Implant technology - unit 4 deck 1 Flashcards
what are some suggested reasons for the lack of success in ankle joint replacements
- The ankle is not frequently involved in primary OA so less attention has perhaps been paid to the design of a replacement joint.
- In secondary OA and RA there is a tendency for the ankle to be affected in association with other joints - particularly the subtalar joint. In these cases, replacing the ankle joint alone would not be adequate.
- The ankle functions in association with the subtalar joint and the motion of this joint has to be taken into account in the design of the replacement joint.
- An alternative procedure, arthrodesis (fusion) is available, which is a successful operation provided the subtalar joint remains healthy
what operation can be done if the subtalar joint remains healthy
arthrodesis - fusion
what is adv and disadv of fusion of the ankle joint
adv - fusion relieves pain in a stiff joint w/out need to provide any compensation for resulting loss of movement
disadv - resulting bio-mechanical changes in motion and load transmission leads to abnormal loadings on the knee and subtalar joint on the same leg, and a shortening of stride which can damage these joints.
How will a patient with an ankle joint arthrodesis walk?
will walk out toed so that the subtalar joint acts as a dorsiflexor of the foot
what is the general criteria for ankle joint replacement
- Be tolerated within the human body with no short term and little long term risk of adverse toxic effects such as carcinogenesis (inducing cancer).
- Relieve pain and restore the activities of daily living.
- Last a reasonable length of time which ideally should exceed the expected life span of the patient
- Be insertable by a competent surgeon of average ability such that a predictable outcome can be reasonably guaranteed.
- Be cost-effective
what are the main materials used for ankle joint replacement
Cobalt chrome and HDP
What ADL’s can be restored by an ankle replacement but not a fusion?
Walking and raising from a chair
Ankle joint replacement designs of the last 20 years has failed to meet a design which lasts a reasonably long length of time, ideally longer than the lifespan of the patient.
What are the main reasons ankle joint replacements fail?
- The loads across the ankle are larger than was anticipated for early designs ==> overloading causes subsidence
- The bony areas where ankle replacement components can be fixed are barely adequate to provide sufficient support using current cementing techniques ==> loosening due to poor fixation
- The presence of any restriction in movement of the subtalar joint, such as stiffness induced by associated arthritis - common in rheumatoid arthritis - will subject the ankle to large axially generated torques, which will add to the loosening process in already weak anchorages
what is the ankle joint also known as
tibio-talar or talocrural joint - it is the joint between the tibia and the talus
what is the normal range of motion of the ankle
25 to 30 degrees in both dorsiflexion and plantarflexion
how many axis rotation is there is the ankle
1 single axis of rotation
axis is not perpendicular to the sagittal plane but is inclined downwards and posteriorly on the lateral side
what is the subtalar joint also known as
talo-calcaneal joint - it is the joint between calcaneus and the talus
what motion does the subtalar joint allow and what does this movement allow
inversion-eversion
helps to allow the foot to stand flat on level and uneven surfaces, which the ankle joint alone cannot achieve
The combined motion of what two joints is important for activities such as walking ?
The ankle and subtalar joints
Why must a replacement ankle joint must therefore allow sufficient dorsiflexion, what activity is this particularly important for ?
This is particularly important for getting up out of a chair
as this requires dorsiflexion of the ankle for the trunk to move forward if both ankles are affected then a supreme upper limb effort is required to stand [difficult for frail or severe RA patients]
What is the magnitude of forces on the ankle joint during normal load bearing activities e.g. walking and like other lower limb joints what are these forces due to?
4/5 times BW - due to to a combination of gravitational and muscular forces.
what forces must be resisted by an ankle replacement to prevent subluxation of the joint
fore-aft forces that occur at foot-ground contact during walking that produce a shear force at the ankle joint
What is the range of motion of the ankle joint during walking?
around 15 degrees in both plantar flexion and dorsiflexion
what kinematic function does the subtalar joint perform
Provides eversion-inversion of foot which, in combination with the ankle joint motion, helps to provide axial rotation and ease of planting the foot on uneven surfaces.
What are the approximate maximum vertical and fore-aft loads on the ankle joint
500% (5x’s) BW and 70% (0.7x’s) BW