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Gutter resection performed during ankle arthroplasty reduces risk of gutter impingement
In this retrospective review, researchers recommended using prophylactic gutter resection after total ankle arthroplasty to reduce the incidence of gutter impingement after the surgery.
“This is the first report of the relative incidence of gutter impingement in four implant systems,” John M. Schuberth, DPM, and colleagues wrote in their study. “The results have provided a better understanding of gutter disease and causative factors.”
Of 489 total ankle replacement cases studied, 34 patients (7%) developed symptomatic gutter disease when examined at 1-year follow-up, according to the abstract. In 194 ankles treated with gutter resection during ankle replacement, there was a 2% incidence of gutter disease, while in the group of 295 ankles who did not receive gutter resection, there was a 7% incidence of gutter disease.
The researchers noted no significant difference in the incidence of gutter disease between the carious implants used or in patients with arthritis, according to the abstract.
Disclosure: One of the authors (Christensen) is a consultant for Small Bone Innovations.