The mlniarthrotomy technique of ankle arthrodesis: A cadaver study of operative vascular compromise and early clinical results

We present a two-part study of the miniarthrotomy ankle fusion technique for minimally deformed joints: a laboratory investigation of ankle vascularity and a clinical review of the early results. In the laboratory portion, five pairs of cadaver legs were injected with radiographic dye, after which arthrodesis was performed via either the open technique (one leg of each pair) or the miniarthrotomy technique (the contralateral leg of each pair). Two legs in the open arthrodesis group had disruption of the peroneal arterial circulation, but no disruption was identified in the miniarthrotomy group. In the clinical portion of the study, we reviewed the results of 32 patients who had undergone ankle fusion via the miniarthrotomy technique. One patient had a nonunion and two patients had delayed union. The average time to union for the 31 patients was 8 weeks (range: 6 to 22). These results compare favorably to the arthroscopically assisted method of fusion and offers another choice for arthrodesis of minimally deformed ankles. We concluded that with minimal dis-ruption, there is less likelihood of arterial injury and devascularization, which may indirectly have a positive effect on the rate of ankle arthrodesis.