Posttraumatic reconstruction of the ankle using the Ilizarov method.

Reconstruction of the ankle after trauma requires a variety of treatment strategies. Once the personality of the problem is appreciated, a tailored approach may be implemented. The Ilizarov method provides a versatile, powerful, and safe approach. It is particularly useful in the setting of infection, bone loss, poor soft tissue envelope, leg length discrepancy, bony deformity, and joint contracture. In this article, a variety of posttraumatic ankle pathologies are discussed. Treatment methods including osteotomy, arthrodesis, distraction, correction of contracture, nonunion repair, and tibia and fibula lengthening are reviewed. The use of the Ilizarov method for acute and/or gradual correction as well as the application of simultaneous treatments at multiple levels is discussed in this article.