The ankle is one of the most critical weight-bearing joints in the body. Damage to the ankle caused by injury or by conditions such as arthritis may lead to severe pain and ultimately to a loss of functioning of the ankle joint.  Surgical interventions for debilitating ankle conditions include conservative surgery, total ankle fusion, and total ankle replacement.    Your physician and orthopaedic surgeon will help you decide which treatment option best suits your needs.

Patients who are candidates for total ankle replacement have the confidence of knowing that Mount Sinai is a nationally renowned pioneer in this rapidly evolving field.   Total ankle replacement surgery was first performed at Mount Sinai Medical Center in October, 1999. The patient had suffered for many years from rheumatoid arthritis with severe pain in the ankle. She now is able to walk without pain because of this innovative procedure.

Total ankle replacement has not always been successful in the long-term relief of ankle arthritis. Many different designs have been employed in the past, none of them providing more than 5 years of service on average.

A significant improvement in synthetic joint design occurred with the development of the agility Ankle Replacement.  Researchers studying the results of patients who have undergone ankle replacement with this prosthesis, report excellent results in these patients, including some 14 years after surgery.   The design of the Agility Ankle Replacement is unique in that it employs both long bones that compose the ankle mortise for its support and stability. It is also designed to preserve as much of the host bone as possible, thereby allowing easier conversion to an ankle fusion if necessary. Its stability is provided by the ligamentous tension of the ankle joint itself, maintaining the normal kinematics of the ankle and allowing for optimum range-of-motion.

Our expert orthopaedic surgeons have studied the technique of total ankle replacement extensively and are able to offer this cutting-edge procedure to appropriately qualified patients. Ankle replacement is not indicated in all cases of ankle arthritis, as some patients require an ankle fusion to alleviate their pain.

This procedure has proven effective with the use of the Agility Ankle Replacement in patients longer than 14 years after surgery. However, ankle replacement is still evolving, and we will certainly see modifications in the future.