ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2026
Optimized anterior anatomical fusion plate for ankle arthrodesis: biomechanical and clinical outcomes.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAnkle osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disorder that often necessitates ankle arthrodesis. Conventional fusion methods may offer limited fixation stability and require extensive soft-tissue exposure. The goal of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical properties of a geometrically optimized anterior anatomical fusion plate (AAFP) for ankle arthrodesis, which has been designed to enhance mechanical performance and minimize surgical trauma.
methodsThis study developed a finite element model of the ankle based on CT scans of a healthy male volunteer. Various fusion models were created, incorporating the optimized AAFP with or without transarticular screw, anterolateral fusion plate (ALFP) with or without transarticular screw, and configurations using three or two screws. The biomechanical performance of these systems was assessed by analyzing peak displacement of the fusion surface and peak von Mises stress of implants and bone-implant models under seven common ankle postures. Additionally, the preliminary feasibility of the optimized AAFP was assessed by analyzing the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores and X-ray images.
resultsThe optimized AAFP with transarticular screw fixation exhibited great stability, with peak displacement of 0.14 mm in neutral position, 0.19 mm in dorsiflexion, 0.07 mm in plantar flexion, 0.09 mm in internal rotation, 0.07 mm in external rotation, 0.10 mm in inversion, and 0.12 mm in eversion. The peak stress of the fusion method was relatively low, with 132.91 MPa in neutral position, 145.83 MPa in dorsiflexion, 97.15 MPa in plantar flexion, 84.27 MPa in internal rotation, 74.70 MPa in external rotation, 98.07 MPa in inversion, and 88.00 MPa in eversion. The transarticular screw enhanced biomechanical stability of the optimized AAFP in ankle fusion by reducing stress and displacement. Clinically, the optimized AAFP showed satisfactory short-term outcomes, with improvements in the AOFAS scores (from 53 to 83, 57 to 82, 51 to 84 and 57 to 83) and imaging results.
conclusionsThese findings suggest that the geometrically optimized AAFP combines a smaller incision with favorable biomechanical performance and warrants further clinical evaluation as a potential option for ankle fusion.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.