Clinical Outcomes and Registry Data in Total Ankle Arthroplasty

TAA is an increasingly common, highly effective treatment for ankle arthritis. As implants continue to improve, our ability to critically assess outcomes, both through PROMs and implant longevity, is vital to optimizing care of this disabling condition. Patient registries which include PROs are difficult to implement and very costly to maintain. However, this would provide the best infrastructure to define and evaluate appropriate patient selection and best practices with regard to postoperative management and activity restrictions. All centers performing these procedures should be encouraged to participate in the AAOS and/or COFAS registry, or critically report their own outcomes. This would arm orthopedic surgeons with the resources and knowledge to continually improve techniques and protocols, and properly educate patients on what they can expect from their TAA.