FAI June 2022 Podcast: Patient-Specific Instrumentation vs Standard Referencing in Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Comparison of the Radiologic Outcome

Existing literature on the superiority of patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) over standard referencing (SR) is limited. Advantages presented include better implant alignment, shorter operating times, and increased accuracy of implant size prediction. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze PSI in the hands of an experienced foot and ankle surgeon new to both PSI and SR for this specific implant, in regard to determining implant alignment, operative times, and radiologic short-term outcome and predicting implant size for tibial and talar components. In conclusion, the PSI method did not show an advantage over SR in regard to positioning of the components or the duration of the surgery. The current study suggests that no initial advantage of PSI over SR are to be expected in standard total ankle replacement.   To view the article click here.