Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis

case report

Abstract

Post-traumatic ankle arthrosis is an complication that can occur in patients after ankle fracture with surgical or conservative treatment. The procedure in general and of choice for advanced cases is ankle arthrodesis, and the option for arthroscopy is increasingly used. We report the case of a 62-year-old who suffered a torsional trauma in the right ankle with bimalleolar fracture who underwent surgical treatment at another institution 14 years ago. She complained of pain for three years in the right ankle, and on examination the palpation of the anterior region of the right ankle, with slight restriction to dorsal flexion, gait abnormality. In the radiographic examination it can be observed a generalized decrease of the space ankle joint without varus or valgus deformity. After failure of conservative treatment, arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis and fixation with cannulated screws were used. The patient evolved quite satisfactorily, with full return to work activities. Fusion of the joints occurred around the ninth week of immobilization and the patient was completely asymptomatic ten months after the procedure. In literature research, several articles were found comparing open ankle arthrodesis with arthroscopic arthrodesis. The cases submitted to arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis showed a lower rate of soft tissue complications, a shorter fusion time, a lower risk of pseudoarthrosis and a shorter hospitalization time compared to the open method.