One-stage hindfoot debridement and arthrodesis improved pain and function in 21 patients with chronic infections.

This retrospective study examined 21 patients diagnosed with chronic hindfoot infections. The intervention involved a one-stage procedure combining debridement with arthrodesis utilizing external fixators. Patients underwent either arthroscopic debridement (n=9) or combined open debridement (n=12). Arthrodesis types included tibiotalar (n=6), tibiotalocalcaneal (n=14), and pan-tarsal (n=1) procedures.

Primary outcomes assessed pain via Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and joint function using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, alongside infection recurrence and osseous consolidation. Pain (VAS) demonstrated significant improvement, decreasing from a mean of 6.4 ± 1.7 preoperatively to 1.3 ± 1.4 postoperatively (p < 0.05). Joint function (AOFAS) also showed improvement, shifting from a preoperative mean of 40.0 ± 11.6, although the specific postoperative mean value was not fully reported in the source data.

No adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, or specific tolerability issues were reported. The mean follow-up duration was 38.2 months, ranging from 25 to 103 months. However, the study design is observational and lacks a comparator group. The small sample size of 21 patients limits statistical power and the ability to draw broad conclusions. Consequently, the clinical relevance of these results for standard practice remains uncertain without further validation in larger, controlled cohorts.