Are you living with chronic ankle pain? Whether it’s due to ankle arthritis, a past injury, or simply wear-and-tear, you probably know all too well the pain can make everyday activities feel impossible.
Severe ankle joint damage can significantly impact your mobility and quality of life, but you don’t have to live with it. At Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Institute in Henderson, Nevada, we specialize in total ankle replacement — a proven surgical option that helps relieve ankle pain and restore function.
If you’re considering ankle replacement, here’s what you need to know.
Your ankle joint is a hinge joint formed by your tibia and fibula (lower leg bones) and your talus (a bone in your foot). This strong, flexible joint allows you to move your foot up and down, enabling essential motions like walking, running, and balancing.
Total ankle replacement, or ankle arthroplasty, is an orthopedic surgical procedure that replaces a damaged ankle joint with an artificial implant. During surgery, we remove the damaged bone and cartilage in your ankle and replace it with metal and plastic components designed to replicate the natural movement of your ankle.
Ankle arthroplasty can deliver significant, long-lasting pain relief for degenerative joint conditions like arthritis. While it’s less common than knee and hip replacement, this procedure works in much the same way and allows for greater pain relief and improved range of motion compared to ankle fusion, which eliminates motion by permanently joining bones.
If you have chronic ankle pain or advanced ankle arthritis that hasn’t responded to conservative treatments, it might be time to consider total ankle replacement. We generally recommend ankle arthroplasty for people who:
Our team offers comprehensive evaluations — including physical exams and imaging — to help determine if total ankle replacement is a good option for you.
We perform total ankle replacement with general anesthesia, so you’ll be asleep during the procedure. It typically takes 2–3 hours, and you’ll need someone to drive you home afterward.
The procedure starts with an incision in the front of your ankle. From there, we remove the damaged joint surfaces and insert the prosthetic components. We fix the prosthetics securely to your bones, and they’re designed to mimic the natural movement of your ankle.
Once the prosthetic ankle is in place, we close the incision and move you into recovery. Thanks to advanced techniques and technologies, many patients can go home the same day or after a short hospital stay.
Recovery from total ankle replacement involves rest, gradual weight-bearing activities, and physical therapy. You’ll likely wear a splint or boot initially, followed by a transition into walking with support. You’ll begin to resume your normal daily activities within 3-6 months.
After joint replacement surgery, physical therapy plays a key role. Your therapist guides you through exercises to regain strength, flexibility, and balance in your ankle joint.
Most people fully recover from total ankle replacement within 6-12 months. With proper care, ankle implants can last 10–15 years or longer.
At Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Institute, our team uses state-of-the-art ankle replacement techniques to help you get back to walking, exercising, and enjoying life without constant ankle pain.
If you’re wondering whether total ankle replacement is right for you, we’re here to answer all your questions and guide you every step of the way. Call us today or book an appointment online to get started.
