Will you need another ankle operation?
Hello
We have long held the belief, which has been proved by our clients’ own ordeals, that the biggest risk you have that you will need another surgery is to have the first one.
In this week’s articles we look at what those rates are for those who undergo ankle replacement surgery.
Let us look at what the scientists discovered.
The name of the study is “Secondary surgery after total ankle replacement: The influence of preoperative hindfoot alignment.”
In the study they looked at “One hundred and ninety-six ankles (186 patients) underwent ankle arthroplasty. The mean follow up was 4.2 years.Preoperative hindfoot alignmentwas measured and revisions or reoperations were analyzed.”
Hindfoot alignment is an indicator of developing future problems. The more out of alignment the greater the certainty of problems developing.
They found that “There were 41 revisions (21%). The most common reasons for revision were instability (13), aseptic loosening (11) and technical errors (8). In the preoperative varus group the revision rate was 31% and, in the valgus, and neutral groups 17%, respectively.”
Varus means the heel of the foot is turned inwards. Valgus is turned outward.
It seems themore your heel is turned inandyour toes out after a surgery, the more likely you will need another operation.
20% need a second surgery in less than 4 years? That sounds like a huge amount to me.
How much worse will it be in 10?
They conclude that “The surgery is challenging and has a long learning curve and should be performed by experienced foot and ankle surgeons.”
DO you want to be the next one they “practice” on? Or do you want to come to someone who has the solution?
Jason
