remove the hardware and place a distraction frame for 12 weeks van Valburg AA, van Roermund PM, Marijnissen AC, van Melkebeek J, Lammens J, Verbout AJ, Lafeber FP, Bijlsma JW. Joint distraction in treatment of osteoarthritis: a two-year follow-up of the ankle. Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 1999;7: 474-9 Bruce Sangeorzan, MD