Total Ankle Replacement

If you have a crippling degenerative disease or severe ankle injury, you may need surgery to replace the joint and eliminate pain. At Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons located throughout Nebraska, the exceptional podiatrists offer total ankle joint replacement to replace all parts of the affected joint and restore its structure. Call the office nearest you to schedule an evaluation, or request one using the online booking feature today.

Can ankles be replaced?

Ankle replacement has been an option for many years. Recent advancements in technology and techniques have made it the preferred option for treating patients with ankle arthritis.

Ankle replacement can take away the pain from the arthritis and preserve the motion at the joint. This helps patients perform tasks such as walking on uneven ground and going up and down stairs. It also protects the other joints of the foot to help prevent them from getting arthritis.

What is ankle replacement surgery?

A total ankle replacement is the surgical removal of portions of the bones and cartilage that make up the ankle joint. These are replaced with a metal piece in the tibia, another metal piece in the talus, and a plastic piece between the two.

Ankle joint anatomy and arthritis

The ankle (known by doctors as the tibiotalar joint) is a complex joint that allows your foot to rotate and pivot in relation to your leg. Three separate bones meet to form the ankle joint. These are the:

• tibia (the large bone in your leg)
• fibula (the smaller bone on the outside part of your leg)
• talus (the bone that connects your leg to your foot)

Skeletal anatomy of the ankle

Cartilage (cushioning) covers the ends of these bones to allow them to glide together smoothly. If the cartilage in the ankle becomes damaged or wears down due to injury or disease, the bone surfaces will rub each other during movement. This causes osteoarthritis (joint inflammation, or pain and swelling) in the ankle. Over time, the bone-on-bone grinding of osteoarthritis can wear away the bone surfaces, causing bone spurs and stiffness in the joint.

Lateral (side view) and anteroposterior (front view) X-rays showing end-stage arthritis with bone-on-bone contact in the ankle joint.

What is replaced in an ankle replacement?

The surface of the tibia and talus that make up the ankle joint is removed. In their place, metal pieces are inserted into the bone. Then, a plastic insert it attached to the metal piece on the tibia. In a replacement, the metal piece on the talus will rub against the plastic piece attached the tibial implant. This takes away the pain for the ankle arthritis and preserves the motion in the joint.

Lateral (side view) and anteroposterior (front view) X-rays showing the impants of a total ankle replacement.

What happens if I have avascular necrosis of the talus?

In some cases, part of the talus loses its blood supply and collapses (called avascular necrosis, "AVN" or osteonecrosis). When this happens, the bone is no longer healthy and cannot support an ankle replacement. But there are additional options, depending on how much of the bone is necrotic.

• If the area of necrosis is small, then that portion of bone can be removed at the time of the replacement, and the implant can rest on the remainder of the talus that is still healthy.
• If the area of necrosis is too large, then the entire talus bone can be replaced with a metal piece that is custom made for the patient.

Who should get an ankle replacement?

Ankle replacement is for patients who are no longer able to manage their ankle arthritis pain and swelling with nonsurgical treatments such as:

• physical therapy
• ankle braces
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• corticosteroid injections

Should I get an ankle replacement or an ankle fusion?

Studies have shown that replacement and fusion offer the same degree of pain relief, but that ankle replacement provides much better function in the ankle by retaining the joint’s flexibility. But in some patients, ankle replacement is not possible, and fusion is the appropriate option.

Before ankle replacement gained acceptance, ankle fusion surgery was the standard treatment for ankle arthritis. In an ankle fusion, the two bones of the ankle, the tibia and the talus, are joined together and held in place with plates and/or screws. Over time, the bones heal together. Once that occurs, the joint will no longer hurt, but will also no longer bend.

When is ankle fusion a better option than ankle replacement?

There are a variety of reasons why some patients may not be able to have an ankle replacement. It could be that their bone that is too weak, or that they have a deformity or malalignment of the ankle and foot that is not correctable. Replacement is not appropriate for people with certain neuromuscular disorders or those who have Charcot arthropathy – a peripheral neuropathy (loss of sensation) in the foot and ankle. In addition, patients with an active infection are not candidates for ankle replacement and are best treated with a fusion.

Why is ankle replacement a better option now than years ago?

Total ankle implants are more anatomic now than years ago. This means that they restore the normal anatomy of the ankle and require that only minimal bone tissue be removed from the ankle. Instruments to perform the surgery have also significantly improved, allowing orthopedic surgeons to be more accurate and perform the surgery more reliably. There has also been significant progress in the medical community’s understanding of how to balance the ligaments of the ankle and align the foot underneath the ankle at the time of ankle replacement. All of these factors have resulted in better outcomes for patients who receive an ankle replacement.

What are ankle replacement implants made of?

Ankle replacement prostheses are made of titanium, cobalt chromium alloy and polyethylene. For patients with a nickel allergy, a custom all-titanium implant may be an option.

Is ankle replacement done under general or regional anesthesia?

Ankle replacement is performed under regional anesthesia. The leg is made numb for the surgery, and often the numbing medicine will last for a day or two after the surgery, which helps control the pain. Prior to starting the surgery, patients receive medicine to fall asleep during the surgery, but they breathe on their own during the procedure and are not unconscious.

How long do you stay in the hospital after ankle replacement surgery?

Most patients can go home the same day as their surgery. Some patients may spend one night in the hospital and go home the next day.

What is the recovery time for an ankle replacement?

At four weeks, most patients can bear some weight on the ankle while wearing a removable boot. At six months, people are usually about 75% recovered. Complete return to activity may take up to a year.

How long is it before you can walk after an ankle replacement?

Most patients can walk using a protective boot at four weeks after surgery and can walk wearing a regular shoe at eight weeks. If any additional surgery is needed in the foot at the time of the ankle replacement, then it may be six weeks before walking in a boot and ten weeks before walking in a shoe. The full recovery timeline is discussed below.

The ankle replacement recovery cycle

People heal at different rates, and your surgeon will guide you through the process. Below are the typical recovery time frames and benchmarks. But these may vary from patient to patient.

The first four weeks

• Immediately after surgery, the ankle is in a cast and you are not allowed to place weight on the foot.
• For the first two weeks, the ankle will be elevated above the level of the heart to minimize swelling in the ankle and foot, and to allow the incision to heal as quickly as possible. Your ankle will be elevated about 90% of the time, but you will be able to get up for meals and to use the bathroom using crutches.
• After the first two weeks, the sutures from the incision will be removed, and your ankle placed in a removable boot. You will be instructed on a home exercise program, and at this stage you can remove the boot to shower, sleep and do your exercises. Your leg should still be elevated 60% of the time, however.

After four weeks: Beginning physical therapy

• After four weeks, you may begin placing weight onto the leg using the protective boot, and you will start physical therapy.
• At eight weeks after surgery, you can stop using the protective boot and return to wearing a regular shoe or sneaker for walking.

Four months and beyond: Recovery progress benchmarks

• At four months, you will be better than you were prior to surgery.
• At six months, you will be about 75% recovered.
• At one year after surgery, you will have maximized your improvement after the ankle replacement.

How successful is ankle replacement surgery?

Ankle replacement is very successful in alleviating pain and preserving motion at the ankle. Risks of surgery include infection, numbness, blood clots, and the risk that the bone does not heal to the metal pieces.

What physical limitations will I have after ankle replacement?

After ankle replacement, patients can walk, hike, take a stroll on the beach, play golf or doubles tennis, etc. The biggest limitation is to avoid running or jumping, unless it is an emergency.

How long do ankle replacement implants last?

In 90% of cases, the replacement lasts 10 years. Usually, they will last even longer, but in some cases, the implant may fail in less than 10 years. Ankle replacements can loosen over time. If the metal piece is moving inside the bone, then pain and swelling can occur. If the implant loosens and causes pain, then a second ankle replacement surgery can be performed or the replacement implants can be removed and the ankle fused.

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What is total ankle replacement?

A total ankle replacement, also called an ankle arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure available at Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons that replaces old, worn-down, or damaged parts of your ankle joint with artificial parts to restore the joint’s structure and function. 

Your ankle joint consists of bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage. David Waters, DPM, at Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons, was the first podiatrist to perform a total ankle replacement.

Why might I need a total ankle replacement?

Your podiatrist may recommend a total ankle replacement if you have severe or ongoing ankle pain that hasn’t subsided with conservative treatments like bracing, physical therapy, injections, and medications. You might be a candidate for the procedure if you have ankle arthritis with degeneration or a significant ankle injury. 

How should I prepare for my surgery?

Follow your podiatrist’s instructions to get ready for a total ankle replacement. You’ll need to arrange for someone to drive you home afterward and stop taking certain medicines if asked to. Your surgeon might also ask you to avoid food and drink the morning of the scheduled procedure. 

What happens during total ankle replacement?

Before the procedure, you receive anesthesia to numb the treatment area and help you relax or fall asleep. Your surgeon makes an incision, removes damaged parts of your ankle joint, and replaces them with artificial joint components. After ensuring the joint functions properly, your podiatrist closes the incisions and takes you to a recovery area.

What should I expect after total ankle replacement?

You can usually go home the same day as a total ankle replacement, but you must have someone drive you home and stay with you. Follow all post-care instructions. Wear a removable boot, take medications as directed, get plenty of rest, and avoid bearing weight on the treated ankle until given permission. Ease back into physical activity slowly.

Complete recovery may take up to a year. There are certain types of exercise your podiatrist may ask you to avoid indefinitely. Follow up with them as needed to ensure proper healing. Your new ankle joint may last 10 years or longer when cared for properly. 

To learn more about total ankle replacement at Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons, call the office nearest you or request an appointment online today.