Can the introduction of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) reduce the variation in length of stay after total ankle replacement surgery?

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the ankle is a disabling condition, with trauma such as fracture or severe sprain likely to be the main contributing cause [1]. In the UK about 29,000 cases of symptomatic ankle OA are referred to specialists each year, and at least 3000 cases are treated by surgery (ankle replacement and ankle arthrodesis) with marked variation in choice of operative treatment between surgeons) [2]. Until recently, arthrodesis (fusion) has been the usual treatment for end-stage OA, however total ankle replacement is becoming more recognised due to the introduction of a third generation of three-component mobile-bearing implants [3,4], and better operative techniques and training [5].

Source: Foot and Ankle Surgery - December 21, 2017 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Thomas W. Wainwright, Tikki Immins, Johannes H.A. Antonis, Heath Taylor, Robert G. Middleton Source Type: research