What it is
Ankle arthritis most often follows an old injury — a fracture or years of ligament instability — rather than simple age. When cartilage is gone, bone grinds on bone, and the pain becomes constant rather than activity-related.
For decades the only answer was fusion, which reliably kills the pain but also kills the motion and transfers stress to neighbouring joints. Modern total ankle replacement preserves that motion and, in properly selected patients, produces a more natural gait and better long-term function of the surrounding foot.
Symptoms we look for
- Constant ankle pain, including at rest and at night
- Stiffness and visible loss of ankle motion
- Grinding or catching within the joint
- Pain that no longer responds to bracing or injections
How we treat it
- Weight-bearing imaging and alignment assessment
- Bracing and injection therapy as a first line
- Total ankle replacement in appropriately selected patients
- Ankle fusion where deformity or bone quality rules out replacement
- Structured post-operative rehabilitation
When to see a podiatrist
If ankle arthritis is limiting what you can do and injections no longer help, it is worth a surgical consultation — even if you are not ready to operate. Knowing your options early makes the decision easier later.
Common questions
Am I a candidate for replacement instead of fusion?
Candidacy depends on alignment, bone quality, ligament stability, activity demands and body weight. We assess all of these with weight-bearing imaging before recommending either.
How long does an ankle implant last?
Contemporary implants have good survivorship at ten years and beyond in well-selected patients. We will discuss the specific data for the implant we recommend for you.