In the talar neck (estimate: -0.165; 95% CI, -0.307 to -0.023; p = 0.025), bone loss was only moderate and primarily was the result of reduction in trabecular thickness (estimate: -1.288; 95% CI, -2.449 to -0.127; p = 0.031) instead of number (estimate: -0.001; 95% CI, -0.005 to -0.003; p = 0.593). Bone structure changes were independent of sex.
CONCLUSIONS: Age-related bone structure changes predominantly occur in the talar body, which poses a potential risk factor for total ankle replacement loosening. The moderate changes in the talar neck might explain the persistent low incidence of talar neck fractures with age.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings suggest that before total ankle replacement implantation, careful patient selection with dual-energy xray absorptiometry evaluation may be necessary to reduce the risk of talar implant subsidence.
CONCLUSIONS: Age-related bone structure changes predominantly occur in the talar body, which poses a potential risk factor for total ankle replacement loosening. The moderate changes in the talar neck might explain the persistent low incidence of talar neck fractures with age.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings suggest that before total ankle replacement implantation, careful patient selection with dual-energy xray absorptiometry evaluation may be necessary to reduce the risk of talar implant subsidence.
PMID: 23893363 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Read more... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23893363?dopt=Abstract
