Back on Your Feet

Total ankle replacement at Baylor Dallas

It’s difficult to put your best foot forward when your ankle hurts. When an ankle has been severely damaged by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or trauma, some patients may benefit from total ankle replacement, in which the tibiotalar joint (where the leg meets the foot) is replaced with a metal and plastic prosthesis.

James Brodsky, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, answers some of our questions about the procedure.

Q: What is the goal of total ankle replacement?
A: To retain ankle mobility and improve function, while achieving reliable pain relief.

Q: What factors determine whether someone is a candidate?
A: The severity of the ankle deformity and the patient’s bone quality, age and activity level. For many people, ankle fusion may be an option due to its durability.

Q: On average, how long will an ankle prosthesis last?
A: All joint replacements have a limited life span, which can be influenced by a variety of factors. However, an ankle replacement may last up to 15 years.

Q: What have you learned from the STAR (Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement) study?
A: This large-scale, multicenter FDA trial to evaluate a new prosthesis has helped to refine the surgical technique and allow physicians to better select candidates for the procedure, leading to better results.

Q: What do patients say about the procedure?
A: Overall patients report positive results with excellent pain relief and increased activities.

By Deborah Paddison

For a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Dallas, call 1-800-4BAYLOR or use our online physician directory.