Kinematic Changes After Fusion and Total Replacement of the Ankle Part 2: Movement Transfer

Abstract

The three tested ankle joint prostheses changed the movement transferred within the ankle joint complex less than ankle fusion did, especially for dorsiflexion/plantarflexion movement of the foot. The closer the design was to the normal anatomy of the ankle, the closer the transfer of movement was shown to be replicated with respect to normal joint. It is suggested that success of total ankle arthroplasty depends on how successfully designs can mimic the movement transfer of the normal ankle, while dissipating the rotational forces and maintaining the stability of the joint.