Symptoms of Ankle Osteoarthritis:
The main symptom usually associated with osteoarthritis in the ankle joint is pain. In the early stages of disease, pain is present with movement or activity (walking, stairs, prolonged standing). As osteoarthritis progresses, the pain can be present even at rest. Other common symptoms include; joint stiffness, loss of ankle motion, ankle joint swelling, and difficulty walking (or walking with a limp).
Treatment of Ankle Osteoarthritis:
Non-surgical treatment options are frequently tried initially. Once those have been exhausted, surgical intervention is usually necessary. There are three main types of surgical options:
- Ankle arthroscopy with debridement
- Ankle arthrodesis (fusion) – where the ankle is fused as one solid bone
- Total ankle replacement – where the ankle maintains some degree of its normal biomechanics and motion. In this procedure, the ankle joint is removed and replaced with an artificial implant.
Benefits of a Total Ankle Replacement:
Total ankle replacement is an alternative for patients with ankle osteoarthritis instead of an ankle fusion. It provides a better functional outcome by maintaining flexion and extension motion at the ankle. However, due to the arthritic changes, the ankle may not return to normal motion. It can relieve pain from arthritis and, because it retains some normal biomechanics of the ankle joint, it helps to avoid the development of osteoarthritis in other joints of the foot.
Talk to your surgeon to see if Total Ankle Replacement surgery is right for you.
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