 3). With regards to PROs, patients significantly improved between baseline and 5-year follow up in all measures (all p< 0.001; Table 4). Conclusion: At mid- to long-term follow up, patients receiving the STAR prosthesis experienced a significant and durable improvement in PROs across multiple functional indices. Complication and failure rates were lower than those reported in previous series evaluating the STAR, with an observed survivorship of 88.9% at 8-year follow up.

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: End stage arthritis is a debilitating condition that significantly affects patients’ quality of life. Ankle arthritis differs from arthritis of the hip and knee in that ankle arthritis is often posttraumatic in nature and affects a younger patient population. Historically, younger age was a contraindication to total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) and ankle arthrodesis was the mainstay of treatment. Advances in TAA implant design and revision implants has expanded indications and increased usage of TAA. Despite this, many surgeons remain hesitant due to the lack of long term data on patient outcomes and survivorship in these patients. The purpose of our study was to evaluate patient reported outcome measures and survivorship after primary TAA in patients < 50 years of age at the time of surgery. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients < 50 years of age who underwent primary TAA at a single institution from 2010-2020. Patient demographics, outcome measures, and complications were recorded. All patients had a minimum clinical follow up of 5 years. Patient reported outcome (PRO) measures collected included FADI, VAS, SMFA SF-36, AOFAS hindfoot scores, and FAOS scores. Outcome measures were evaluated preoperative, 1 year postoperative, and at final clinical follow up. Paired t-tests were performed to compare individual patients’ changes in PRO from preoperative to postoperative timepoints. Multiple comparisons correction was performed using the Bonferroni method. Implant survivorship was evaluated based on need for revision of either the tibial or talar component. Results: A total of 59 patients were included in the study. The average age at time of surgery was 43.2 years. All patients had a minimum follow up of 5 years with a mean follow up time of 8.8 years. Mean FADI improved from 53.3 (sd:14.1) preoperatively to 16.1 (sd:11.4) (p < 0.001) at 1-year postoperatively. Mean VAS and SMFA also improved from preoperative to 1-year postoperative timepoints [VAS: 68.2 (sd:27.0) to 10.3(sd:13.1) (p < 0.001); SMFA: 36.1 (sd:12.2) to 14.8 (sd:13.7) (p < 0.001)]. A total of 5 patients required revision of components during the follow up period. Three patients required complete revision of both tibial and talar components, 2 due to aseptic loosening and 1 due to deep infection requiring explant of components. Conclusion: Patients < 50 years undergoing TAA for end stage ankle arthritis have improved patients reported outcomes greater than 5 years after surgery. Despite the increased demands of the younger population, survivorship of total ankle implants in our study was 85% at a mean of 8.8 years postoperative. We believe that TAA is a safe and reliable option for young patients with high patient satisfaction at mid term follow up.

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: The Vantage total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) features a design based on careful study of arthritic ankles and current ankle biomechanics, with theoretical advantages of a vertically-oriented tibial fixation and a fully congruent talar dome bone-implant interface. In this design-team, single-institution investigation, we report early-to-intermediate term clinical and radiographic outcomes, implant survivorship, and complications of the Vantage TAA. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data for 278 consecutive patients undergoing Vantage fixed-bearing TAA. Ankles with coronal plane deformity > 25 degrees and suspected poor bone quality were prospectively excluded. Prospectively collected data includes: PROMIS, SF-36, SMFA, VAS and AOFAS hindfoot-ankle scores. Using previously published and commonly accepted evaluation methods, independent radiographic analysis, performed by a non-design surgeon investigator, included pre-operative, 1-year, and most recent follow-up assessments of 2-plane alignment, component position, and the bone- implant interface. A non-design surgeon investigator with dedicated training in statistics performed the statistical analysis using descriptive statistics to report PROM and radiographic measures and Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis. Results: Mean patient age was 64.8yrs (range:33-86), 44.2% were female, and mean follow-up was 3.1yrs (2.0-5.5). Mean preoperative and postoperative PROMs were as following: PROMIS-Depression 50.3+/-4.2 and 45.6+/-9.8, PROMIS-Physical Function 39.0+/-3.4 and 45.0+/-7.8, SF-36 total score 55.8+/-15.3 and 73.2+/-20.0, SMFA-Function 29.0+/-13.5 and 15.9+/-5.4, VAS 15.8+/-24.8 and 3.1+/-10.1, and AOFAS hindfoot-ankle 46.3+/-16.5 and 81.1+/-16.3 (Table 1). Radiographic lucency at the bone- implant interface was noted in 33 (18.5%) TAAs at final follow-up; 20 (11.2%) were progressive. Lucency was almost exclusive to the tibial component. Implant survivorship was 99.6% [98.9-100.0] at 1-year and 93.3% [88.7-98.2] at the 5-year mark (Table 2, Figure 1). We identified suboptimal bone preparation, initial component alignment and/or component position in all 11 implant failures (Table 3). Conclusion: At early-to-intermediate followup, we observed favorable clinical outcomes, radiographic results and implant survivorship for the fixed-bearing Vantage TAA, especially with optimal bone preparation and component position. Tibial component lucency remains a concern and warrants further investigation. Suboptimal bone preparation, initial component alignment and/or component position was observed in all implant failures.

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Basic Sciences/Biologics Introduction/Purpose: From 2009-2019, there has been a 120% increase in the incidence of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) in the United States. With the rise in primary TAA, future increases in revision TAA cases is anticipated. Aseptic loosening with periprosthetic osteolysis continues to account for a significant number of revisions. While several factors may contribute to the pathophysiology of osteolysis, an underlying inflammatory response surrounding TAA implants may play a primary role. It is well known that monosodium urate (gout) and calcium-pyrophosphate (pseudo-gout) crystals evoke a highly inflammatory response and may involve the foot and ankle joints. However, the effect of these conditions following TAA has not yet been reported. We present a small case series of patients with ballooning osteolysis following TAA with confirmed crystalline arthropathy. Methods: This is a retrospective study from a single academic institution looking at patients who underwent TAA revision surgery for periprosthetic osteolysis and concern for aseptic loosening. Revision surgeries were performed by three orthopedic foot and ankle fellowship trained surgeons. Case characteristics, including pre-operative imaging, clinical presentations, intra-operative findings and surgical treatments performed were analyzed and presented in this small case series. Results: We report 5 patients whom underwent revision surgery for ballooning periprosthetic osteolysis following TAA. Intra- operative pathology samples from periprosthetic cysts returned positive for monosodium urate (MSU) or calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystalline deposition (1 MSU and 4 CPP) in all 5 patients. Final intra-operative cultures were all negative for infection. Upon gross intra-operative inspection, all polyethylene liners were considered to be normal without abnormal wear characteristics. Periprosthetic cysts were isolated to the tibial component in 2 patients and involved both the tibial and talar components in 3 patients. Staged TAA revision was performed in 2 patients. Bone cyst curettage, bone grafting and polyethylene liner exchange was performed in 3 patients. Conclusion: Periprosthetic osteolysis is a known complication following TAA and often leads to implant loosening, functional disability and subsequent revision surgery. An objective strategy for management of this condition has not been agreed upon amongst orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons, as uncertainty remains surrounding the pathophysiology of osteolysis in TAA. To our knowledge, we are the first to describe a small case series of patients with crystalline arthropathy as a potential cause for periprosthetic osteolysis following TAA. Future prospective studies are warranted to better elucidate this potential cause of TAA failure.

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Younger age remains at the forefront of discussion when deciding between total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) and the ankle arthrodesis (AA) for treatment of end stage ankle arthritis. Unlike in the hip and knee, ankle arthritis is typically post-traumatic and presents at a much younger patient age. With the goal of preserving ankle motion, improving function and limiting adjacent joint degeneration, TAA has been shown to be safe and effective in patients < 55 years of age. However, it is not uncommon for debilitating ankle arthritis to occur in individuals within their fourth or even third decade of life resulting in significant patient comorbidity. The purpose of our study was to evaluate patient reported outcome measures and survivorship after primary TAA in patients < 35 years old. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients < 35 years old who underwent primary TAA at a single institution from 2007-2020. Patient demographics, outcome measures, and complications were recorded. All patients had a minimum clinical follow up of 2 years. Patient reported outcome measures collected included VAS, SMFA dysfunction index, SF-36 and AOFAS hindfoot scores. Outcome measures were evaluated preoperative, 1 year postoperative, and at final follow up. Paired t-tests were performed to compare individual patients’ changes in PRO from preoperative to postoperative timepoints. Implant survivorship was evaluated as well as complications related to the index procedure. Implant survivorship based on need for complete revision of either the tibial or talar component Results: Twelve patients were included in the study. Average age at surgery was 28.5 years. Mean follow-up was 7.2 years. Mean VAS improved from 53.8 preoperatively to 14.7 (p= 0.152) at 1-year and 12.5 (p= 0.045) at final follow up, respectively. Mean SMFA improved from 40.0 preoperatively to 27.1 (p= 0.018) at 1-year and 24.0 (p= 0.006) at final follow up, respectively. SF-36 and AOFAS hindfoot scores also improved at 1 year and final follow-up compared to preoperative values [SF-36: 45.3 to 60.2 (p=0.06) and 67.0 (p=0.016); AOFAS: 40.6 to 70 (p= 0.08) and 68.9 (p=0.068)]. One patient required talar component revision due to aseptic loosening. One patient required subsequent removal of heterotopic bone due to impingement. No patients developed infection requiring surgical intervention. Conclusion: The onset of ankle arthritis typically occurs at a much younger age compared with that of the hip and knee and has a detrimental impact on patient quality of life. Despite a young age and increased activity demands, our results demonstrated that patients < 35 with end-stage ankle arthritis undergoing TAA demonstrated improved patient-reported outcomes greater than 2 years after surgery. Survivorship of TAA in our study was 91.7% at a mean follow-up of 7.2 years. We believe that TAA is a safe, effective and durable option for very young patients with high patient satisfaction at early to mid-term follow up.

Category: Ankle; Other Introduction/Purpose: The Invision talar component was launched in 2018 as a revision total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) specific option geared towards avoiding further subsidence when poor talar bone stock is present. Due to the recency of the market- availability of the Invision, studies evaluating the efficacy of the implant, even in the short-term, are lacking. Thus, the purpose of this study was to present the early-term outcomes of a series of patients undergoing revision TAA with the use of the Invision talar component. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective review of 28 patients undergoing revision TAA with the Invision talar component and Inbone II tibial component (Wright Medical; Memphis, Tennessee) performed between 2007 and 2022. Mean follow-up was 1.3 ± 0.93 years. Data on patient preoperative characteristics, postoperative complications, and survivorship were collected. The primary outcome measures were time to major complication, reoperation, and infection. Results: The most common concurrent procedures performed with revision TAA with the Invision talar component were gastrocnemius recession (n=14, 50%), subtalar arthrodesis (n=3, 10.7%) and cotton osteotomy (n = 1, 3.6%). The mean preoperative coronal deformity off the tibia was 4.07 ± 3.06 degrees for varus and 3.67 ± 4.36 degrees for valgus deformities, respectively, and postoperatively, was 1.67 ± 2.16 degrees for varus and 2.00 ± 3.48 degrees for valgus. The mean preoperative coronal plane deformity off the talus was 4.83 ± 6.68 degrees for varus and 4.22 ± 4.21 degrees for valgus, respectively, and postoperatively, was 1.23 ± 2.45 degrees for varus and 2.32 ± 3.93 degrees for valgus. The survivorship from any complication, major complication, reoperation, and infection is shown in Table 2. Conclusion: In a series of 28 patients undergoing revision TAA with the Invision talar component and Inbone II tibial component, we demonstrate a survivorship of 92.7% at 1-year follow up. The Invision appears to have a reasonable safety profile in this non- designer series. The implant compares favorably with others utilized in the revision TAA setting at the early-term, but further studies evaluating mid-and long-term outcomes are required to fully assess the efficacy of the Invision.

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: As total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) rises in popularity nationwide, the incidence of major complications and need for revision TAA will continue to increase. A better understanding of the ability to durably correct deformity and improve patient reported outcomes (PROs) in the TAA revision setting is paramount for surgeons facing the impending wave of failed TAA. Thus, the purpose of this study was to present the largest single-center case series of revision TAA to date and to evaluate improvement in PROs and maintenance of correction of coronal plane deformity in patients undergoing this procedure. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective review of 87 revision TAAs performed between 2007 and 2022. Reoperations for cyst formations only or without metallic component exchange were excluded. The two most common implants used for revision TAA were Inbone II (n=65) and Inbone I (n=14). Mean follow-up was 2.8 ± 2.9 years. Data on patient preoperative characteristics, concurrent procedures, and postoperative complications were collected. The primary outcome measures were time to major complication, reoperation, and infection. Secondary outcomes included PROs and correction of coronal plane deformity measured from both the tibial plafond and talar articulating surface from pre- to post-operatively. Cox regression analyses were performed to compute survivorship. Results: The most common concurrent procedures performed concomitantly with revision TAA were gastrocnemius recession (n=31, 35.6%), subtalar arthrodesis (n=18, 20.7%), and talonavicular arthrodesis (n=5, 5.7%). Mean preoperative coronal plane deformity measured off both the tibial plafond and talar articular surface improved after revision TAA. 1- and 5-year survivorship from major complication, reoperation, and infection is shown in Table 2. Fourteen patients underwent subsequent revision, including TAA (n= 6, 6.9%), arthrodesis (n= 4, 4.6%), below-the-knee amputation (n= 2, 2.3%), or implantation of an antibiotic spacer (n= 2, 2.3%). At one-year postoperatively, mean VAS pain score, SF36, and AOFAS Hindfoot score was 18.2 ± 16.0, 73.0 ± 13.3, and 68.8 ±:9.3, respectively, representing an improvement in PROs after revision TAA. Conclusion: In the largest single-center series of patients undergoing single or double component exchange revision TAA, we demonstrate durable improvements in coronal plane deformity measured off both the tibial plafond and talar articular surface. We also noted 63.0% survivorship with regards to reoperation and improvements in average PROs across the cohort. Overall, revision TAA is a successful procedure, but is associated with higher failure rates at 5 years than primary TAA.

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: There is limited data evaluating the effect of obesity on outcomes following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), especially in adequate sample sizes to detect impacts on patient reported outcomes (PROs). The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of obesity on complication rates and PROs. Methods: This was a single-institution, retrospective study of 1,093 primary TAA performed between 2001 and 2020. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) into Control (BMI=18.5-29.9; n=615), Obesity Class I (BMI=30.0-34.9; n=285), and Obesity Class II (BMI>35.0; n=193) groups. Patient information, intraoperative variables, postoperative complications, PRO measures were compared between groups using univariable statistics. Multivariable Cox regression was performed to assess risk for implant failure. Mean follow-up was 5.6 years (sd:3.1). Results: Compared to Control and Class I, Class II patients had the lowest mean age (p=0.001), highest mean ASA score (p < 0.001), and greatest proportion of female sex (p < 0.001) and Black/African American race (p=0.005). There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complications (infection, implant failure, or impingement) across the BMI classes (p>0.05). Preoperatively, Class II had lower (worse) mean scores for FAOS Pain and ADL subscales than Controls (posthoc pairwise p< 0.001 for both). At final follow-up, both Class II and Class I had lower (worse) mean SMFA (posthoc pairwise p< 0.001 and p=0.030, respectively) and SF36 scores (posthoc pairwise p< 0.001 and p=0.005, respectively) than Controls. Conclusion: At midterm follow-up, obesity was not associated with increased rates of complications after TAA. Patients with obesity reported worse musculoskeletal function and overall quality of life after TAA but there was no differential improvement in PROs across BMI classes. To our knowledge, this is the largest single institution study to date examining the effect of obesity on outcomes after primary TAA.

Background: Acetabular retention in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) may be advantageous, yet long-term survival data is limited. Thus, we investigated long-term survivorship of retained acetabular components in revision THA with analysis of rerevision rate, instability risk, and clinical outcomes. Methods: We reviewed 98 hips with polyethylene wear and/or osteolysis that were revised with retained acetabular components. Acetabular inclination and anteversion were measured from prerevision radiographs. A retrospective chart review was performed, collecting outcomes of interest including Harris hip score, instability events, and rerevision surgery. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the risk of revision over time. Predictors of survival including acetabular component position were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. Results: Average follow-up was 13 years (range, 5-24). Survivorship rates at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 89.7%, 81.6%, 70.8%, and 63.8%, respectively. There was improvement in average Harris hip score (61 to 76, P < .0001). There was a 9% rate of dislocation, and 6 hips (6%) were rerevised for recurrent instability. Overall, there were 23 (23%) rerevisions at an average of 6.1 years with the most common reasons being instability (6%) and aseptic loosening (6%). Use of conventional polyethylene was the only identified independent predictor of rerevision (P = .025). Conclusions: Retention of a well-fixed acetabular component in revision THA provides acceptable long-term outcomes with a 15-year survivorship of 71%. Instability and aseptic loosening were the most common reasons for rerevision. Surgeons may consider retaining the acetabular component at revision surgery if the implant is well-fixed and well-positioned.

Background: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) provides a surgical alternative to tibiotalar arthrodesis when treating end-stage ankle arthritis. TAA preserves range of motion at the tibiotalar joint leading to improved postoperative function. Many patients who undergo TAA wish to maintain a high level of activity, including participation in low-impact sports such as golf. There are several studies in the total hip and total knee arthroplasty literature that have looked at the effect of total joint arthroplasty on golf handicap. We hypothesized that similar to hip and knee arthroplasty research, TAA is likely to result in a postoperative increase in golf handicap. Methods: After obtaining institutional review board approval, we retrospectively identified 60 patients (from 140 consecutive TAAs performed between August 2016 and February 2017) who had undergone TAA, played golf pre- and postoperatively, and had at least 1 year of postoperative follow-up. The average postoperative follow-up for the cohort was 28.1 months. Variables including preoperative and postoperative golf handicaps, swing laterality, age, gender, surgical laterality, implant used, and operating surgeon were recorded. Results: The average preoperative and postoperative handicaps were 19.7 and 17.9, respectively, which did not represent a statistically significant difference ( P = .07). Patients who played 3 or more rounds per week had better preoperative and postoperative handicaps compared to patients who played 2 rounds or less; however, the change in their handicap following TAA and the number of rounds played per week was not affected. There was no association between the change in handicap and the follow-up period, handedness of golf shot, surgical laterality, implant used, or the operating surgeon. Conclusion: Our findings showed that golf handicap was not negatively affected following TAA in this series. Level of Evidence: Level IV, case series.

Background Surgical techniques related to soft tissue management play critical roles in optimizing surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Despite the importance of wound closure and bleeding management approaches, no published guidelines/consensus are available. Methods Twelve orthopedic surgeons participated in a modified Delphi panel consisting of 2 parts (each part comprising two rounds) from September–October 2018. Questionnaires were developed based on published evidence and guidelines on surgical techniques/materials. Questionnaires were administered via email (Round 1) or at a face-to-face meeting (subsequent rounds). Panelists ranked their agreement with each statement on a five-point Likert scale. Consensus was achieved if ≥70% of panelists selected 4/5, or 1/2. Statements not reaching consensus in Round 1 were discussed and repeated or modified in Round 2. Statements not reaching consensus in Round 2 were excluded from the final consensus framework. Results Consensus was reached on 13 goals of wound management. Panelists agreed on 38 challenges and 71 strategies addressing surgical techniques or wound closure materials for each tissue layer, and management strategies for blood loss reduction or deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in TKA. Statements on closure of capsular and skin layers, wound irrigation, dressings and drains required repeat voting or modification to reach consensus. Conclusion Consensus from Asia-Pacific TKA experts highlights the importance of wound management in optimizing TKA outcomes. The consensus framework provides a basis for future research, guidance to reduce variability in patient outcomes, and can help inform recommendations for wound management in TKA.

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Ankle; Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: The utilization of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has increased over the past decade to include bilateral TAAs. The risk-benefit profiles of simultaneous versus staged joint arthroplasty continues to be debated in the literature. There are limited case series reporting outcomes after bilateral TAA with no previous comparison of simultaneous versus staged TAA. It is important to study patients with bilateral pathology as they represent a unique population often with a differing arthritis etiology and an overall more debilitating condition. Thus, we aim to compare bilateral simultaneous versus staged TAAs including perioperative complications and patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). Methods: We performed a comparative cohort study of patients who underwent primary TAA from 2007 to 2019 at a single academic center. Inclusion criteria were primary bilateral TAA performed in simultaneous or staged fashion in patients over 18 years of age. Exclusion criteria were patients with less than two-years follow-up and those with previous tibiotalar arthrodesis or infection. Patient demographics, comorbidities, perioperative complications, and PROMs were collected. PROMs included preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) bother and function sub-scores. Bivariate tests of significance were used to compare variables between the two cohorts. Results: Fifty patients were included with an average clinical follow-up was 52.2 (+-27.3; range 24-109) months. The mean time between staged TAA surgeries was 17.5 months (+-20.1, range 3-74). The mean age was 64.3 (+-10.6, range 21-76) years with 32 (64.0%) men. Many patients had primary osteoarthritis (n=28, 56.0%). Both cohorts experienced improvement in all PROMs at one year, which were maintained at final follow-up with no significant between-group differences (p >0.05). There were no differences in perioperative complication rates with similar overall complications (22.0% vs. 24.0%; p=0.7788) and reoperations (6.0% vs 5.0%; p=0.7354) between the simultaneous and staged cohorts, respectively. The two-year and five-year reoperation-free survival were 96.0% and 90.0% for the staged cohort and 94.0% and 88.0% for the simultaneous cohort, respectively (p=0.4612) Both cohorts had 100% failure-free survival up to eight-years postoperative. One patient in the simultaneous cohort required metal component revision at eight years postoperative. Conclusion: The results of bilateral simultaneous TAA, including patient reported outcomes, perioperative complications, and component survival are comparable to patients undergoing staged TAA. When performed under surgeon expertise in appropriately selected patients, we advocate that simultaneous bilateral TAA is a safe and effective method for the treatment of bilateral end-stage ankle osteoarthritis. Potential benefits of simultaneous TAA warranting further investigation include decreased anesthesia events, surgery time, tourniquet time, length of hospitalization, recovery and rehabilitation time, and overall cost. Future investigations will include dedicated analyses of radiographic outcomes and cost comparisons between these two cohorts.

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot; Bunion Introduction/Purpose: Hallux valgus (HV) is recognized as a triplanar deformity comprising axial abduction, sagittal hypermobility, and coronal pronation of the first metatarsal. A first tarsometatarsal (TMT) arthrodesis may be used to address all three planes of deformity. The Lapiplasty system (Treace Medical Concepts, Inc., Ponte Vedra, FL) was developed to reproducibly address triplanar deformity. However, the Lapiplasty system is costlier than other fixation constructs. Because healthcare is increasingly value-focused, we sought to determine if the more expensive Lapiplasty system improved radiographic outcomes or decreased complication rates over standard cross-screw fixation. We hypothesized that HV patients undergoing first TMT arthrodesis with the Lapiplasty system would have equivalent radiographic correction and similar complication rates when compared to patients treated with cross-screw fixation. Methods: In this multi-center, IRB-approved retrospective study, consecutive series of patients who underwent 1st TMT arthrodesis for HV, either with cross-screw fixation at Institution A, or Lapiplasty at Institution B, were identified by registry search. Inclusion criteria included age over 18 and preoperative and minimum 6-month postoperative weight-bearing AP and lateral radiographs. Exclusion criteria included primary conditions other than hallux valgus and previous first ray surgeries or ipsilateral arthrodeses. Hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and tibial sesamoid position (TSP) were measured preoperatively and at final follow-up, and clinic notes were reviewed to identify complications and reoperations. To compare cohorts, Mann-Whitney U tests and Fisher's Exact tests were applied for continuous and discrete variables, respectively. To examine preoperative-postoperative changes, Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used. Multivariable regressions tested the effect of fixation constructs on postoperative radiographic parameters, adjusted for preoperative radiographic measurements, age, sex, and BMI. Results: 65 patients were included in each group, with 121 (93.8%) female patients, mean (SD) age 54.7 (14.8), BMI 25.8 (5.2), and radiographic follow-up time 8.9 (6.7) months. The Lapiplasty cohort had greater BMI (26.8 vs. 24.7, P = .048), and there were no significant differences between groups in age, sex distribution, and radiographic follow-up time. Radiographic measurement data is displayed in Table 1. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, preoperative HVA, and preoperative IMA, fixation with Lapiplasty was significantly associated with lower postoperative IMA (b=-2.03, 95% CI = [-2.78, -1.37], P < .001) and lower postoperative HVA (b= -7.48; 95% CI = [-9.69, -5.26]; P < .001), but not postoperative sesamoid position. There were no significant differences between cohorts in the incidence of complications or reoperations. Conclusion: We found that use of the Lapiplasty system was associated with better radiographic hallux valgus correction, as evidenced by lower postoperative HVAs and IMAs, compared to standard technique with crossing screws. The clinical significance of these findings is unclear, as complication and reoperation rates were similar between groups. Future research assessing longer- term outcomes, patient-reported outcome data, and cost-benefit analysis will be necessary to further compare techniques and fixation systems.

Category: Ankle; Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: End-stage ankle osteoarthritis is a debilitating condition that often results in limited tibiotalar range of motion. Total ankle replacement (TAR) preserves ankle range of motion and improves the patient's functionality. Tendo-Achilles lengthening (TAL) and gastrocnemius recession (GR) are concomitant procedures often performed with TAR to improve tibiotalar dorsiflexion. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a TAL and GR during TAR on radiographic range of motion compared to a control group without a lengthening procedure. Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained TAR database was conducted from November 2015 - June 2020 at a single academic institution. All surgeries were performed by fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeons. Inclusion criteria included greater than18 years of age and a minimum of one-year radiographic follow-up with both preoperative and postoperative weight-bearing, range of motion radiographs. Exclusion criteria included concomitant 1) calcaneal osteotomies, 2) hindfoot or midfoot arthrodesis, 3) prior ankle arthrodesis, or 4) revision total ankle arthroplasty. A total of seventy-five patients (TAL, n = 40; GR, n = 35) were included with a control group of seventy-five consecutive patients who underwent TAR without a lengthening procedure. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from the TAR database. Preoperative and postoperative radiographic assessment included a measurement of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. All measurements were performed by two members of the research team. Results: A total of 150 patients were included in this study: TAL: n = 35, GR: n = 40, Control: n = 75. Dorsiflexion significantly improved by 3.4° (p=0.0053) and by 6.7° (p < 0.0001) in the TAL and GR cohorts respectively with no significant difference in the control group (+1.3°, p=0.0857). Plantarflexion was significantly decreased by 3.6° (p=0.0378) and by 6.6° (p=0.0002) in the TAL and GR cohorts respectively with no significant difference in the control group (+0.3°, p=0.7863). The total arc of motion did not change significantly for any of the three groups postoperative (control 1.63°, GR 0.05°, TAL -0.20°; all p>0.05). There were no significant between-group differences in the change in overall arc of motion between the groups (p=0.3913). Compared to TAL group, GR resulted in a greater increase in dorsiflexion (6.7° versus 3.4°; p=0.0459) with a reciprocal, albeit non-significant, greater decrease in plantarflexion (6.8° versus 3.6°; p=0.1598). Conclusion: Both TAL and GR significantly increased postoperative dorsiflexion; however, this was accompanied by a reciprocal significant loss in plantarflexion. GR resulted in double the improvement in dorsiflexion and loss in plantarflexion compared to TAL. The total arc of motion did not significantly change for the control, GR, or TAL cohorts. Patients should be counselled that their preoperative range of motion (ROM) will dictate their postoperative ROM, and that concomitant procedures performed to achieve an increase in dorsiflexion will do so at the expense of plantarflexion.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare the radiological outcomes of manual versus robotic-assisted medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Methods: Postoperative radiological outcomes from 86 consecutive robotic-assisted UKAs (RAUKA group) from a single academic centre were retrospectively reviewed and compared to 253 manual UKAs (MUKA group) drawn from a prior study at our institution. Femoral coronal and sagittal angles (FCA, FSA), tibial coronal and sagittal angles (TCA, TSA), and implant overhang were radiologically measured to identify outliers. Results: When assessing the accuracy of RAUKAs, 91.6% of all alignment measurements and 99.2% of all overhang measurements were within the target range. All alignment and overhang targets were simultaneously met in 68.6% of RAUKAs. When comparing radiological outcomes between the RAUKA and MUKA groups, statistically significant differences were identified for combined outliers in FCA (2.3% vs 12.6%; p = 0.006), FSA (17.4% vs 50.2%; p < 0.001), TCA (5.8% vs 41.5%; p < 0.001), and TSA (8.1% vs 18.6%; p = 0.023), as well as anterior (0.0% vs 4.7%; p = 0.042), posterior (1.2% vs 13.4%; p = 0.001), and medial (1.2% vs 14.2%; p < 0.001) overhang outliers. Conclusion: Robotic system navigation decreases alignment and overhang outliers compared to manual UKA. Given the association between component placement errors and revision in UKA, this strong significant improvement in accuracy may improve implant survival. Level of Evidence: III Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2-3:191–197.

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Ankle; Other Introduction/Purpose: The utilization of total ankle replacement (TAR) for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis continues to increase in the United States. From 2011-2012, 47.5% of all TAR were covered by Medicare insurance, which represents a large insurance market share for inpatient ankle surgeries. However, there is a growing trend in orthopedics toward performing outpatient surgery. There have been studies that demonstrate the cost benefits and safety of outpatient TAR surgery. However, previous cost studies involve a single implant, small sample size, and lack clinical outcomes. Thus, we aim to compare the costs and clinical outcomes associated with TAR in the outpatient versus inpatient settings. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on 178 consecutive patients undergoing primary inpatient versus short-stay designation TAR during the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years. Patient demographics, concomitant procedures, perioperative complications, patient reported outcomes, and perioperative costs were collected. Results: The mean age of our cohort was 62.5 yo. The implant types were: Infinity (39.3%), Salto (38.2%), INBONE (15.2%), Vantage (7.3%), and STAR (3.4%). 47.8% of patients were covered under managed care and 42.1% under Medicare. There were no significant differences in medical comorbidities (p > 0.05) or concomitant surgeries (p=0.4574) between inpatient and outpatient groups. There was no difference in complications between inpatient and outpatient groups (p= 0.9652). Inpatients had a greater improvement in their SMFA function score compared to outpatients (p=0.0442). Both inpatient and outpatient cohorts significantly improved in all other reported patient reported outcomes at final follow-up (0.05). The total direct cost was higher for the inpatient group ($15,340.1) versus outpatient group ($13,002.6) (p

Background: Uncemented total knee arthroplasty is increasing as a potential solution for aseptic loosening via biologic fixation and to increase operative efficiency. However, postoperative radiolucent lines (RLLs) remain a concern for some clinicians. We report on a multicenter analysis of these RLLs over a 2-year period to identify their incidence, progression, and clinical significance. Material and methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained for this retrospective, multicenter case series. A total of 312 patients treated with a single cruciate-retaining, fully porous coated femoral and tibial component design were included in the study. All patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically in the early postoperative period and at final follow-up (average 2.0 years). Average age of the study group was 58.2 years, and average body mass index was 30.7. Of the total, 66% were male, and 34% were female. Two independent surgeons evaluated the radiographs at the initial postoperative visit and at the most recent follow-up for RLLs. Knee Society Scores and range of motion (ROM) were collected at each visit. Results: We identified RLLs in 25% of patients. All RLLs were less than 1 mm in size and located at the periphery of the tibial implant. None of the RLLs were progressive. At the final follow-up, compared with early postoperative imaging, no new RLLs were identified. Average ROM in flexion was 124 degrees, and the average Knee Society Scores at the most recent clinical follow-up was 96. Conclusion: RLLs are commonly seen following cementless TKA, most commonly underneath the tibial tray. Based on this data set, there does not appear to be progression of these RLLs with time, and they do not appear to have an effect on ROM or clinical outcome at 2 years.

Category: Ankle; Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: The indications for both total talus replacement (TTR) and total ankle replacement (TAR) are expanding. Combined total ankle-total talus (combined TAR) is a novel treatment option for patients with end-stage ankle arthritis and talar avascular necrosis (AVN) and patients with a prior TAR and talar component collapse. End-stage talar AVN with subchondral collapse is a challenging entity to treat. Historically, an alternative treatment option was tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with structural allograft which results in fair outcomes including nonunion rates up to 40%. Combined TAR is a treatment option that theoretically maintains joint range of motion and restores anatomic alignment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short-term outcomes for combined TAR including pain, functional outcomes, radiographic outcomes, and complications. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent combined TAR from 2016-2020 were retrospectively reviewed. All surgeries were performed by one of four fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons at a single academic institution. All talus implants were custom 3D printed total tali (Additive Orthopaedics, Little Silver, NJ), composed of an alloy primarily made of cobalt chrome. The implants were sized based on computed tomography scans of the contralateral talus and created to articulate with multiple TAR systems. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and surgical data were collected. Outcomes included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, radiographic alignment, range of motion, and complications. Data analysis was performed with paired t- tests and a significance level of p

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: The management of large osteochondral lesions of the talar shoulder remains a clinical challenge. Their size, three-dimensional geometry, and subchondral cystic degeneration often preclude treatment with traditional measures such as microfracture and osteochondral autograft transplantation. Structural or bulk osteochondral allograft transplantation has demonstrated efficacy in several retrospective reviews. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate patients who received fresh structural allograft transplantation to the talus. Methods: A prospective evaluation of consecutive patients who underwent fresh structural allograft transplantation for an OLT form 2010 to 2019 was performed under Institutional Review Board approval. All patients failed a minimum of 6 months of conservative management. Preoperative MRI and/or CT, as well as plain radiographs were obtained on all patients. The following patient reported outcomes questionnaires were administered preoperatively and yearly after surgery: 100mm VAS pain scale, AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, SF-36, and the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA). Pre- and postoperative radiographs were assessed for allograft incorporation and the development of arthritis. Results: 27 patients underwent fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation and were followed for a minimum of 2 years. The mean follow-up was 5 years (range 2-11). The average size of the OLT was 2,269 mm 3 (range 813-8,366) based on CT imaging and 5,797 mm 3 (range 1,136-12,489) based on MRI imaging. There was significant improvement in the VAS pain score, AOFAS Ankle- Hindfoot Scale score, the SF-36 total score, and the SMFA functional and bother indices (Figure 1). Thirteen (48%) of the patients required subsequent surgery. Twelve underwent removal of hardware and joint debridement and one patient underwent isolated joint debridement. At the time of these surgeries, two grafts demonstrated cartilage delamination. One of these patients had continued pain and progression of arthritis without additional surgery and one was converted to an ankle replacement. Therefore, the failure rate was 7%. Conclusion: Significant improvement in pain and function can be achieved with structural allograft transplantation for large OLTs. However, it is important to council patients that painful hardware and stiffness can occur in approximately one-half of patients. An unstable graft and cartilage delamination are indicators of subsequent failure. The use of a structural allograft does not preclude subsequent ankle arthrodesis or arthroplasty.

Category: Ankle; Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: The utilization of total ankle arthroplasty has increased over the past decade, including bilateral TARs. The risk-benefit profiles of staged versus simultaneous joint arthroplasty continues to be debated in the literature. Previous studies of the hip and knee have demonstrated simultaneous bilateral surgery is associated with shorter hospitalization, shorter recovery and rehabilitation time, and decreased cost without increasing perioperative morbidity or mortality. There are limited case series reporting outcomes after bilateral TAR with no previous comparison of simultaneous versus staged TAR. Thus, we aim to compare our experience with bilateral simultaneous versus staged TARs including perioperative complications and patient reported outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on 62 patients (124 ankles) undergoing primary TAA (CPT 27702) from 2008 at a single academic center. Inclusion criteria were primary bilateral TAA performed in staged or simultaneous fashion in patients over the age of 18 years-old. Exclusion criteria were patients with less than one-year follow-up. Patient demographics, comorbidities, concomitant procedures, perioperative complications, and patient reported outcomes were also collected. Patient reported outcomes included preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, the Foot and Ankle disability Index (FADI) score, and the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) bother and function sub-scores. Every patient had separate outcome scores available for each ankle. Univariate and multivariable tests of significance were used to relate patient and operative characteristics to outcomes. Separate subgroup analyses were performed comparing stages versus simultaneous surgeries. Results: The mean age was 63.7 years-old with a mean duration of 40.5 months of clinical follow-up. There were no significant pre-operative differences between simultaneous and staged groups in terms of age, gender, BMI, ASA classification, or arthritis etiology (p>0.05). The majority (54.5%) of patients had primary or secondary arthritis. Comorbidities were similar between the two groups with the exception of the simultaneous cohort having a higher proportion of previous smokers (56.3 vs 26.1, p=0.0020) and coronary artery disease (19.8 vs 6.5, 0.0447). There was no difference in perioperative complications between the groups(p= 0.4652). Both cohorts significantly improved in all reported patient reported outcomes at final follow-up (0.05) (Table 1). Conclusion: The prevalence of osteoarthritis (primary arthritis) and inflammatory arthritis (secondary arthritis) was higher in patients with bilateral end-stage arthritis necessitating a TAR than previous reports of unilateral TAR. The results of bilateral simultaneous TAA, including perioperative complications and patient reported outcomes, are comparable to patients undergoing staged TAA. We advocate that simultaneous bilateral TAA is a safe and effective method the treatment of bilateral end-stage ankle osteoarthritis in a setting where experienced surgeons are available. Potential benefits of simultaneous TAR for further investigation include decreased: anesthesia events, surgery time, length of hospitalization, recovery and rehabilitation time, and overall cost.

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) use has increased with newer generation implants. Current reports in the literature regarding complications use data extracted from high-volume centers. The types of complications experienced by less experienced centers may not be reflected in these reports. The purpose of this study was to determine a comprehensive TAA adverse event profile from a mandatory-reporting regulatory database. Methods: The US Food and Drug Administration’s Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database was reviewed from 2015-2018 to determine reported adverse events for approved implants. We recorded the type of adverse event and excluded duplicate reports and those extracted from already published literature. We categorized the adverse events into infection, intraoperative guide/jig error, component loosening (tibia or talus), cyst formation, component fracture, gutter impingement/heterotopic ossification, iatrogenic fracture, polyethylene wear, component dissociation, malalignment, malalignment recurrence, direct surgeon error, and miscellaneous. The overall percentage distribution of each of the adverse events failure causes was calculated as was the percentage distribution for each total ankle device. Results: Among 408 unique TAA device failures, the modes of failure listed by commonality were component loosening (17.9% [9.6% tibia, 8.3% talus]), intraoperative guide or jig error (15.4%), infection (13.7%), cyst formation (12.7%), gutter impingement/heterotopic ossification (10.3%), component fracture (9.6%), iatrogenic fracture (5.4%), poly wear (3.7%), component dissociation (3.2%), malalignment (2.5%), miscellaneous (2.9%), malalignment recurrence (2.2%), and direct surgeon error (0.5%). These were consistent with some systematic reviews of the literature but in disagreement with others which found high rates of iatrogenic fracture. In addition, the percentage distribution of adverse event failure types differed among implants. Conclusion: The MAUDE database is a publicly available method which requires mandatory reporting of approved device adverse events. Using this report, we found general agreement in types of complications reported in the literature, although there were some differences. In addition, intraoperative guide or jig errors were very common and may not have been previously appreciated. This data may more accurately reflect a comprehensive profile of TAA complications as data was taken from a database of all device users rather than only high-volume centers.

Category: Ankle; Ankle Arthritis; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis is generally considered a salvage operation for either complex deformity or arthritis about the hindfoot. Several methods can be used to achieve a TTC arthrodesis, including: intramedullary nail fixation, screws, plates, and a fine wire frame. We hypothesized that fibula sparing TTC arthrodesis would improve the union rate and decrease complications in TTC arthrodeses. To best of our knowledge, this is the largest study of TTCs in current literature and no comparative studies have been performed to investigate whether fibular resection influences union and complication rate. Methods: After obtaining approval from the IRB, a retrospective review of the TTC fusions performed at a single academic institution was performed. Orthopaedic surgeons specializing in foot and ankle surgery performed all operations. Eligible patients included those whom underwent a TTC fusion either with or without fibular resection constructs from 2005 to 2017, were 18 years or older at the time of surgery, and had at least two-year follow-up. Patients were excluded if their clinical or radiographic data were unavailable for review. Preoperative diagnosis and indications, fixation methods, clinical success, and complications were obtained from the patient chart and operative reports. 152 patients (155 ankles) underwent TTC arthrodesis, mean age 57.5 years. 94 ankles comprised the fibula-sparing group and 61 comprised the fibular resection group. Statistical analysis was performed using t-Student and Chi-squared test with a p-value of 0.05 defining significance. Results: Common diagnoses included: arthritis (n=66), prior non-union of the ankle or subtalar joint (42), Charcot neuro- arthropathy (25), failed total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) (21) and avascular necrosis of the talus (36). Pre-operative diagnosis of failed TAA was associated with post-operative nonunion (47.6%, p=0.029). In 108 ankles (70%), hindfoot intramedullary arthrodesis nailing was performed, with supplemental plating or screw augmentation in 39 cases. Plating was used in 46 patients (30%). There was no difference in complications (p=0.62) or nonunion (p=0.11) between plating vs nail arthrodesis. There was no difference in non-union rate (26% fibula-resection vs 29% fibula-sparing, p=0.74) or complication rate (49% in fibula-resection vs 53% fibula-sparing, p=0.63) in the fibula-resection compared to the fibula-sparing groups. Most common complications included: non-unions, hardware irritation/failure (17.4%), infection (16.1%), and tibial stress fractures (8.4%). Conclusion: Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis is used primarily as a salvage operation for severe deformity, arthritis of both the ankle and subtalar joints, and situations in which bone loss necessitates a larger fusion procedure. There appears to be no difference in the union rate or complication rates in fibula-sparing or fibula resection during the approach for these fusion operations.

Category: Ankle; Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Total ankle arthroplasty is considered one of the most common treatments for end stage osteoarthritis of the ankle. This procedure results in significant long-term improvements in pain and function while preserving pre-operative range of motion. Patients also demonstrate improvements in patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) - a modality that quantifies patient’s subjective well-being. Understanding the time to maximal subjective medical improvement (MMI) following total ankle arthroplasty can help guide resource allocation and manage patient expectations. The purpose of this investigation is to establish when patients perceive MMI according to PROMs following total ankle arthroplasty. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on the PubMed database to identify studies on total ankle arthroplasty which reported consecutive PROMs for at least two years postoperatively. Pooled analysis was done at 3-months, 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months postoperatively. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was established by a distribution-based method, which is one-half of the standard deviation of outcome score change for a given instrument. Clinically significant improvement was determined between pairs of intervals that exceeded the MCID. Results: A total of 12 studies and 1514 patients met the inclusion criteria for this review. Clinically significant improvement was seen up to 6 months postoperatively in both the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Score (AOFAS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scoring systems but was not demonstrated at later intervals. The Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) Function and Bother subsections were scored individually and both demonstrated clinically significant improvement until 1 year postoperatively. Conclusion: After total ankle arthroplasty, the maximal subjective medical improvement based on PROMs is seen until one year postoperatively, with clinically insignificant improvement beyond one year. The SMFA scoring system may offer greater sensitivity to subjective improvements compared to the AOFAS or VAS scales. This trajectory may help guide patients in managing their expectations in their functional outcomes during preoperative patient education.

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report on the radiographic outcomes, clinical outcomes, and implant survivorship following extramedullary-referenced (EMr) versus intramedullary-referenced (IMr) total ankle replacement (TAR). Methods: From May 2007 to February 2018, a consecutive series of patients with end-stage tibiotalar osteoarthritis undergoing TAR for primary arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and inflammatory arthritis was enrolled in this study. Analyses were performed comparing IMr versus EMr components for patient-reported outcomes data, pre and postoperative radiographic ankle alignment, concomitant procedures, and complications. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analyses served to determine implant reoperation and revision surgery. Data was prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant for all statistical analyses. Results: A total of 340 TARs were included with 105 IMr TAR and 235 EMr TAR. The mean follow-up was 5.3 years ( +- 2.5, range 2-12). The absolute value for preoperative coronal alignment was significantly greater for IMr compared to EMr TAR (13.0 vs 6.4 degrees; p < 0.0001), but both groups achieved near neutral alignment postoperatively (1.4 vs 1.5 degrees; p=0.6655). The odds of having a concomitant procedure was 2.7 times higher in patients with an IMr TAR (OR 2.7, CI 1.7-4.4; p-value 0.05). The 5-year implant survivorship was 98.6.% for IMr versus 97.5% for EMr at final follow-up. Conclusion: Despite the IMr TAR group having more severe preoperative coronal and sagittal malalignment, both IMr and EMr TAR components had comparable postoperative alignment, patient-reported outcome scores, and complications. Among the patients with preoperative varus, valgus, or anterior distal tibial slope, the IMr patients achieved greater correction than the EMr patients. Although the 5-year implant survivorship was similar between the two cohorts with 98.6% survival for IMr TAR and 97.5% for EMr TAR, impending failures were greater for the mobile-bearing EMr TAR.

Tibial bone loss is a common scenario encountered during revision total knee arthroplasty. Reconstructive options depend on the amount and location of bone loss, but few good solutions exist to address large, uncontained tibial defects where cortical support is lost in the metadiaphyseal region. We describe a novel technique using acetabular augments to buttress a revision tibial component and recreate a hemiplateau during tibial revision total knee arthroplasty. In selected scenarios, this construct can create a biomechanically friendlier surface onto which to support the tibial tray and a less expensive option when compared to traditional stacked augments or cones. Level of Evidence: IV–Case series. Keywords: Revision total knee arthroplasty, Acetabular augment, Tibial bone loss, Uncontained defect

Background: This study provides an example for evaluating learning curve when introducing a new knee system. Methods: Thirty-five investigators across 22 sites prospectively implanted 843 subjects with currently available products (group A). Seventy-seven investigators across 48 sites prospectively implanted 2330 subjects with the ATTUNE Knee System; in which the first 10 subjects for each surgeon were the learning curve cases (group B, N = 611), and the later subjects were designated as group C (N = 1719). Surgical time, rates of intraoperative and early postoperative complications, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) at a minimum of 1 year were compared. Results: Mean (standard deviation) surgical time was 72.0 (21.6) minutes for group A, 83.0 (24.2) for group B, and 72.1 (24.1) for group C (P < .001 for group B vs group C; P = .955 for group C vs group A). Intraoperative, early (

Category: Ankle, Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: The literature for total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) demonstrates significant improvements in patient- reported outcomes. While these reports focus on the overall study population, it is clear that some patients do not have a successful outcome. In regards to total hip and knee arthroplasty there is literature helping to define responders, or those who achieve a clinical improvement above the level of a minimally clinically important difference. However, characteristics of responders versus non-responders to TAA have not been defined. The purpose of this study was to determine patient comorbidities and characteristics that help distinguish responders from non-responders after TAA. Methods: Patients undergoing TAA between 1/2007 and 12/2016 were enrolled into a prospective study at a single academic center. Patients completed multiple patient reported outcome measures before surgery and in follow-up including the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA). Patients were characterized as responders if their 2-year follow-up SMFA function score increased by 50% or more compared to preoperatively and were characterized as non-responders if their SMFA score increased by less than 50% at 2-year follow-up, consistent with OMERACT–OARSI responder criteria. Patient and operative factors along with prevalent pre-operative comorbidities were then associated with responder or non-responder status. Comorbidities that met a significance threshold of p

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: The Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement(STAR) system and Salto Talaris(ST) total ankle system are two of the more commonly studied total ankle implants. As the STAR is one of the oldest total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) implants still in use today, most studies focus on longevity and survivorship. Reported rates of cyst formation for these two prosthesis in most series vary from 11-22% but no large study has focused on surgical management of these cysts or included patient reported outcomes after surgery. In this series, we aimed to investigate rates of cyst formation between mobile(MB) and fixed-bearing(FB) TAA and examine clinical and patient reported outcomes of bone grafting or cementing of large cysts surrounding the STAR and ST implants. Methods: A prospectively collected database at a high volume total ankle replacement center was retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who underwent TAA with either the STAR or the ST total ankle system between 2007 and 2015. Cysts were identified and measured on standard weight bearing radiographs and confirmed on computed tomography(CT) when available. Visual analog scale (VAS) score, Short Form-36 (SF-36) physical and mental component scores, Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment(SMFA), and AOFAS hindfoot scores were collected from all patients preoperatively and then at 6 months, 1 year and annually postoperatively. Patients with a minimum 2 years follow-up who underwent revision TAA secondary to catastrophic bone cysts or who were managed with either curettage and bone grafting or curettage and cementing of bone cysts surrounding the TAA prosthesis were included in the patient reported outcomes (PRO) analysis Results: Excluding 53 patients for inadequate follow-up, 232 patients (29% female, 71% male; follow-up 6.7 years) who underwent STAR-TAA and 147 patients (26.6% female, 73.5% male; follow-up 7 years) who underwent ST-TAA were identified. Cysts 10 mm were identified in 95/232 (41%) STAR and 24/147 (16%) ST ankles. In the STAR group, 24 patients underwent cyst bone grafting (13), cementing (6) or both (8) at a mean 4.8 years. In the ST group, 14 patients underwent cyst bone grafting (6), cementing (4), or both (4) at a mean of 2.7 years. PRO data improved significantly for both the STAR and ST group in all questionnaires (p10mm 95(41%) 24 (16%) Patients Requiring Cyst Surgery 24/95 (25%) 14/24 (58%) Age (years) 61.8 63.3 Sex Male 165(71%) 107(73%) Female 67(29%) 40(27%) Time Until Cysts Visible (years) 1.82 1.63 Cysts 20mm Diameter Tibia 28 patients 4 patients Talus 4 patients 2 patients Both 0 Patients 2 patients Reoperation for Cyst n=24 n=14 Management mean 4.8 years post-op mean 2.7 years post-op Bone Grafting 13 6 Cementing 6 4 Both 8 4 SF-36 Before Cyst Surgery Physical Function 23.8 19.9 Mental Health 75.1 77.9 SF-36 After Cyst Surgery Physical Function 68.3 67.6 Mental Health 89.4 88.8 VAS Before Cyst Surgery 62.7 59.4 VAS After Cyst Surgery 4.1 3.7

Background: Metal component failure in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is difficult to treat. Traditionally, conversion to an arthrodesis has been advocated. Revision TAA surgery has become more common with availability of revision implants and refinement of bone-conserving primary implants. The goal of this study was to analyze the clinical results and patient-reported outcomes for patients undergoing revision total ankle arthroplasty. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data on 52 patients with a mean age of 63.5 ± 9.6 years who had developed loosening or collapse of major metal components following primary TAA. These patients were compared to a case-matched control group of 52 primary TAAs performed at the host institution with a minimum of 2 years’ follow-up. Cases of isolated polyethylene exchange, infection, or extra-articular realignment procedures were excluded. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score, Short Form 36 (SF-36), Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA), and pain scores were prospectively collected. Clinical data was collected through review of the electronic medical record to identify reasons for clinical failure, where clinical failure was defined as second revision or conversion to arthrodesis or amputation. Results: The identified causes of failure of primary TAA were aseptic loosening of both components (42%), talar component subsidence/loosening (36%), coronal talar subluxation (12%), tibial loosening (8%), and talar malrotation (2%). Thirty-one patients (59.5%) underwent revision of all components, 20 (38.5%) just the talar and polyethylene components, and one (2%) the tibial and polyethylene components. The average time to revision was 5.5 years ± 5.4 with a follow-up of 3.1 years ± 1.5 after revision. Eleven (21.2%) revision arthroplasties required further surgery: 6 required conversion to arthrodesis and 5 required second revision TAA. Pain scores, SF-36 scores, SMFA scores, and AOFAS Hindfoot scores all improved after revision surgery but never reached the same degree of improvement seen after primary TAA. Conclusions: Clinical and patient-reported outcomes of revision ankle arthroplasty after metal component failure significantly improved after surgery, although the recovery time was longer. In this series, 21.2% of revision TAAs required a second revision TAA or arthrodesis surgery. Various prostheses performed similarly when used for revision surgery. Revision TAA can offer significant improvements postoperatively. Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic.

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for ankle arthritis leads to a more normal gait pattern compared to ankle arthrodesis, prompting many to hypothesize that TAA slows development of adjacent joint arthrosis. However, following TAA, patients may also develop hindfoot pain, deformity and dysfunction, ultimately requiring arthrodesis procedures. Many patients with AA also have subtalar and/or talonavicular arthrosis. In these cases, simultaneous TAA and hindfoot arthrodesis may be performed. Previous studies have found that TAA in conjunction with hindfoot arthrodesis procedures led to inferior outcomes compared to isolated TAA. The purpose of this analysis was to compare the functional outcomes of simultaneous vs. subsequent hindfoot arthrodesis procedures and to describe the change, if any, in outcome scores following a subsequent hindfoot arthrodesis procedure. Methods: After receiving Institutional Review Board approval, the TAA database at our institution was reviewed for all TAA performed between 1998 and 2015. All patients who received a TAA and either a simultaneous or subsequent hindfoot arthrodesis with at least two years of clinical follow up were included in the analysis. All surgeries were performed by one of three fellowship-trained orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons with extensive experience in TAA and associated hindfoot arthrodesis procedures. Outcome measures included preoperative and 2-year postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA), Short Form (SF)-36 and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scores. Results: 64 patients met the inclusion criteria. 39 patients underwent TAA with simultaneous hindfoot arthrodesis (Sim) and 25 underwent a subsequent arthrodesis procedure (Sub) an average 22.2 months following TAA. 20 patients underwent double arthrodesis (11 Sub) and 44 patients underwent subtalar fusion (14 Sub). There were no differences in preoperative questionnaire scores between the two groups. Both the Sim and Sub groups experienced significant improvement in their postoperative VAS, SMFA, SF-36 and AOFAS scores. Postoperative VAS and SMFA bother scores were significantly lower for the Sim group (p

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: The current standard for stabilization of the talus within the ankle mortise after bimalleolar equivalent ankle fracture is open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the lateral malleolus followed by syndesmotic screw fixation of the syndesmosis. Syndesmotic fixation may be associated with complications such as mal-reduction, joint stiffness, altered ankle biomechanics, and potential additional surgery for hardware removal. Consequently, some surgeons advocate ORIF of the lateral malleolus in conjunction with deltoid ligament repair rather than syndesmosis fixation. To our knowledge, clinical reports of this treatment option lack biomechanical evidence to support this approach. The purpose of this investigation was to compare ankle joint stability and contact pressures in a bimalleolar equivalent ankle fracture model treated with trans-syndesmotic screw fixation versus deltoid ligament repair. Methods: We prepared and tested seven fresh frozen cadaveric whole lower leg specimens with an undisturbed proximal tibiofibular joint. We tested each leg was tested under five conditions: (1) intact, (2) syndesmosis disrupted and deltoid ligament sectioned, (3) syndesmosis reduced w/ screw fixation, (4) deltoid repaired, and (5) both syndesmosis and deltoid ligament repaired. Under a nominal axial load, we applied controlled anterior, posterior, lateral, and medial drawer stresses to the foot using a custom-built testing apparatus and documented the resulting talar translation relative to the tibia. We also applied controlled internal and external rotation stresses to the ankle model and measured the provoked ankle joint rotations. In each condition, we measured peak ankle contact pressure (PACP) using a Tekscan pressure sensor under a physiologic axial load simulating single-limb stance. Results: Concurrent disruption of the syndesmosis and the deltoid ligament significantly (p

Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: One of the most common complications in orthopaedic surgery of the foot and ankle is nonunion or delayed union and bone or implant fractures. Although foot and ankle surgery has improved dramatically over the past decades primarily due to the development of better techniques, little progress has been made in the development of new materials for implants. Titanium, the most commonly used alloy for foot and ankle implants, has limited strength and is notch-sensitive so repetitive stress leads to fatigue failure of implants and limits design options. Better materials with optimized biomechanical properties could result in the development of superior foot and ankle implants and surgical techniques. The mechanical properties of Molybdenum-Rhenium (MoRe®), a promising new alloy for foot and ankle implants were tested. Methods: Standard test methods (ASTM 1717) were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of Molybdenum Rhenium (MoRe®) alloy compared to Titanium (Ti-6Al-4 V, ASTM F136-13 annealed bar, Ti-ELI). Results: MoRe® is composed purely (99.99%) of molybdenum and rhenium and does not contain Nickel. Molybdenum is found in food and is a cofactor to the enzymes xanthine oxidase and sulfite oxidase, which are essential to bone and connective tissue metabolism. Rhenium is an inert metal with no biological affect. Mechanical testing showed MoRe to be superior to Titanium: Yield Strength: MoRe® 280ksi, Titanium 115ksi, Ultimate Tensile Strength: MoRe® 300ksi, Titanium 125 ksi. Elongation and Reduction in Area: MoRe® 13%, 50%, respectively; Titanium 10%, 25%. Recoil: MoRe®

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Modern total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs) have demonstrated improved survival rates at early- and mid-term follow-up, with revision rates ranging from 4 to 8% at five years. The INFINITY total ankle system (Wright Medical Technology, Arlington, TN) was first used in the United States in 2014. Its advantages include the ability to use patient-specific instrumentation and the option to choose between talar dome resurfacing and flat-cut talar components. While this implant is currently popular in the United States, clinical outcomes have not yet been reported. Our aim was to identify the rate of early revision among patients receiving the INFINITY prosthesis. Methods: Patients from two prospectively-collected databases at the authors’ institution were screened for inclusion in the present study. All patients who underwent a primary TAA with the INFINITY prosthesis and who were at least one year postoperative were included. All surgeries were performed by one of two orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons with extensive experience in total ankle arthroplasty. The primary outcome was the need for revision surgery, which was defined as removal of one or both metal components. Peri-implant lucency at most recent follow-up was a secondary outcome. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs at most recent follow-up were graded for lucency independently by two reviewers, both orthopaedic foot and ankle fellows, for individual peri-implant zones (Figure). Each zone was only considered “lucent” if recorded as such by both reviewers. Results: 160 patients underwent TAA with the INFINITY prosthesis between August 2014 and November 2016 with a mean 20 months of follow-up (range, 12-37). Six patients were lost to follow-up. Sixteen patients (10%) underwent revision a mean 1.2 years postoperatively. Revision was performed most commonly for tibial component loosening (seven patients, 4.4%) and deep infection (five patients, 3.1%). Of cases with tibial loosening, progressive lucency and/or subsidence was obvious radiographically in four patients; one patient had equivocal radiographs but loosening was suggested on single-photon emission computed tomography; and two patients revised for persistent pain had loosening confirmed intraoperatively. Of the 108 patients with retained components and at least one year of radiographic follow-up, eight (7.4%) had global lucency around the tibial component at most recent follow-up. Conclusion: Our initial review of patients undergoing TAA with the INFINITY prosthesis demonstrates an elevated early revision rate due to tibial component loosening. The reasons for this finding remain unclear, but could possibly include inadequate bony purchase of the implant’s three prongs, particularly in patients with large preoperative deformities or with imperfect component alignment. We plan to further investigate the possible reasons for this finding in the future by assessing additional patient factors, including age, sex, arthritis type, tobacco use, pre- and postoperative coronal and sagittal alignment, and presence of ipsilateral hindfoot fusion.

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has shown durable improvements in pain, function, and quality of life. Patient factors could affect intermediate to long-term outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty, and the impact of common medical comorbidities has not been fully characterized. The purpose of this study was to determine if common preoperative patient comorbidities had an effect on patient outcomes. Methods: Patients undergoing TAA between 1/2007 and 12/2016 were enrolled into a prospective study at a single academic center. Patients completed the following outcome measures before surgery and then in follow-up: AOFAS Hindfoot score, 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36), Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI), and the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) score. Patient and operative factors along with pre-operative Charlson-Deyo and Elixhauser comorbidities with at least 10% prevalence across the entire population were assessed for association with changes in outcomes from pre-operative to the patient’s most recent follow-up. A minimum of 2 years of follow-up was required. Factors that met a significance threshold of p

Category: Basic Sciences/Biologics Introduction/Purpose: Large osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) can be difficult to treat. Although many treatment options exist, fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation has demonstrated promise as the primary treatment for OLTs with substantial cartilage and bone involvement as well as a secondary treatment option after failure of other cartilage repair techniques. Fresh osteochondral allografts are size-matched from organ donors and, in theory, have healthy articular cartilage and bone. However, the quality of allograft cartilage and bone has never been examined with respect to the OLT cartilage and bone being replaced. The purpose of this study was to perform a matched comparison of the cartilage and bone from patients OLTs to the fresh osteochondral allograft replacement. Methods: Discarded intact osteochondral specimens were collected from 8 patients undergoing surgery for an OLT. The specimens included the excised OLT and a portion of the fresh allograft replacement that the same patient received at the time of surgery. Histologic analysis was performed. The safranin-o histology was then scored using the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) histopathology grading and staging system. In this system the grade determines cartilage and bone destruction on a scale of 0 to 6.5, the stage determines the percentage of involvement in the specimen on a scale of 0 to 4, and the total score is the grade multiplied by the stage. The surface roughness was also compared between the OLT and allograft cartilage using ImageJ software (NIH). Paired t-tests were performed on the ICRS grade, stage, and total score, and surface roughness comparing the OLTs and allografts. Significance was set at p

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Total ankle replacements (TAR) are an increasingly popular option for the management of tibiotalar arthritis. Periprosthetic fracture is an uncommon but challenging complication of patients undergoing arthroplasty. Evidence on the management of and outcomes from periprosthetic fractures about a TAR are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients with postoperative periprosthetic fractures about a TAR and determine clinical outcomes of these patients following operative fixation. Additionally, we propose an algorithm for the management of these patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 400 patients who underwent TAR from 2007 through 2017. Charts were reviewed and patients with postoperative fractures were selected for inclusion. Patients with a fracture >4 weeks from index surgery were considered candidates for inclusion. Patients with intraoperative fractures were excluded. Univariate analyses were used to identify differences in outcomes. Results: 32 patients were identified with a postoperative periprosthetic fracture about a TAR. Average age was 65.3 years. Average time to fracture was 39.5 months while average follow up from fracture was 26 months. Fractures were primarily located about the medial malleolus (60.6%). 76.8% of fractures were deemed to be stable (Table 1); 75% of these fractures were managed with ORIF or IMN, while 21% of these fractures were treated with immobilization. 80% of patients with stable fractures treated with immobilization ultimately required surgical intervention. 24.2% of fractures were deemed to be unstable. Fractures about the talus were always unstable and always required revision TAR surgery (100%, p= 0.0002). Conclusion: This retrospective review demonstrates that the majority of periprosthetic fractures about a TAR involve the medial malleolus. Additionally, the majority of stable fractures about a TAR required operative fixation. Despite attempts at nonoperative management, management with immobilization is fraught with a high rate of subsequent surgical intervention. Fractures about the talus should be treated with revision TAR surgery or arthrodesis. Based on these findings, we propose an algorithm for the management of patients with a periprosthetic fracture about a TAR.

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: Hallux rigidus (HR) is a degenerative disease of the first metatarsalphalangeal (MTP) joint, and the most common type of foot arthritis. It affects 2.5% of population aged over 50 years. During the gait cycle, the MTP joint normally carries a force of about 119% body weight. We hypothesize that the altered gait mechanics in patients with end stage ankle arthritis would increase the stress on the MTP joint resulting in hallux rigidus. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of radiographic hallux rigidus in a population with ankle arthritis, its association with factors such as gender, age, and severity of the disease compared to the normal population. Methods: Patients from a prospectively-collected total ankle database were screened for the inclusion in the present study. All patients with ankle arthritis who underwent a primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) between November 2006 and November 2017 with anteroposterior and lateral views on foot x-rays within 3 months pre or postoperative were included. Foot x-rays were reviewed to assess the prevalence of radiographic hallux rigidus and to grade the severity of diagnosis according to Couglin and Shurnas Radiographic Classification. The association among the grades of severity, demographics, and bilateral involvement were evaluated. Results: A group of 870 patients out of 1044 patients who underwent TAA were included in the study. The mean age was 63 years (standard deviation 10.3). The prevalence of HR in the total group was 72.9% with a slightly higher proportion in males compared to females (51.7% versus 48.3%). The distribution among the grades of severity was grade 1, 58%; grade 2, 24%; and grade 3, 18%. Although, we did not find an association between prevalence and gender (P=0.2) or severity (P=0.37); HR grade 2 and grade 3 were higher in females. Bilateral involvement was found in 16.4% of patients with HR. Conclusion: The prevalence of radiographic hallux rigidus in a population with altered gait mechanics was significantly higher compared to that reported in the literature in the normal population. However, no association among demographic factors such as age or gender was found. Women tended to present a more severe diagnosis compared to men but the difference was no statistically significant.

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: Hallux interphalangeal (IP) arthritis can occur after first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthrodesis. IP Arthrodesis is a standard treatment, but in the setting of prior MTP surgery there will be increased stress on the IP joint and decrease local blood supply. These may result in diminished potential for bone healing. This investigation seeks to assess the outcomes of hallux IP arthrodesis after first MTP arthrodesis. Methods: Charts were retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent interphalangeal arthrodesis between 1/1/2007 and 4/3/2017 and who had a minimum of 12-weeks of follow-up. We compared patients with and without prior ipsilateral first MTP arthrodesis. Charts were reviewed for clinical and radiographic union. Outcomes of interest were nonunion, complications, time to union and speed of union. Statistical data were analyzed by multivariable regression. Results: There were 42 patients whose median follow-up was nine (range, 3-135) months. Median time from previous first MTP arthrodesis until IP arthrodesis was 54 months. Six nonunions (35.3%) occurred in 17 patients with prior first MTP arthrodesis. Only two nonunions (8.0%) occurred in 25 patients with isolated IP arthrodesis. The multivariable risk difference of nonunion was 53.3% (P = .001). Prior first MTP arthrodesis also was more likely to have complications (52.9% vs. 24.0%, respectively). The multivariable risk difference of complications was 35.7% (P = .082). The speed of bone healing was statistically significant, with a multivariable rate ratio of 0.21 (P = .012). Conclusion: Prior first MTP arthrodesis resulted in 4.8 times slower bone healing for IP arthrodesis. The numbers needed to harm was two patients for nonunion and three patients for any complication.

Background: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) provides a surgical alternative to tibiotalar arthrodesis when treating end-stage ankle arthritis. TAA preserves range of motion at the tibiotalar joint leading to improved postoperative function. Many patients who undergo TAA wish to maintain a high level of activity, including participation in low-impact sports such as golf. There are several studies in the total hip and total knee arthroplasty literature that have looked at the effect of total joint arthroplasty on golf handicap. We hypothesized that similar to hip and knee arthroplasty research, TAA is likely to result in a postoperative increase in golf handicap. Methods: After obtaining institutional review board approval, we retrospectively identified 60 patients (from 140 consecutive TAAs performed between August 2016 and February 2017) who had undergone TAA, played golf pre- and postoperatively, and had at least 1 year of postoperative follow-up. The average postoperative follow-up for the cohort was 28.1 months. Variables including preoperative and postoperative golf handicaps, swing laterality, age, gender, surgical laterality, implant used, and operating surgeon were recorded. Results: The average preoperative and postoperative handicaps were 19.7 and 17.9, respectively, which did not represent a statistically significant difference ( P = .07). Patients who played 3 or more rounds per week had better preoperative and postoperative handicaps compared to patients who played 2 rounds or less; however, the change in their handicap following TAA and the number of rounds played per week was not affected. There was no association between the change in handicap and the follow-up period, handedness of golf shot, surgical laterality, implant used, or the operating surgeon. Conclusion: Our findings showed that golf handicap was not negatively affected following TAA in this series. Level of Evidence: Level IV, case series.

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Bone density is a modifiable factor which can be addressed prior to elective surgery if necessary. However, its role pertaining to complications of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has not been studied. Hounsfield units (HU) can be measured on standard computed tomography (CT) imaging, and have been shown to correlate with bone mineral density measures from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). There is a precedent for these measurements in the orthopedic literature: different authors have shown that patients with higher vertebral bone density on CT are at lower risk for pedicle screw loosening. We hypothesized that patients with lower bone density, as measured by HU on preoperative CT, or with large preoperative cysts, would be at greater risk for revision and periprosthetic fractures following TAA. Methods: An existing database at the authors’ institution was used to screen all patients who underwent primary TAA. Inclusion criteria included a CT scan within one year prior to surgery. Exclusion criteria included tibial or talar hardware and nonweightbearing status at the time of the CT scan. The primary outcomes were prosthetic revision and periprosthetic fracture. HU were measured on axial CT cuts at 10 mm above the tibial plafond and at 5 mm below the talar dome to approximate the location of bone cuts. HU measurements for 30 patients were made independently by two reviewers in order to establish interrater reliability. Subchondral cysts at least 5 mm in diameter were counted. Additional patient factors analyzed included age, sex, weight, body mass index (BMI), tobacco use, presence of rheumatoid arthritis, preoperative deformity =15°, and pain visual analog scale scores. Results: 198 patients with a mean 2.4 years of follow-up met the inclusion criteria. The intraclass correlation coefficients for tibial and talar HU measurements were both 0.95. Seven patients (3.5%) underwent revision, four for infection, at a mean 1.2 years postoperatively. There were seven intraoperative and nine postoperative periprosthetic fractures (3.5% and 4.5%, respectively). Neither bone density nor cysts were associated with revision (p>.05). Lower tibial and talar HU, lower weight, and lower BMI were all associated with periprosthetic fracture (Table). After controlling for age, sex, and weight, only tibial HU was significantly associated with periprosthetic fractures (p=0.018). All intraoperative fractures occurred in patients with tibial HU

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Among patients with end-stage ankle arthritis, total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) utilization has significantly increased in recent years, while ankle arthrodesis utilization has declined. Significant coronal plane deformity is frequently encountered in this patient population, and was previously considered a contraindication to TAA. However, the advent of newer fixed-bearing prostheses, coupled with improved surgical techniques and a better understanding of ligamentous balancing, have allowed surgeons to extend their indications for TAA with respect to deformity correction. Several authors have demonstrated good outcomes from TAA in patients with significant varus deformities, but not specifically in patients with valgus deformities. We aimed to determine the clinical, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes of patients with moderate to severe valgus deformity who underwent TAA for end-stage ankle arthritis. Methods: Eighty patients with valgus deformities =10 degrees who underwent TAA were retrospectively reviewed. All surgeries were performed by one of three fellowship-trained orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons with extensive experience in TAA. One of three prostheses were used: INBONE (Wright Medical Technology, Arlington, TN), Salto-Talaris (Integra, Plainsboro, NJ), or the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR; Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI). We assessed the coronal tibiotalar angle on standardized weightbearing radiographs preoperatively, at one year, and at final follow-up. The visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Short Form (SF)-36 scale, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot-ankle scale, and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) scores were assessed preoperatively and at final follow-up. Subgroup analyses were performed to determine differences in outcome scores, deformity correction, and maintenance of alignment between patients with moderate (=10 degrees, 20 degrees) preoperative deformity. Complication, reoperation, and revision rates were collected from chart review. Results: Mean preoperative valgus deformity was 15.5 ± 5.0 degrees, and was corrected to a mean 1.2 ± 2.6 degrees of valgus postoperatively (Figure; P

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Outcomes of total ankle replacement for the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis continue to improve. Debate continues whether a mobile-bearing total ankle replacement (MB-TAR) or a fixed-bearing total ankle replacement (FB-TAR) is superior, with successful outcomes reported longterm for MB-TAR and at intermediate-to-longterm follow-up for newer generation FB-TAR. Although comparisons between the two total ankle designs have been reported, to our knowledge, no investigation has compared the two designs with a high level of evidence. This prospective, randomized controlled trial conducted at a single institution compares patient satisfaction, functional outcomes and radiographic results of the mobile-bearing STAR and the fixed-bearing Salto-Talaris in the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis. Methods: This investigation was approved by our institution’s IRB committee. Between November 2011 and November 2014, adult patients with end-stage ankle osteoarthritis failing nonoperative treatment were introduced to the study. With informed consent, 100 patients (31 male and 69 female, average age 65, range 35 to 85) were enrolled; demographic comparison between the two cohorts was similar. Exclusion criteria included inflammatory arthropathy, neuropathy, weight exceeding 250 pounds, radiographic coronal plane deformity greater than 15 degrees or extensive talar dome wear pattern (“flat top talus”). Prospective patient-reported outcomes, physical exam and standardized weightbearing ankle radiographs were obtained preoperatively, at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, and then at yearly intervals. Data collection included visual analog pain score (VAS), short form 36 (SF-36), foot and ankle disability index (FADI), short musculoskeletal functional assessment (SMFA) and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score. Surgeries were performed by non-design team orthopaedic foot and ankle specialists with total ankle replacement expertise. Statistically analysis was performed by a qualified statistician. Results: At average follow-up of 4.5 years (range 2-6 years) complete clinical data and radiographs were available for 84 patients; 7 had incomplete data, one had died, 4 were withdrawn after enrolling but prior to surgery and 4 were lost to follow-up. In all outcome measures, the entire cohort demonstrated statistically significant improvements from preoperative evaluation to most recent follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in improvement in clinical outcomes between the two groups. Radiographically, tibial lucency/cyst formation was 26.8% and 20.9% for MB-TAR and FB-TAR, respectively. Tibial settling/subsidence occurred in 7.3% of MB-TAR. Talar lucency/cyst formation occurred in 24.3% and 2.0% of MB-TAR and FB-TAR, respectively. Talar subsidence was observed in 21.9% and 2.0% of MB-TAR and FB-TAR, respectively. Re-operations were performed in 8 MB-TAR and 3 FB-TAR, with the majority of procedures being to relieve impingement or treat cysts and not to revise or remove metal implants. Conclusion: For the first time, with a high level of evidence, our study confirms that patient reported and clinical outcomes are favorable for both designs and that there is no significant difference in clinical improvement between the two implants. The incidence of lucency/cyst formation was similar for MB-TAR and FB-TAR for the tibial component, but the MB-TAR had greater talar lucency/cyst formation and tibial and talar subsidence. As has been suggested in previous studies, clinical outcomes do not correlate with radiographic findings. Re-operations were more common for MB-TAR and in the majority of cases were to relieve impingement or treat cysts rather than revise or remove metal implants.

Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: The most common complications in orthopaedic surgery of the foot and ankle documented in the literature are postoperative infections with a frequency between 1 and 8%. The development of an implant-associated infection can be a potentially devastating complication following foot and ankle surgery. This leads to a high number of revision surgeries after initial fracture stabilization and potential loss of function of the joint and quality of life in the long-term follow-up. Titanium, the most commonly used alloy for foot and ankle implants, has limited strength and is notch-sensitive so repetitive stress leads to fatigue failure of implants and limits design options. Better materials with both optimized mechanical and biological properties could result in the development of superior foot and ankle implants. Methods: Several studies were performed to evaluate the biological properties of MoRe®: A study was conducted to characterize the hydrophilic properties by contact angle comparisons of the MoRe alloy compared to Titanium. A cell growth study was conducted to look at the influence of MoRe alloy on osteoblast growth and differentiation as compared to Titanium. A bone implantation study was conducted based on ISO 10993: Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices, Part 6: Tests for Local Effects after Implantation to evaluate the local tissue and bone response of MoRe® alloy test coupon compared to Titanium controls, when implanted in the mid-shaft femoral bone of rabbits for 4, 13 and 26 weeks. Biofilm formation study was conducted to quantify attachment and biofilm development of S. aureus bacteria upon MoRe® alloy in comparison to CoCr alloy in a well-controlled, reproducible, ex vivo laboratory experiment. Results: MoRe®, composed purely (99.99%) of molybdenum and rhenium, is a cofactor to the enzymes xanthine and sulfite oxidase, which are essential to bone metabolism. Rhenium is an inert metal with no biological affect. MoRe® has superior hydrophilicity (CA 37°±3°) compared to Titanium (CA 58°±3°), a key factor in cell adhesion, migration and replication. Pre-osteoblast cell seeding was found to be equivalent between MoRe° and Titanium alloy (10,000 cells/cm2). The bone implantation study demonstrated continued bone maturation over time for both MoRe® and Titanium implant sites with similar osteoconduction and bone remodeling histology of the cortical and medullary bone at 4, 13 and 26 weeks. The biofilm study found that S. aureus better colonized cobalt chrome alloy in comparison to MoRe® (p = 0.009). Conclusion: The MoRe® alloy, with its advantageous biological properties and hydrophilicity, offers great promise for the design of a new generation of bio-friendly foot and ankle implants with superior cell growth, osseointegration and biofilm resistance resulting in better outcomes for patients.

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Acute hematogenous periprosthetic joint infection(PJI) is defined in the literature as infection diagnosed and treated within two to four weeks from the onset of symptoms. In total hip and knee arthroplasty, irrigation, debridement(I&D) and polyethylene exchange with component retention is the treatment of choice. There is minimal literature evaluating this treatment method for PJI in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), however, with four patients being the largest sample size. The purpose of this study was to evaluate both the clinical and patient reported outcomes and survivorship of treating PJI in TAA with I&D and polyethylene exchange in patients with acute hematogenous PJIs. Methods: A single center, retrospective chart review of prospectively collected data in patients with TAA PJI who subsequently underwent I&D and polyethylene exchange with retention of metal components was conducted. The primary outcome was failure rate of I&D and polyethylene exchange where failure was defined as subsequent removal of all components and two-stage revision or arthrodesis. Patient reported outcomes collected before primary arthroplasty, after primary arthroplasty and after polyethylene exchange were also analyzed. Results: We identified 11 patients with acute hematogenous PJI who underwent I&D/ polyethylene exchange with retention of metal components. The average time from onset of symptoms to I&D/ polyethylene exchange was 11.55 days +/-5.57. The mean follow-up after this surgery was 2.8 years +/-1.45. The long-term failure rate was 50%. The most common bacteria isolated in patients who failed was Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). The most common bacteria isolated in patients who retained their implants was Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus(MSSA). Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA), Short Form-36 (SF36), and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot scale showed significant improvement when compared to preoperative scores in patients who retained their implants both after primary and after I&D and polyethylene exchange. Conclusion: I&D and polyethylene exchange with retention of metal components has comparable long-term survivorship to those reported in the Knee and Hip Arthroplasty literature. Patient reported outcomes after I&D and polyethylene exchange were comparable to those collected after primary arthroplasty in patients who ultimately retained their implants. Two variables which were independent predictors of failure of this surgery include duration of symptoms prior to I&D as well as organism isolated on culture. With a failure rate of 50%, the authors recommend thorough evaluation on a case by case basis prior to indicating a patient for single stage I&D with polyethylene exchange.

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) fusion is a salvage operation for patients with significant arthritis and deformity of ankle and subtalar joints. Despite overall clinic success, fusion across both joints continues to be a major challenge with nonunion rates reported up to 48% [Franceschi]. Aside from certain patient comorbidities, nonunion may result when compression across the joint is lost in the setting of bone resorption. The use of a pseudoelastic intramedullary nail has been shown to maintain compression across fusion site in response to bone resorption. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fusion rate in a high-risk population at a tertiary care center using a psuedoelastic intramedullary nail with an internal nitinol element. Methods: After obtaining IRB approval, a retrospective review of consecutive patients that underwent procedures with TTC fusion with novel intramedullary nail system with super elastic internal nickel titanium (NiTiNOL, DynaNail, Medshape Inc, Atlanta, GA) was performed at a single academic institution. From 2014 to 2016, 58 patients were identified, 55 of which had minimum one year follow up or clinical and radiographic fusion (20 months average, range 6-41 months). The primary outcome was radiographic fusion analysis which was reviewed by three authors. Fusion was determined by consensus with criteria of 3 of 4 cortices with osseous bridging in asymptomatic patients[1, 2] or CT fusion based on Glazebrook et. al. criteria for hindfoot fusion[3, 4]. Average age of this cohort was 59 (SD= 16.3) years with BMI average 33.1 (SD= 8.87). Exclusion criteria include: follow-up less than 12 months in non-fused patients, and incomplete clinical or radiologic data. Results: The fusion rate in this high-risk population was 80.0% with the use of the NiTiNOL tibiotalocalcaneal nailing system. Univariate analysis demonstrated no significant difference (p>0.05) in fusion rates with patient comorbidities that portend to non-union: current or former history of tobacco use, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, nor patients with chronic kidney disease. The average BMI in the fusion group was 31.97 compared to 27.4 in the non-union group (p=0.016). There were 5 deep infections requiring reoperation with a single patient requiring a below the knee amputation. Seven patients required a second operation for removal of prominent interlocking screws. Conclusion: This preliminary data demonstrates fusion rates with this novel intramedullary device are consistent with historical data. These findings are encouraging in that this nailing system shows equal rates of fusion in patients with high risk comorbidities for non-union compared to historical controls demonstrating increased non-union rates in diabetics, patients with chronic renal failure and those with a history of smoking. This Tibiotalocalcaneal nailing system is safe and offers theoretical sustained compression with up to 6 mm of resorption or settling.