Post-operative management after total ankle arthroplasty: A systematic review of the literature

Background: Currently, there is no consensus on the most appropriate post-operative management for patients undergoing total ankle arthroplasty. The aim of this study is therefore to offer a systematic review of the pertaining literature to identify current post-operative protocols and describe possible differences. Methods: A systematic review to identify recent studies concerning the post-operative management after total ankle arthroplasty was conducted. Five topics were analyzed: length of hospital stay, type and duration of immobilization, weight-bearing management, post-operative pharmacological therapies, adopted rehabilitation scheme. Results: Eighty-four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review process. Most of the papers appear to have conflicting opinions with no consensus and homogeneous protocols. Conclusion: Due to various methodological limitations, it is not possible to provide sufficiently supported evidence-based recommendations, and it is therefore difficult to determine the superiority of one post-operative protocol over the others after total ankle arthroplasty.