Total Ankle Replacement

What is Total Ankle Replacement?

If you have osteoarthritis in your ankle which cannot be fixed by conservative means or cartilage replacement, you may be a candidate for Total Ankle Replacement surgery. Late-stage ankle arthritis is the most common reason for total ankle replacement surgery. Ankle arthritis causes wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones at a joint. Cartilage is essential for pain-free motion, so ankle arthritis often leads to pain and swelling that limits your ability to walk.

A total ankle replacement (arthroplasty) is a surgical procedure that involves resurfacing the ends of your shin bone and lower ankle bone with metal components and placing a plastic spacer in-between. Total ankle replacement is designed to relieve ankle arthritis pain while increasing mobility. The procedure replaces damaged cartilage so the joint can move and bend more like a healthy ankle—allowing you to walk more normally and with less pain.

Diagnosis and Treatment.

If you believe you have severe ankle osteoarthritis, you should contact your foot and ankle surgeon. We have fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeons here at Dominion Foot and Ankle Center specializing in total ankle replacement.

Upon evaluation, your surgeon performs a thorough evaluation of your feet and ankles. They will usually require taking a weight-bearing X-ray to check your ankle alignment and confirm a diagnosis of ankle arthritis. After considering many factors including your current lifestyle, goals and medical history, they will discuss your best options for treatment and total ankle replacement. Sometimes this may also require additional testing such as an MRI or CT scan of your foot and ankle.

X-rays showing severe osteoarthritis of the ankle with bone-on-bone degeneration.
 

Surgery

If you are a candidate and decide to proceed with total ankle replacement, your surgeon will utilize an FDA-approved implant here in the United States for your procedure. Sometimes this may also utilized Patient-Specific Instrumentation. Patient Specific Instrumentation, or PSI, is a technology that can help surgeons to pre-plan your total ankle replacement surgery with the goal of having the best outcome for your surgery.

Your recovery from surgery will require a period of staying off your foot completely, or non-weight bearing. This can range anywhere from 4-6 weeks. Generally, physical therapy will be a part of your recovery process.

X-rays showing outcomes following ankle replacement surgery.
 

The reasons to have a total ankle replacement vary from person to person. But, the goal is the same – to provide exactly what you need to get your mobility back. Please contact us at Dominion Foot and Ankle if you believe that you may have ankle arthritis. Our surgeons will work diligently with you to provide the best treatment plan for you!