A study published online in the journal Foot & Ankle International examines factors that may be linked with increased risk of wound complication following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). The researchers reviewed prospectively collected data on 762 consecutive primary TAAs. 

They found that 26 patients (3.4 percent) had a total of 49 operative procedures to treat major wound issues. Compared to patients in the control group, the researchers noted that patients with major wounds had a significantly longer mean surgery time and trended toward a longer median tourniquet time. Overall, patients without wound complications were more likely to have posttraumatic arthritis, while those with wound complications were more likely to have primary osteoarthritis. Learn more...