Ankle Replacement
What Is An Ankle Replacement Procedure?
Otherwise know as “ankle arthroplasty,” ankle replacement surgery is a technique that has developed in recent years in response to the need to effectively improve an ankle joint that has been severely damaged by injury or some form of arthritis. When other, more conservative methods of treating disabilities in the ankle have proven inadequate, joint replacement surgery may represent the best hope for long-term improvement to the ankle joint.
Both sides of the ankle are removed and replaced with specially designed artificial parts, called prostheses. The tibial prosthesis is made of medical- grade plastic with a titanium base plate tray that is inserted into the tibia and fibula. The talar component of the joint, the part that moves up and down, is replaced with a part made of cobalt chromium alloy, a metal commonly used in prostheses for other joints of the body also.
Benefits
Pain relief is the most reliable potential benefit and often the major reason for surgery. For many people, ankle replacement surgery also offers better movement and coordination of the foot and leg. Another benefit is an improvement in the appearance of a deformed joint. Ankle replacement surgery may mean the difference between walking with a crutch (or being confined to a wheel chair) and regaining true mobility.
Our team is here for you
We offer the best, least invasive and least aggressive options to relieve your pain and symptoms so you can get back to the life you love. Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists Foot & Ankle Care Center has convenient locations in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake.
