What is Ankle Replacement?
The ankle joint is a hinge joint, which means it only moves in one direction. It is located at the lower end of the tibia and fibula bones, and connects to the foot. It is made up of three main parts: The talus bone, which is a small bone that sits in front of the tibia and fibula; the tibial malleolus or “ankle bone” that sits on the outside of your ankle; and the fibular malleolus or “footbone” that sits on the inside of your ankle.
Total ankle replacement, or total ankle arthroplasty (TTA), is a surgical procedure performed to treat primarily ankle arthritis. The ankle joint is replaced with artificial materials (implants) such as metal, plastic or ceramic to improve function and relieve pain while preserving ankle motion.
Ankle replacement is a common procedure, with more than 10,000 ankle replacements performed each year in the US alone. There are many types of ankle replacement surgery, but they all try to accomplish the same goal: to replace damaged bone and tissue with a prosthetic device.
The Surgery Procedure for Total Ankle Replacement
Total Ankle Replacement is a surgical procedure that is performed to relieve the pain and disability resulting from severe arthritis of the ankle joint. This surgery is performed by surgeons who are specially trained in this area of orthopedic surgery.
The goal of this surgery is to provide pain relief and restore more normal motion to the ankle joint. In a procedure that takes 2-4 hours, the foot and ankle surgeon removes all or part of the damaged bone and cartilage from your ankle joint, then replaces it with an artificial joint made out of metal, plastic, or both materials. This procedure is typically done in order to restore a normal range of motion and reduce pain.
Post-Operative Results of Ankle Replacement Surgery
The ankle joint is one of the most complicated joints in the human body. The ankle joint is made up of three bones: the tibia, fibula, and talus. These three bones are supported by ligaments, tendons and muscles.
A total ankle replacement surgery replaces these three bones with metal components that are fixed to a plate on the front of the lower leg bone. This surgery is usually performed on patients who have severe arthritis or chronic pain in their ankles that limits their activities.
Post-operative results can be evaluated by looking at how well a patient can walk after surgery, if they experience pain or swelling after surgery, and if they are able to return to their previous level of activity before surgery.
Why You Should Consider Ankle Replacement Surgery?
Ankle replacement surgery is a surgical procedure to replace the ankle joint with an artificial joint. The surgery is often used to relieve pain and correct deformities that are caused by arthritis.
Ankle replacement surgery has been around for over 50 years, but it has only become more popular in recent decades as our understanding of the condition has improved. There are many benefits of this surgery such as increased mobility, pain relief, less swelling and faster recovery time.
For more information on Ankle Replacement or to find out if you are a candidate, call our specialists at 1-888-409-8006.