10.05.15
Cellular bone allograft is a safe and effective fusion method for foot or ankle arthrodesis when compared with autograft, according to recently published study results.
Researchers in Colorado, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas performed imaging among patients undergoing foot or ankle arthrodesis with cellular bone allograft at six weeks, three months, six months and 12 months. Patient pain, function and quality of life status were recorded for 92 patients at six months with 153 total arthrodesis, and for 76 patients at 12 months with 129 total arthrodesis.
According to the study, the per-patient fusion rates were 66.7 percent at three months, 68.5 percent at six months and 71.1 percent at 12 months. Per joint fusion rates were 79.7 percent at three months, 81.1 percent at six months and 86.8 percent at 12 months.
As indicated by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hindfoot scores, the postoperative function level significantly improved from baseline at each time point, the data indicated.
Researchers also noted significant improvements in postoperative pain levels at every time point, as well as in physical composite SF-36 scores, with improvements observed at six and 12 months compared with preoperative scores. Patients with diabetes or obesity had fusion rates comparable to normal patients, according to study results, and fusion correlated with improvements in function and quality of life outcomes at six months and 12 months.
“This study observed fusion rates using Trinity Evolution (Orthofix) that were higher than or comparable to fusion rates in other published studies of autologous corticocancellous bone graft, a traditional gold standard used in foot and ankle procedures," James A. Nunley, M.D., stated in a news release. Nunley is a foot and ankle surgeon at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.
According to the study, the per-patient fusion rates were 66.7 percent at three months, 68.5 percent at six months and 71.1 percent at 12 months. Per joint fusion rates were 79.7 percent at three months, 81.1 percent at six months and 86.8 percent at 12 months.
As indicated by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hindfoot scores, the postoperative function level significantly improved from baseline at each time point, the data indicated.
Researchers also noted significant improvements in postoperative pain levels at every time point, as well as in physical composite SF-36 scores, with improvements observed at six and 12 months compared with preoperative scores. Patients with diabetes or obesity had fusion rates comparable to normal patients, according to study results, and fusion correlated with improvements in function and quality of life outcomes at six months and 12 months.