Total Ankle Replacement in a Military Jet Pilot

INTRODUCTION: A total ankle replacement in a jet pilot after an open, high-energy foot and ankle fracture and dislocation with talar extrusion in a plane crash was carefully evaluated before considering fitness to fly.CASE REPORT: A 33-yr-old male test pilot of the Italian Air Force was involved in a plane crash and reported an open high-energy fracture/dislocation of the right ankle, with the expulsion of the right talus due to the impact, and other fractures. A titanium replica was inserted inside the ankle. However, the patient suffered from intolerable pain and developed arthritic changes in the cartilage of the tibial plafond. For these reasons, a decision was made to perform a custom-made total ankle replacement.DISCUSSION: The 2-yr follow-up after the last operation and the evaluation of the pilot’s fitness to fly are reported in this case study. The pilot was assessed fit to fly, including high performance military aircrafts.Verde P, Guardigli S, Morgagni F, Roberts S, Monopoli D, Scala A. Total ankle replacement in a military jet pilot. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(7):597–603.