Methodist Healthcare
November 01, 2010

INBONE™ Total Ankle Replacement Now Available in San Antonio Only at Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Hospital

If severe ankle pain affects your quality of life, then ankle replacement surgery may be an effective pain relief option. Total ankle replacement is joint replacement surgery of the ankle joint. The procedure has been available for more than 30 years – but recently total ankle replacement has improved dramatically.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, early ankle replacement designs had only two components and required bone cement to hold them in proper position. Newer designs don't require that the bones be fused -- instead, bone grows into the ankle prosthesis similar to knee and hip replacements.

“As the population ages, there will be a greater need for total ankle replacement surgery,” said Marvin R. Brown, M.D, orthopedic surgeon. “The prosthesis available today is of much better quality and the results of ankle joint replacements are much more successful.”

The most frequent source of debilitating pain and joint destruction is arthritis. The ankle supports a force of about five times a person’s body weight when a person walks. Normally, the cartilage in the ankle joint cushions the bones, so walking is painless. However, cartilage can get worn down as a result of arthritis.

Total ankle replacement is a surgical option for patients with arthritis of the ankle. This operation can relieve pain and maintain motion in the arthritic ankle joint, and is an alternative to ankle fusion, which can relieve pain but eliminates motion in the joint. “Although it does not have the same long-term track record of hip or knee replacement, shorter-term studies on ankle replacement have been very promising,” said Dr. Brown.

Dr. Brown is the only surgeon in South Texas performing the INBONE™ Total Ankle Replacement. He performs the procedure at Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Hospital. The device, which consists of two parts, is placed into the patient’s ankle piece by piece using a patented surgical technique for accurate placement. The INBONE™ Total Ankle has anchoring stems to secure it in place, reducing the likelihood of loosening over time. It also can be customized by length and diameters. This allows for a more precise fit and a less invasive installation with minimal bone removal.

Ron Siliven, 63, had total ankle surgery in August 2009. He said that he could barely walk and had spent the better part of three years in a wheelchair, on crutches or on a walker. “The surgery has given me a whole new life,” he said. “I can get out so much more. I even danced with my wife at a wedding recently.”

Ankle replacement surgery is best suited for patients who do not participate in high impact activities and who are over age 50. The procedure typically requires a one-night stay in the hospital. The patient’s cast will be removed two weeks post-op with a full recovery expected to take four to six months.

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