What This Procedure Involves
Two to three small arthroscopic portals are made around the ankle. The remaining articular cartilage is removed from the tibial plafond and talar dome using arthroscopic shavers and curettes. The joint surfaces are prepared to bleeding bone. The ankle is compressed and fixed in the optimal position (neutral dorsiflexion, 5 degrees external rotation, slight valgus) with two or three large cannulated screws inserted percutaneously under fluoroscopic guidance. The operation takes one to one and a half hours.