This retrospective study quantifies polyethylene damage in total ankle arthroplasty implants, revealing significant differences based on implant type and failure mode.
Key Points
The study aims to quantify polyethylene wear in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) and its variations by implant type and mode of failure.
Retrospective study of TAA patients from 2007-2021
Comparison between symmetric bicondylar (SB) and asymmetric bicondylar (AB) implants
Microscopic examination of retrieved polyethylene inserts for wear patterns
Independent grading of wear severity by two raters
Statistical analysis of wear correlating with implant type and revision status.
Fifty-five TAAs were analyzed: 28 underwent revision and 27 reoperation.
SB implants showed significantly greater overall polyethylene damage severity compared to AB implants (P = .007).
Revision cases had higher overall damage severity than reoperations (P ≤ .036).
Significant increase in scratching and pitting observed in revision TAAs (P ≤ .030 and P < .001 respectively).
Damage severity varied across multiple articular regions, particularly in the medial anterior region (P = .019).