Perioperative complications of the MOBILITY total ankle system: comparison with the HINTEGRA total ankle system.

BACKGROUND

The perioperative complications associated with MOBILITY total ankle replacement arthroplasty have not yet been reported.

METHODS

During the research period from May 2008 to June 2009, a total of 30 consecutive cases of ankle arthritis were treated with surgery. An investigation into the perioperative complications for these cases was conducted. Comparison with the previously reported perioperative complications for the HINTEGRA model was made. The 30 cases were divided into two groups wherein the first group underwent surgery during the early half of the study period and the second group underwent surgery during the later half. The incidences of complications between the two groups were then compared.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the incidence of perioperative complications between the use of the HINTEGRA model and the MOBILITY model for total ankle replacement arthroplasty, although medial malleolar fracture was statistically increased with the use of MOBILITY.

CONCLUSIONS

The study implies that a new learning curve may affect the outcome of surgery when a newly designed implant is used for total ankle replacement arthroplasty and that long tibial procedure time and long distraction time played a critical role in the incidence of malleolar fracture.