This involves replacing the arthritis joint with an artificial joint.A little anatomy: the joint that connects the bones of the shin and the foot, has a rather complex structure - the cartilage and muscle system connects three bones: the large and small bones of the shank and the tibial bone of the foot.Ĭlinical signs of ankle injury very much resemble the symptoms that arise when destructive changes of the Tar-heel and talon-navicular joint, as well as of the heel and calcaneus. In a small subset of low demand patients, an ankle joint replacement may be an appropriate treatment option. A ‘Fusion’ procedure involves eliminating this small degree of painful motion by removing the remaining joint cartilage and joining the tibia and the talus together. Patients with advanced ankle arthritis typically have very limited ankle joint motion, but what motion they do have is painful. The gold standard of surgical treatment for ankle arthritis is to perform a fusion. This can result in painful impingement and often responds well to keyhole decompression. In the early phase of ankle arthritis, tibial spurring (bony growth) can occur at the front of the ankle joint. When conservative measures fail, there are three main surgical options depending on the individual case.
Treatment is aimed at minimising the symptoms of pain while restoring function.Īnkle orthoses and specialised footware can be beneficial in reducing the forces that are going through the arthritic ankle joint. TreatmentĪnkle arthritis is a debilitating condition that often results in pain whilst walking and a poor quality of life. In subtle cases, or to help assess the other joints, and CT or MRI scan may be performed. Plain weight bearing ankle xrays show the extent of the arthritis, and allow assessment of other ‘joints’ within the foot, including the subtalar joint (joint below the ankle joint) and midfoot joints. Large bony protuberances (Osteophyte’s) can form, resulting in a change to the shape of the ankle. With time, the arthritis involves more of the joint, and pain at rest occurs. During the early phases of the condition the pain may be limited to exercise, or only present at the extreme of ankle motion. The symptoms of ankle arthritis vary based on the severity of the joint surface damage, and the functional level of the individual.Ĭlassically pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty walking are present. What are the symptoms of ankle arthritis? Other causes include inflammatory conditions that affect multiple joints, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis or Gout, or the development of an infection within the joint. Secondary damage occurs to the joint surface and with time, irreversible arthritis occurs. This can either be a previous ankle bony fracture (‘break’), or previous ankle sprains. The most reason for someone developing ankle arthritis is having a previous injury, or injuries, to the ankle joint. Primary ankle arthritis indicates that there is no known underlying cause as to why the arthritis has developed. Unlike Hip and Knee arthritis, primary ankle arthritis is rare. Why do people get ankle arthritis?Īnkle arthritis can be classified as primary or secondary arthritis. The ankle joint is largely responsible for flexion and extension movements. No muscles attach to the talus, and it has the highest percentage of articular cartilage coverage of any bone in the body, approximately 60% of its surface area. The ankle joint itself is made up of the two bones in the lower leg (tibia and fibula) and the talus (large bone that connects to both the tibia and fibula).
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