| Everyone at some point is likely to have problems | | | | percentage of patients with ankle fusions resulted in |
| with their ankles. Unfortunately, as we age, these | | | | acute infection and required below the knee |
| problems can mean arthritis of foot and ankle, | | | | amputation. |
| dramatically affecting the quality of life. Arthritis in the | | | | In the long term, 2.8% of the patients diagnosed |
| ankle is traditionally treated with arthrodesis or ankle | | | | with arthritis of foot and ankle who underwent ankle |
| fusion. While this is somewhat effective, it can | | | | fusions suffered a subtalar fusion or the fusion of |
| promote arthritis in other neighboring joints. Fused | | | | another neighboring joint. Less than 1% of those with |
| bones can also be difficult to walk on as the range of | | | | ankle replacements suffered the same. Twenty-three |
| motion is greatly decreased. Because of this some | | | | percent of the replacement patients underwent a |
| doctors now prefer a method of arthroplasty of | | | | revision to the original surgery within 5 years, while |
| ankle-ankle replacement. | | | | only 11 percent of the fusion group did the same for |
| Recent studies regarding arthroplasty of ankle | | | | the same period. While arthroplasty of ankle |
| surgeries on sufferers of arthritis of foot and ankle | | | | (replacement surgery) seems to have fewer |
| seem promising. In a database of over five thousand | | | | problems with fusion of neighboring joints, there does |
| patients who underwent either arthrodesis (4705) | | | | appear to be a higher rate of need for revision |
| verses arthroplasty (480) there was a significant | | | | surgery than there is with arthrodesis (ankle fusion). |
| difference in diabetes complications after surgery - | | | | If you suffer from arthritis of foot and ankle and it is |
| 4% of the arthrodesis patients and 0% of the | | | | interfering with your mobility and quality of life you |
| arthroplasty patients. It should also be noted that | | | | might want to consider surgery such as arthroplasty |
| those opting for the replacement surgery were of a | | | | of ankle. Advancements in knee replacement surgery |
| higher median income than those opting for the | | | | have led to better chances of success in ankle |
| fusion method. A complication found in both groups | | | | replacements. Of course, the physical state of your |
| was pulmonary embolism or a clot in the lungs, which | | | | ankle(s) as well as your overall health will have a |
| needed additional surgery. Patients who needed | | | | bearing on which method is best for you. Consult |
| additional surgery also had a higher rate of ankle | | | | your doctor for any recent developments. |
| infection, noted in both groups. Only a small | | | | |