Progression of Healing on Serial Radiographs Following First Ray Arthrodesis in the Foot Using a Biplanar Plating Technique Without Compression

Publication date: Available online 23 February 2019Source: The Journal of Foot and Ankle SurgeryAuthor(s): Paul Dayton, Robert Santrock, Merrell Kauwe, Gary Gansen, Sean Harper, Andrea Cifaldi, Rachel Egdorf, Jake EisenschinkAbstractA review of 195 first ray arthrodeses fixated with a twin-plate biplanar construct, without interfragmentary compression, is presented. This fixation construct was evaluated in a consecutive cohort of patients undergoing first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP) arthrodesis or the first tarsometatarsal joint (TMT) arthrodesis. Multiple radiographs were used to assess the progression of healing at the following postoperative time frames: 4 to 9 weeks, 10 to 12 weeks,>12 weeks, and the final follow-up. In total, 85 feet underwent first MTP arthrodesis, and 110 feet underwent first TMT arthrodesis. At the final radiographic follow-up, 97.44% of all cases had shown progressive osseous gap filling at the arthrodesis site, stable position of the bone segments, and intact hardware without loosening, 98.24% of the first MTP arthrodesis group and 96.82% of the first TMT arthrodesis group. Five (5.43%) feet had the presence of lucency at the fusion interface at the final follow-up, without positional change or hardware failure. Four (1.8%) feet had a failure of the hardware, loss of position, or frank gapping at the fusion site. Lucency decreased consistently over time in this series of patients (p < .00001). Progressive increase in callus density at the fu...

Source: The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery - February 23, 2019 Category: Orthopaedics Source Type: research