Two-stage arthrodesis of the ankle joint in the treatment of periprosthetic infection

Introduction The main reasons for arthroplasty of the ankle joint are osteoarthritis in the terminal stage (posttraumatic or idiopathic), purulent arthritis and oncology. Publications devoted to the problems of infectious complications after arthroplasty of the ankle are not numerous. The rate of periprosthetic ankle infection varies from 2.4 % to 4.7 % of cases; and the predisposing factors include diabetes mellitus, previous history of operations on the joint and the duration of the arthroplasty procedure. The restorative strategy for periprosthetic infection involves diagnostic measures (hematological, radiological, microbiological, radiologic, cytological) and surgical treatment. The variants of surgical treatment of periprosthetic infection of the ankle joint are revision arthroplasty (single- or two-staged), arthrodesis (using external fixation devices and intramedullary nail) and amputation. Moreover, along with surgical intervention, a long-term course of etiotropic therapy (antibacterial and/or antifungal) is mandatory...