Hints & Tips – Ankle Replacement Surgery and it’s Complications

Description

The presentation begins with Heath Taylor expressing gratitude and providing a declaration of interest regarding the funding received through Bournemouth for the Infinity Study. He shares his personal enthusiasm for ankle replacements, particularly for rheumatoid patients, citing the potential benefits and complications associated with the procedure. Taylor highlights the importance of proper soft tissue management during surgery to avoid complications, especially in patients with rheumatoid disease, and emphasizes using sharp dissection techniques over blunt methods to promote better healing outcomes.



He discusses the intricacies of managing deformities in the lower limb, stressing the importance of addressing not just the ankle but also above and below it to ensure optimal alignment and function. Taylor then navigates through the various options of managing severe joint erosion, suggesting that a more aggressive surgical approach may be required to safely secure ankle replacements.



The talk wraps up with Taylor advocating for meticulous surgical techniques and soft tissue care while calling for the establishment of arthritis networks to ensure patients who need ankle replacements can be appropriately referred, regardless of whether the practitioner performs the surgery themselves. He concludes with an invitation to an upcoming meeting, leaving the audience with a note of anticipation for collaborative discussions on advancements in ankle replacement surgery.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-221473

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