-
Treatment options
Why does my ankle hurt?
To get a better idea of why your ankle hurts, take a look at how it works. Several bones meet together at the ankle and are supported by a number of tendons and ligaments. The joint allows your foot to move freely and the joint also bears considerable weight at every step. In short, it has a big job to do. The ankle joint engages with almost every movement you make – it’s even involved when you’re just standing still. When it’s working well, you don’t think about the mechanics of your ankle. When something’s wrong, the pain can be immobilizing.
Arthritis may be at the bottom of your pain.
Your ankle pain may be due to chronic swelling or inflammation in the joint – most often referred to as arthritis. After an injury, the joint is especially vulnerable to arthritis. The most common forms of arthritis associated with ankle pain are osteoarthritis (sometimes called wear-and-tear arthritis) and rheumatoid arthritis (a systemic immune disease).
Post-traumatic arthritis, bone and cartilage don’t heal properly after the joint’s been injured causing irregularities that lead to more wear and tear on the joint surfaces.
Osteoarthritis, the cushioning cartilage at the end of the tibia may have worn down, making walking painful as bone rubs against bone.
Rheumatoid arthritis, the soft tissue that stabilizes and lubricates the joint may be inflamed and painful, leaving the door open for unwelcome changes in the bone.
What will a doctor do?
Your doctor will examine your ankle and may ask you to take a few tests to determine the cause of your pain.
Pain relief doesn’t always mean surgery. Your doctor may recommend a combination of treatments to alleviate your pain and help you get moving again. Learn more about your options here.
Find out why your ankle hurts.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ANKLE REPLACEMENT
Contra-Indications: Active or prior deep infection in the ankle joint or adjacent bones, Skeletal immaturity, Bone stock inadequate to support the device including: Severe osteoporotic or osteopenia condition or other conditions resulting in poor bone quality , Avascular necrosis of the talus, Prior surgery and / or injury that has adversely affected ankle bone quality, Malalignment or severe deformity of involved or adjacent anatomic structures including: Hindfoot or forefoot malalignment precluding plantigrade foot, Significant malalignment of the knee joint. Insufficient ligament support that cannot be repaired with soft tissue stabilization, Neuromuscular disease resulting in lack of normal muscle function about the affected ankle, Lower extremity vascular insufficiency demonstrated by Doppler arterial pressure, Charcot joint or peripheral neuropathy that may lead to Charcot joint of the affected ankle, Prior arthrodesis at the ankle joint , Poor skin and soft tissue quality about the surgical site.
Common Side Effects from Total Ankle Replacement Surgery: For the first two weeks after surgery it is normal to have a moderate amount of pain. You may need to use pain medicine(s). This pain may slowly decrease over time, but it is not unusual to experience some discomfort for up to three months and swelling may continue for up to a year after surgery. Contact your surgeon right away if at any time you notice: Fluid leaking from your wound, Redness around your wound, Pain or swelling that starts suddenly (especially after an ankle twist or fall) or Severe pain after the initial two weeks following your surgery.
The T2 Ankle Arthrodesis Nail is intended for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis (fusion) and to provide stabilization of the hindfoot and ankle including the transverse tarsal joints coupling the mid-foot to the hindfoot. Examples of specific indications include: Post-traumatic or primary arthrosis, previously infected arthrosis (second degree), revision of Failed Ankle arthrodesis, failed Total Ankle Replacement, avascular Necrosis of the Talus (requiring tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis), Neuroarthropathy or Neuromuscular Deformity or other neuromuscular disease with severe deformity or instability of the ankle, rheumatoid arthritis with severe deformity such as rheumatoid hindfoot, osteoarthritis, nonunions or pseudarthrosis of hindfoot and distal tibia, malunited tibial pilon fracture, charcot foot, severe endstage degenerative arthritis, severe defects after tumor resection pantalar arthrodesis.
Contraindications: The physician’s education, training and professional judgement must be relied upon to choose the most appropriate device and treatment. Conditions presenting an increased risk of failure include: any active or suspected latent infection or marked local inflammation in or about the affected area. Compromised vascularity that would inhibit adequate blood supply to the fracture or the operative site. Bone stock compromised by disease, infection or prior implantation that can not provide adequate support and/or fixation of the devices. Material sensitivity, documented or suspected. Obesity. An overweight or obese patient can produce loads on the implant that can lead to failure of the fixation of the device or to failure of the device itself. Patients having inadequate tissue coverage over the operative site. Implant utilization that would interfere with anatomical structures or physiological performance. Any mental or neuromuscular disorder which would create an unacceptable risk of fixation failure or complications in postoperative care. Other medical or surgical conditions which would preclude the potential benefit of surgery. The T2 Ankle Arthrodesis Nail should NOT be used if following conditions are present: tibial malalignment of > 10˚ in any plane, severe vascular deficiency, osteomyelitis or soft tissue infection.
The information presented is for educational purposes only. Stryker is not dispensing medical advice. Please speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is right for you. Only your doctor can make the medical judgment which products and treatments are right for your own individual condition. As with any surgery, joint replacement carries certain risks. Your surgeon will explain all the possible complications of the surgery, as well as side effects. Additionally, the lifetime of a joint replacement is not infinite and varies with each individual. Also, each patient will experience a different postoperative activity level, depending on their own individual clinical factors. Your doctor will help counsel you about how to best maintain your activities in order to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device. Such strategies include not engaging in high-impact activities, such as running, as well as maintaining a healthy weight.
CP-AWI-1, 12-2015