Total Ankle Replacement Surgery

What You Need To Know

Understanding when an artificial ankle joint may be the right option for you.

Understanding Total Ankle Replacement

Sometimes joints are injured or wear out to the point when an artificial joint is needed to restore mobility. The ankle is one area where this can happen, and joint replacement has become an important option for patients living with severe arthritis.

Ankles are a prime spot for arthritis. Unlike the hip or knee, ankles are more likely to develop post-traumatic arthritis than osteoarthritis. For many Baby Boomers, the trauma was an ankle fracture or a bad sprain that may have happened decades earlier, in their teens or twenties. Over time, that early injury can lead to cartilage breakdown, stiffness, and pain that limits walking and daily activity.

Ankle replacements are not as durable as hip and knee replacements. The ankle is a more challenging joint to replace because it is smaller and moves in multiple directions. That said, better and promising ankle implants are hitting the market, giving patients more options than ever before.

Patients with advanced and severe arthritis may need to have the joint fused or replaced. Deciding between these approaches depends on the severity of the arthritis, your activity level, and your overall health. If ankle pain is limiting how you walk, work, or move, schedule an evaluation with our foot and ankle surgeons to discuss whether total ankle replacement is right for you.

Surgical Options and Related Procedures

Total ankle replacement is one of several surgical approaches used to treat advanced ankle arthritis. Choosing the right procedure depends on the stage of joint damage and how much motion the patient wants to preserve.

Innovative new surgical techniques allow foot and ankle surgeons to transplant small plugs of cartilage from one part of the ankle to another in some patients, slowing joint deterioration. This can be a helpful option for patients whose arthritis has not yet reached the point of needing a full joint replacement.

For patients who are not candidates for replacement, ankle fusion remains an important option. Stronger screws and hardware are helping fusions last longer while slashing recovery times, making this a more attractive option than in years past.

The big toe joint is another area where Baby Boomers commonly develop arthritis. During walking, the big toe absorbs forces equal to nearly twice a person’s body weight, and it plays an important role in stooping and standing. Some boomers start to develop big toe stiffness, a condition called hallux limitus, in their forties. Better surgical procedures now offer improved pain relief and joint movement for early stage arthritis at the big toe, and a new generation of big toe joint replacements shows promise.

Whether you are considering ankle replacement, fusion, or a cartilage procedure, our surgeons will walk you through each option so you can choose the treatment that fits your goals and lifestyle.