Total Ankle Replacement

A total ankle replacement (arthroplasty) is a surgical procedure that involves resurfacing the ends of your shin bone and lower ankle bone with metal components and placing a plastic spacer in-between. Total ankle replacement is designed to relieve ankle arthritis pain while increasing mobility. The procedure replaces damaged cartilage so the joint can move and bend more like a healthy ankle—allowing you to walk with a more normal gait. 

The team at Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center explores every non-surgical treatment option, like physical therapy and medication, before recommending total ankle replacement. If these treatments fail to relieve your ankle pain and symptoms, you may be a candidate for surgery.

Ankle replacement is less common than other joint replacement procedures, such as hip or knee arthroplasty. The multidisciplinary team at Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center combine new and established techniques to produce excellent results. All their surgeons are fellowship-trained in advanced foot and ankle reconstruction and help to the highest standards.

Late-stage ankle arthritis is the most common reason for total ankle replacement surgery. Ankle arthritis causes wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones at a joint.

Cartilage is essential for pain-free motion, so ankle arthritis often leads to pain and swelling that limits your ability to walk. If ankle arthritis negatively affects your quality of life, the highly skilled surgeons at Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center can help.

First, your provider at Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center performs a thorough evaluation of your ankle. They may take a weight-bearing X-ray to check your ankle alignment and confirm a diagnosis of ankle arthritis.

Then, they discuss your best options for ankle replacement. To ensure the best match for you, the surgeons at Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center are trained to implant all FDA-approved total ankle replacement devices available in the United States, including:

• INFINITY™ Total Ankle System
• INBONE™ Total Ankle System
• Vantage® Total Ankle System
• STAR™ Ankle (Scandinavian total ankle replacement)
• Zimmer® Total Ankle

Steven K. Neufeld, MD, is also the founder and director of the Inova Health Total Ankle Replacement Program.

INFINITY™ with ADAPTIS™ Technology

We are constantly making every effort to provide you with the best possible care and the longest-lasting treatment options for ankle arthritis. Part of this effort providing the latest technologies that can help improve outcomes and long-term benefits for you. This is why we’re excited to offer our patients with end-stage ankle arthritis the INFINITY™ with ADAPTIS™ Technology system, the latest innovation in total ankle replacement surgery.

INFINITY™ with ADAPTIS™ Technology is the first 3D-printed total ankle system and represents the next phase in the evolution of total ankle replacement surgery. This system uses 3D-printed porous material to help facilitate integration of the bone and implant, while the EVERLAST™ inserts improve wear resistance that can help extend the life of the implant.

• PROPHECY pre-operative guides feature a personalized navigation system that can create a plan for sizing and aligning the implant to your unique anatomy for the most natural fit possible
• Designed to relieve arthritis pain while increasing mobility
• It can help promote longevity, stability and mobility. ADAPTIS™ 3D printed, porous metal components facilitate integration of the bone and implant, which can result in a more stable and longer-lasting implant.

In addition to expert foot and ankle surgeons, your team of providers includes primary care physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and physical therapists. These providers work together to educate and prepare you for ankle replacement surgery.  

Before your procedure, you attend a pre-surgery joint education class at Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center. Afterward, you meet with your physical therapists and social workers to help you recover comfortably at home or at a rehabilitation facility.

To learn more about total ankle replacement, call Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center or request an appointment online today.