Total Ankle Replacement Specialist

What is total ankle replacement?

Total ankle replacement is joint replacement surgery for an injured or damaged ankle joint. Your ankles undergo a lot of stress from daily standing and walking, which gets worse if you have an injury in the joint or if the joint is arthritic. 

By undergoing total ankle replacement according to your podiatrist’s recommendation, you can increase joint mobility and stability. 

Also called ankle arthroplasty, total ankle replacement involves removing damaged portions of the joint and replacing them with durable, biocompatible prosthetics. The prosthetic pieces work just like your original joint. 

Before your surgery, the team administers general anesthesia or a nerve block. They remove damaged bone and cartilage through an incision in the front of your ankle before preparing the joint surfaces for the new prosthetic pieces. 

Do I need a total ankle replacement?

Total ankle replacement is an option for individuals who have ankle pain that doesn’t diminish with conservative treatment, or who have ankle pain that significantly impacts their quality of life. 

While total ankle replacement can treat repeated ankle injuries such as fractures, it’s largely used to treat arthritis of the ankle joint. There are several types of arthritis that can affect the ankle joint, which results in increasing stiffness and pain over time. Eventually, it can impact your ability to walk.

Conservative therapies like physical therapy, medications, and orthotics can relieve some of your arthritis symptoms, and for many people, they work well. However, if you’ve tried these for a while without significant relief, the team at Gentle Foot and Ankle Care may suggest total ankle replacement next. 

What should I expect after total ankle replacement?

Recovering after total ankle replacement takes some time, and you won’t be able to go back to your typical routine right away. You’ll need to rehabilitate the joint with physical therapy and follow all postoperative instructions from your podiatric surgeon. Your instructions include:

• Arranging a ride home from surgery
• Taking time off work
• Following a healthy diet
• Avoiding smoking
• Taking medications according to their instructions
• Wearing a splint
• Using crutches

You should also come to Gentle Foot and Ankle Care for follow-up visits, during which the team takes X-rays and makes sure the joint is healing well. 

You’ll need to visit your physical therapist regularly, who gives you instructions for exercises it’s safe to do at home. It might take a few months for you to recover enough to return to your normal lifestyle. 

To schedule a consultation for total ankle replacement surgery, call Gentle Foot and Ankle Care or book your appointment online today.