Etiopathogenesis of osteolytic cysts associated with total ankle arthroplasty, a histological study.

Background: Osteolytic cyst formation after total ankle arthroplasty has been identified in recent years and is probably an important problem with longer follow-up. The aim of this study is to describe the outcome of a histological analysis of samples from periprosthetic intra-osseous cysts and joint capsules, retrieved during revision surgery after primary total ankle arthroplasty.

Methods: All samples (n=22) were analyzed and scored using a semi-quantitative grading system.