New proprioceptive data support existing evidence for total ankle arthroplasty

Patients perceived their operative ankle function as similar to that of contralateral, nonoperated ankles.

SAN DIEGO — Clinical data have shown a place for total ankle arthroplasty, and a new study offers promising proprioception data that further underscore the technique.

Gary Wayne Stewart, MD, of McDonough, Ga., and colleagues at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, used a validated proprioceptive testing device (PTD) to evaluate 12 patients at 2 years minimum follow-up after undergoing unilateral total ankle arthroplasty. Stewart presented the study results at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting.

Patients averaged 67 years of age, and all provided informed consent before PTD testing. Researchers measured the nonoperative, uninvolved ankle and then the operative ankle of each patient in the sagittal and coronal planes. They hypothesized that the operative ankle would demonstrate more proprioceptive deficits.

However, "Differences between our operative and nonoperative ankles were not statistically significant, thus giving us additional evidence in support of the use of [total ankle arthroplasty]," he said.

These results indicated that patients with unilateral total ankle arthroplasty perceived their operated ankle was comparable to their contralateral, uninvolved ankle, Stewart said.

"Clearly, proprioception is important in all of joint function, and having analysis of proprioception is important because it gives us another element of function on which to help us better understand total ankle arthroplasty," Stewart said.

For more information:
Conti SF, Dazen D, Miller MC, Stewart GW. Proprioception in the total ankle: A direct comparison of the operative vs. nonoperative ankle. #70. Presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 74th Annual Meeting. Feb. 14-18, 2007. San Diego.