What Are the Alternitives?

There are both surgical and non-surgical alternatives to ankle replacement surgery. First line treatments for arthritis of the ankle are non-surgical methods.

Several of the non-surgical methods provide relief by decreasing the irritation of the arthritic joint.

• One such method is the use of shoe inserts (orthotics), such as pads and arch supports.

• The use of an ankle brace or a cane can also help to take pressure and stress off the arthritic joint.

• An ankle-foot orthrosis (AFO), or a custom-made shoe with a stiff sole and a rocker bottom, can also work by decreasing motion through the ankle joint.

• Direct injection of medication into the arthritic joint can give up to several months of pain relief. It is important to note that weight control is also an important method of decreasing the stress on the ankle.

Although none of these treatments can reverse or cure the damaged cartilage, they can provide improved function with decreased pain. If the non-surgical treatments don’t adequately reduce your pain, surgical options can be pursued. The specific surgery, decided by your doctor, that is right for you depends on the extent and pattern of cartilage damage and level of pain associated with the ankle.

Alternative surgical options to ankle replacement include:

• Debridement

• Allograft arthroplasty

• Distraction arthroplasty

• Arthrodesis (fusion)

A debridement is essentially “cleaning up the ankle joint” that can provide pain relief for several months to years. This procedure involves the removal of inflamed tissues, loose cartilage, and small pieces of arthritic bone.

An allograft is tissue that is transplanted from one person to another and used to repair anatomy, relieve pain, and/or improve function.

Distraction arthroplasty is a surgery that relies on the use of an external fixation “frame” to create space between the joint surfaces with tension. An external “frame” remains outside the body during treatment.

Arthrodesis (fusion) is a procedure where your orthopaedic surgeon uses screws and/or other “hardware” to stabilize and eliminate joint motion, allowing for the bones to heal together.