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High Revision and Reoperation Rates Using the AgilityTM Total Ankle System

  • Clinical Research
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background

Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is an evolving treatment for end-stage ankle arthritis, however, there is controversy regarding its longevity.

Questions/purposes

We determined survival of the Agility™ TAA, the overall reoperation rate, and function in patients who retained their implant.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 64 patients who had 65 TAAs between June 1999 and May 2001. Information was gathered through chart reviews, mailed-in questionnaires, and telephone interviews. Nine patients had died; data were available for 41 of the remaining 55 patients. Survival was based on revision as an end point. The minimum followup was 0.5 years (median, 8 years; range, 0.5–11 years).

Results

Sixteen of the 41 patients (39%) needed revisions. The average time to revision surgery was 4 years with six of the revisions (38%) occurring within 1 year of the TAA. Of the 25 patients who retained their implants, 12 required secondary surgery for an overall reoperation rate of 28 of 41 (68%) at an average of 8 years followup. The average VAS pain score was 4, the average Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) sports subscale score was 33, and the average FAAM activities of daily living subscale score was 57.

Conclusion

TAA had high revision and reoperation rates. Patients who retained their implant had only moderate pain relief and function. TAA must be approached with caution. More research is needed to elucidate the role of contemporary TAA.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Kenneth D. Johnson MD for including his surgical patients in this study, and Yanna Song MS for statistical analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Braden J. Criswell MD, Keith Douglas MD, Rishi Naik BS & A. Brian Thomson MD

  2. Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt Orthopedic Institute, MCE, South Tower, Suite 4200, Nashville, TN, 37232-8774, USA

    A. Brian Thomson MD

Authors
  1. Braden J. Criswell MD
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  2. Keith Douglas MD
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  3. Rishi Naik BS
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  4. A. Brian Thomson MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Brian Thomson MD.

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Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

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Criswell, B.J., Douglas, K., Naik, R. et al. High Revision and Reoperation Rates Using the AgilityTM Total Ankle System. Clin Orthop Relat Res 470, 1980–1986 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-012-2242-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-012-2242-6

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