Arthritis comes in many different forms. Post-Traumatic Ankle Arthritis can result from a serious fracture or even multiple sprains to the ankle, while Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that results in joint inflammation. These, along with a number of other conditions, affect the important cartilage in the ankle joint. When the cartilage is worn away or otherwise compromised, the bones of the ankle may rub against each other, causing severe pain and instability.
However, if you have been suffering from pain and instability in your ankle from a form of arthritis like those mentioned above, you do not have to live with this discomfort forever. In fact, if you have tried remedies such as an ankle brace or medication and felt no relief, you may be a candidate for total ankle replacement.
Since its development, this procedure has been making a significant difference in the lives of patients like you, allowing them to live and walk pain-free once again. If this surgery is something you are considering, take the time to get the facts from experienced
physicians for total ankle replacement. At
Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, our surgeons perform thousands of these procedures each year and are eager to help you better understand your options.
How Does Total Ankle Replacement Work?
If, after meeting with physicians for total ankle replacement, it is decided that this procedure is right for you, it is good to know what to expect. Typically, the surgery begins with the patient being put under general or regional anesthesia. Then, the damaged bone and cartilage will be removed. The lower end of the tibia is replaced with a medical grade plastic and titanium prosthesis. The talar component of the joint, the top of the foot bone, is then replaced with a prosthesis made of cobalt chromium alloy. After the incision is closed with stitches and the patient is brought out of anesthesia, he or she can expect to leave the hospital with a brace and crutches. Typically, the procedures is followed by approximately six weeks of recovery.
What Are the Benefits of Total Ankle Replacement?
The major benefit of total ankle replacement is pain relief. When the bones of your joint are no longer rubbing together with each step, you will experience significant relief. Additionally, for some patients, the surgery provides them with improved mobility and coordination in their foot and leg. However, results can differ for each patient, based on their current health, medical history, and other factors. To get the best idea of what benefits you can expect to experience, talk with your total ankle replacement physician.
Is Total Ankle Replacement the Right Option?
Only your doctor can help you decide if total ankle replacement is the right option for you. If you have not yet tried other, more conservative methods, it may be recommended that you try these before opting for total replacement. However, if you have exhausted other potential treatments and still experience pain, swelling, and immobility, your doctor may decide that total ankle replacement is a good option for you.
Where Are the Best Physicians for Total Ankle Replacement?
If you and your doctor decide to pursue this procedure, your next step is to find the best physicians for total ankle replacement in your area. If you live in the greater Philadelphia area or anywhere throughout south Jersey, some of the best ankle surgeons in the world are nearby at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. Because our foot and ankle surgeons specialize in this particular area of orthopaedics, they have the unique level of experience and expertise that comes from performing thousands of these joint replacements each year.
For more information about what sets Rothman Orthopaedic Institute surgeons apart from the rest,
contact us today.
