ARTHROSCOPICALLY ASSISTED ARTHRODESIS FOR OSTEOARTHROTIC ANKLES

Arthroscopically assisted arthrodesis of the ankle was performed in ni neteen patients who were selected because they had osteoarthrosis with minimum or no deformity of the ankle. After arthroscopic resection of the synovial membrane, the subchondral bone, and cartilage from the t ibial, fibular, and talar articular surfaces, three percutaneous, cann ulated, cancellous screws were used for internal fixation. Of these ni neteen patients, ten had radiographic evidence of union by the second postoperative mouth; five, by the third; one, by the fifth; and one, b y the sixth. Two patients had a non-union, but a successful open arthr odesis was subsequently performed on one of these patients. At two yea rs, the scoring system of Mazur et al. indicated a poor result in one patient (after a nonunion), a fair result in two, a good result in fou r, and an excellent result in twelve patients. Arthroscopically assist ed arthrodesis of the ankle produces good results in patients who have osteoarthrosis of the ankle with minimum or no deformity, and the imm ediate postoperative morbidity is of very short duration.