Ankle Replacement

In Ankle replacement or arthroplasty, the damaged ankle joint is replaced with an artificial implant (prosthesis).

Although not as common as total hip or knee joint replacement, advances in implant design have made ankle replacement a feasible option for many people.

In addition to providing pain relief from arthritis, ankle replacements offer patients better mobility and movement compared to fusion. By allowing motion at the formerly arthritic joint, less stress is transferred to the adjacent joints. Less stress results in reduced occurance of adjacent joint arthritis.

Ankle replacement is most often recommended for patients with:

• Advanced arthritis of the ankle
• Destroyed ankle joint surfaces
• An ankle condition that interferes with daily activities

As in any joint replacement surgery, the ankle implant may loosen over the years or fail. If the implant failure is severe, revision surgery may be necessary.

More information.

Source from AAOS , Viewmedica , WebMD