Ankle Replacement

Ankle replacement is surgery to replace the damaged bone and cartilage in the ankle joint. Artificial joint parts (prosthetics) are used to replace your own bones. There are different types of ankle replacement surgeries.

Alternative Names

Ankle arthroplasty - total; Total ankle arthroplasty; Endoprosthetic ankle replacement; Ankle surgery

Description

Ankle replacement surgery is most often done while you are under general anesthesia. This means you will be asleep and not feel the pain.

You may have spinal anesthesia. You can be awake but will not feel anything below your waist. If you have spinal anesthesia, you will also be given medicine to help you relax during the operation.

Your surgeon will make a surgical cut in the front of your ankle to expose the ankle joint. Your surgeon will then gently push the tendons, nerves, and blood vessels to the side. After this:

Your surgeon will remove the damaged bone and cartilage.

Your surgeon will replace the damaged part of:

The lower end of your shin bone (tibia)
The top of your foot bone (talus) that the leg bones rest on
The metal parts of the new artificial joint are then attached to the cut bony surfaces. A special glue/bone cement may be used to hold them in place.
A piece of plastic is then inserted between the two metal parts.
Screws maybe placed to stabilize your ankle.

The surgeon will put the tendons back into place and close the wound with sutures (stitches). You may need to wear a splint, cast, or brace for a while to keep the ankle from moving.

Open Article Detail

Why the Procedure Is Performed

This surgery may be done if the ankle joint is badly damaged. Your symptoms may be pain and loss of movement of the ankle. Some causes of damage are:

Arthritis caused by ankle surgery in the past
Bone fracture
Infection
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis

You may not be able to have a total ankle replacement if you have had ankle joint infections in the past.

Risks

Risks for any surgery and anesthesia are:

Allergic reactions to medicines
Breathing problems
Bleeding
Blood clot
Infection

Risks for ankle replacement surgery are:

Ankle weakness, stiffness, or instability
Loosening of the artificial joint over time
Skin not healing after surgery
Nerve damage
Blood vessel damage
Bone break during surgery
Dislocation of the artificial joint
Allergic reaction to the artificial joint (common)

Before the Procedure

Always tell your health care provider what drugs you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.

During the 2 weeks before your surgery:

You may be asked to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), and other drugs.
Ask which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.
If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon will ask you to see your health care provider who treats you for these conditions.
Tell your provider if you have been drinking a lot of alcohol, more than one or two drinks a day.
If you smoke, try to stop. Ask your provider for help. Smoking can slow down wound and bone healing.
Always let your provider know about any cold, flu, fever, herpes breakout, or other illness you may have before your surgery.
You may want to visit the physical therapist to learn some exercises to do before surgery. The physical therapist can also teach you how to correctly use crutches.

On the day of your surgery:

You will most often be asked not to drink or eat anything for 6 to 12 hours before the procedure.
Take the drugs you were told to take with a small sip of water.

Your provider will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

After the Procedure

After surgery, you will most likely need to stay in the hospital for at least one night. You may have received a nerve block that controls pain for the first 12 to 24 hours after surgery.

Your ankle will be in a cast or a splint after surgery. A small tube that helps drain blood from the ankle joint may be left in your ankle for 1 or 2 days. To keep swelling down, keep your foot raised higher than your heart while you are sleeping or resting.

You see a physical therapist, who will teach you exercises that will help you move more easily. You most likely will not be able to put any weight on the ankle for a few months.

Outlook (Prognosis)

A successful ankle replacement will likely:

Decrease or get rid of your pain
Allow you to move your ankle up and down

In most cases, total ankle replacements last 10 or more years. How long yours lasts will depend on your activity level, overall health, and the amount of damage to your ankle joint before surgery.

References

Hansen ST Jr. Post-traumatic reconstruction of the foot and ankle. In: Browner BD, Jupiter JB, Krettek C, Anderson PA, eds. Skeletal Trauma: Basic Science, Management, and Reconstruction. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 68.

Murphy AG. Total ankle arthroplasty. In: Canale ST, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2012:chap 10.