Did you know that your ankle consists of three bones? The tibia, fibula, and talus are the three bones that meet at your ankle joint. This complex joint has an impressive range of motion, with the ability to move up and down and side to side.
If your ankle doesn’t function properly, it’s difficult — if not impossible — to run, jump, or even walk.
There are many podiatric services to help restore the function of your ankle, including bracing, surgery, and total ankle replacement. This surgery can replace your damaged ankle and restore the range of motion so you can get back on your feet.
Our board-certified foot and ankle surgeons at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center are experienced in correcting a variety of ankle conditions — such as advanced osteoarthritis or a severe fracture — with a total ankle replacement.
If your ankle causes pain and discomfort, we’d be happy to explore your options with you. In the meantime, discover how a total ankle replacement could help you regain pain-free movement once again.
Total ankle replacements aren’t for everyone. If your ankle pain is due to a sprain, you might benefit more from RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), immobilization, or even surgery to repair your ligament.
A total ankle replacement is better suited for people with an advanced condition that severely impairs mobility, such as:
The bottom line: A total ankle replacement can help restore the function of your ankle when your damaged joints limit mobility.
If you’re scheduled for a total ankle replacement, or just considering it, you might wonder how it could improve your movement. Ankle replacements don’t fix your joint; they replace it.
During your surgery, we remove the damaged portions of your ankle and replace them with an artificial implant. The implant can be made of medical grade plastic or titanium. Pins or screws hold the prosthetic in place.
We finish the surgery with stitches and apply a splint to hold your ankle in place as it heals over the next few weeks.
Follow all post-op instructions, including keeping weight off of your ankle. Physical therapy can help you regain strength as well as range of motion.
The healing process can take a few weeks, but once your ankle is healed, you’ll find that the prosthetic ankle allows you to move about freely without the pain and discomfort from before, because the damaged part of your ankle is gone.
Studies show that total ankle replacements can provide pain relief without sacrificing range of motion (unlike an ankle fusion).
Conservative and minimally invasive treatments can sometimes treat ankle pain, but sometimes they’re just not enough. Even though surgery requires dedication to the recovery process, it can, in the long run, give you the pain relief and freedom you’ve been looking for.
If you’re bothered by ankle pain, don’t suffer in silence any longer. We have four convenient locations in Wheat Ridge, Granby, Arvada, and Evergreen, Colorado. Simply call the location of your choice or request an appointment online.
