Lange termijn resultaten na een enkelartrodese

Rationale: In patients with end-stage ankle arthritis, an ankle arthrodesis is a common surgical procedure for pain relievement. Due to changed biomechanical loading after an ankle arthrodesis, patients might be at increased risk of adjacent joint degeneration. However, the long term effects of an ankle arthrodesis are still largely unknown.

Objective: The main aim of this study is to investigate if patients that received an ankle arthrodesis, have arthritis in the adjacent joints (subtalar joint and talonavicular joint). Furthermore, we would like to study (1) the amount of increase of arthritis in the adjacent joints compared to before surgery, (2) the degree of arthritis in the contralateral ankle, (3) the correlation between degree of arthritis and patient reported outcomes.

Study design: Observational study

Study population: Patients that underwent an ankle arthrodesis in the Erasmus MC at the department of Orthopaedics since 1-1-2004 until 31-12-2016.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The main study outcome is the degree of arthritis in the subtalar joint and talonavicular joint, scored with the Kellgren and Lawrence score based on a CAT-scan.

Patients that have had an ankle arthrodesis will develop arthritis in the adjacent joints after the ankle arthrodesis

Patients will be invited to visit the Erasmus MC for one follow-up appointment. The time between the ankle arthrodesis and follow-up appointment will vary from 2 to 15 years.

This is an observational study in which patients that have had an ankle arthrodesis will be asked to visit the Erasmus MC for a follow-up visit. During this follow-up visit a bilateral CAT-scan of the ankle an X-ray will be made. Also patients will be asked to fill out questionnaires and will be physically checked by Orthopedic surgeon.