Is Total Ankle Replacement Right for You?

Total ankle replacement surgery, also called ankle arthroplasty, is used to repair a severely damaged ankle joint. If you’ve sustained an ankle injury or are suffering from ankle arthritis and conservative treatment methods have been exhausted, you may be a candidate for total ankle replacement surgery.

“During total ankle replacement, both sides of your ankle are removed and replaced with specially designed artificial prostheses,” explains Dr. Francis E. Glaser, foot and ankle surgeon at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics. “These prostheses, made of plastic, titanium, and cobalt chromium alloy, allow your ankle joint to regain strength and mobility while significantly reducing your level of ankle pain.”

You may be a candidate for total ankle replacement if you are an active individual with severe ankle arthritis or a severely damaged ankle joint due to injury. However, total ankle replacement is more successful when a patient has a fairly healthy bone quality and range of motion. Patients who have poor leg circulation or nerve conditions of the legs are not good candidates for total ankle replacement.

The recovery process following a total ankle replacement includes rehabilitation and exercises that help to improve range of motion within the ankle joint.

To learn more about total ankle replacement, contact the foot and ankle doctors at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics by calling (877) 666-6080.