Comparative cross-sectional study of optimal screw positioning in the talus during arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis: a computed tomography-based analysis of talar bone density.

Background: To achieve successful osteosynthesis during arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis, increased stability and compression pressure during fixation are needed. Screw threads must be anchored within the talus, however, the bone mineral density of the talus has not been reported. This study used computed tomographic values to determine whether bone mineral density of the talus is lower in patients with ankle osteoarthritis than in healthy individuals and to determine the part of the talar cancellous bone with the highest bone mineral density.

Methods: We studied the talus in 10 feet with and 10 without end-stage ankle osteoarthritis. Each talar cancellous bone was divided into the lateral process, head and neck, middle body, and medial body. Computed tomographic values of each segment were measured to calculate the relative bone mineral density difference between regions.

Results: Mean (± standard deviations) computed tomographic values in the healthy talus group were 638.329 ± 139.765, 465.960 ± 74.254, 537.109 ± 82.443, and 469.016 ± 84.490 for the four segments. Mean computed tomographic values in the end-stage ankle osteoarthritis talus group were 360.994 ± 117.403, 284.397 ± 101.142, 327.814 ± 114.772, and 297.524 ± 105.667 for the same segments. The bone mineral density of the lateral process of the talus was significantly higher in both the healthy and osteoarthritis talus groups, and the bone mineral density of the talus in the osteoarthritis talus group was significantly lower than that in the healthy talus group.

Conclusions: The bone mineral density of the talus in end-stage ankle osteoarthritis was significantly lower than that of a healthy talus. The highest relative bone mineral density was inferred to be from the middle body to the lateral process.