When the talus and the talocalcaneal joint are both affected, their fusion is the method of treatment. Ankle arthrodesis is carried out using various osteosynthetic materials such as external fixators, screws and plates. One of the options is retrograde nailing. Tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis is frequently indicated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in whom both the talus and the subtalar joint are often affected.
A retrograde nail for tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis was developed at our department in cooperation with MEDIN Company. This is a titanium double-curved nail, with the distal part bent at 8 degrees ventrally and 10 degrees laterally. It is inserted from the transfibular approach.
Sixty-two patients, 35 women and 27 men, were treated at our department from 2005. Since one patient had bilateral surgery, 63 ankles were included. The indications for arthrodesis involved rheumatoid arthritis in 42, post-traumatic arthritis in 10, failed ankle arthrodesis in two and failed total ankle arthroplasty in five ankles; tibial stress fractures close above the ankle in two RA patients, one patient with dermatomyositis and one with lupus erythematodes. The average age at the time of surgery was 64.2 years (range, 30 to 80). The average follow-up was 4.5 years (range, 1 to 9 years), Satisfaction with the treatment outcome and willingness to undergo surgery on the other side were reported by 82% of the patients. The AOFAS score improved from 35 to 74 points. Three (4.8%) patients complained of painful feet due to the fact that exact correction of the calcaneus was not achieved and the heel after arthrodesis remained in a slightly varus position. Of them, two had a failed total ankle arthroplasty. Post-operative complications included early infection managed by antibiotic treatment and early surgical revision with irrigation.in two (3.2%) RA patients, who were undergoing biological therapy. Late infection developed at 2 to 3 years after surgery in three (4.3%) patients (two had RA). The infection was managed by revision surgery with nail removal and irrigation. All patients healed well. Necrosis of the talus and development of a pseudoarthrosis were recorded in four (6.4%) patients, who subsequently underwent nail removal and repeat fusion using an external fixator.
Retrograde nailing for tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis is used by many authors. Its complication rate is comparable with the other methods of arthrodesis.
The use of tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis aims at a painless and stable joint. Arthrodesis of the talus and the subtalar joint using a retrograde nail is an effective surgical treatment of the joints affected. It is especially recommended for RA patients who have severe deviations. Retrograde nailing provides a stable osteosynthesis which does not require plaster cast immobilisation. The double-curved nail allows for its insertion in the solid part of the calcaneus and helps avoiding injury to the neurovascular bundle.