Measurement of Nitinol Recovery Distance Using Pseudoelastic Intramedullary Nails for Tibiotalocalcaneal Arthrodesis

摘要

Background. Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis is a salvage procedure for patients with complex disease of the ankle and subtalar joints. Despite the clinical efficacy and mechanical advantage of intramedullaty nails, complications, such as nonunion, are common. It may be possible to sustain compression in the face of bone resorption and implant loosening over the course of healing using a novel pseudoelastic intramedullary nail with an internal nitinol element. Methods. We identified 15 patients with average age of 54.7 years (range, 28-75years) who had undergone a tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis using a pseudoelastic intramedullary nail. Serial radiographs were used to determine the amount and rate of nitinol element migration over the first 3'postoperative months.Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina