Ankle
Osteoarthritis
Artificial Joint Replacement
Osteoarthritis of the upper and/or lower ankle is a degenerative joint disease. In the case of osteoarthritis, there is a thinning of the cartilage tissue forming the joint in the upper and/or lower ankle. As the joint cartilage becomes increasingly thin, movements in the joint become painful. Everyone develops osteoarthritis. From approximately the age of 65, there is practically no one left without signs of wear and tear. In addition to age, causes for this degenerative disease include injury mechanisms, obesity, joint malalignments, cortisone therapy, and rheumatic diseases.
When is surgery needed?
If osteoarthritis of the ankle has progressed to the point where conservative therapeutic measures, arthroscopic surgery and/or joint-preserving operations (cartilage/bone-cartilage transplantation) no longer achieve pain reduction, then arthrodesis (joint fusion) of the upper and/or lower ankle or artificial joint replacement of the upper ankle is the treatment of choice.
What happens during surgery?
There are various surgical procedures for joint fusion as well as different models for artificial ankle replacement. The specific procedure or prosthesis model to be used depends, on the one hand, on the extent of joint destruction—including muscle, tendon, and ligament damage—and, on the other hand, on the patient's requirements, their activity level, and age.
Aftercare
Mobilisation begins from the first day after surgery with the help of physiotherapy using elbow crutches. The operated joint/leg must not be fully weight-bearing for 3 to 6 weeks. During this time, temporary partial weight-bearing using elbow crutches must be observed, and the joint is immobilised in a splint. Medicinal thrombosis prophylaxis is required for this period. Following discharge from hospital, physiotherapy should be continued, if necessary in the form of an inpatient or outpatient follow-up rehabilitation programme. As a rule, a rehabilitation period of 12 weeks is to be expected following joint fusion or joint replacement surgery. Patients should expect to be unable to work for a period of 3 months.
Detailed information on shoulder prostheses and artificial joint replacement can be found here.