Elevated joint line level may indicate worse outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty
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Key takeaways:
- Results showed elevated joint line levels may indicate decreased patient outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty.
- Researchers said joint line height ratio may be a viable measure of joint line levels.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Data presented here showed elevated joint line levels may indicate decreased dorsiflexion and range of motion as well as worse patient-reported outcomes following total ankle arthroplasty.
“Restoring the joint line level should be considered during preoperative planning and determined by adjusting the amount of bone resection and polyethylene size based on properties of soft tissue balancing and degree of deformity correction,” Joaquín Palma, MD, said his presentation at the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting.
In a single-center review, Palma and colleagues evaluated data for 150 patients who underwent primary between 2017 and 2022 to determine the association between joint line level postoperative range of motion and PROMIS scores.
Palma said that researchers collected basic demographics, operative data and ankle radiographs.
“PROMIS scores were collected -year post-surgery and assessed in three domains: physical function, pain intensity and pain interference,” Palma said. “The radiographic analysis included pre- and postoperative joint line height ratio to measure the joint line level, pre- and postoperative dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, total range of motion and postoperative tibial sagittal alignment.”
Researchers found elevation of joint line level after with decreased dorsiflexion and total range of motion.
In addition, Palma said that patients with elevated joint line levels had worse postoperative PROMIS scores after -year follow-up.
“Future research should include prospective studies using the contralateral ankle as a template to guide joint restoration and to include a measure of the joint line height when assessing range of motion, since it appears as a significant factor,” Palma said.
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Palma J, et al. Influence of joint line height ratio on clinical outcomes and range of motion in total ankle arthroplasty. Presented at: American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting; Sept. 20-23, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky.
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