Trends in TAR Failure

by Vince Vacketta, DPM

A recent report from Demetracopoulos et al. offers new insights regarding the incidence and chronology of total ankle replacement (TAR) failure that may require revision. The study, titled “Lessons from Revision Total Ankle Replacement: Tibias Fail Early, and Taluses Fail Late (And Fail Again),” highlights key findings from 46 TAR revisions with an average follow-up time of 3.5 years post-revision. 

Key takeaways:

• If they fail, tibial components tend to fail first, with good results seen in revision to a modular stemmed implant in the instance of early osteolysis.

• Talar components fail later and maybe more than once, with the etiology and revision of talar componentry being less predictable. 

• Combined tibial-talar component failure tends to occur later and has the least desirable revision outcomes.