Ankle surgery: Treatment for advanced arthritis
Ankle surgery, such as joint fusion or replacement, can treat pain and improve mobility for people with arthritis of the ankle.
Overview
For ankle fusion, the surgeon roughens the ends of the damaged bones and then fastens them together with screws, plates, rods or pins. During the healing process, the damaged bones fuse together into one combined bone.
For an ankle replacement, the surgeon removes the ends of the damaged bones and fits a plastic-and-metal replacement joint onto them.
Ankle surgery is a procedure to treat arthritis when pain and mobility are no longer helped by other treatments. These nonsurgical treatments may include physical therapy, medicines, and supportive shoes or braces.
The type of ankle surgery needed depends on the kind of arthritis, the condition of the joint and the impact of arthritis on daily activities. The most common surgeries for ankle arthritis either fuse bones in the ankle together or replace the ankle joint.
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