of the ankle often occurs where a previous injury has damaged part of the joint – especially the hard that keeps the bones from rubbing against each other. It can also develop as a result of longstanding instability due to .
When cartilage gets worn away, the bones underneath become misshapen. Osteoarthritis can also cause bony outgrowths to appear, narrowing the space between the bones. As a result, the bones in the ankle can become misaligned and the joint cannot move properly. The soft tissue can get trapped between badly aligned or deformed bones, causing swelling, inflammation and stiffness.
Chronic or intermittent pain. There may be a grinding, squeaking or popping in your ankle as you move it. It may be difficult to trust your ankle to hold your weight, and it may occasionally give way unexpectedly. The joint may become so swollen and stiff that you have difficulty walking.
The surgeon can see how the bones in your leg and foot line up by carrying out a . X-rays can show narrowing of the space between the bones, which indicates osteoarthritis. Other scans including a , and might also be used.
Ankle Arthroscopy
This is designed to minimise the pain, swelling and stiffness in the arthritic ankle joint. Through two or three small holes, instruments are inserted into the ankle joint to wash debris from it and to remove loose pieces of bone, cartilage, inflamed tissue and . You will need to rest and ice your ankle for 48 hours after surgery, and have a short post operative physiotherapy programme. You will normally see 80% good or excellent results.
If simple arthroscopy does not relieve the
symptoms, then a more permanent solution such as an
arthroscopically assisted fusion may be required. During surgery, the bones of the ankle joint are ‘welded’ or fused together. First, the is removed, exposing the bone beneath. The bones of the ankle are then aligned correctly, enabling the cut edges of exposed bones to grow together. Occasionally, if the bones have degenerated badly, a bone graft will be necessary. Bone will be harvested from another part of your body (such as the hip) and placed in the ankle. are held in place with screws until they heal.
You will be given an ankle brace, and be able to put some weight on your foot almost immediately. It will be four to six weeks before your foot can take your full weight. Full recovery may take up to nine months, but you will be able to return to normal activities in three to four months