An overview of methods and protocols for rehabilitation of patients after total ankle arthroplasty

Primary or idiopathic osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease that causes severe pain and disability in middle-aged and elderly people worldwide [6]. This disease is predominantly found among people over 40 years of age [28]. Secondary causes of joint degeneration include dysplasia, inflammation, trauma, infections, hemophilia, and vascular and neurological disorders. It is known that primary osteoarthritis is much less common in the elbow, shoulder, wrist, and ankle joints [6]. There are several points of view regarding pathogenesis, but it is likely that various anatomical, biomechanical and biological factors have their influence. Post-traumatic arthritis of the ankle joint (AJ) is the most common indication for AJ arthrodesis [6]. The rare incidence of AJ osteoarthritis leads to a lack of a theoretical basis on the process of postoperative management and rehabilitation of patients after ankle replacement. In this regard, there is a need to study publications on rehabilitation programs and post-operative management of such patients, identify contradictions and promising directions for future research.