About 500 total ankle prostheses are implanted each year in France. Wound healing issues are the most common complications after Total Ankle Arthroplasty (TAA). In 2010, a French retrospective study observed a wound infection rate of 8% among 592 prostheses implanted. Wound infection rate can vary up to 28% from the data available in the literature. Delayed wound healing is a known risk factor of surgical site infection (SSI). Even if it remains a rare event, its consequences for the patient can be severe and lead to removal and/or replacement of the prosthesis, arthrodesis, or transtibial amputation. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is an adjuvant therapy for wound management and healing: it delivers a controlled negative pressure (sub-atmospheric) applied topically onto the wound from a vacuum pump. The wound is filled with wound filler and sealed with an airtight adhesive drape. It allows creating a moist wound environment, removing exudate, and reducing edema and risk of infection. Incisional NPWT can accelerate wound healing regardless of the surgery performed, including orthopedics. A retrospective study compared the incidence of healing complications after TAA between the administration of the NPWT PICOâ„¢ (Smith\&Nephew) and the standard of care of postoperative wounds in 74 patients. A significant reduction of wound healing issues (3% vs. 24%, respectively; p=0.004) and a non-significant reduction of SSI (3% vs. 8%, respectively) were observed. To the investigator knowledge, no randomized study has been conducted to assess the efficacy of the NPWT PICOâ„¢ for postoperative wound healing after TAA: Investigators propose to set up this study to obtain a high level of evidence in this population and investigators assume that the use of the PICOâ„¢ system after TAA would reduce delayed wound healing compared to the standard of care with conventional dressings.
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Number of days from suture removal (i.e. day 21 after surgery) to achieve complete wound healing defined as: no visible exudate on protection dressing; and no blister; and no necrosis; and no wound dehiscence.
Timeframe: Up to 12 months after TAA