An Innovative Clinical Evaluation Protocol after Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study Using Inertial Sensors and Baropodometric Platforms
Background: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has grown in popularity and indications, with encouraging results over time. Today, preoperative and postoperative evaluations are mainly performed using clinical test and diagnostic imaging, but there is a deficiency in objectively evaluating the biomechan...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/5/1964 |
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| author | Antonio Mazzotti Alberto Arceri Pejman Abdi Elena Artioli Simone Ottavio Zielli Laura Langone Laura Ramponi Arianna Ridolfi Cesare Faldini Lorenzo Brognara |
| author_facet | Antonio Mazzotti Alberto Arceri Pejman Abdi Elena Artioli Simone Ottavio Zielli Laura Langone Laura Ramponi Arianna Ridolfi Cesare Faldini Lorenzo Brognara |
| author_sort | Antonio Mazzotti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has grown in popularity and indications, with encouraging results over time. Today, preoperative and postoperative evaluations are mainly performed using clinical test and diagnostic imaging, but there is a deficiency in objectively evaluating the biomechanics of the foot and ankle, which serve as the functional markers for monitoring the effectiveness and outcomes of surgery. Inertial measurement units associated with plantar pressure measurements may provide an accurate and reliable method of evaluating function through the analysis of gait and ankle joint mobility. The aim of this study was to introduce an innovative technology, to assess its accuracy and feasibility compared to standard clinical assessment methods and to objectify kinematic outcomes in patients with end-stage ankle OA before and after TAA surgery. Methods: A consecutive series of eight patients with symptomatic end-stage osteoarthritis and treated with TAA was prospectively evaluated using clinical scores (AOFAS, MOxFQ, VAS, SF-36, 17-IFFI), physical tests (FPI, ALT), plantar pressure measurements with FLEX EPS/R2 Letsense<sup>®</sup> baropodometric platform, gait analysis and wearable sensors-based ankle motion and kinematic outcomes using Wiva Science inertial sensors by Letsense<sup>®</sup>. Data were collected preoperatively and 4 months after surgery. Results: All PROMs exhibited statistical significance in improvement from pre- to postoperative periods, except for one. Physical examinations showed no significant changes of the foot shape and alignment. Plantar pressure analyses revealed no significant changes in static and dynamic evaluations, but a more uniform distribution of plantar pressure was observed between the two periods. Inertial sensor parameters demonstrated no significant differences, except for a significant reduction in stride length and step length for the operated foot after surgery. Conclusions: Gait analysis using inertial sensors and plantar pressure measurements offer ease of handling, cost effectiveness, portability and swift data reading, making them highly appealing for widespread clinical use. Integrating these tools into the routine assessments of patients with TAA holds promise for advancing precision of treating this condition and our depth of its understanding, contributing to more comprehensive and insightful patient care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:35:35Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:35:35Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-902b71a597df4e86a7be85157bc7a75c2024-03-12T16:39:36ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-02-01145196410.3390/app14051964An Innovative Clinical Evaluation Protocol after Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study Using Inertial Sensors and Baropodometric PlatformsAntonio Mazzotti0Alberto Arceri1Pejman Abdi2Elena Artioli3Simone Ottavio Zielli4Laura Langone5Laura Ramponi6Arianna Ridolfi7Cesare Faldini8Lorenzo Brognara91st Orthopaedics and Traumatologic Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy1st Orthopaedics and Traumatologic Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy1st Orthopaedics and Traumatologic Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy1st Orthopaedics and Traumatologic Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy1st Orthopaedics and Traumatologic Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy1st Orthopaedics and Traumatologic Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy1st Orthopaedics and Traumatologic Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy1st Orthopaedics and Traumatologic Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, ItalyBackground: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has grown in popularity and indications, with encouraging results over time. Today, preoperative and postoperative evaluations are mainly performed using clinical test and diagnostic imaging, but there is a deficiency in objectively evaluating the biomechanics of the foot and ankle, which serve as the functional markers for monitoring the effectiveness and outcomes of surgery. Inertial measurement units associated with plantar pressure measurements may provide an accurate and reliable method of evaluating function through the analysis of gait and ankle joint mobility. The aim of this study was to introduce an innovative technology, to assess its accuracy and feasibility compared to standard clinical assessment methods and to objectify kinematic outcomes in patients with end-stage ankle OA before and after TAA surgery. Methods: A consecutive series of eight patients with symptomatic end-stage osteoarthritis and treated with TAA was prospectively evaluated using clinical scores (AOFAS, MOxFQ, VAS, SF-36, 17-IFFI), physical tests (FPI, ALT), plantar pressure measurements with FLEX EPS/R2 Letsense<sup>®</sup> baropodometric platform, gait analysis and wearable sensors-based ankle motion and kinematic outcomes using Wiva Science inertial sensors by Letsense<sup>®</sup>. Data were collected preoperatively and 4 months after surgery. Results: All PROMs exhibited statistical significance in improvement from pre- to postoperative periods, except for one. Physical examinations showed no significant changes of the foot shape and alignment. Plantar pressure analyses revealed no significant changes in static and dynamic evaluations, but a more uniform distribution of plantar pressure was observed between the two periods. Inertial sensor parameters demonstrated no significant differences, except for a significant reduction in stride length and step length for the operated foot after surgery. Conclusions: Gait analysis using inertial sensors and plantar pressure measurements offer ease of handling, cost effectiveness, portability and swift data reading, making them highly appealing for widespread clinical use. Integrating these tools into the routine assessments of patients with TAA holds promise for advancing precision of treating this condition and our depth of its understanding, contributing to more comprehensive and insightful patient care.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/5/1964gait analysisinertial sensorstotal ankle arthroplasty |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Mazzotti Alberto Arceri Pejman Abdi Elena Artioli Simone Ottavio Zielli Laura Langone Laura Ramponi Arianna Ridolfi Cesare Faldini Lorenzo Brognara An Innovative Clinical Evaluation Protocol after Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study Using Inertial Sensors and Baropodometric Platforms Applied Sciences gait analysis inertial sensors total ankle arthroplasty |
| title | An Innovative Clinical Evaluation Protocol after Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study Using Inertial Sensors and Baropodometric Platforms |
| title_full | An Innovative Clinical Evaluation Protocol after Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study Using Inertial Sensors and Baropodometric Platforms |
| title_fullStr | An Innovative Clinical Evaluation Protocol after Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study Using Inertial Sensors and Baropodometric Platforms |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Innovative Clinical Evaluation Protocol after Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study Using Inertial Sensors and Baropodometric Platforms |
| title_short | An Innovative Clinical Evaluation Protocol after Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study Using Inertial Sensors and Baropodometric Platforms |
| title_sort | innovative clinical evaluation protocol after total ankle arthroplasty a pilot study using inertial sensors and baropodometric platforms |
| topic | gait analysis inertial sensors total ankle arthroplasty |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/5/1964 |
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