Treatment of Post Traumatic Asymmetrical Ankle Arthritis Using Low Tibial Osteotomy

The most common cause of end-stage ankle arthritis is trauma. Post traumatic ankle arthritis is accepted as the most common cause of ankle arthritis,with reports ranging from 70% to 80% of all ankle arthritis. Factors contributing to the development of posttraumatic ankle arthritis are the initial cartilage damage, malreduction ,nonunion, infections, and instability. In a retrospective study,found that 55% of patients with posttraumatic ankle arthritis presented with a varus malalignment, whereas 8% had valgus malalignment 1. Nonoperative treatments, including orthotics, wedges, shoe modifications,anti-inflammatory medications, and activity modification,are usually not successful. Although the gold standard treatment for ankle arthrosis remains ankle arthrodesis, the significant loss of motion in the ankle is limiting and may lead to the development of arthritis in adjacent joints in the hind foot and forefoot . Total ankle replacements (TAR) used only in older, low-demand patients with neutral alignment and intact stabilizing ligaments. Ankle arthroscopy is indicated in acute, recurring-acute, and chronic ankle pain to detect the possible presence of anterior ankle impingement (bony or soft tissue), syndesmotic injury, osteochondral defects and loose bodies . Supramalleolar osteotomy have been used for varus and valgus as well as sagittal and rotational deformities .Fibular osteotomy, Calcaneal slide osteotomy and osteotomies of the medial arch can be also used as joint preserving procedure. Our study is designed for evaluation of the effect of joint preserving procedures in young patient with asymmetrical ankle arthritis.