Surgical Treatment for Ankle Arthritis

Surgery performed for arthritis of the foot and ankle includes:

• Arthroscopic surgery: Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure during which the internal structure of a joint is examined for diagnosis and treatment of problems inside the joint. In arthroscopic examination, a small incision is made on the patient’s skin through which pencil-sized instruments with a small lens and lighting system (arthroscope) are passed. Arthroscopes magnify and illuminate the structures of the joint with the light that is transmitted through fiber optics. The scope is attached to a television camera and the interior of the joint is seen on a television monitor. Your surgeon can then use probes, forceps, knives and shavers to clean the joint area of foreign tissue, inflamed tissue or bony outgrowths (spurs).
• Arthroplasty or Joint Replacement: In this procedure, your surgeon removes the damaged ankle joint and replaces it with an artificial implant. It is usually performed when the joint is severely damaged by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis. The goal of ankle replacement is to relieve pain and restore the normal function of the ankle joint.