Complications of Ankle Fusion for Treating Late Sequelae of Ankle Injuries

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the complications of ankle fusion for treating late sequelae of ankle injuries (LS-AI). We retrospectively analyzed patients with LS-AI who were treated with ankle fusion in our hospital between January 1997 and June 2012; we summarized the surgical methods, internal fixation selection, follow-up time, preoperative and follow-up-end American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and complications. A total of 48 patients were analyzed, including 14 patients with open tibial and fibular fracture-induced lower limb compartment syndrome sequelae, 33 patients with ankle and Pilon fracture-caused traumatic ankle arthritis, and 1 patient with ankle amputation injury. The average follow-up time was 49.1 months. The incidence rate of complications was 29.17 %, including 4 cases of wound infection, 3 cases of delayed union, 1 case of nonunion, 2 cases of malunion, 2 cases of nerve injury, and 2 cases of internal fixation fracture. The average preoperative AOFAS score was 44.3 points, and the average postoperative score was 81.2 points (P<0.05). Ankle fusion is still the most effective method for treating late complications of ankle injuries.