Gait analysis after ankle arthrodesis

The purpose of this study was to employ a computerized motion analysis syst em to identify the effect of ankle arthrodesis on the three-dimensional kin ematic behavior of the real and fore foot during level walking, A three-seg ment rigid body model was used to describe the motion of the foot and ankle . The results demonstrated that sapittal plane motion of the hindfoot was s ignificantly decreased in the foot of patients had ankle arthrodesis compar ed to normal subjects. The kinematic data indicated a generalized stiffness of the hindfoot on the involved foot in the sagittal plane. Sagittal plane movement in the forefoot and transverse plane movements in the hindfoot an d forefoot increased in patients compared to controls. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.