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Ankle Replacement

(Ankle Arthroplasty; Total Ankle Replacement)

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Home | Health Information Center | Procedure & Surgery Fact Sheets | Article

Definition

Reasons for Procedure

Call Your Doctor

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Definition

Ankle replacement is surgery to replaced bones in the ankle with artificial ones.

Reasons for Procedure

This surgery is done in people who have bone and joint damage from arthritis or injury. It is done when other methods have not helped with pain or walking.

Ligament Damage

Possible Complications

Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will go over some problems that may happen, such as:

Infection
Harm to nearby structures, such as nerves or tendons
Bone fracture
Poor bone healing
Blood clots

Talk to the doctor about ways to handle things that may raise the risk of problems, such as:

Smoking
Drinking
Long-term health problems, such as diabetes

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

Your doctor may do:

Imaging tests to look at the ankle, such as:

Before surgery:

Arrange for a ride and help at home after surgery.
Talk to your doctor about the medicines you take. Some may need to be stopped up to 1 week before surgery.
Do not eat or drink after midnight before the day of your surgery unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Take steps to stay on the first floor of your home if you are able.
Put safety bars in the bathroom and shower.
Remove things at home that may cause a fall, such as throw rugs or power cords.

Anesthesia

Anesthesia may be:

General—you will be asleep
Regional—the lower part of your body will be numb

Description of the Procedure

An incision will be made in the front or side of the ankle. The damaged tissue and bone will be removed. The rest of the bone will be trimmed and prepared for the artificial devices. The metal and plastic devices will be put in and secured to the bone. The Achilles tendon may need to be lengthened to ease tension from the calf muscle.

The incision will be closed with stitches or staples. A bandage will be used to cover it.

How Long Will It Take?

About 2.5 hours

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery. Pain after surgery can be handled with medicine.

Average Hospital Stay

You will stay in the hospital for 1 to 3 days. You may need to stay longer if there are problems.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

The staff will give you pain medicine after surgery.

During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to lower your risk of infection such as:

Washing their hands
Wearing gloves or masks
Keeping your incisions covered

There are also steps you can take to lower your risk of infection such as:

Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and your care team to do the same
Reminding your care team to wear gloves or masks
Not letting others touch your incisions

At Home

Take these steps when you return home:

Do not put weight on your ankle for 6 weeks.
Follow your doctor's instructions.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you are not getting better or you have:

Signs of infection, such as fever and chills
Redness, swelling, more pain, a lot of bleeding, or leaking around the incision
Problems moving your ankle
Numbness or tingling in your foot or toes
Chalky white, blue, or black color in your foot or toes
Pain that you cannot control with medicine
Lasting nausea or vomiting
Symptoms that are new or worse

If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.

RESOURCES:

Foot Care MD—American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
http://footcaremd.org

Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://orthoinfo.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canada Foot—Canadian Orthopaedic Food and Ankle Society
http://www.canadafoot.com

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org

References:

Arthritis of the foot and ankle. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated March 2015. Accessed June 19, 2019.

Grunfeld R, Aydogan U, et al. Ankle arthritis: review of diagnosis and operative management. Med Clin North Am. 2014 Mar;98(2):267-289.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the ankle. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/osteoarthritis-oa-of-the-ankle. Updated April 30, 2018. Accessed June 19, 2019.

Total ankle arthroplasty. Foot Care MD—American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed June 19, 2019.

Total ankle replacement surgery for arthritis. University of Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed June 19, 2019.

Last reviewed June 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review BoardWarren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM
Last Updated: 4/1/2020

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