COMPARING OUTCOMES OF THE ANKLE ARTHRODESIS BY USING TWO DIFFERENT MATERIALS VIA A TRANSFIBULAR APPROACH

Objective: To compare clinical and radiologic results and compli- cations of patients who underwent arthrodesis using a transfibular approach with either a cannulated screw or an anterior fusion plate. Methods: Patients who underwent ankle arthrodesis were divided into two groups according to the used materials: 6.5 mm cannulated screw (A) and anterior fusion plate (B). The clinical scores were compared between groups. The radiologic results were then assessed by unio‎n time. The results were statistically analyzed using SPSS 20. Results: There was no significant difference between both groups in the American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score (p = 0.75), and in the visual analog scale (p = 0.42). In group B, two cases included wound infection at the surgical site. In group A, the mean unio‎n time was 10.5 ± 2.3 weeks. In group B, it was 7.8 ± 1.3. There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.007) between unio‎n time in both groups. Conclusion: Anterior fusion plate is an effective method for shorter unio‎n time, but the surgeon should be careful with the surgical wound at the skin incision site in the lesion of the distal tibia. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective comparative study