Ankle Arthrodesis With Anterior Plate Fixation in Patients at High Risk for Nonunion

Between January 1, 2011, and January 1, 2017, an orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon performed tibiotalar arthrodesis on 221 patients. Thirty-two were included in this study. Inclusion criteria included patients with at least one risk factor for nonunion and/or malunion, isolated anterior ankle arthrodesis with plate fixation, patients older than 18, and a minimum of 1-year follow-up. Risk factors were avascular necrosis of the talus, severe segmental bone defect, smoking, inflammatory arthropathy, coronal deformity greater than 15°, diabetes mellitus, septic nonunion, failed ankle arthrodesis, and body mass index greater than 35. Functional outcome questionnaires (Ankle Osteoarthritis Score [AOS] and Foot Function Index [FFI]) were collected at the latest visit or by phone. Twenty-six (26/32, 81.2%) patients included in the study had computed tomography images available for review at an average of 3.2 months after surgery. The rate of successful arthrodesis was 93.8% (30/32) at an average of 78 days. Over...