Skip to main content
Log in

A comparative study of modern total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis for ankle osteoarthritis at different follow-up times: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Review
  • Published:
International Orthopaedics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Total ankle replacement (TAR) or ankle arthrodesis (AA) is the main surgical treatment for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis. However, the therapeutic effect of the two surgical procedures at different follow-up times remains controversial. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare the short-term, medium-term, and long-term safety and efficiency of the two modern surgical treatments.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library databases, Web of Science, and Scopus. The main results were the patient’s reported outcome measure (PROM) score, satisfaction, complications, reoperation, and surgery success rate. Different follow-up times and implant designs were used to evaluate the source of heterogeneity. We used a fixed effects model for meta-analysis and I2 statistic for evaluating heterogeneity.

Results

Thirty-seven comparative studies were included. In the short term, TAR significantly improved clinical scores (AOFAS score: WMD = 7.07, 95% Cl: 0.41–13.74, I2 = 0.0%; SF-36 PCS score: WMD = 2.40, 95% Cl: 2.22–2.58, I2 = 0.0%; SF-36 MCS score: WMD = 0.40, 95% Cl: 0.22–0.57, I2 = 0.0%; VAS for pain: WMD =  − 0.50, 95% Cl: − 0.56–0.44, I2 = 44.3%) and had the lower incidence of revision (RR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.23–0.81, I2 = 0.0%) and complications (RR = 0.67, 95% Cl: 0.50–0.90, I2 = 0.0%). In the medium term, there were still higher improvements in both the clinical scores (SF-36 PCS score: WMD = 1.57, 95% Cl: 1.36–1.78, I2 = 20.9%; SF-36 MCS score: WMD = 0.81, 95% Cl: 0.63–0.99, I2 = 48.8%) and the patient satisfaction (RR = 1.24, 95% Cl: 1.08–1.41, I2 = 12.1%) in the TAR group, but its total complications rate (RR = 1.84, 95% Cl: 1.26–2.68, I2 = 14.9%) and revision rate (RR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.17–2.14, I2 = 84.6%) were significantly higher than that of the AA group. In the long term, there was no significant difference in clinical score and satisfaction, and a higher incidence of revision (RR = 2.32, 95% Cl: 1.70–3.16, I2 = 0.0%) and complications (RR = 3.18, 95% Cl: 1.69–5.99, I2 = 0.0%) was observed in TAR than in AA. The result of the third-generation design subgroup was consistent with that of the above pooled results.

Conclusion

TAR had advantages over AA in the short term due to better performance in terms of PROMs, complications, and reoperation rates, but its complications become a disadvantage in the medium term. In the long term, AA seems to be favored because of lower complications and revision rates, although there is no difference in clinical scores.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this manuscript and its supplementary information file.

References

  1. Ewalefo SO, Dombrowski M, Hirase T et al (2018) Management of posttraumatic ankle arthritis: literature review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 11:546–557. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-018-9525-9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Paget LDA, Tol JL, Kerkhoffs G et al (2021) Health-related quality of life in ankle osteoarthritis: a case-control study. Cartilage 13:1438s–1444s. https://doi.org/10.1177/19476035211025814

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Hayes BJ, Gonzalez T, Smith JT et al (2016) Ankle arthritis: you can’t always replace it. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 24:e29-38. https://doi.org/10.5435/jaaos-d-15-00354

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Maffulli N, Longo UG, Locher J et al (2017) Outcome of ankle arthrodesis and ankle prosthesis: a review of the current status. Br Med Bull 124:91–112. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldx042

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Shibuya N, McAlister JE, Prissel MA et al (2020) Consensus statement of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons: diagnosis and treatment of ankle arthritis. J Foot Ankle Surg 59:1019–1031. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jfas.2019.10.007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Roney AR, Kraszewski AP, Demetracopoulos CA et al (2022) Knee kinetics and kinematics in patients with ankle arthroplasty and ankle arthrodesis. Hss j 18:408–417. https://doi.org/10.1177/15563316211007839

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gougoulias NE, Khanna A, Maffulli N (2009) History and evolution in total ankle arthroplasty. Br Med Bull 89:111–151. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldn039

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Fanelli D, Mercurio M, Castioni D et al (2021) End-stage ankle osteoarthritis: arthroplasty offers better quality of life than arthrodesis with similar complication and re-operation rates—an updated meta-analysis of comparative studies. Int Orthop 45:2177–2191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-021-05053-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lawton CD, Butler BA, Dekker RG 2nd et al (2017) Total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis-a comparison of outcomes over the last decade. J Orthop Surg Res 12:76. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-017-0576-1

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Li Y, He J, Hu Y (2020) Comparison of the efficiency and safety of total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis in the treatment of osteoarthritis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Orthop Surg. https://doi.org/10.1111/os.12635

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Kim HJ, Suh DH, Yang JH et al (2017) Total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis for the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis: a meta-analysis of comparative studies. Int Orthop 41:101–109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-016-3303-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Shih CL, Chen SJ, Huang PJ (2020) Clinical outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis for the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis in the last decade: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Foot Ankle Surg 59:1032–1039. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jfas.2019.10.008

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Norvell DC, Ledoux WR, Shofer JB et al (2019) Effectiveness and safety of ankle arthrodesis versus arthroplasty: a prospective multicenter study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 101:1485–1494. https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.18.01257

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hermus JP, Voesenek JA, van Gansewinkel EHE et al (2022) Complications following total ankle arthroplasty: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Foot Ankle Surg. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fas.2022.07.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Greaser M, Ellington JK (2014) Ankle arthritis. J Arthr 3:129. https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-7921.1000129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM et al (2021) The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 372:n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Brodsky JW, Jaffe D, Pao A et al (2021) Long-term functional results of total ankle arthroplasty in stiff ankles. Foot Ankle Int 42:527–535. https://doi.org/10.1177/1071100720977847

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee C, McQuade MG, Ostrofe AA et al (2021) Do mid-term outcomes of lateral ankle stabilization procedures differ between military and civilian populations? Clin Orthop Relat Res 479:712–723. https://doi.org/10.1097/corr.0000000000001488

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Jenkinson C, Layte R, Jenkinson D et al (1997) A shorter form health survey: can the SF-12 replicate results from the SF-36 in longitudinal studies? J Public Health Med 19:179–186. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.pubmed.a024606

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Shi J, Luo D, Weng H et al (2020) Optimally estimating the sample standard deviation from the five-number summary. Res Synth Methods 11:641–654. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.1429

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Wan X, Wang W, Liu J et al (2014) Estimating the sample mean and standard deviation from the sample size, median, range and/or interquartile range. BMC Med Res Methodol 14:135. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-14-135

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Croft S, Wing KJ, Daniels TR et al (2017) Association of ankle arthritis score with need for revision surgery. Foot Ankle Int 38:939–943. https://doi.org/10.1177/1071100717712891

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Daniels TR, Younger ASE, Penner M et al (2014) Intermediate-term results of total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis a COFAS multicenter study. J Bone Joint Surg Ser A 96:135–142. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.L.01597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Desai S, Sutherland JM, Younger A et al (2019) Role of postoperative patient-reported outcomes to predict ankle arthroplasty and arthrodesis revision. Foot Ankle Int 41:10–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/1071100719869204

  25. Dodd A, Pinsker E, Younger ASE et al (2021) Sex differences in end-stage ankle arthritis and following total ankle replacement or ankle arthrodesis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.21.00287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Glazebrook M, Burgesson BN, Younger AS et al (2021) Clinical outcome results of total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Foot Ankle Surg 27:326–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fas.2020.10.005

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Slobogean GP, Younger A, Apostle KL et al (2010) Preference-based quality of life of end-stage ankle arthritis treated with arthroplasty or arthrodesis. Foot Ankle Int 31:563–566. https://doi.org/10.3113/fai.2010.0563

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Veljkovic AN, Daniels TR, Glazebrook MA et al (2019) Outcomes of total ankle replacement, arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis, and open ankle arthrodesis for isolated non-deformed end-stage ankle arthritis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 101:1523–1529. https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.18.01012

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Younger ASE, Glazebrook M, Veljkovic A et al (2016) A coding system for reoperations following total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis. Foot Ankle Int 37:1157–1164. https://doi.org/10.1177/1071100716659037

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Younger ASE, Wing KJ, Glazebrook M et al (2015) Patient expectation and satisfaction as measures of operative outcome in end-stage ankle arthritis: a prospective cohort study of total ankle replacement versus ankle fusion. Foot Ankle Int 36:123–134. https://doi.org/10.1177/1071100714565902

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Anigian K, Ahn J, Wallace SB et al (2021) Comparison of short-term outcomes after total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis: an ACS-NSQIP database study. Foot Ankle Spec 19386400211043363. https://doi.org/10.1177/19386400211043363

  32. Benich MR, Ledoux WR, Orendurff MS et al (2017) Comparison of treatment outcomes of arthrodesis and two generations of ankle replacement implants. J Bone Joint Surg Am 99:1792–1800. https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.16.01471

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Norvell DC, Shofer JB, Hansen ST et al (2018) Frequency and impact of adverse events in patients undergoing surgery for end-stage ankle arthritis. Foot Ankle Int 39:1028–1038. https://doi.org/10.1177/1071100718776021

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Probasco WV, Lee D, Lee R et al (2021) Differences in 30-day complications associated with total ankle arthroplasty and ankle arthrodesis: a matched cohort study. Foot (Edinb) 46:101750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foot.2020.101750

  35. Reb CW, Watson BC, Fidler CM et al (2021) Anterior ankle incision wound complications between total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis: a matched cohort study. J Foot Ankle Surg 60:47–50. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jfas.2020.04.015

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Ross BJ, Savage-Elliott I, Wu VJ et al (2021) Reoperation rates following total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis for posttraumatic indications. Foot Ankle Spec 16:50–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/1938640021993630

  37. Ross BJ, Savage-Elliott I, Wu VJ et al (2021) Complications following total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis for primary ankle osteoarthritis. Foot Ankle Spec 16:20–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/1938640020987741

  38. Saltzman CL, Kadoko RG, Suh JS (2010) Treatment of isolated ankle osteoarthritis with arthrodesis or the total ankle replacement: a comparison of early outcomes. Clin Orthop Surg 2:1–7. https://doi.org/10.4055/cios.2010.2.1.1

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Saltzman CL, Mann RA, Ahrens JE, et al (2009) Prospective controlled trial of STAR total ankle replacement versus ankle fusion: initial results. Foot & ankle international / American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society [and] Swiss Foot and Ankle Society 30:579‐596 https://doi.org/10.3113/FAI.2009.0579

  40. Sangeorzan BJ, Ledoux WR, Shofer JB et al (2021) Comparing 4-year changes in patient-reported outcomes following ankle arthroplasty and arthrodesis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 103:869–878. https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.20.01357

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Tucker WA, Barnds BL, Morris BL et al (2020) Nationwide analysis of total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis in Medicare patients: trends, complications, and cost. Foot Ankle Spec 15:201–208. https://doi.org/10.1177/1938640020950181

  42. Stang A (2010) Critical evaluation of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for the assessment of the quality of nonrandomized studies in meta-analyses. Eur J Epidemiol 25:603–605. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-010-9491-z

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Jastifer J, Coughlin MJ, Hirose C (2015) Performance of total ankle arthroplasty and ankle arthrodesis on uneven surfaces, stairs, and inclines: a prospective study. Foot Ankle Int 36:11–17. https://doi.org/10.1177/1071100714549190

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Braito M, Dammerer D, Kaufmann G et al (2014) Are our expectations bigger than the results we achieve? A comparative study analysing potential advantages of ankle arthroplasty over arthrodesis. Int Orthop 38:1647–1653. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-014-2428-5

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Esparragoza L, Vidal C, Vaquero J (2011) Comparative study of the quality of life between arthrodesis and total arthroplasty substitution of the ankle. J Foot Ankle Surg 50:383–387. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jfas.2011.03.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Fischer S, Klug A, Faul P et al (2021) Superiority of upper ankle arthrodesis over total ankle replacement in the treatment of end-stage posttraumatic ankle arthrosis. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-020-03714-x

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Johnson MD, Shofer JB, Hansen ST Jr et al (2021) The impact of coronal plane deformity on ankle arthrodesis and arthroplasty. Foot Ankle Int 42:1294–1302. https://doi.org/10.1177/10711007211015185

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Wasik J, Stoltny T, Pasek J et al (2019) Effect of total ankle arthroplasty and ankle arthrodesis for ankle osteoarthritis: a comparative study. Med Sci Monit 25:6797–6804. https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.915574

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Pedowitz DI, Kane JM, Smith GM et al (2016) Total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis: a comparative analysis of arc of movement and functional outcomes. Bone Joint J 98 b:634–640. https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620x.98b5.36887

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Dalat F, Trouillet F, Fessy MH et al (2014) Comparison of quality of life following total ankle arthroplasty and ankle arthrodesis: retrospective study of 54 cases. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 100:761–766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2014.07.018

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Schuh R, Hofstaetter J, Krismer M et al (2012) Total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis. Comparison of sports, recreational activities and functional outcome. Int Orthop 36:1207–1214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-011-1455-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Krause FG, Windolf M, Bora B et al (2011) Impact of complications in total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis analyzed with a validated outcome measurement. J Bone Joint Surg Ser A 93:830–839. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.J.00103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. SooHoo NF, Zingmond DS, Ko CY (2007) Comparison of reoperation rates following ankle arthrodesis and total ankle arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am 89:2143–2149. https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.f.01611

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Ahn J, Yoo MC, Seo J et al (2020) Comparison of total ankle arthroplasty and ankle arthrodesis in end-stage hemophilic arthropathy. Foot Ankle Int 41:937–944. https://doi.org/10.1177/1071100720929002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Mehdi N, Bernasconi A, Laborde J et al (2019) Comparison of 25 ankle arthrodeses and 25 replacements at 67 months’ follow-up. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 105:139–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2018.10.014

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Henricson A, Fredriksson M, Carlsson Å (2016) Total ankle replacement and contralateral ankle arthrodesis in 16 patients from the Swedish Ankle Registry: self-reported function and satisfaction. Foot Ankle Surg 22:32–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fas.2015.04.007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Mussawy H, Kehrer M, Strahl A et al (2021) Clinical and patient reported outcome in total ankle replacement compared to ankle fusion in end-stage haemophilic arthropathy. Haemophilia 27:e739–e746. https://doi.org/10.1111/hae.14429

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Coetzee JC, McGaver RS, Seiffert KJ et al (2020) Management of ankle arthritis after severe ankle trauma. J Orthop Trauma 34(Suppl 1):S26-s31. https://doi.org/10.1097/bot.0000000000001697

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Lawton CD, Prescott A, Butler BA et al (2020) Modern total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Orthop Rev (Pavia) 12:8279. https://doi.org/10.4081/or.2020.8279

  60. Kofoed H, Sturup J (1994) Comparison of ankle arthroplasty and arthrodesis. A prospective series with long-term follow-up. Foot 4:6–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/0958-2592(94)90003-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. McGuire MR, Kyle RF, Gustilo RB et al (1988) Comparative analysis of ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis. Clin Orthop Relat Res 226:174–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Zwipp H, Rammelt S, Endres T et al (2010) High union rates and function scores at midterm followup with ankle arthrodesis using a four screw technique. Clin Orthop Relat Res 468:958–968. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-009-1074-5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Muller P, Skene SS, Chowdhury K et al (2020) A randomised, multi-centre trial of total ankle replacement versus ankle arthrodesis in the treatment of patients with end stage ankle osteoarthritis (TARVA): statistical analysis plan. Trials 21:197. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3973-4

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

QM conceived and designed the study. SL, MZ, TW, and PW collected and analyzed the data. SL, YW, and YL wrote the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qingyang Meng.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 2823 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, S., Wang, Y., Zhang, M. et al. A comparative study of modern total ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis for ankle osteoarthritis at different follow-up times: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 47, 1493–1510 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-023-05753-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-023-05753-6

Keywords

Navigation