Arthroscopically assisted debridement and tibiotalar arthrodesis with half-ring sulcated external fixator for treatment of total ankle joint tuberculosis
- VernacularTitle:关节镜下病灶清除并半环槽加压外固定治疗全踝关节结核
- Author:
Yonghua CHEN
;
Kanglai TANG
;
Qihong LI
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Arthroscopes;
Ankle joint;
Tuberculosis, osteoarticular;
Arthrodesis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics
2000;0(02):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the clinical experiment of arthroscopically assisted debridement and tibiotalar arthrodesis with half-ring sulcated external fixator for treatment of total ankle joints tuberculosis. Methods From January 2001 to April 2005, 6 patients (4 males and 2 females), with a mean age of 33 years old (range, 28 to 44 years old) and mean duration of 13 months, received arthroscopically assisted debridement and tibiotalar arthrodesis with half-ring sulcated external fixator. All patients had received at least 3 weeks standard drug treatment for tuberculosis before the operation. After thoroughly debridement under arthroscopy using anterolateral and anteromedial approaches, a half-ring sulcated external fixator was used to fix the ankle joint at the neutral position. 4 days (2-7 days) after the operation, patients could walk with partially weight bearing. All patients replied to our questionnaire and the average follow-up was 21.3 months, with a range of 6-42 months. Patients returned for a clinical and radiolographic evaluation every week before the tibiotalar joints union. The external fixator apparatus were removed after the joint fused. Results Fusion occurred in all patients, the average time to clinical and radiographic union was 12.5 weeks (9-17 weeks). 3 patients were graded as excellent: no pain with a stable fusion. The others were graded as good: mild pain, occasional limp with a stable fusion. There were no sinus or other complications occurred. Conclusion There are considerable advantages using arthroscopically assisted debridement and tibiotalar arthrodesis with half-ring sulcated external fixator for treatment of total ankle joints tuberculosis without serious bone defect, include: limited invasion, quickly recovery, thoroughly debriding the tuberculose focus. And the half-ring sulcated external compression fixator could achieve stable and elastic fixation with adjustable rigidity. And patients can walk earlier to promote ankle fusion and decrease related complications.
