Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Question: I'm 47-years-old and I've undergone several surgeries, including an ankle fusion, in attempt to remedy a series of sports injuries from more than 20 years ago. Since my ankle fusion, I continue to feel severe pain while walking and even standing. Are there any other solutions or am I better off just accepting the pain?
Answer: This is a common concern for people your age who were active young adults, or people who are maintaining an active lifestyle later in life. Arthritis also remains one of the top causes for severe joint pain and consequential joint replacement as more than 1.5 million Missourians suffer from arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation of Eastern Missouri.
The good news is that you don’t have to accept the pain. In the last 15 years, total ankle replacement surgery, also known as ankle arthroplasty, has proven to be the best permanent solution for relief from ankle pain. It’s the perfect alternative to ankle fusion. While the ankle fusion procedure often alleviates pain for the patient, it does not allow for independent movement and mobility. Therefore, this is not the ideal solution anymore as people are living longer and staying more active later in life.
For example, I worked with an avid runner who had sprained his ankle more than 20 times over the course of his stint in road racing. He never once saw a doctor and continued to run on the injured ankle, thinking it would heal naturally. Over time and a number of re-injuries, he developed severe pain in his ankle and we performed an ankle replacement. Today he is living an active lifestyle again, and even though he will never run again due to the frequency and severity of his untreated injuries, he is able to exercise without pain using cardio machines. Had he undergone the fusion procedure, his mobility would have been more limited and he would not have been able to workout on cardio machines.
Ankle replacement, and more specifically, the ankle implants themselves have come a long way in terms of technology and performance. Ankle implants are now held to the same standards as hip and knee implants; both surgical procedures are performed more frequently and have high success rates. The Inbone Total Ankle System is the product I prefer to use because it’s designed to fit each individual’s specific anatomy with an adjustable stem and fixed bearing system. This results in a more precise fit with minimal bone removal, and leaves the fibula completely intact. The patented FootHolder secures the foot, while allowing the ankle to remain dynamic, and guide rods help the surgeon precisely align the prosthesis. This allows for the continued range of motion that ankle fusion eliminates.
When faced with the decision to choose ankle fusion or ankle replacement, remember that total ankle replacements, especially those using the Inbone System, decrease post-operative pain and swelling, in addition to shortening the recovery period. More importantly, total ankle replacement is bone conserving and a less-invasive procedure that will restore you to a more active, pain-free lifestyle.
Gary J. Schmidt, M.D. is an Orthopedic Surgeon that specializes in total ankle joint replacement. With more than 22 years of experience, he is a Certified Inbone Specialist and has performed more than 75 total ankle replacement procedures. Dr. Schmidt has published research studies on a variety of clinical topics, and he is also a frequent speaker and presenter at the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. For more information on total ankle replacement, you can visit his website at www.schmidtfootandankle.com.
Comments
Jrmcwilliam (anonymous) says...
I wholeheartedly agree with Dr Schmidt. The emerging technology of ankle replacement surgery promises to improve functional outcomes in patients with ankle arthritis.
James R McWilliam, MD
www.NYFootAndAnkle.com
June 29, 2010 at 10:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thomasleemd (anonymous) says...
Thanks for a great article. There are several different types of ankle replacements available today but as Dr. Schmidt correctly states, the InBone type with its stem configuration (like a keel on a sailboat) provides great anchoring and stability for arthritic ankles which are associated with deformity.
A great alternative for ankle pain.
August 24, 2010 at 3:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )