Additional surgical procedures in total ankle arthroplasty: Narrative review and proposed treatment algorithm.

BACKGROUND: Ankle osteoarthritis is a growing health problem. It can cause functional limitation comparable to that of knee or hip osteoarthritis. Its most common aetiology is post-traumatic, followed by chronic instability, and it is frequently associated with ankle varus or valgus deformity. METHODS: This narrative review describes the treatment protocol followed when performing total ankle arthroplasty in the setting of coronal deformity. A structured narrative review of the literature was performed to summarise contemporary ancillary procedures associated with ankle arthroplasty and to support a practical treatment sequence proposed in this review. RESULTS: Restoring the ankle axis is crucial to increasing the lifespan of ankle prostheses. Furthermore, they often present associated pathologies that require treatment. The proposed treatment sequence includes the main surgeries and their appropriate order. CONCLUSIONS: This paper aimed to summarise and organise the associated surgical procedures that are most frequently performed, presenting them in a way that facilitates their application in ankle arthroplasties requiring such interventions. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE: Level 5.