 |
 |
|
|
Foot & Ankle
Reasons for Surgery
Total ankle replacement surgery is an option for individuals who have pain in the ankle from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis or from a previous ankle injury. Usually the orthopedic surgeon will recommend a less invasive approach first, such as arthroscopic surgery, to remove diseased bone or fragments that may be causing the pain. If this approach doesn't resolve the problem, ankle replacement surgery offers the most effective method of eliminating pain and restoring the ankle to normal function.
Ankle Replacement Surgery
Ankle replacement surgery is a promising new surgical technique which enables patients with chronic ankle pain to return to active, pain-free lives. Ankle replacement surgery is an alternative to ankle fusion, a surgical procedure which eliminates pain but also greatly reduces the patient's ankle mobility. Patients who have total ankle replacement are able to walk up and down stairs, dance and participate in such active sports as rollerblading, tennis, golf and hiking. In fact, most of the ankle replacement patients at Hoag have been moderately active, middle-aged people.
The new procedure uses the same material as those used to replace knees and hips. But unlike knees and hips, ankles don't wear out as people age. Instead, chronic ankle problems are usually caused by disease or traumatic injury.
The Surgery
Measuring one inch by two inches, the device has two components which articulate in the same way as the human ankle. It connects the tibia (shin) bone with the talus bone of the patient's ankle in a natural, neutral position. Ankle replacement surgery requires an overnight stay in the hospital followed by rehabilitation exercises to strengthen and condition the muscles surrounding the ankle joint. Patients are able to resume a normal lifestyle within six to eight months of the surgery.
Unique to Hoag
The ankle joint replacement procedure is currently available at Hoag Hospital. Hoag is one of the few hospitals in the nation selected to participate in a five-year clinical trial of the procedure. Since it was first performed at Hoag in 1995, ankle replacement surgery has been used effectively to alleviate ankle pain and restore mobility to patients who previously couldn't take a step without pain.
|
|
|
|