Incidence of Subtalar Joint Fusion After Isolated Ankle Fusion

It is important to know a truer incidence of the need for subtalar and midfoot fusions, following an isolated ankle fusion, in order to better inform our patients of the likelihood of needing further surgery in the future. It is also important to understand whether pre-existing radiological arthrosis is likely to lead to the need for a fusion in the future and also how important the alignment of the ankle joint, after a fusion, may influence that.

The aim of the study is to review the patients' notes and radiology who have had a previous isolated ankle fusion and then to see whether they subsequently required further surgery.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Ankle Arthritis
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: ankle fusion

Detailed Description

Isolated ankle fusion is normally regarded as a good operation producing good pain relief and allowing patients to function well. Patients will have an early heel rise when walking and although that is often not immediately perceptible to an onlooker, it does increase the stress on the neighbouring subtalar and Chopart joints. Radiologically, subtalar joint arthrosis is common following isolated ankle fusions but not necessarily clinically symptomatic. The long term incidence of subsequent ipsilateral subtalar or Chopart joint fusions is not well known. Various different studies have shown a prevalence of osteoarthrosis (radiologically) of 24-100% in the subtalar joint and reported 84% of patients complaining of pain after 10 years. The prevalence in the Chopart joints has been reported to vary between 18-77%.

This is an observational study reviewing medical records and radiology of patients who have had an isolated ankle fusion. The data will be analysed using basic statistics with logistic regression modelling.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 400

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jayne Edwards; Phone Number: 01691404143; Email: jayne.edwards5@nhs.net
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Julie Steen; Phone Number: 01691404418; Email: julie.steen@nhs.net

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients who have had an isolated ankle fusion.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Any patient who has had an isolated ankle fusion and is over the age of 18 years old.

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants younger than 18 years old.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
incidence of subtalar and midfoot fusions after isolated fusion of the ankle joint	To look at the incidence of subtalar and midfoot fusions after an isolated ankle fusion and what factors influenced this.	A retrospective data collection following patients from surgery to now.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District NHS Trust

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 5, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 16, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): January 17, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 8, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 7, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Joint Diseases; Ankylosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: RL1901

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No