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GREGORY DUBUS Getty Images/iStockphoto
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Lateral view of heel of human foot in X-ray (blue on black background), after surgery to repair multiple fractures of the heel of Calcaneus bone very important, with tube and screw to fix bones.
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JULES VUOTTO
Dr. Dr. Menachem M. Meller
Ankle joints often don’t get the same attention as knees and hips, but they’re just as crucial for everyday mobility. Your ankles allow you to stand, walk, climb, and move in most situations involving use of your legs—especially those involving irregular surfaces.
According to the Mayo Clinic, breaking an ankle or developing arthritis in the joint can cause as much disability as advanced arthritis in knee and hip joints or a chronic medical condition that can affect mobility such as diabetes.
Yet many patients aren’t aware that joint replacement surgery is available for ankles along with more common replacement procedures for knees and hips.
Ankle replacements may be less familiar partly because technology allowing specialized surgeons to switch natural ankle components with synthetic implants only became widely available in the 1990s.
A CUSTOM FIT
People who need ankle replacement typically suffer from ankle arthritis, a painful loss of cushioning cartilage that normally lies between bones and helps joints move smoothly. In many cases, arthritis develops after an ankle fracture or multiple sprains. Less common causes include degenerative or rheumatoid arthritis.
Surgery can be performed as an outpatient procedure under regional anesthesia with the patient often awake. The operation entails first removing part of the shinbone (tibia) and anklebone (talus).
Surgeons then install metal joint surfaces with a plastic bearing surface in between. Advanced imaging and computer technology now allow implants to be custom-made to fit each patient’s individual anatomy and ensure the foot and ankle are precisely aligned.
Many patients can return home the day of surgery, although they should rest and elevate the leg for at least two weeks. Pain medications may be given and should be taken as directed by the physician.
The best candidates for ankle replacement surgery aren’t excessively overweight or prone to high-impact activity, as too much force on the joint may cause the implant to wear out faster than desired.
Menachem M. Meller, M.D., Ph.D., FAAOS is an orthopedic Surgeon at Lower Bucks Hospital.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Menachem M. Meller, call one of his convenient locations.
Lower Bucks Hospital, Bristol 215-785-9818 and Town Center Drive, Langhorne 267-789-2074. Lower Bucks Hospital is located at 501 Bath Rd, Bristol, PA. For more information visit www.lowerbuckshosp.com.