LONG-TERM RESULTS OF TRIPLE ARTHRODESIS - 42 CASES FOLLOWED FOR 25 YEARS

We reviewed 42 patients who had had triple arthrodesis 25 years after surgery. The patient's age averaged 20 years. All patients had deformi ties due to poliomyelitis. They were satisfied with the operation, exc ept for one patient. Good results were noted in 13, fair in 26, and po or in 3 cases. There was delayed wound healing in 8, superficial infec tion in 4, and avascular necrosis of the talus in 2 cases. There was n o case of delayed union or nonunion. We found degenerative joint chang es in 12 ankles and in 9 feet; fourteen patients experienced pain. In spite of these long-term changes, which appear acceptable, triple arth rodesis is a useful procedure for many deformities of the foot and can solve patients' problems for many years.