Information for Patients

From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle

Total Ankle Arthroplasty

by Michael P. Clare, MD; Roy W. Sanders, MD; Arthur K. Walling, MD

Total ankle arthroplasty involves replacement of diseased articular cartilage, sclerotic subchondral bone, and associated osteophytes with a prosthetic joint. Total ankle arthroplasty remains one of the more challenging and technically demanding procedures for the orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon. Changes in instrumentation and component design have led to renewed interest in ankle replacement as a useful treatment option for tibio-talar joint arthritis.

This article reviews the clinical presentation of tibio-talar joint arthritis and reviews the surgical technique of total ankle arthroplasty as one method of treatment. Nonsurgical management options for tibio-talar joint arthritis are also reviewed.

Keywords: ankle, ankle joint, arthritis, osteoarthritis, incidence, mechanism of injury, etiology, classification, diagnosis, patient history, physical examination, imaging, radiography, MRI, CT, bone scan, differential diagnosis, management, surgical techniques, surgical treatment, indications, total ankle replacement, contraindications, complications, outcomes, rehabilitation

If you are an AAOS Member or an OKO subscriber, you can view this topic after log in.

If you are a health care professional who is not an AAOS Member or OKO subscriber, you can get more information about subscribing here. Information for patients and the general public can be accessed through the links in the gray box above.

Back to Menu