Ankle Replacement

Ankle Replacement is a very good way of treating a painful, stiff arthritic ankle. It is an alternative to ankle fusion (arthrodesis).

Not all patients are suitable for ankle replacement and some are better-served with a fusion.

Whereas hip & knee joint replacements are a superior option to fusion (stiffened hip or knee), there is not such a clear difference in the ankle.

An ankle replacement is a much smaller joint than a hip or knee, and may not last as long.

For these reasons, ankle replacement is best suited for people under 90kg, without major ankle deformity, and with a lower-demand lifestyle (e.g.: retired).

In the right patient, an ankle replacement can be very successful.

I will discuss this with you at a consultation where I take a history and examine you, and assess your X-rays.

Sometimes you may need a CT scan to further assess whether an ankle replacement is right for you.

Ankle replacement surgery takes about 2 1/2 hours, under general or spinal anesthesia – the anesthetist will advise the most appropriate option.

You will be in a backslab (plaster half-cast) for about 10 days, then a moon-boot splint until 6 weeks after surgery, using crutches. It is best to avoid full weight on your ankle replacement during this first 6 weeks.

At 6 weeks, an Xray is taken to assess healing of bone onto the ankle replacement prosthesis. From this time, you should be able to increase weight bearing on your ankle replacement.

I CONSULT PRIVATELY AT:

Royston Centre,
325 Prospect Rd,
Hastings
(opposite the Racecourse)
p: (06) 873 8806