Tibiocalcaneal Arthrodesis with Posterior Blade Plate in Diabetic Neuroarthropthy

Background: To prevent amputation, achieving successfull ankle artrodesis in diabetic Charcot arthropaty patients is very important. As a salvage procedure, we have used a 95-degree-angled blade plate via a posterior approach to achieve tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis. Materials and Methods: Between 2006 and 2008, four diabetic patients with hindfoot Charcot arthropathy underwent talectomy and tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis with an AO 95-degree-angled blade plate via a posterior approach. Two of the patients were male and two were female. The average age was 63 (range, 53 to 70) years. The mean duration of diabetes was 9 (range, 5 to 20) years. All the patients were on hemodialysis. Three of four patients had undergone previous surgeries. The average followup period was 24 (range, 12 to 35) months. Results: Clinical and radiographic fusion was present by 5 (range, 3 to 6) months in three of four patients. In the other patient, a stable fibrous ankylosis was achieved. Clinical outcomes were excellent in three patients, and good in one patient. Conclusion: The performance of tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis with the use of blade plate with a posterior approach was a sate and successful surgical method for the treatment of Charcot ankle.