JBJS - 2026-06-18 - Journal Article
SALTO TALARIS Total Ankle Arthroplasty at a Minimum of 10 Years of Follow-up: Survival and Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes in a Series of 144 Ankles.
Sadoun M, Gaudot F, Bauer T, Stiglitz Y
Topics
Key Takeaway
SALTO TALARIS TAA demonstrates 96.2% implant survival (revision of ≥1 metallic component) and 99% survival to arthrodesis conversion at 10 years across 144 ankles with minimum 10-year follow-up.
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Summary
This multisurgeon, single-center retrospective study evaluated long-term survival and functional outcomes of the SALTO TALARIS fixed-bearing TAA in 164 consecutive ankles implanted 2009–2013. Kaplan-Meier survival free from any tibiotalar surgery was 94.1% (95% CI: 90.5%–97.9%) at 10 years; survival to metallic component revision was 96.2% (95% CI: 93.4%–99.2%); conversion to arthrodesis was required in only 1% of cases. At final follow-up, median AOFAS score was 98 and 43% of patients reported a 'forgotten joint.'
Key Limitation
Single-center retrospective design limits generalizability, as surgeon volume and institutional expertise at a dedicated foot and ankle center likely inflate survival estimates relative to lower-volume practice settings.
Original Abstract
BACKGROUND
Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is increasingly performed worldwide for the treatment of end-stage tibiotalar osteoarthritis. There are limited data in the literature regarding the long-term survival of third-generation implants. The primary aim of this study was to characterize the long-term survival of the SALTO TALARIS TAA implant.
METHODS
This was a multisurgeon, single-center, retrospective study of 164 consecutive ankles (155 patients) that underwent surgery between 2009 and 2013. The mean age at surgery was 64.4 years, and 60% of patients were women. The mean follow-up was 12 years (range, 10 to 15 years). Implant survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Data collected included implant survival, clinical range of motion, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and the number of patients with a "forgotten" joint. The same surgical technique and identical pre- and postoperative radiographic assessments were used for all patients.
RESULTS
One hundred and fifty-five patients with 164 TAAs were initially included; 17 patients (17 TAAs) died, and 3 patients (3 TAAs, 1.8%) were lost to follow-up before 10 years. Survival free from any surgery involving the tibiotalar joint was 94.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.5% to 97.9%) at 10 years. Implant survival with the end point of revision of at least 1 metallic component was 96.2% (95% CI: 93.4% to 99.2%) at 10 years. Implant survival with the end point of removal and conversion to arthrodesis was 99% (95% CI: 98% to 100%) at 10 years. At the latest follow-up, the mean dorsiflexion (and standard deviation) was 12° ± 5°, the mean plantar flexion was 23° ± 7°, and the median AOFAS score was 98. Patients considered 62 (43%) of the ankles "forgotten" joints.
CONCLUSIONS
The SALTO TALARIS TAA is a reliable implant with a low reoperation rate and excellent long-term survival. These findings provide long-term reference survival data for a third-generation fixed-bearing TAA system.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.