If non-surgical treatment options no longer relieve your ankle pain due to injury or arthritis, ankle replacement surgery can help. Ankle replacement surgery replaces the damaged bone and cartilage in the ankle joint and eliminates ankle pain. Our Orthopaedic team will be able to help provide a treatment plan to relieve your pain.

St. Elizabeth Healthcare offers total ankle replacement at the Total Joint Center. This dedicated orthopedic unit features private patient suites, a spacious rehabilitation area and on-site classroom for seminars and other educational events.

Before your surgery, your doctor will answer any questions you have about ankle replacement surgery. At the Total Joint Center, you’ll find a team of professionals to help ensure you have everything you need during your stay.

Your surgery: During the procedure, your surgeon will remove the damaged cartilage and the damaged part of the lower end of your shin bone (tibia) and the ankle bone (talus) so the new joint will fit precisely. The metal parts of your new artificial joint are then attached to the bone using a special bone cement. Immediately after surgery, you will be placed in a splint to ensure that your ankle does not move. During a post-operative visit, your surgeon will determine the next course of treatment and therapy.

Your recovery: You can expect to stay in the hospital for 1-2 nights after surgery. To keep swelling down, keep your foot raised higher than your heart while you are sleeping or resting. You will only be allowed to touch your foot to the floor for about 3-4 weeks, so you will need to use crutches for support. Your physical therapy will begin almost immediately after recovery and last up to three months.

After ankle replacement surgery you should experience little to no ankle pain and be able to move your ankle up and down. Most ankle replacements last ten or more years, depending on your activity level, overall health and the amount of damage to your joint before surgery.