Ankle surgery may be
an option when more-conservative treatments don't relieve ankle pain caused by
severe arthritis. The type of surgery that's right for you depends on your age,
your level of activity, and the severity of your joint damage or deformity.
Severely damaged ankle joints may need to have the bones fused together or even
replaced with an artificial joint.
In this procedure, the surgeon removes the ends of the damaged
bones and fits a plastic-and-metal replacement joint onto them. The artificial
joint helps the ankle retain more-natural movement, so there's less risk of
arthritis developing in nearby joints. However, loosening of the components can
occur.
