Ankle Distraction

Many patients with arthritis of their ankle joint wish to maintain their joint and resist the notion of a joint destructive procedure (fusion or replacement). Thus, joint distraction of the ankle joint with external fixation is a joint preservation procedure that is known to decrease pain associated with arthritis. Presented is a case of a 51 year old female with severe post-traumatic ankle arthritis who underwent hinged ankle joint distraction with external fixation. Joint distraction for later-stage arthritis has proven to be a viable treatment method for joint preservation. The utilization of a hinge to maintain motion during external fixation joint distraction of the ankle joint along with soft-tissue and osseous realignment procedures makes this technique a successful joint preservation option. The use of a series of intra-articular injections of human growth hormone during joint distraction of the ankle has further enhanced the treatment results.