Dr. Jason DeVries, DPM, of BayCare Clinic Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine in Manitowoc, and Dr. Brandon Scharer, DPM, based in Green Bay, have teamed up on important new research in the field of total ankle replacement (TAR). Their work was recently published in The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, demonstrating their commitment to advancing surgical techniques and improving outcomes for patients undergoing ankle replacement.
In their first article, titled “Rejection Rate, Modifications, and Turnaround Time for Patient-Specific Instrumentation Plans in Total Ankle Replacement,” Dr. DeVries and Dr. Scharer studied the effectiveness of using customized surgical guides—known as patient-specific instrumentation (PSI)—in ankle replacement surgeries. Reviewing data from 2016 to 2024, the research focused on the experience of a single surgeon and found that about 17.8% of PSI plans were rejected, with an average processing time of just over 29 hours. The study noted that rejection rates have increased over time, particularly in more complex cases.
Their second article compares how accurate two different PSI systems are when it comes to aligning the ankle during surgery. Titled “Distal Tibial Osteophytes vs. Medial Malleolar Anatomy in Patient-Specific Instrumentation for Total Ankle Replacement,” this study involved 48 ankle surgeries. The researchers found that using bone growths on the lower part of the shinbone (distal tibial osteophytes) as landmarks led to more precise alignment and shorter surgery times than using landmarks on the inner ankle bone (medial malleolus).
Together, these studies offer important insights into the growing use of customized tools in total ankle replacement. Dr. DeVries and Dr. Scharer’s work underscores the need for careful planning and experience when using PSI and highlights the advantages of certain anatomical landmarks for better surgical results. Their research is helping to push the boundaries of orthopedic innovation and improve the care of patients undergoing ankle replacement procedures.