What to Expect During Ankle Replacement Surgery
Your ankles are important because they support your weight and help you move. If you are experiencing ankle pain, loss of function, and loss of mobility, your foot and ankle specialist may recommend having ankle replacement surgery. The podiatrists at Podiatry Associates of Houston provide comprehensive foot and ankle medical care, including ankle replacement surgery. They have several convenient locations in and around Houston, TX, including Chimney Rock, Memorial City, Katy, Willowbrook, and Woodlands, TX, to help you.
What You Need To Know About an Ankle Replacement
An ankle replacement may be recommended for several reasons, including:
- Experiencing an ankle fracture
- Having an ankle infection
- Ankle joint damage from arthritis
The purpose of an ankle replacement is to remove portions of damaged bone or cartilage and replace it with a prosthetic ankle. The prosthetic ankle joint contains a titanium portion, which will be attached to the tibia, a metal portion which is attached to the talus of the foot, and a plastic implant, which is placed between the two metal components.
You will be sedated during the surgery, and your leg will receive regional anesthesia, which may last for a couple of days after the surgery. You may go home on the same day, or you may need to spend one night in the hospital.
You should keep your leg elevated and avoid placing any weight on your foot for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. The sutures are removed 2 weeks after the surgery. After 4 weeks, you can start walking with a boot and begin physical therapy. You should be able to wear normal shoes after about 8 weeks. After about six months, you should be about 75% recovered, experiencing full recovery after one year.
Want To Know More?
To find out more about what to expect during ankle replacement surgery, call the doctors at Podiatry Associates of Houston. You can reach them in:
- Chimney Rock by calling (713) 666-0287
- Memorial City by calling (713) 467-1299
- Katy by calling (281) 579-0186
- Willowbrook by calling (832) 912-7792
- Woodlands by calling (281) 849-9891
Call today.