Clinical Benefit of Joint Distraction in the Treatment of Severe Osteoarthritis of the Ankle Proof of Concept in an Open Prospective Study and in a Randomized Controlled Study

disabling joint disease that affects>10 % of the adult population. No effective disease-modifying treatment is available. In the present study, we used joint distrac-tion, a relatively new treatment in which mechanical contact between the articular surfaces is avoided while intraarticular intermittent fluid pressure is maintained, to treat patients with severe OA of the ankle. Methods. Patients with severe ankle OA (n 57) who were being considered for joint fusion (arthrodesis) were treated with joint distraction in an open prospec-tive study. In addition, a randomized trial was per-formed in 17 patients to determine whether joint dis-traction had a better outcome than debridement. A standardized evaluation protocol (physical examina-tion, assessment of pain, mobility, and functional abil