Functional Disabilities and Issues of Concern for Asian Patients Before Total Ankle Arthroplasty

Full article available online at Healio.com/Orthopedics. Search: 20120426-27 Total ankle arthroplasty is a commonly performed invasive procedure that can be distressing to patients. Therefore, surgeons should consider patients’ issues of greatest interest and concerns at the time of surgery and the function that patients hope to recover. Many studies have reported surgeon concerns before total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty, but few have focused on patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients’ functional disabilities and issues of concern regarding total ankle arthroplasty. Between May 2008 and June 2010, eighty-five patients (52 men and 33 women; mean age, 60 years) were recruited for the study. All patients were asked to complete a questionnaire divided into 3 parts: sociodemographic data, current functional disabilities and their perceived importance, and issues concerning patients before total ankle arthroplasty. Regarding functional disability based on severity, the top 5 issues were limping, difficulty squatting, daytime pain, difficulty kneeling, and difficulty climbing stairs. Regarding functional disability based on perceived importance, the top 5 issues were daytime pain, limping, difficulty walking, difficulty kneeling, and difficulty working. Regarding issues of concern, the top 5 issues were pain intraoperatively, ability to walk as much as desired, ability to climb stairs, pain after discharge from the hospital, and pain immediately postoperatively. The most important issue before total ankle arthroplasty was pain. Patients had a strong interest in high ankle extension and increased range of motion due to the lifestyle and religious activities of Eastern populations. Drs Lee (Kyung Tai) and Kim (Jun Beom) are from the Foot and Ankle Clinic, KT Lee’s Orthopedic Hospital, Dr Choi is from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Veterans Hospital, Drs Lee (Young Koo) and Kim (Wook Joong) are from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Dr Kim (Jin Su) is from the Foot and Ankle Service, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Eulji Hospital, Eulji University, Dr Kim (Jun Ho) is from RNC Sports Center, and Mr Lee (Ji Yun) is from the College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Drs Lee (Kyung Tai), Choi, Lee (Young Koo), Young, Ki (Jun Beom), Kim (Jin Su), Kim (Wook Joong), and Kim (Jun Ho) and Mr Lee (Ji Yun) have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Correspondence should be addressed to: Young Koo Lee, MD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, 1174 Jung-1-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyunggi-do, 420-767, Republic of Korea (brain0808@hanmail.net). doi: 10.3928/01477447-20120426-27 Functional Disabilities and Issues of Concern for Asian Patients Before Total Ankle Arthroplasty Kyung Tai Lee, MD; Jae HyucK cHoi, MD; young Koo Lee, MD; Ki Won young, MD; Jun BeoM KiM, MD; Jin Su KiM, MD; WooK Joong KiM, MD; Jun Ho KiM, PHD; Ji yun Lee Figure: Photographs of the Korean kneeling position. The foot internally rotates and the ankle fully extends.