Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Jayasree Ramaskandhan, Dr Simon Kometa, David Rawlings, Malik Siddique
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
© 2023 the American College of Foot and Ankle SurgeonsRehabilitation for patients after total ankle replacement traditionally involves weeks of immobilization in a plaster cast followed by progressive mobilization. In a small randomized trial, we compared teh outcomes of patients who received a 3-component cementless, unconstrained, mobile-bearing prosthesis and were initially immobilised in a plaster cast for 6 weeks to thoese who received the same prosthesis but were allowed to mobilise early. Gait, clinical, patient-reported, and radiologic outcomes were measured. The study included 20 patients, 10 in the plaster cast group and 10 in the early mobilization group, and the demographics of the groups did not differ significantly. All patients were followed-up for 24 months. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups 2 years after surgery in ankle dorsiflexion, spatiotemporal gait characteristics, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scores, Timed Up and Go Test times, WOMAC (pain, stiffness, function) scores, SF-36 (quality-of-life) scores, or patient satisfaction (pain relief, daily-living, recreational activities, and overall) (all p > .05). Bone mineral density decrease of the medial malleolus and increase at middle tibia, calculated with DEXA scans, was significantly better in early mobilization than plaster cast group at one and 2 years postoperatively, but this was also the case preoperatively. The lack of differences in outcomes suggests that early ankle mobilization may be a safe and reliable method to enhance recovery following ankle arthroplasty with a 3-component cementless, unconstrained, mobile-bearing prosthesis. Compared to traditional plaster casting, patients who are engaged in early mobilization after arthroplasty may enjoy similar functional, mobility, quality-of-life, pain relief, activity level, and satisfaction outcomes.
Author(s): Ramaskandhan J, Kakwani R, Kometa S, Hewart P, Rawlings D, Chockalingam N, Siddique M
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery
Year: 2023
Volume: 62
Issue: 4
Pages: 595-600
Print publication date: 01/07/2023
Online publication date: 02/01/2023
Acceptance date: 02/04/2022
ISSN (print): 1067-2516
ISSN (electronic): 1542-2224
Publisher: Academic Press Inc.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jfas.2022.12.005
DOI: 10.1053/j.jfas.2022.12.005
PubMed id: 36710141
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
