Total ankle survivorship rates are low, but improvements are underway, surgeon says ...OrthoSpineNews
Although total ankle replacement survivorship rates are considerably lower compared to those of hip and knee replacements, a leading foot and ankle surgeon said that the success rates for total ankles will improve.
Based on a literature review, Charles L. Saltzman, MD, president of the American Orthopeaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), said that the 5-year survivorship of total ankle replacements (TAR) is approximately 80%.
“What do we expect from primary total knee and primary total hips at 5 years? Well if you are a primary total knee or hip surgeon and you have got 78% survivorship at 5 years, you are out of business,” Saltzman said at the AOFAS Specialty Day Meeting, here. The Specialty Day presentations were part of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Saltzman presented a brief history of TARs and commented on the progress made in areas such as bone-implant fixation, bone resection and surgical equipment. He also provided his opinion regarding the future of TAR.
Refined instrumentation
Significant improvements have been made to TAR surg...
