Introduction: The aim of this study is to compare the walking activity
of a cohort of individuals before and after total ankle arthroplasty
(TAA).
Methods: Nineteen consecutive patients (ten males and nine females)
with mean age of 58.72, selected for TAA between January and June
2006, were prospectively reviewed with the use of a dedicated
ambulatory activity-monitoring device to assess their natural
ambulatory activity. Patients were tested in the community for two
weeks duration, one month prior to and at least eighteen months after
surgery. The ambulatory parameters were assessed through
measurement of the number of steps at different cadence, and the
time spent walking at different walking paces. Data were analyzed by
using specific statistical methods.
Results: This study revealed a significant improvement in the number
of steps walked at normal cadence (b = 331.63, p = .00) and
significantly reduced at low cadence (b = -402.52, p = .00) and
medium cadence (b = -386.29, p = .00), before and after TAA.
However, there are no significant different between two phases of
assessment in term of time spent walking.
Conclusion: These quantitative data allow a clear comparative
assessment of walking ability following TAR and demonstrates that this
intervention improves patient's walking pace.