Advances in the surgical treatment of ankle and hindfoot arthritis

Degeneration of the ankle and hindfoot joints is most commonly due to posttraumatic or rheumatoid arthritis. The first step in the successful management of ankle and hindfoot arthritis is making the correct diagnosis. This requires knowledge of the regional anatomy and biomechanics, a thorough history and physical examination, and the use of appropriate imaging studies. Treatment options for these complex problems, including a variety of nonsurgical modalities and surgical procedures, continue to evolve. Providing pain relief and improving a patient's function may involve shoe modifications, orthotic inserts, or antiinflammatory medications. Should these methods fail, surgical treatment may be beneficial. The mainstays of surgical treatment remain arthrodesis and arthroplasty. The goals of surgical treatment are pain relief, correction (or prevention) of deformity, and restoration (or preservation) of function. The literature from the last year has focused on ankle, subtalar, and triple arthrodeses, along with ankle arthroplasty.