Ankle Replacement Surgery is the replacement of the damaged cartilage and bone in the ankle joint with an artificial implant.
The ankle joint (tibiotalar joint) is where your shin bone (tibia) rests on top of a bone of your foot (talus).
Arthritis can affect this joint as well as other joints in the foot. Over time, the smooth cartilage on the surface of the bones wears away. This can result in pain, inflammation, and swelling of your joint.
Ankle Replacement Surgery is a procedure to replace this damaged joint to eliminate this pain and swelling and to restore its function.
Ankle replacement surgery may make sense for you if you have severe arthritis in your ankle. This can cause symptoms, like severe pain, inflammation, and stiffness, which can lead to difficulty walking. The main types of ankle arthritis are:
If you have mild or moderate arthritis, your healthcare provider will probably recommend other treatments, like pain medicines, special shoe and foot inserts, physical therapy, or corticosteroid injections. If you still have severe symptoms that get in the way of your daily activities, your healthcare provider may recommend ankle replacement or another surgical procedure.
If your arthritis isn’t yet severe, arthroscopic debridement might be a better choice. Ankle fusion is another choice for people with severe arthritis of their ankle. Each of these choices has its own risks and benefits. Talk with your healthcare provider about all your treatment and surgical choices.
Ankle Replacement Surgery is very successful in most cases, but it does have some risks. These include:
Your own risk of complications may vary according to your age and your other medical conditions. For example, if you smoke or have low bone density, you may have an increased risk of certain complications. People with diabetes may also have an increased risk. Talk with your healthcare provider about all your concerns, including the risks most relevant to you.
Talk with your healthcare provider about what to do to prepare for your ankle replacement surgery. Ask whether you should stop taking any medicines, like blood thinners, ahead of time. If you smoke, try to stop smoking before your procedure. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines like aspirin. Also, tell your healthcare provider about any changes in your overall health, such as a recent fever.
Before your procedure, you may need additional imaging tests, like X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI.
You may need to change your living arrangements as you recover because you’ll need to use crutches for several weeks. Have someone available to drive you home from the hospital.
You’ll need to avoid food and drink after midnight the night before your procedure.
Your healthcare provider can help explain the details of your particular surgery. An orthopedic surgeon will perform your ankle replacement, helped by a team of specialized healthcare providers. The whole operation may take a few hours. In general, you can expect the following:
Talk with your healthcare provider about what you can expect after your surgery. Your medical team will continue to monitor you carefully as you recover. When you wake up, your leg will probably be immobilized and elevated. You can resume a normal diet as soon as you’re able. You may need follow-up X-rays to see how your surgery went. You may be able to go home the same day, or you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days.
You may have significant pain right after your surgery, but pain medicines may help ease the pain. The pain should begin to diminish over a few days, and you should have less pain than before your surgery.
After your surgery, you’ll probably need to wear a splint for a couple of weeks. You might also need to use crutches for several weeks. Your healthcare provider will give you instructions about how to move your foot while you recover. It may be helpful to rest and elevate your leg for the first week or so after your surgery. You won’t be able to put your full weight on your foot for a few months.
You won’t be able to see your incision initially, but let your healthcare provider know right away if the pain increases or if you have a high fever or chills.
Make sure to keep all your follow-up appointments so that your healthcare provider can monitor your progress. You may have your splint removed and replaced with a boot or a cast a couple of weeks after your surgery. This boot or cast may come off several weeks later. You might need physical therapy for a few months to help you maintain your strength and range of motion. It may be several months before you can return to all your previous activities.
Carefully following your healthcare provider’s instructions about rehabilitation, medicines, and wound care should increase your chances of a good outcome.
Before you agree to the test or the procedure, make sure you know:
Aenean porta orci nam commodo felis hac ridiculus fusce fames maximus erat sed dictumst blandit arcu suspendisse sollicitudin luctus in nec
