Surgical treatments
When non-surgical treatment solutions such as medication, bracing, activity modification or diet and weight management no longer offer sufficient pain relief, it may be time to consider surgery. Surgery is only really recommended when the pain and disability are having very serious effects on your daily activities.
As a progressive disease, a range of different surgical approaches exist for the treatment of arthritis. Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery may be appropriate in the early days. However, when the arthritis is at a more advanced stage, you may be recommended an ankle replacement or ankle fusion (arthrodesis). An orthopaedic surgeon is the only person who can advise on the most appropriate course for your own individual circumstances. Not all surgeons offer all treatments though, so it is important to ask to be referred to a surgeon who offers the options you wish to consider. Always remember that you, the patient, have the final decision on whether to go ahead if ankle surgery is offered.
Some people delay surgery due to fear, misinformation or a lack of awareness about their treatment options. However, there is no cure for osteoarthritis and it is also degenerative – meaning that any pain and limited mobility you are experiencing may get worse over time.
Until relatively recently, there were few surgical options for patients with painful arthritis in the ankle joint. Ankle fusion was the most common, whereby the tibia and talus bones (and sometimes the fibula) are fused together. Ankle replacement offers a more flexible solution, akin to hip or knee replacement. The surfaces of the bones are resurfaced with metal prostheses and a plastic insert replaces the role of cartilage within the joint, permitting a greater range of motion than is possible with ankle fusion.
Whilst both fusion and ankle replacement may relieve the severe pain that can accompany later-stage arthritis, the decision to go down the route of surgery should be made very carefully. Make sure you speak to your doctor in detail about the ankle joint, arthritis and the operative procedure involved.
Depending on the level of damage you have, there are a number of alternative solutions to help reduce pain and restore movement.
| Arthroscopy A simple surgical procedure to remove stray debris and generally ‘clean up’ the joint. |
| Ankle replacement A total ankle replacement can help improve mobility and reduce pain, allowing you to resume most normal, day-to-day activities. |
| Ankle fusion(Arthrodesis) A permanent joining or bonding together of the joint, providing stability and pain relief. |
Important: The information and guidance provided here is general in nature and should not be considered as medical advice in any way. You should always seek detailed advice from a qualified medical practitioner.
